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Welcome Robbo fans to another year of XRL and another year of Robbo's famous draft review! Robbo woke up this morning feeling a bit dusty, have dreamt a vivid dream of laser tag, shots, beers, strippers, and general debauchery...wait that wasn't a dream!! The strippers wanted some more of Robbo this morning but he extricated himself from their sleepy embrace. "I've got a draft review to write!" he loudly declared to nobody listening, and raced off to the slide rule and calculator to run his measure over the results of yesterday's dual-location draft. Pencil sharpened, keen eye honed by hours of viewing breast and buttock, Robbo sat himself down and pulled no punches in evaluating the highs and lows of the day that was the 2020 draft. Please file all complaints by dialing 1800-RobboDoesn'tGiveAFuck and yes that is a fake number, go fuck yourself if you're unhappy and draft better next time.
BOX Oxford United Boxes
By the time 2nd and 4th round selections Cameron McInnes and John Bateman hit the field eight or more weeks into the year, the Boxes campaign might be on life support. Without those two players this team has no core beyond Teddy, Garrick, and Barnett, and will heavily rely on young or unproven talent like Lachlan Lewis, George Williams, and Liam Martin to carry them through. Fully fit and firing this team is a contender, but it’s not fully fit so that is a bad start.
Grade: C - You're supposed to AVOID injuries.
Nailed it: Mitchell Barnett R5 69
Reaching: Lachlan Lewis R6 72
Smokey: Liam Martin R12 155
BWS Bondi Wet Sox
This newly rebranded franchise attempted to replicate their freak 2019 effort by opening with two strong PMs, but after an early run on kickers they pulled the trigger on NFL reject Val Holmes in the third round when the forward options were still solid. The result is a core of Friend, DCE, Val, and To’o with only one forward in AFB, so fringe players Liam Knight, Isaiah Papalii, Briton Nikora, and Herman Ese’ese will need to step up to keep this team in the running. This team could be great thanks to value up and down the draft but the potential to crash and burn is real. Bryce Cartwright in the later rounds was an apt selection, metaphorically speaking.
Grade: B - Promising but not perfect.
Nailed It: Valentine Holmes R3 34
Reaching: Tyrone Roberts R7 90
Smokey: Liam Knight R6 76
CBT CB Transport Truckers
Coach Crubbsy’s number cruncher took one look at Payne Haas’s PPG and knew he must have him. The team isn’t as reliable from there, with Kyle Flanagan unproven, Mitch Rein’s minutes an unknown, and the Jack Williams pick a complete flyer. Will Hop and Charnze are solid performers with runs on the board, which will be vital to back up Haas and lay a platform. The later middle rounds don’t excite with Frizz, Gagai, and McCullough creaking at the seams, so much of this team’s fortunes will ride on Flanno to kick this team to the finals.
Grade: C - Too many bets in the early rounds.
Nailed It: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad R4 51
Reaching: Kyle Flanagan R2 23
Smokey: Jack Williams R6 79
COU Coolangatta Cougars
Reasonable core here, with J Turbo, Sheck and Browny some very safe options at the top of the draft. Jayden Brailey went too early with his minutes unknown. Zac Lomax might have been slightly early but the huge drop off in kickers after him probably means the risk of waiting further was too much and the Cougars might thank themselves for that one. Good value down the draft, with Xerri, Garner, Douehi, Levi, Ugly Tom Burgess, Mbye, Butcher, and Flegler all very promising players this year. This was a good draft and the Cougars can feel confident in their core with potential to go far on their value picks.
Grade: B - Promising but not perfect.
Nailed It: Bronson Xerri R7 94
Reaching: Jayden Brailey R4 44
Smokey: Adam Douehi R10 130
DIN MacLaren’s Dingos
Best draft of the day, said more than one observer, as the Dingos made the most of their picks and built a very impressive roster. They assembled a fantastic core through 6 rounds with Moses, Tolman, Taupau, Gutho, Fifita, and Walker, and then found value through to the very end. JMK, Leeson, Whitehead, Suli, Naden could all put up good numbers this year, though the top 6 picks alone will take this team far. Early favourite for the comp on the back of an expert draft, the Dingos are the team to beat in 2020.
Grade: A - Draft of the day.
