NRL SuperCoach study guide 2018: New Zealand Warriors

WITH more than half of the starting team SuperCoach relevant, the Warriors loom as a side that could make or break the early stages of the 2018 competition.

Tim Williams

@twill345

4 min read

January 19, 2018 - 7:00AM

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THE Warriors loom as a side that could make or break the early stages of SuperCoach in 2018.

They’ve got an abundance of talent and attacking prowess that’s as reliable as Michael Maguire’s Tuesday team sheet.

More than half of the New Zealand starting line-up have major SuperCoach relevance, making their form vital to their credentials as purchases.

Here’s how they’re shaping for the upcoming season.

START PLAYING SUPERCOACH NOW WITH OUR 2018 TEAM PICKER

The Warriors could make or break the early stages of SuperCoach 2018

BEST 17

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Peta Hiku 3. Gerard Beale 4. Solomone Kata 5. David Fusitua 6. Blake Green 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Adam Blair 9. Issac Luke 10. Albert Vete 11. Tohu Harris 12. Agnatius Paasi 13. Simon Mannering 14. Nathaniel Roache 15. James Gavet 16. Sam Lisone 17. Leivaha Pulu

PLAYER MOVEMENTS

Ins: Tohu Harris (Storm), Gerard Beale (Sharks), Leivaha Pulu (Titans), Manaia Cherrington (Sharks), Adam Blair (Broncos), Peta Hiku (Warrington Wolves), Matiu Love-Henry (Norths Devils), Blake Green (Sea Eagles)

Outs: Kieran Foran (Bulldogs), Manu Vatuvei (Salford Red Devils), Ben Matulino (Wests Tigers), Bureta Faraimo (Hull FC), Charlie Gubb (Raiders), Toafofoa Sipley (Sea Eagles), Ryan Hoffman (Storm), Jacob Lillyman (Knights), Bodene Thompson (Leigh Centurions)

BYE

Round 13

Shaun Johnson will again be a must-have in the upcoming season

GUNS

Shaun Johnson (HFB-5/8, $641,000)

SJ has shed the SuperCoach ‘rollercoaster’ tag in past seasons and will again be a must-have at some point in the year, the question is when?

The slight query is the knee injury that forced Johnson to miss six of his last seven games last season.

He returned for one final game in round 25 against Manly where he knocked out a promising 65 points.

Couple that fixture with a reasonable World Cup campaign and many doubts about his return to form are dispelled.

Incredibly Johnson hasn’t averaged below 69 since 2013. Monitor trial form closely, particularly the frequency of his running game, and jump on without hesitation for the opening round if he looks the part.

Simon Mannering is as reliable as they come in SuperCoach

Simon Mannering (2RF, $660,400)

Much like Paul Gallen, Mannering is ageing gracefully in SuperCoach circles.

A small reduction in game time in the opening half of 2017 raised some concern for the Warriors veteran, but a return to a consistent 80 minutes later on reinforced his gun status.

His work rate is among the elite of the competition and his underrated ball-playing ability ups his ceiling substantially.

Coaches running a safety-first selection strategy should look no further than Manners.

His ability to knock out big scores with minimal fluctuation means his price may not drop anytime soon, but is he worth $660k?

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could be a great POD option to start the season

PODS

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (FLB, $533,700)

Let’s be clear, we’re talking about a full-blown gun here.

Roger gets a start in the POD category due to his opposition at fullback with the likes of Tedesco, Trbojevic, Munster, Slater and Ponga.

RTS was the highest-scoring player in SuperCoach in 2015 before rupturing his ACL early the following season.

The star fullback returned to win the Warriors player of the year in 2017 and produced a respectable 60 PPG.

He’ll start undervalued based on his SuperCoach pedigree and looms as a serious edge to start the year with a $100k discount on his rivals.

It’s hard to see RTS dropping in price to any great degree, so who’s game to pick him over a more fancied No.1?

LISTEN!!! The podcast team dissect important pre-season news and reveal their early picks for 2018.

Agnatius Paasi (FRF/2RF, $307,400)

If the former Titan jags a starting backrow spot he’ll come into serious contention.

The departures of Bodene Thompson and Ryan Hoffman, along with the arrival of Tohu Harris, creates a shake-up in the Warriors back row.

Paasi will likely be vying for a starting position with Bunty Afoa, although the picture is unclear as to who is favoured for the role.

