Spy Talk | Can I get to my perfect pre-origin team with my current squad value?

Gday everyone,



I hope you are absolutely flying and if not I think this could be your weekend to bounce back so stay ready and get confident again.



I was fortunate enough to find some form again last week in the wake of Garrick-gate the previous Sunday and I am aiming to go into attack mode now to try and capitalise on the money I made from selling Garrick.



But the question is how much money is enough? Do I have the cash cows required to then upgrade the players that I want in the coming 4-6 weeks.



Today, I&#8217;ll do a live look at how I personally figure that out without spreadsheets and the like. 



You may be able to employ a similar method using the logic from below.



Do you ever feel uneasy with how much you’re gambling with? You’re not alone, sport fans love a punt, but sometimes it can get a bit out of control. There’s help available with Gareth Wyatt and the team at CECAL. Contact here:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3L2yG1W">https://bit.ly/3L2yG1</a>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="http://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-1024x576.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2233272" srcset="https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-300x169.png 300w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-768x432.png 768w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-640x360.png 640w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-1200x675.png 1200w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1-800x450.png 800w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Email-Gareth.w@cecal.org_.au-Phone-9559-4013-1.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How I do it</h2>



Firstly, I have already made my trades for this weekend which will allow me to complete the most up to date review/audit of my squad. 



My squad is shown below for reference.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="515" height="800" src="https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screen-Shot-2025-04-03-at-1.09.28-pm.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2400534" style="width:1428px;height:auto" srcset="https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screen-Shot-2025-04-03-at-1.09.28-pm.png 515w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Screen-Shot-2025-04-03-at-1.09.28-pm-193x300.png 193w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 515px" /></figure>



Next up I look at everyone I would consider a future trade out in order to get to my ideal pre-Origin squad. 



Really I am not looking deeper at this stage because I just want a strong squad as soon as possible and then do another review during/post Origin.



The players I have identified as likely trade out are listed below along with an estimated price I hope to sell them at. 



Next to them I have indicated the player that I likely will trade them to and their estimate price. 



This way we can see what the gap would be in terms of salary cap/money that I will need to make it happen.



Obviously trades can change and some player may become keepers whilst other trade in target may fall out of this category but we can adapt as that happens.



Additionally whilst some players may be able to get to a higher selling price if I can sell before their peak rather than waiting a longer time for $50-100k then I will do so in order to maximise my point scoring potential.



<a id='elLXAQTXSUxk9Iq9QjQAlw' class='gie-single' href='http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2204062035' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'elLXAQTXSUxk9Iq9QjQAlw',sig:'gyT469rx2syzwfb9wpni-AQnEXuERJij6XT-R1jw2v4=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2204062035',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Pre-Origin Player Movements</h3>



From top to bottom, I will analyse and simply add up how much money ill need to make to get to my preferred pre origin team.



Player – Sell price – Player I want



<ul>
<li>Starling ($500k) – Harry Grant &#8211; $120k required to upgrade</li>



<li>Smith ($500k) – Downgrade or potential hold through the byes if he can impress. Assume hold for now</li>



<li>Preston ($680k) – Hold or Eli Katoa &#8211; $50k required to upgrade meaning I will need 170k in total for my planned trades so far</li>



<li>Seyfarth ($560k) – Fifita or similar &#8211; $90k required to upgrade (260k in total money needed to make planned trades)</li>



<li>Hubner ($450k) – Downgrade to make $260k ($0 in total money needed to make planned trades)</li>



<li>Harris Tevita ($550k) – Upgrade to Galvin $50k required to upgrade&nbsp;</li>



<li>Arthurs ($500k) – Upgrade to Dylan Lucas $150k required to upgrade (200k in total money needed to make planned trades)</li>



<li>Shibasaki ($550k) – Upgrade to Marzhew for equal money (200k remains required for my upgrades at this time)</li>



<li>Toia ($450k) – Upgrade to Garrick pre Origin $250k required (450k in total money needed to make planned trades)</li>



<li>Tamala ($450k) – Upgrade to Kiraz $200k required ($650 in total money needed to make planned trades)</li>



<li>To’a ($450k) – Downgrade to a cheapie bye period option to make 200k ($450k remains required to facilitate trades)</li>



<li>Purdue ($500k) – Downgrade to dual nuff to make $300k ($150k now required to facilitate trades)</li>



<li>Jenkins ($500k) – Upgrade to a gun FB for $200k. ($350k away from being able to make these trades)</li>
</ul>



If you can follow that in order as I went down through my squad I am estimating I require about $350,000 extra in order to trade in those players I have stated above. 



For most this would means a few more quality cheapies are needed or a realisation that 1 or 2 of the upgrades are not able to happen. 



But at least you will then know where you stand which will allow you to make good decisions for your trades when it comes to money makers or upgrades and how to balance these.



The good news for me is that I haven’t mentioned I have the below left in my bank after this weeks trades.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXftByHtfx97p2YXmAsn3XsDVz6f86kDUDNkidVyLSF8raCKuvVgHpoI8p_3lUf6wKogkaUxvynt9EsWBy_TV--eS9dAfiHUaLov6D_U0hocI2W7mrOE06iGsbSfdnpa4oJonMA7k4T_7AnHMkWFBGM?key=EjO7sg2Ygbltughpp6d-JIIa" alt=""/></figure>



This means if my estimates are correct I am close to be able to make my planned moves with the cash cows I already have. 



Of course cash values can change on a dime with a low or massive score but its just a guide to figure out if you are at least close to the mark in terms of being able to get the players that’s you want.



As always plans can change and I will 100% be grabbing some extra money makers but its good to know I’m close as of now and this can allow me to target gun upgrades for as a priority.



For further visual context here is my squad following all of the upgrades I have planned above to give an idea of how it will look pre origin if all goes to plan – Tick are upgrades&nbsp; and arrows are downgrades.



Cheers everyone,



Spy

Spy Talk | Chasing perfect NRL Supercoach pre-origin team with current squad value

Discussion (0)

Spy Talk | Papi Goal-Kicking, Drinkwater v Ponga & More

Spy Talk | NRL Supercoach Squad Balance

Spy Talk | Assessing the best Round 6 Trade Targets

Spy Talk | Low Breakeven Players for NRL Supercoach Round 4