Nailed It: David Fifita R5 60
Reaching: Curtis Sironen R8 102
Smokey: Jeremy Marshall-King R10 135
DRU Downtown Druggies
Coach Karlo has learnt from two years of failure and produced an excellent draft in consultation with remote head coach Shazman. Jarrod Croker is unfashionable but delivers his numbers every year, then Matterson, Munster, Hunt and Marsters round out a strong core. Some value down the draft with Phillip Sami the standout pick, J Bromwich and Finucane will contribute, and potential from Fitzy and Burr. Some less impressive picks scattered throughout but overall an impressive draft from the improving coaching team.
Grade: B - Impressive improvement.
Nailed It: Ben Hunt R4 50
Reaching: Jahrome Hughes R8 106
Smokey: Paul Momirovski R6 77
GUN Newcastle Gunners
You gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em, that’s the gamblers refrain, and these gambling Gunners might have strayed a little close to the line at times whilst coming off an all-time XRL low in 2019. Somehow only emboldened by failure, the Gunners backed their judgment over preparation and common sense, laying huge bets down on most of their high picks. Ryan Papenhuyzen has as yet done nothing to justify going before T Turbo, and Kenny Maumalo in R3 is a hilarious but also kind of sad joke. There are warning signs on Milford, Angus Crichton is not up to the task of pack leader, AJ Brimson has yet to convert his potential into points, and Bailey Simonsson is a fringe back at best. There’s no core here, so don’t be surprised when the Gunners are ejected from the casino with empty pockets, or worse.
Grade: D - The inmates are running the asylum.
Nailed It: Jarrod Wallace R8 110
Reaching: Ken Maumalo R3 33
Smokey: Corey Horsburgh R11 151
LMB Liddle Lambs
This is a strong roster with a convincing core but are let down by their omission of any goalkicker of note. Cook, T Turbo, J Papalii, Koroisau, Bird and K Brom will take this team far, with Tariq Sims, DWZ, Campbell and Chaddy playing strong supporting roles. Unfortunately Ashley Taylor’s entire career is a bust in Robbo’s eyes, and he will surely not kick goals or justify his pick in round 6. Some decent potential down the draft, these Lambs will need some of their fringe bets to pay off to generate some capital for the goalkicker trade market.
Grade: C - Goalkickers score a lot of points.
Nailed It: Kenneath Bromwich R7 85
Reaching: Ashley Taylor R6 71
Smokey: Luciano Leilua R8 112
MIN Coal Miners
The defending premiers stuck to their winning strategy, favouring experience and runs on the board over fanciful long shots, and the result is an imposing roster lacking only in X factor.
[3 minutes pass – thinking music plays]
A strong core of Cleary, Fifita, Hodgson, Miss Jackson, and Fingers Fergo will go far and the supporting cast is just as solid, with Graham, Fotuaika, Aitken, Merrin and Feldt all fairly safe bets to contribute. Robbo does wonder why the Miners opposed introducing 1 on 1 steals on the basis of having done their draft preparation without accounting for them, and then took the one player who benefits by far the most from them.
Grade: B - Too safe.
Nailed It: Blake Ferguson R5 66
Reaching: Jarome Luai R 11 142
Smokey: Bradman Best R15 198
MON Miami Monsters
Another desperate gambler pushing all his chips to the middle, the Monsters backed instinct over considered strategy and came up with a wild draft that rivals the Gunners for unnecessary long shots in the early rounds. Mitchell Pearce isn’t a first rounder, Cameron Murray faces questions over his role and is coming off an outlier year of unsustainable try scoring. Kotoni Staggs might be a decent goalkicker but would’ve been there in the 5th round, and Patrick Carrigan would’ve been there in the 8th. With that kind of opening, this draft desperately needed some steadiness. Fortunately the Monsters recovered with a quality second half, where Tohu Harris and TPJ provide some starch, Blake Green and Brett Morris some experience, and then came some great value picks in Oates, Luke, Isaako, Watkins, and Nikorima. It’s not the worst draft of the day, but thanks to the first four picks it’s pretty close.
Grade: D - Read the room.
Nailed It: Tohu Harris R5 59
Reaching: Patrick Carrigan R4 45
Smokey: Jamayne Isaako R12 162
PUN Happy Punters
The Punters played for power this year, taking almost a full forward pack before even considering another position, which limited their ability to find value down the draft as they just couldn’t take any more forwards despite the quality still out there. They also may have missed on a goalkicker, with two potentials but no certainties in this roster. At least they didn’t overspend on a second/third-tier kicker in the third round like some. Taumalolo, Klemmer and Arrow will oil the muscles and provide the brawn, but for all his size Kikau is too inconsistent to be one of the real big boys. Blayke Brailey is unproven, Michael Morgan is yet to own his role, and Jesse Ramien’s most notable career trait is being consistently disappointing. Decent value in the middle rounds helps this draft remain competitive, but D Walker, Moylan and Whare are total has beens and should have gone undrafted.
