SuperCoach mystery surrounds English invaders in 2019 season

Every SuperCoach season we’re enticed by a new batch of English stars heading south with high reputations. Here’s how the 2019 crop of imports are shaping up.

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Every SuperCoach season we’re enticed by a new batch of English stars heading south with high reputations.

Regardless of UK form, the mystery surrounding the fresh faces makes them a massive Round 1 gamble.

As a general rule, English forwards tend to have greater success in the NRL which translates to SuperCoach points.

What impact will the English invaders have on SuperCoach?

Sam Burgess, Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead are among the recent stars to have made the successful transition.

Despite their UK dominance, backline players have a tendency to struggle in the NRL.

Sam Tomkins headlines a list containing elite Super League flyers Zak Hardaker, Joe Burgess, Greg Eden and Dan Sarginson.

Here’s how the 2019 crop of English invaders are shaping up:

John Bateman looms as a strong SuperCoach purchase. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

John Bateman, 2RF/CTW, ($400,000)

The most enticing prospect is Canberra Raiders recruit John Bateman.

The former Wigan utility was one of three men shortlisted for the Man of Steel award last season, while he was also nominated for the Golden Boot as the world’s best player.

Primarily a back-rower, Bateman is just as proficient playing in the middle or at centre.

His stats from 2018 are appealing to say the least.

Across 27 games, Bateman averaged 23 tackles, 16.4 runs, 2.4 offloads and 4.4 tackle breaks.

Factor in his ability to amass attacking stats and we’ve got what appears, at least on paper, to be a SuperCoach star.

Bateman produced strong stats in his time with Wigan. (AAP Image/Craig Golding) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

But what minutes will Bateman command in a stacked Raiders pack?

He’ll likely start on either an edge or at lock, but he’s among a forward unit including Josh Papalii, Sia Soliola, Elliott Whitehead and Joe Tapine.

If Bateman plays 50+ minutes, which is a reasonably safe assumption, he looms as a terrific buy.

If he plays 60+, or potentially 80 minutes, he’ll be a must-have for every side to start the year with keeper potential.

Furthermore, Bateman’s $400k price tag equates to an average of approximately 40 points per game.

Verdict: Buy

Canberra signing Ryan Sutton will be relevant with increased minutes. Picture: Canberra Raiders

Ryan Sutton, FRF, ($320,000)

Fellow Raiders recruit Ryan Sutton has a strong work ethic, but will likely start as a reserve in the nation’s capital.

Rightly so, he’s almost $100k cheaper than his fellow countrymen, equating to an average of approximately 34 points.

The lightweight front-rower has the engine to play big minutes in the middle of the park.

In 24 games for Wigan last season, Sutton averaged 26 tackles and 13.1 runs.

Unfortunately, key SuperCoach categories of tackle breaks and offloads aren’t key components of his game.

If Sutton starts there’s merit in the buy, but he looms as more of a wait and watch prospect.

Should form warrant or injuries strike, Sutton could command decent minutes in which case he’d be a great cash cow.

Verdict: Wait

Ryan Hall could figure if given a crack on the Roosters wing. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Ryan Hall, CTW, ($316,000)

For obvious reasons, English great Ryan Hall shouldn’t be in any teams to begin the season.

However he could become a major factor later in the year.

The Sydney Roosters recruit ruptured his ACL while playing for Leeds in August and as a result will miss the beginning of the season.

Regardless, he’d have started his campaign playing for feeder club North Sydney with Daniel Tupou and Brett Morris to fill the wing spots.

Should Hall eventually receive an NRL call-up, there is upside to the potential cash cow.

Priced around a 34 point average, you’d back the prolific try scorer to cross the line on the end of a superstar backline.

In 20 appearances last season, Hall scored nine tries, had 18 linebreaks, averaged 16.3 runs, 3.9 tackle breaks and 1.1 offloads.

