Why SuperCoach NRL fans will love SuperCoach NBL – and what’s different

If you love playing SuperCoach NRL, you’re going to have a blast with SuperCoach NBL. Check out all the features you know and love – and what’s new.

If you love playing SuperCoach NRL, you’re going to have a blast with SuperCoach NBL.

Starting your own SuperCoach NBL team is easy. You can access NBL from the main menu and use the same login as your existing SuperCoach account.

And a lot of the features of the fantasy games we know and love will feel very familiar – selecting a team, picking captains, watching price changes and Break Evens and planning your trades, and of course the banter with friends and rivals.

But there are some fun new features that you need to get your head around. Fortunately, that won’t take long. Here’s a quick guide.

TRADES

In SuperCoach NBL every coach has two trades per round (three if you activate one of four Trade Boosts), so you’ll never run out.

Bryce Cotton is the Nathan Cleary of SuperCoach NBL. Picture: James Worsfold/Getty Images

A new game means new superstars to get to know and love. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

BENCH SCORING

This is a big one. Your SuperCoach NBL team has five starters on court and five bench players each week – and 50 per cent of your bench scores count towards your tally for the round.

This is a great reward for selecting back-ups who score well, and helps reduce anxiety some coaches feel from ‘rookie roulette’ – trying to guess which cheapies to include in your starting line-up on a given week. It also means selecting a non-playing bench player will cut into your points total – avoid the vice-captain loophole in this game.

AUTO EMERGENCY

No need to nominate emergencies in SuperCoach NBL. If one of your starters doesn’t play, the lowest-scoring bench player will automatically take their place – so you’ll get 100 per cent of his score, and 50 per cent for each of your other reserves.

Kyrin Galloway has moved from the 36ers to Cairns Taipans this season. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

FIXTURE

Each round usually runs from Thursday night to Sunday or Monday, but the number of matches per round can vary depending on each team’s travel schedule; AFL and NRL teams don’t generally jet overseas for two weeks mid-season, but that’s exactly what the New Zealand Breakers are doing in October.

The schedule will play a key role in your selection and trade strategy – target players from teams that feature twice in a round, and dodge single-round players and byes!

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENTS

NRL fans are used to team list Tuesdays. In the NBL teams announce their squads 24 hours before they play. Keep an eye on social media and watch for the green dots in the SuperCoach platform to get the latest on player availability.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

NBL rosters are dynamic, with players able to be signed and released from contracts during the season, adding an extra dimension to fantasy trading.

You also see a lot more movement during the off-season with players moving between clubs and heading, or returning from, overseas.

Xavier Cooks is returning to the Sydney Kings after playing in Japan, while South East Melbourne has released champ Mitch Creek to search for international opportunities, to name just two.

Some of the stars of season one of SuperCoach NBL aren’t returning, but the arrival of overseas players creates lots of opportunities for bargain hunters. Stay tuned for more intel on who to pick this season!

Originally published as Why SuperCoach NRL fans will love SuperCoach NBL – and what’s different