Grade: C - Unbalanced.
Nailed It: Jai Arrow R3 32
Reaching: Viliame Kikau R4 46
Smokey: Blayke Brailey R5 63
ROX Rocket Scientists
The Rox have their drafting strategy down to a science these days, and they followed the formula with another good draft. Reynolds, JFH, Trell, Toups, and Jazz fill a strong core, and the middle rounds were solid. The only weakness here is the later rounds were too speculative and a year or three too early in those players careers. This team will make the finals but there might not be enough big payouts from the safe bets in the first half to go all the way. Sometimes you have to reach for more and like the Miners this team might just be too safe.
Grade: B - Too safe.
Nailed It: Latrell Mitchell R3 39
Reaching: Brodie Croft R7 97
Smokey: Matthew Eisenhuth R6 83
WOL London Werewolves
The Wolves are another team who know how to turn in a quality draft year in year out. This is an exciting roster with value up and down the draft. There is a big risk with Kalyn Ponga’s goalkicking, which is by no means guaranteed, but then there are plenty of solid players with bets laid in all the right places. The core is strong, with Ponga, Mahoney, Brooks, SST and Twal capable of laying the platform. Keary is a great contender to step up, Woodsy has only his own fitness levels to contend with, and Jayden Okunbor could put it all together this year. Braidon Burns and Waqa Blake have great potential and are well set up to succeed. There is real potential for the Wolves to go all the way at last.
Grade: A - Great balance of safe picks and smart bets.
Nailed It: Luke Brooks R3 38
Reaching: Siosiua Taukeiaho R4 52
Smokey: Luke Keary R6 84
XIII The XIII
Spent the top pick on the perennial top choice Cameron Smith, the XIII will need to be wary of father time but you can’t fault their faith in the crafty old general. PV, McG, Nofo and Sivo round out a great core, with bets well-timed on BJ, NAS, and JAC. This was a very solid draft with value found in Aubbo, the Block of Cheese, and Saab. Not every pick was perfect but overall, this team should be a contender. If a couple of those bets find the mark, watch out for the XIII at last.
Grade: B - Promising but not perfect.
Nailed It: Maika Sivo R5 67
Reaching: Corey Norman R8 109
Smokey: Joseph Leilua R6 74
BOX Oxford United Boxes
By the time 2nd and 4th round selections Cameron McInnes and John Bateman hit the field eight or more weeks into the year, the Boxes campaign might be on life support. Without those two players this team has no core beyond Teddy, Garrick, and Barnett, and will heavily rely on young or unproven talent like Lachlan Lewis, George Williams, and Liam Martin to carry them through. Fully fit and firing this team is a contender, but it’s not fully fit so that is a bad start.
Grade: C - You're supposed to AVOID injuries.
Nailed it: Mitchell Barnett R5 69
Reaching: Lachlan Lewis R6 72
Smokey: Liam Martin R12 155
BWS Bondi Wet Sox
This newly rebranded franchise attempted to replicate their freak 2019 effort by opening with two strong PMs, but after an early run on kickers they pulled the trigger on NFL reject Val Holmes in the third round when the forward options were still solid. The result is a core of Friend, DCE, Val, and To’o with only one forward in AFB, so fringe players Liam Knight, Isaiah Papalii, Briton Nikora, and Herman Ese’ese will need to step up to keep this team in the running. This team could be great thanks to value up and down the draft but the potential to crash and burn is real. Bryce Cartwright in the later rounds was an apt selection, metaphorically speaking.
Grade: B - Promising but not perfect.
Nailed It: Valentine Holmes R3 34
Reaching: Tyrone Roberts R7 90
Smokey: Liam Knight R6 76
CBT CB Transport Truckers
Coach Crubbsy’s number cruncher took one look at Payne Haas’s PPG and knew he must have him. The team isn’t as reliable from there, with Kyle Flanagan unproven, Mitch Rein’s minutes an unknown, and the Jack Williams pick a complete flyer. Will Hop and Charnze are solid performers with runs on the board, which will be vital to back up Haas and lay a platform. The later middle rounds don’t excite with Frizz, Gagai, and McCullough creaking at the seams, so much of this team’s fortunes will ride on Flanno to kick this team to the finals.
