Draftstars + punting preview: Saturday NRL fixtures

Draftstars is back for Round 14 of the NRL season and with it
comes the chance to back your fantasy knowledge to win some cash.



For those unfamiliar with the concept, you can enter
competitions for each game for as little as 50c and win major jackpots.



We nailed a $7.66 same-game multi last week in our best result.



<a href="https://record.beteasyaffiliates.com.au/_2M-X3RIKtFLryvv6fabH-GNd7ZgqdRLk/1/">Get $5 for the Raiders to beat the Broncos with BetEasy, new customers only. Get a piece of it here.</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="575" src="http://13.210.220.211/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-1024x575.png" alt="" class="wp-image-4097" srcset="https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-1024x575.png 1024w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-300x168.png 300w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-768x431.png 768w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-1536x862.png 1536w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-640x359.png 640w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-1200x673.png 1200w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-1920x1077.png 1920w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5-800x450.png 800w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/dffdfddf-5.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px" /></figure>



Note that our punting plays utilise&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://bit.ly/33CAA49" target="_blank">BetEasy’s three leg promotion offer of money back if one leg fails.</a>



This gives us a far better crack at a return should we miss the mark in a certain area, and it came in very handy last week!



Let’s take a look into tonight’s fixtures.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SHARKS v TITANS</h2>



OVERVIEW



Cronulla are playing some enterprising footy and will thrive
against the Titans leaky defence in what should be dry conditions in Sydney. 



I expect them to win this, and win it well. There’s fairly few
Draftstars guns in this contest so fitting players into your squad shouldn’t be
too difficult.



PUNTING PLAY



Same-game multi



<ul><li>Sharks 13+ @2.40</li><li>Total points over 43.5 @1.88</li><li>Mulitalo 2+ tries @5</li></ul>



Multi = $8.54



*<a href="https://beteasy.com.au/sports-betting/rugby-league/nrl/nrl-matches/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Using BetEasy offer</a>&nbsp;of money back if one leg fails.



GUNS



Shaun Johnson



I’d say Johnson has turned back the clock in recent months, but
that’d suggest he’s struggled with age. 



Plenty of critics have said that, I think he’s always been a
weapon, he’s just in particularly good form of late. If the Sharks pile the
points on he’ll be an absolute must own.



STARS TO AVOID



Sione Katoa



No major knock on, it’s simply that for some reason John Morris
switched him to the left edge last week and Ronaldo Mulitalo to the right. 



While it helps having Wade Graham on the left, the money spot at
Cronulla is the right edge outside SJ. 



VALUE



Ronaldo Mulitalo



Mulitalo will thrive on the right edge outside the firing SJ, I
can see him bagging a few tries on Saturday afternoon.



Siosifa Talakai



Talakai won his way to a starting edge role last week, again
outside SJ, and he’s kept it this week. 



He’s playing 80 minutes and could be in for some additional
attacking stats this week. At under $10k he’s terrific value.



AJ Brimson



Brimson has a few games back from injury and was the star of the
show in the win over the Cowboys. 



He’s an electric fullback and will demand plenty of ball in
attacking territory, while his support play is also very good. At $9k he looks
a nice addition.



COMBINATIONS



Cronulla’s right edge



Alright, you’re probably gathering the SJ fan boy theme here, but it’s warranted. I’ll be loading up on that edge with the players mentioned above.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">COWBOYS v RABBITOHS</h2>



OVERVIEW



The Rabbitohs should be winning this fairly comfortably. My only
concern at the moment is that teams fly in and out of Townsville in the one day
which is a big ask. 



The Bunnies pack isn’t great, and the Cowboys have a few big
guns returning, so that’s another thing to consider. 



As a result, I’ll be backing the Rabbitohs but won’t be going
crazy as it might be a tighter game than many are predicting.



PUNTING PLAY



Same-game multi



<ul><li>Rabbitohs -6.5 line @1.91</li><li>Over 41.5 points @1.88</li><li>Johnston 2+ tries @4.50</li></ul>



Multi = $8.23



*<a href="https://beteasy.com.au/sports-betting/rugby-league/nrl/nrl-matches/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Using BetEasy offer</a>&nbsp;of money back if one leg fails.



