Updated: Team Announcement: 2020 runner-up Tim Williams drops squad

Not a fan at all, priced fairly high and the Cowboys roster doesn&#8217;t convince me at all. In two games at centre to end last season he had scores of 41 and 34, with a base of just 23 and 19. Would much prefer him at fullback.

what do you think about valentine Holmes at center

Cheers Anton. Yep, that position is killing me, really want Munster, but not quite enough to wait another week at this stage! SJ always deliver&#8230; when fit&#8230;

Like it Timmy. Lots of solid picks across the park. Like you I struggled to find a gun 5/8 without losing a key player I wasn&#8217;t prepared to lose. Running with SJ for now. Hoping he can return the faith for this hopeless Warriors fan.

Nice team. Are you happy to carry Howarth, Momoisea or Moeroa if not named? The Storm pair looking the least likely.

Agreed. For me it was to’o vs Angus in my squad and I’ve decided to go with to’o.

Yeah it is, that Crichton spot could easily downgrade to leave cash for a higher ceiling position (5/8, CTW). 
I do like those guys though, and think all barring Crichton are undervalued so there&#8217;s points and money to be made.

Never mind haha, I didn’t read the top part mate 😂

Mate, like the team. Was wondering if your mind will change on Cleary if he’s named for round 1?

You&#8217;ve gone a bit heavier in your 2rf than i thought you would Timmy.

The Cooma Stallions are out to go one step better than 2020’s runner-up finish, and about 432 spots better than last year’s 433rd placed finish.



Below I’ve dropped my SuperCoach side to start the season, with changes still possible, but I’m happy with it.



As always, I’m playing the long-term game and have spent a bit extra to get my cheapies right at the slight expense of my starting team, this year I think that’ll be more important than ever.



The team below has $70k cap space left which I&#8217;m happy with, allowing a bit more flexibility in coming weeks.



I’ve kept the analysis relatively brief as I’ve analysed all these players in my <a href="http://13.210.220.211/category/nrl/pre-season-nrl/squad-breakdown-pre-season-nrl/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Squad Breakdown articles, so go check them out on the site. </a>



Take me on by setting up a rivalry, team name: Cooma Stallions



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



Harry Grant // $644,700



Locked and loaded, regardless of bench or starting, although that’s not something we’ll know till Round 2 anyway.



He should comfortably finish as the top scoring hooker for the season.



Reserves:



Chris Randall // $245,500



Named to start in Round 1 I don’t feel there’s a case to leave him out. Cheap/mid-range hookers playing decent minutes are gold at this stage of the season.



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



Addin Fonua-Blake // $505,000



I really wanted to skimp on the FRF position and load it with mid-rangers, but I couldn&#8217;t manage to find a partner to Jai Arrow that I could confidently lock in for 50 points.



That being said, I do think AFB is undervalued and has a decent ceiling for a prop.



Jai Arrow // $457,700



Starting on an edge, Arrow should significantly increase his 47 minute average from last season.



I love that he’s dual FRF-2RF, and he’s in an attacking outfit on the edge (hopefully left) where he should jag a few extra tries.



It’ll be interesting to see how Jason Demetriou opts to utilise him.



Reserves:



Josh King // $255,800 and Max King // $188,700



Haven&#8217;t the King&#8217;s come from the clouds this pre-season! Both are huge workers and have decent roles looking at things, although don&#8217;t expect Josh King to start every week when the cavalry return.



I was pretty keen on Andrew Fifita, but with a four forward bench named, and several forwards due back soon, he had to miss out.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2RF</h2>



David Fifita // $745,200



I don’t have the nads to start without Fifita, he’s a dead set freak who should play more minutes this season and could go bonkers.



Ryan Matterson // $569,300



This spot likely falls to Matterson for now, just ahead of Angus Crichton and Cam Murray as a premium 2RF option.



I really like Matterson at the price, but I’m concerned at what minutes he’ll get having been named at lock and with Nathan Brown lingering.