Grade: C - Too many bets in the early rounds.
Nailed It: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad R4 51
Reaching: Kyle Flanagan R2 23
Smokey: Jack Williams R6 79
COU Coolangatta Cougars
Reasonable core here, with J Turbo, Sheck and Browny some very safe options at the top of the draft. Jayden Brailey went too early with his minutes unknown. Zac Lomax might have been slightly early but the huge drop off in kickers after him probably means the risk of waiting further was too much and the Cougars might thank themselves for that one. Good value down the draft, with Xerri, Garner, Douehi, Levi, Ugly Tom Burgess, Mbye, Butcher, and Flegler all very promising players this year. This was a good draft and the Cougars can feel confident in their core with potential to go far on their value picks.
Grade: B - Promising but not perfect.
Nailed It: Bronson Xerri R7 94
Reaching: Jayden Brailey R4 44
Smokey: Adam Douehi R10 130
DIN MacLaren’s Dingos
Best draft of the day, said more than one observer, as the Dingos made the most of their picks and built a very impressive roster. They assembled a fantastic core through 6 rounds with Moses, Tolman, Taupau, Gutho, Fifita, and Walker, and then found value through to the very end. JMK, Leeson, Whitehead, Suli, Naden could all put up good numbers this year, though the top 6 picks alone will take this team far. Early favourite for the comp on the back of an expert draft, the Dingos are the team to beat in 2020.
Grade: A - Draft of the day.
Nailed It: David Fifita R5 60
Reaching: Curtis Sironen R8 102
Smokey: Jeremy Marshall-King R10 135
DRU Downtown Druggies
Coach Karlo has learnt from two years of failure and produced an excellent draft in consultation with remote head coach Shazman. Jarrod Croker is unfashionable but delivers his numbers every year, then Matterson, Munster, Hunt and Marsters round out a strong core. Some value down the draft with Phillip Sami the standout pick, J Bromwich and Finucane will contribute, and potential from Fitzy and Burr. Some less impressive picks scattered throughout but overall an impressive draft from the improving coaching team.
Grade: B - Impressive improvement.
Nailed It: Ben Hunt R4 50
Reaching: Jahrome Hughes R8 106
Smokey: Paul Momirovski R6 77
GUN Newcastle Gunners
You gotta know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em, that’s the gamblers refrain, and these gambling Gunners might have strayed a little close to the line at times whilst coming off an all-time XRL low in 2019. Somehow only emboldened by failure, the Gunners backed their judgment over preparation and common sense, laying huge bets down on most of their high picks. Ryan Papenhuyzen has as yet done nothing to justify going before T Turbo, and Kenny Maumalo in R3 is a hilarious but also kind of sad joke. There are warning signs on Milford, Angus Crichton is not up to the task of pack leader, AJ Brimson has yet to convert his potential into points, and Bailey Simonsson is a fringe back at best. There’s no core here, so don’t be surprised when the Gunners are ejected from the casino with empty pockets, or worse.
Grade: D - The inmates are running the asylum.
Nailed It: Jarrod Wallace R8 110
Reaching: Ken Maumalo R3 33
Smokey: Corey Horsburgh R11 151
LMB Liddle Lambs
This is a strong roster with a convincing core but are let down by their omission of any goalkicker of note. Cook, T Turbo, J Papalii, Koroisau, Bird and K Brom will take this team far, with Tariq Sims, DWZ, Campbell and Chaddy playing strong supporting roles. Unfortunately Ashley Taylor’s entire career is a bust in Robbo’s eyes, and he will surely not kick goals or justify his pick in round 6. Some decent potential down the draft, these Lambs will need some of their fringe bets to pay off to generate some capital for the goalkicker trade market.
Grade: C - Goalkickers score a lot of points.
Nailed It: Kenneath Bromwich R7 85
Reaching: Ashley Taylor R6 71
Smokey: Luciano Leilua R8 112
MIN Coal Miners
The defending premiers stuck to their winning strategy, favouring experience and runs on the board over fanciful long shots, and the result is an imposing roster lacking only in X factor.