Verdict: Pass

MOST POPULAR SUPERCOACH PLAYERS 2019

Rank	First name	Last name	Team	Ownership
1	Zac	Lomax	STG	50.50%
2	Payne	Haas	BRO	49.40%
3	Tevita	Pangai	BRO	48.40%
4	James	Tedesco	SYD	40.90%
5	Kalyn	Ponga	NEW	36.50%
6	Jake	Trbojevic	MNL	34.20%
7	Tom	Trbojevic	MNL	30.00%
8	Damien	Cook	STH	29.10%
9	Albert	Hopoate	MNL	28.90%
10	Latrell	Mitchell	SYD	28.70%
11	Kurt	Capewell	SHA	28.50%
12	Cameron	Murray	STH	25.20%
13	Martin	Taupau	MNL	24.80%
14	Michael	Morgan	NQC	24.40%
15	Jason	Taumalolo	NQC	24.10%
16	Nathan	Cleary	PTH	23.80%
17	Chanel	Harris-Tavita	NZL	23.80%
18	Sam	Burgess	STH	22.10%
19	Elliott	Whitehead	CBR	20.60%
20	Kurt	Mann	NEW	20.20%
21	Jack	Bird	BRO	20.10%
22	Taane	Milne	NZL	18.50%
23	Victor	Radley	SYD	17.80%
24	Joe	Stimson	MEL	17.10%
25	Cameron	Munster	MEL	16.70%
26	Cameron	Smith	MEL	16.60%
27	Viliame	Kikau	PTH	16.50%
28	Jai	Arrow	GCT	15.40%
29	Shaun	Johnson	SHA	15.10%
30	Kyle	Flanagan	SHA	14.90%
31	Greg	Leleisiuao	PAR	14.30%
32	Bronson	Xerri	SHA	14.00%
33	Rhyse	Martin	BUL	13.50%
34	Dylan	Napa	BUL	13.30%
35	Angus	Crichton	SYD	13.20%
36	Corey	Waddell	MNL	13.20%
37	Ben	Barba	NQC	12.70%
38	Kotoni	Staggs	BRO	12.70%
39	Billy	Magoulias	SHA	12.70%
40	Josh	Hodgson	CBR	12.30%
41	Esan	Marsters	WST	12.20%
42	Matt	Gillett	BRO	12.20%
43	Maika	Sivo	PAR	11.80%
44	Andrew	Fifita	SHA	11.40%
45	Bryce	Cartwright	GCT	11.40%
46	Jamayne	Isaako	BRO	11.10%
47	Jesse	Ramien	NEW	10.70%
48	Patrick	Carrigan	BRO	10.70%
49	Dylan	Brown	PAR	10.60%
50	Jaeman	Salmon	PAR	10.60%
51	Corey	Allan	STH	9.90%
52	Clint	Gutherson	PAR	9.60%
53	Tom	Eisenhuth	MEL	9.60%
54	Morgan	Harper	BUL	9.40%
55	Adam	Keighran	NZL	9.00%
56	Zac	Woolford	NEW	8.80%
57	Alexander	Brimson	GCT	8.40%
58	Matthew	Moylan	SHA	8.20%
59	Te Maire	Martin	NQC	7.60%
60	Jed	Cartwright	PTH	7.40%
61	David	Klemmer	NEW	7.30%
62	Briton	Nikora	SHA	7.00%
63	Josh	Papalii	CBR	7.00%
64	Mahe	Fonua	WST	6.80%
65	Brandon	Smith	MEL	6.70%
66	Tristan	Sailor	STG	6.60%
67	Reuben	Garrick	MNL	6.60%
68	Gareth	Widdop	STG	6.30%
69	Josh	Kerr	STG	6.30%
70	Bevan	French	PAR	6.20%
71	Ryan	Matterson	WST	6.10%
72	Ryan	James	GCT	6.10%
73	Jesse	Arthars	GCT	6.00%
74	Anthony	Milford	BRO	5.90%
75	Andrew	McCullough	BRO	5.70%
76	Nathan	Brown	PAR	5.70%
77	Cameron	McInnes	STG	5.60%
78	Greg	Inglis	STH	5.60%
79	Blayke	Brailey	SHA	5.60%
80	Paul	Vaughan	STG	5.40%
81	Ryan	Sutton	CBR	5.40%
82	Scott	Sorensen	SHA	5.30%
83	Josh	Mansour	PTH	5.20%
84	Jarrod	Croker	CBR	5.20%
85	Joseph	Manu	SYD	5.10%
86	Lachlan	Fitzgibbon	NEW	4.90%
87	Nick	Meaney	BUL	4.90%
88	Wayde	Egan	PTH	4.90%
89	Kayleb	Milne	MEL	4.80%
90	Aiden	Tolman	BUL	4.80%
91	Javid	Bowen	NQC	4.80%
92	Corey	Horsburgh	CBR	4.70%
93	Daly	Cherry-Evans	MNL	4.60%
94	Mitchell	Moses	PAR	4.50%
95	Tyrone	Peachey	GCT	4.40%
96	Nick	Cotric	CBR	4.30%
97	Tom	Opacic	NQC	4.30%
98	Taniela	Paseka	MNL	4.20%
99	Paul	Momirovski	WST	4.20%
100	Jahrome	Hughes	MEL	4.10%

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Originally published as SuperCoach mystery surrounds English invaders in 2019 season