GUNS



Damien Cook



I get nervous if I ever don’t own Cook in Draftstars due to his
upside. He hasn’t been running like his usual self, especially last week, but
hopefully he can unleash on a dry track this weekend.



Jason Taumalolo



The best player across both packs by some margin and available
at a reasonable $16,740, nice.



STARS TO AVOID



Reece Robson



Unfortunately for Robson’s Draftstars prospects Jake Granville
is on the bench and is eating into his minutes. As such, it makes Cook an easy
option at hooker.



VALUE



Liam Knight



Keep an eye on final teams as this is based on reports that
he’ll start at lock with Cam Murray moving to the edge. 



Should it come through, I’m backing Knight to play a few extra
minutes and hopefully he unleashes his offload in the process. At under $10k
he’d be great value if he does start.



COMBINATIONS



Cody Walker and Cam Murray



Provided reports are correct and Murray shifts to the left edge
outside Walker I think they can carve up the Cowboys. 



I do prefer Murray as a middle forward, but as far as attacking stats go the opportunities open up on the edge.



<a id='mFdajQh_SwNL-Cbu9Ptq9g' class='gie-single' href='http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1258115977' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener noreferrer">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'mFdajQh_SwNL-Cbu9Ptq9g',sig:'hAGE4cDXX47fzmA5GwizANAMpXNvHpaqZsBNFX9Tx74=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1258115977',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">RAIDERS v BRONCOS</h2>



OVERVIEW



The Raiders are fairly decimated with injuries, but they’re
still playing some good footy, Penrith were just too good last week. 



At home against a putrid Broncos outfit who have just gone
through a week from hell, this should be a very one-sided outing. 



I’ll be going very heavy on Raiders attacking players while throwing
a few Broncos workhorses in the mix.



PUNTING PLAY



Same-game multi



<ul><li>Raiders 19+ @1.92</li><li>Croker to score a try @$1.85</li><li>Nicoll-Klokstad @$2.20</li></ul>



Multi = $5.39



*<a href="https://beteasy.com.au/sports-betting/rugby-league/nrl/nrl-matches/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Using BetEasy offer</a>&nbsp;of money back if one leg fails.



GUNS



Josh Papalii



Big Papa is an easy pick each week at the moment. He has
increased minutes and an increased role with several middles out injured. 



With Brisbane’s atrocious goal line defence he’s a huge chance
at nabbing a try too.



Pat Carrigan



Carrigan’s minutes were set to be reduced with cattle back, but
now with TPJ and Lodge both gone he should comfortably play 60+. He’s got a
massive engine on him and is a great pick up.



STARS TO AVOID



Joe Tapine



Tapine is playing some decent footy, but John Bateman’s return
has seen him play just 34 and 44 minutes the past two weeks. 



Surprisingly he’s still valued at almost $13k and with those
minutes he’s not worth the investment.



VALUE



Jarrod Croker



Croker is due to explode for a big points haul. He’s been very
close to some major attacking stats this season but has fallen just short time
and time again. 



If the Raiders rack up a score as predicted he’ll be in the
thick of it and will of course kick goals. At just over $8k he could easily
exceed his value.



COMBINATIONS



George Williams and John Bateman



These two played plenty of footy together back in England,
now they find themselves on the same edge in Canberra. They’ve got two games
together in green and will be fired up for this encounter. 



They’re both extremely confident footballers and will back themselves
to get the better of a fragile opposition defence. 



Williams is also far cheaper than Jack Wighton which is enticing in the halves.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class=""><tbody><tr><td>Stat</td><td>Points value</td></tr><tr><td>Try</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Try-assist</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Field goal</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Linebreak</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Tackle break</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Goal</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Linebreak assist</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Offload</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Tackle </td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Run metre gained</td><td>0.1</td></tr><tr><td>Kick metre gained</td><td>0.05</td></tr><tr><td>Error</td><td>-2</td></tr><tr><td>Missed tackle</td><td>0.05</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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Draftstars + punting preview: Saturday NRL fixtures

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