Decision Time: Answering the big questions

<ul><li>SQUAD BREAKDOWN:&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://13.210.220.211/2020/08/04/squad-breakdown-round-13-team-insights/" target="_blank">Round 13 team insights and analysis</a></li><li>STAT ANALYSIS: <a href="http://13.210.220.211/2020/08/05/stat-analysis-vital-numbers-to-beat-the-best-rd-13/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Vital numbers to beat the best (opens in a new tab)">Vital numbers to beat the best</a></li></ul>



Troops!



Just when I thought things were starting to settle a little
bit, carnage hits once more. 



You can tell that it’s a strange year when I have lost three
starters from my side this week and it ‘doesn’t seem that bad’. 



It’s all about just rolling with it and doing your best week-to-week.




Personally I haven’t ever bothered planning too far forward this week simply because plans are impossible to stick with at the moment due to the injury toll. 



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Therefore I’m going to play it a little more week-to-week
for the next 2-3 rounds and take the best options available to me. 



If I think I can hold someone who is hurt I will. This would
be a genuine option when a guy is only anticipated to miss one week or two. 



Smith would fall in this category if we knew a little more
and if Harry Grant hasn’t also gone down for a week’s maintenance. 



The reason for this is that your side will likely run out of
trades with two rounds left or somewhere around that time. 



Check for yourself to see where you sit, but a saved trade
or two could prove huge come the last few weeks. Especially for head-to-head
finals/grand finals! 



On the flipside, if you are high up in the rankings and
chasing the glory then it’s worth throwing the kitchen sink at it and trading
as needed. 



Onto this week’s big issue. 



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Hooking Conundrum </h2>



As mentioned, Cam Smith has done his AC Joint. I would not
be shocked if he plays next week v The Roosters but he isn’t a certainty so it
makes it hard. 



If like me you also own Harry Grant it’s tough not to trade
him unless you think your auto-emergency will be pretty damn good. 



Also if anyone else is a late scratching you may cop a 0.
Therefore, I will be trading Smith, but I am also aware that I’ll want him back
for the run home given he is averaging nearly 90PPG when playing hooker (injury
affected score excluded). 



Be aware of this, and have a little plan ready on how to get him back.. So who are the best options to replace the great man? I’ve analysed below in no specific order.



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Damien Cook 



A gun and has been for years. A little inconsistent this
year but still has the ability to go huge! 



The pros are that he could punch out 130 on any given night
and is only owned by 16% of teams and has the Broncos and Cowboys next. 



The cons are that he is coming off a couple of low scores
and has a huge breakeven. 



You could go Grant to Cook in two weeks possibly for no
cost. Something to consider. 



But I must say I don’t mind just locking him in and hoping
he goes off if it suits your team plan! But he is by no means a must given the
above and his price.



Cam McInnes 



It’s a bit of a blow that he has been named at hooker again
as he doesn’t get the chance to run the ball as much as he does at lock. 



In saying that upon a quick check he has averaged 76PPG at hooker
this year and has still run the ball a reasonable amount. 



He just came right into calculations for me. Additionally, if you lock in McInnes at hooker, you will have the option to trade out a back-rower when Cam Smith returns, swap McInnes into the back-row and directly trade Smith back in while keeping McInnes. A super solid option!



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Api Koroisau 



Averaging 71PPG this year and Penrith have a nice run home.
He will do a job and has attacking ability. 



It’s a good thing he has had a week off to freshen up. The
worry would be that happening again in the final weeks of the regular season if
Penrith lock up a top two spot with their soft run home. 



But if it’s tight at the top this will help. That’s why it’s
important to try and save a trade or two for the final week especially head-to-head
grand finals! Another solid option!



Jazz Tevaga 



Here he is! The excitement machine Jazz. Averaging 62PPG in
just 45MPG after a comeback from injury at a rate of 1.32PPM. 



He has played 50 and 52 minutes the last two weeks. If he
can score at a rate of 1.2PPM and play 52 minutes he would average 62-63PPG. 



But if he could bump up to 60 minutes he could average
around 72 or even 79 based on his scoring rate in his first games back. 



I think you can lock in mid 60s if you buy him with the
upside of 70-80. 



One thing for sure is the Warriors look better with him and
the new rules suit him.



He also costs less than the above guys which could help with other trades. It’s also noted that he has dual position status like McInnes so you can keep him when Smith returns if you want to trade out a back-rower.



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Brandon Smith 



If we knew Cameron was out for more than say 2-3 weeks he
would be a near lock for mine! 



The kid is an absolute weapon and loves to break the line and
score tries. 



My concern is using a trade to get him and Cam coming back
next week or even the week after. 



You will then have to use another trade to move him on. He
should certainly score really well when he starts with Cam out but there is
huge risk for me given he isn’t a keeper and the amount of other dramas we are
needing to use our weekly two trades on. 



You don’t ideally want to get stuck with a 40-50 minute
version of Brandon who is only okay SC wise. 



One for the brave or well-set teams and hope Cam misses three
weeks! I just think this is unlikely…



Jake Turpin 



This is an out of the box play. He has averaged 57 Points in
65 minutes per game in four games at hooker this year. 



It’s a shame Issac Luke is on the bench but there is still a
chance for big minutes. He is super cheap and seems to have locked in a
starting spot for Brisbane. 



You would only do it if you need cash. He can free up a lot.
Be aware though that he isn’t likely to average in the 70s like the other guys
can. 



Personally I’d prefer an elite option but it depends on what you have going on.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VERDICT</h2>



<ol><li>Cam McInness</li><li>Jazz Tevaga</li><li>Damien Cook</li></ol>



It is extremely tight, but based on their current prices and
considering breakevens I have McInnes just ahead of Tevaga and then Cook. 



I will say though that for those trading where money isn’t an issue for your squad than Cook is my preferred option in the position.



Next week I&#8217;ll be analysing the SuperCoach specific run home for each club to help you with your targets for the all-important head-to-head finals. 



Lots to think about troops. Good luck and enjoy the footy!!



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Decision Time: Answering the big questions, RD 13

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