A PPM of 1.0 over the past two seasons along with 44 and 38-minute averages bodes well for Paasi who also holds dual-position status.

At the awkward price of $307k it could be worth waiting until round three to assess minutes and jump aboard before initial price rises occur.

CHEAPIES

Peta Hiku (CTW/FLB, $279,100)

The cheapie-turned auto emergency nightmare-turned cheapie starts 2018 as an option once again.

The former Panther played five of his nine games off the bench last season for an average of 56 minutes.

As an expectant 80-minute winger at the Warriors he looms as an intriguing borderline cheapie purchase.

Averages of 47, 49, 49 and 46 prove there is plenty of room for improvement in the upcoming season.

Issac Luke needs a guaranteed 80 minutes to again become SuperCoach relevant

NO GO ZONE

Issac Luke (HOK, $438,300)

The former gun hooker won’t be an option until youngster Nathaniel Roache disappears from the bench.

Luke averaged 49 PPG in 68 minutes last season, and 2018 is likely to deliver similar results with potential for fewer minutes.

Fingers crossed he returns to 80 minutes after a nice price drop early on in the year.

Tohu Harris is tempting but has his flaws ahead of the opening round

Tohu Harris (2RF, $517,200)

There was repetitive tossing, turning, copying and pasting with Tohu Harris’ position in this article.

He has polarised SuperCoach players for years due to his versatility that often has had him shuffled through the backline at late notice in Melbourne.

More often than not, those who left him out have been made to regret it.

He lands in the no go zone to begin the year for a number of reasons.

Firstly, and the determining factor, he’s lost the all-valuable dual 2RF/CTW status.

Secondly, he’s lost Cooper Cronk’s creative genius, but then gained Shaun Johnson, which somewhat counters the Queenslander’s absence.

Thirdly, it’s likely to take time to jell with the men around him at his new club.

Making the Tohu decision particularly tough is his juicy starting price. That’s real value due to his injury-affected 2017 season (68 MPG). It was a season he ended with a mammoth 129 against Canberra …

SQUAD, POSITIONS, PRICES

First name	Surname	Position 1	Position 2	Games	Average	Price
Bunty	Afoa	2RF	FRF	17	39.29	$348,700
Blake	Ayshford	CTW		21	38.67	$343,200
Gerard	Beale	CTW	FLB	20	32.95	$292,400
James	Bell	2RF		2	14.00	$177,300
Adam	Blair	FRF		24	42.21	$374,600
Manaia	Cherrington	HOK		0		$164,600
David	Fusitua	CTW		24	42.33	$375,700
James	Gavet	FRF		13	45.54	$404,200
Blake	Green	Five-eighth		23	35.57	$315,600
Tohu	Harris	2RF		11	58.27	$517,200
Peta	Hiku	CTW	FLB	9	31.44	$279,100
Ma'afoaeata	Hingano	HFB	Five-eighth	13	27.00	$239,600
Shaun	Johnson	HFB	Five-eighth	18	72.22	$641,000
Solomone	Kata	CTW		19	36.58	$324,600
Mason	Lino	HFB	Five-eighth	6	41.17	$328,800
Sam	Lisone	FRF	2RF	23	35.39	$314,100
Matiu	Love-Henry	2RF		0		$164,600
Issac	Luke	HOK		23	49.39	$438,300
Simon	Mannering	2RF		22	74.41	$660,400
Ken	Maumalo	CTW		23	40.96	$363,500
Charnze	Nicoll-Klokstad	CTW	FLB	7	47.29	$377,700
Agnatius	Paasi	FRF	2RF	11	34.64	$307,400
Isaiah	Papalii	FRF	2RF	5	25.40	$225,400
Leivaha	Pulu	FRF	2RF	22	40.00	$355,000
Nathaniel	Roache	HOK	FLB	9	37.56	$333,300
Zac	Santo	CTW	FLB	1	39.00	$242,300
Ligia	Sao	FRF		11	19.82	$192,800
Tevita	Satae	2RF	FRF	3	9.00	$177,300
Patrick	Sipley	FRF		0		$164,600
Lewis	Soosemea	CTW		0		$164,600
Jazz	Tevaga	HOK		4	36.25	$257,400
Roger	Tuivasa-Sheck	FLB		23	60.13	$533,700
Albert	Vete	FRF		8	30.00	$266,200
Joe	Vuna	2RF	FRF	0		$164,600