We’re not quite sure how it happened, but despite no one in the front bar being even remotely close to being a Newcastle fan, the Knights dominated our futures discussions (and betting cards!) as we kick off the 2020 NRL season.

Channeling our best Bob Hudson, we certainly didn’t let a chance go by at the front bar yesterday arv, getting appropriately shitfaced as Tuesday Teams dropped and enthusiasm levels spiked for Footy.

As the beer flowed like wine, we became even more convinced that our bets were excellent, so much so that we wrote them down here for others to soak in and wonder at.

If we left anyone or anything out, make sure you let us know. We’ll be taking footy, sport and bets all season at Club 20 Twitter .

Until then, as Tina Turner once said, what you get is what you see.

Top Points Scorer

Naturally you don’t win this market unless you are the main kicker for your team throughout the year, so we’re taking a risk on two guys a little further down in the market who should not only take the conversions but could well cross for plenty of meat pies in 2020. 

• Kayln Ponga 21.00

• Kyle Flanagan 26.00

If Mann/Watson can keep mason Lino out of the starting lineup for a few weeks, it should give Kayln Ponga the time he needs to establish himself as the primary kicking option all season. Add 8-10 tries to that mix and a Knights team on the rise, and he starts to become pretty appealing at his price. It’s a contract year for the young gun too, so he will be highly motivated to perform each week.

Youngster Kyle Flanagan has been given the halfback (and kicking) duties in the best team in town. His 18-pt individual haul in R13 last year at Shark Park provides a little glimpse into what he should be able to do in this team in 2020 at what is a pretty good price for the goal-kicking halfback of the premiership favourites. 

Top Try scorer 

Throwing four darts at this with two selections trying to slipstream the new 'don't tackle the kick receiver' rules which should greatly favour tall wingers in teams with halfbacks with accurate short kicking games.

Last two picks are, um, a little more out there...

• Daniel Tupou 23.00

• Phillip Sami 41.00

• David Nofoaluma @ 67.00

• Kayln Ponga 81.00  

Nofo being outside BJ Leilua should see him get plenty of chances to cross as Joey draws and passes (too soon Raiders fans?) whilst our Ponga love continues unchecked. The kid has the speed to beat the inside defender on a backline play, can hit that inside line off Lachie Fitzgibbon and it also wouldn’t surprise us to see him used as an option for Pearce’s kicks in that middle third of the ground on the goal line.

Leader after Round 5

This is a fun one to have a little punt on and looking at the draw we are on the Knights who get Warriors first up at home then play the Sharks, Tigers, Cows (home game) and Eagles. New coach and a team full of kids, the Knights look primed for a fast start to 2020 at great odds.

• Newcastle Knights @ 21.00

Dally M Medal 

Anyone betting Tedesco at 6’s needs their head read in a season full of bumps, bruises, injuries and controversies. Indeed the whole top of the board was almost unanimously overlooked at the front bar last night in favour of a little bit more bang for our buck in this second tier.

• Jason Taumalolo @ 21.00
• Kalyn Ponga @ 23.00

• Luke Brooks @ 34.00

Handicap Market

There are two sides that have caught our eyes in the handicap market which is always a fun one to have a punt on.

• West Tigers +12 @ 11.00

• Knights +10 @ 11.00

The Tigers look like a bit of a basket case heading into 2020 but digging a little deeper, they have good depth in the right positions, finally have a fullback (albeit one named at center in R1) and have (potentially) the most destructive center in the comp. If Joey Leilua has a career year, the Tigers will be top 4, and when guys like Matty Eiseo aren’t getting games, there could be more teeth at the Tigers than people think. 

The Knights are being written off by everyone and their aunty before a ball has been kicked despite having an excellent spine and a pack that could be the best mix of size and work rate in the comp. Club 20 have pushed a few chips in on young Ponga having a career year in 2020 so it follows they would move up the ladder if that happens. New coach massive (Browny was a horror show).

Round 1 Bets

•  Cows v Broncos 1-8pts @ 2.10

Going to be a heavy 10 in Townsville Friday night and these two teams love a close game. Defence should be a little more switched on than attack in these early rounds in general, we’re in on a close game in the Queensland derby. 

•  Knights v Warriors: Knights -6.5

The team the Warriors have named for Round 1 is fairly poop to put it mildly, so taking the Knights at home to start the season strong. Little bit of rain about only helps the Knights play through their big pack. 

• Raiders v Titans: Titans +9.5

• Curtis Scott Try @ 2.25, 2 Tries @ 7.00

The Raiders of 2020 are not the Raiders of 2019 and the Titans pre-season form was solid enough to back them to hold this line first up. Having said that we’re on Curtis Scott for a meat pie or two in his Raiders debut up against a Titans edge featuring both Carty and Peach.

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