[3 minutes pass – thinking music plays]
A strong core of Cleary, Fifita, Hodgson, Miss Jackson, and Fingers Fergo will go far and the supporting cast is just as solid, with Graham, Fotuaika, Aitken, Merrin and Feldt all fairly safe bets to contribute. Robbo does wonder why the Miners opposed introducing 1 on 1 steals on the basis of having done their draft preparation without accounting for them, and then took the one player who benefits by far the most from them.
Grade: B - Too safe.
Nailed It: Blake Ferguson R5 66
Reaching: Jarome Luai R 11 142
Smokey: Bradman Best R15 198
MON Miami Monsters
Another desperate gambler pushing all his chips to the middle, the Monsters backed instinct over considered strategy and came up with a wild draft that rivals the Gunners for unnecessary long shots in the early rounds. Mitchell Pearce isn’t a first rounder, Cameron Murray faces questions over his role and is coming off an outlier year of unsustainable try scoring. Kotoni Staggs might be a decent goalkicker but would’ve been there in the 5th round, and Patrick Carrigan would’ve been there in the 8th. With that kind of opening, this draft desperately needed some steadiness. Fortunately the Monsters recovered with a quality second half, where Tohu Harris and TPJ provide some starch, Blake Green and Brett Morris some experience, and then came some great value picks in Oates, Luke, Isaako, Watkins, and Nikorima. It’s not the worst draft of the day, but thanks to the first four picks it’s pretty close.
Grade: D - Read the room.
Nailed It: Tohu Harris R5 59
Reaching: Patrick Carrigan R4 45
Smokey: Jamayne Isaako R12 162
PUN Happy Punters
The Punters played for power this year, taking almost a full forward pack before even considering another position, which limited their ability to find value down the draft as they just couldn’t take any more forwards despite the quality still out there. They also may have missed on a goalkicker, with two potentials but no certainties in this roster. At least they didn’t overspend on a second/third-tier kicker in the third round like some. Taumalolo, Klemmer and Arrow will oil the muscles and provide the brawn, but for all his size Kikau is too inconsistent to be one of the real big boys. Blayke Brailey is unproven, Michael Morgan is yet to own his role, and Jesse Ramien’s most notable career trait is being consistently disappointing. Decent value in the middle rounds helps this draft remain competitive, but D Walker, Moylan and Whare are total has beens and should have gone undrafted.
Grade: C - Unbalanced.
Nailed It: Jai Arrow R3 32
Reaching: Viliame Kikau R4 46
Smokey: Blayke Brailey R5 63
ROX Rocket Scientists
The Rox have their drafting strategy down to a science these days, and they followed the formula with another good draft. Reynolds, JFH, Trell, Toups, and Jazz fill a strong core, and the middle rounds were solid. The only weakness here is the later rounds were too speculative and a year or three too early in those players careers. This team will make the finals but there might not be enough big payouts from the safe bets in the first half to go all the way. Sometimes you have to reach for more and like the Miners this team might just be too safe.
Grade: B - Too safe.
Nailed It: Latrell Mitchell R3 39
Reaching: Brodie Croft R7 97
Smokey: Matthew Eisenhuth R6 83
WOL London Werewolves
The Wolves are another team who know how to turn in a quality draft year in year out. This is an exciting roster with value up and down the draft. There is a big risk with Kalyn Ponga’s goalkicking, which is by no means guaranteed, but then there are plenty of solid players with bets laid in all the right places. The core is strong, with Ponga, Mahoney, Brooks, SST and Twal capable of laying the platform. Keary is a great contender to step up, Woodsy has only his own fitness levels to contend with, and Jayden Okunbor could put it all together this year. Braidon Burns and Waqa Blake have great potential and are well set up to succeed. There is real potential for the Wolves to go all the way at last.
Grade: A - Great balance of safe picks and smart bets.
Nailed It: Luke Brooks R3 38
Reaching: Siosiua Taukeiaho R4 52
Smokey: Luke Keary R6 84
XIII The XIII
Spent the top pick on the perennial top choice Cameron Smith, the XIII will need to be wary of father time but you can’t fault their faith in the crafty old general. PV, McG, Nofo and Sivo round out a great core, with bets well-timed on BJ, NAS, and JAC. This was a very solid draft with value found in Aubbo, the Block of Cheese, and Saab. Not every pick was perfect but overall, this team should be a contender. If a couple of those bets find the mark, watch out for the XIII at last.
Grade: B - Promising but not perfect.
Nailed It: Maika Sivo R5 67
Reaching: Corey Norman R8 109
Smokey: Joseph Leilua R6 74