It&#8217;s one of my more uncertain selections, but I&#8217;m basing it on ability, both NRL and SuperCoach.



He&#8217;s a gun provided he gets the minutes, worst case scenario if he is only playing 60 I&#8217;ll flick him to one of the above in a few rounds time.



Jason Taumalolo // $485,700



I just think JT is seriously undervalued, worst case he holds his price, best case he’s $700k in a month’s time.



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Reserves:



Liam Martin // $428,500



My very speculative pick in the team. I think he’s very cheap for someone who should increase his 59 minutes from last season to 80 in 2022, that’s a significant rise.



He’s in the best team in the NRL, running off the best halfback in the NRL, what’s not to like? The loss of Cleary for a few weeks hurts, but I still can&#8217;t pass up the price.



Decent upside, and another who I can’t see how he would drop any value at all.



Izack Tago // $287,900



Looks a gun and is assured of a starting left centre role for the defending premiers, not a bad spot to be.



He looks a guy we can play with confidence in 17s each week too.



I&#8217;m annoyed I don&#8217;t have him at CTW, but lots of strong cheapies/mid-rangers emerged there, so it forced my hand.



Kelma Tuilagi // $253,900



Starting edge back-row for the Tigers, very nice.



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



Sam Walker // $545,900



Simply I just think Walker is a star. He was outstanding as an 18-year-old in his debut season which he played the majority of under an injury cloud in a decimated team.



Likely kicking goals, a pre-season under his belt to beef up and mature, very exciting.



Reserve:



Brad Schneider // $188,700



Job security is a huge issue here, but realistically it is for most cheapies.



At $188k, kicking goals, a ball running half, soft opening games, he&#8217;s pretty hard to pass up.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five-eighth</h2>



Jackson Hastings // $350,700



We have a Man of Steel winner priced at just $350k, that’s hard to ignore.



However, if there&#8217;s one change before lockout it&#8217;ll probably be Hastings. I&#8217;m not convinced by the Tigers, and I want to see him goal-kicking.



The Tigers friendly early season draw helps.



I haven’t ruled out Cam Munster in this spot, while Mitch Moses caught my attention very late on, but it wasn&#8217;t viable with duals, damn.



Reserve



Lachlan Ilias // $205,200



Very hard not to have at the price, I’ll be very hesitant playing him in my 17s in the first month though.



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



Kotoni Staggs // $433,100



Despite being burned in the past, twice, I want Staggs so bad. The man is just a gun, Brisbane have a soft draw after Round 1, and I just want him in my team.



As the Spy always says, if you start with a player that gets injured it’s only one trade to get them out, it’s two if you have to get them mid-season then they go down.



Tyrell Sloane excites me as a dual FLB-CTW, but I don’t think I can bring myself to gamble on a rookie at the Dragons.



Xavier Coates // $358,400



Coates has been locked into my starting side the minute he signed with Melbourne. I think he can average 65+ this season.



Billy Smith // $294,600



I&#8217;m a massive fan of Smith, playing in a gun team he&#8217;ll score well if staying fit.



Reserves (forth centre options):



Sean Russell // $285,400, Will Penisini // $255,700, Viliame Vailea // $205,100



All look safe bets to me. I&#8217;ll choose out of these guys who starts alongside the other three each week



Talatau Amone // $284,500



I&#8217;m not sold on Amone, but I think we are one genuine cheapie away from being able to leave him him.



However, he&#8217;s dual 5/8-CTW is very handy and looks a promising footballer.



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



James Tedesco // $760,100



The Roosters cavalry return, and Lord Ted will thrive off the back of it, in!



Reserve:



Ryan Papenhuyzen // $694,700



Provided he does play in Round 1 as named, Papy will partner Teddy.



If he’s a late out, it&#8217;ll be a forced late change, likely to Clint Gutherson who has a soft opening and can hopefully become Trbojevic in a month&#8217;s time.

Updated: Team Announcement: 2020 runner-up Tim Williams drops squad

Discussion (10)

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