Back-row duo boost scoring
WHEN building a second-row for your team, you need players who are known for their high output, can fill the stat columns that count most in SuperCoach, and have a handy extra that separates them from the rest of the back-rowers.
In Bulldog Rhyse Martin and Queensland Origin star Josh Papalii, you have two bona fide high-scorers who you can trust.
Martin is one of the most expensive second-rowers in the game but there’s some very good reasons why he is valued at $634,300.
Not only does that hefty price tag mean he scores, a lot, and would be among the highest scorers in last year’s competition, but it means you’ll have a consistent and constant flow of points when he’s on the field. There is the odd exception. Martin missed eight games last season and on two occasions scored just 10 points.
But in his other 14 games, he scored no fewer than 49 points and in one game scored a mammoth 153 points.
He’s a reliable metre-eater, but his role as goalkicker means he will always score points provided his radar is on, and the Bulldogs are scoring points.
Judging by the Bulldogs’ performances in 2018 and Martin’s individual scores, you might not have to worry too much about the rest.
Papalii is not the most popular second-row option.
Just last week, only eight per cent of SuperCoach owners had him in their side.
But the Raiders gun could be the point of difference you need to overcome your rival in the head-to-head stakes.
He played 22 games last season, scoring an average of 63.7 points per game.
Papalii’s scores hovered between a season low of 36 and high of 100, a mark of consistency few others possess.
He is often overlooked for the likes of Souths star and SuperCoach favourite Sam Burgess, and while it was tough for me to overlook the Rabbitohs legend I was happy to spend the extra $35,000 for Papalii due to his consistency, and Burgess’s frequent errors.
Martin and Papalii join Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga in my SuperCoach squad. Keep an eye on the Cairns Post as more of my roster is revealed.
sport@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost