SuperCoach NRL Draft 2024: Top ‘sleepers’, ultimate value picks to help win your league

Round one may already be underway but its not too late to set up your draft league! And while most players only plan around their early picks, some great sleepers have emerged from Las Vegas and Round 1 teamlists.

Wilson Smith

@wilson_smith93

6 min read

March 7, 2024 - 4:50AM

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While most people in NRL SuperCoach Draft only plan around their early picks, the real winners are often those who have a solid game plan for the mid to late rounds. This is where the real meat of the draft is, the hidden gems, the ultimate value.

Obviously everyone has their eyes on the proven guns, but how many people will looking for true value with players like Ben Trbovic or Morgan Smithies?

With the way the draft picker works, every player will have a pre-draft position and, unless you alter your pre-draft rankings (PDR), when the live draft starts they will be ordered like this. But we can use this to our advantage.

The pre-draft ranking system means that players could have a deceptively low ranking and be extremely far down the list for your rivals, despite them having some massive upside. So you can afford to wait on these guys and get some value on them late in the draft.

While the average draft position filter helps you see where players are actually being taken in drafts.

In this analysis we’ll only be looking at players with a pre-draft ranking over 150, with an average draft position over 150 and players ranked outside the top 10 at their position.

In an ideal world these are the players you can look to draft in the later rounds. In a standard 10-person draft league a total of 170 players (204 in a 12-person league) will be drafted, so anyone with a low pre-draft ranking could be missed entirely.

Maybe its their first year in the comp or maybe they’re extremely low because of a down or injury affected year. Whatever the reason, these are the high upside guys you should consider targeting late in your draft.

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POST-VEGAS ROUND 1 UPDATES

Ben Trbojevic (2RF/CTW – Sea Eagles)

While he has never really been relevant for SuperCoach Draft purposes before, his solid performance in Las Vegas is proof ‘Burbo’ has become a genuine sleeper option! With a pre-draft ranking of 383 and an average draft ranking of 196, the third Trbojevic brother is still going undrafted in many leagues (and will definitely be a hot waiver pick up for Round 2!). Trbojevic impressed in Round 1, scoring 72 points thanks to a try and some solid base stats, and with a handy dual position he may just be the best Draft sleeper if he can hold his spot after Josh Schuster returns.

Ben Trbojevic impressed for Manly in their Round One Vegas clash against the Rabbitohs. Picture: NRL Imagery

Ethan Strange (5/8 & CTW - Raiders)

Has won the starting five-eighth role at the Raiders over Kaeo Weekes with an impressive showing in their second trial match and with a handy dual position status could be a great late pick if you miss out on a gun five-eighth, or you slot in him into your CTW, or even stash him on your bench as a back-up.

Luke Metcalf (5/8 - Warriors)

While not a massive surprise, Metcalf has won the hotly contested No.6 jersey at the Warriors, and while he isn’t a gun he is a solid option if you happen to miss out on a gun five-eighth early on in your draft.

Jaeman Salmon (2RF & CTW – Bulldogs)

Jaeman Salmon has won the No.13 jersey for the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Joey Lussick (HOK - Eels) & Danny Levi (HOK - Raiders)

While hookers who won’t play 80 minutes are hardly desirable for Draft, these two have won the starting roles at their clubs and given the poor depth at hooker, they could provide some upside late in drafts if you miss out on a gun early.

Jesse Arthars (CTW - Broncos) & Deine Mariner (CTW – Broncos)

With Herbie Farnworth off to the Dolphins the Broncos have shaken up their backline, with Selwyn Cobbo shifting to centre, freeing up both the wing spots. And Arthars and Mariner won the roles for Round one and both impressed, with Mariner scoring a try, while Arthars had a try assist, two linebreaks and some solid base stats.

Heilum Luki (2RF – Cowboys)

After having something of a breakout 2023 season, Luki could be in for a bigger role in the Cowboys in 2024, especially with Luciano Leilua being granted a release from the club. Luckily for us, he comes with a low PDR of 194 after playing a handful of games off the bench.

Heilum Luki could be in for a big year at the Cowboys. Picture: Getty Images

Corey Jensen (FRF – Broncos)

With Thomas Flegler off to the Dolphins there is a starting front row spot up for grabs at the Broncos, and it was Jensen who was named to start for the Broncos in Round 1. Alarmingly he was relegated to the bench last minute, but still 56 minutes and ended up with a score of 57 (basically all in base). Assuming his minutes remain around the same he could offer a ton of late value with his PDR of 261.

Fanitesi Niu (CTW – Dolphins)

Has somewhat surprisingly won a starting role at the club over new recruit Jake Averillo after an impressive pre-season and while he has struggled for gametime in recent years, he has been SuperCoach relevant in the past.

Brendan Piakura (2RF – Broncos)

Has earned a starting spot on the Broncos left edge following the retirement of Kurt Capewell and so should see a solid rise in minutes and opportunity, while being priced at a PDR of 247 thanks to his 2023 average of 42. He did suffer a headknock early in the Broncos round one clash against the Roosters but has a lot of upside when he returns.

Brendan Piakura is set to replace Kurt Capewell at the Broncos in 2024 after his departure to the Warriors. Picture: NRL Images

Keano Kini (FLB – Titans)

With Jayden Campbell set to miss the opening month of the competition for the Titans, young gun Keano Kini has seemingly won the starting fullback role for the Titans. The livewire fullback played just six games in 2023 and started twice, scoring 34 and 55 (mostly in base) and there was some promising signs.

Braydon Trindall (HFB & 5/8 – Sharks)

Produced a man of the match performance for the Indigenous All Stars alongside his Sharks halves partner Nicho Hynes and could be a decent backup or even a decent starter option in deeper leagues.

Braydon Trindall outshone Sharks halves partner Nicho Hynes in a man-of-the-match performance for the Indigenous All-Stars. Picture: Getty Images

Sunia Turuva (CTW – (Panthers)

Despite playing in one of the hottest attacking back lines in the competition, Sunia Turuva has a pre-draft ranking of 151 and an average draft position of 158. While his average was only 51, he does have extremely high upside, solid base and his average jumps up to 72 in games he scored a try. There are obviously better CTW’s to draft, Turuva is worth keeping in mind for the later rounds.

Taylan May (CTW – Panthers)

After missing the entire 2023 season with an ACL injury, he has a low pre-draft ranking of 210 and is the 74th ranked CTW. While he is coming off a serious injury, he is set to start in the backline for one of the NRL’s best attacking teams and checks all the boxes for a high upside CTW.

Taylan May has a low pre-draft ranking of 210. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Beau Fermor (2RF – Titans)

Like Taylan May, Fermor missed the entire season last year after suffering an ACL injury late in the pre-season … I know several people who drafted him only for him to be ruled out days later. But he is back in 2024 and back into the starting lineup, and with David Fifita absent, he could have some solid attacking upside to start the season.

Morgan Smithies (2RF – Raiders)

John Bateman 2.0? The Raiders have recruited another star Englishman who looks to have won the starting No.13 jersey for 2024, after getting a massive rap from Joseph Tapine. A ball playing lock, who hopefully plays big minutes and gets through a ton of tackles, sounds like real SuperCoach gold. And the best news … he comes in with a PDR of 320 courtesy of never playing in the NRL before.

Morgan Smithies has won a starting spot at the Raiders and, if his numbers in the Super League are any indicator, could have a monster PPM.

Brandon Smith (HOK – Roosters)

Had a mixed 2023 season with a poor start and injury woes, before bouncing back towards the end of the year … but this just means you are getting him at a solid discount. After a full season at the Roosters the Roosters dummy half could be back to his best.

Drew Hutchison (HFB/CTW – Bulldogs)

New Bulldogs recruit Drew Hutchison has won the starting halfback role in 2024. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Shaun Lane (2RF – Eels)

Shaun Lane was primed for a solid season in 2023, before breaking his jaw in Parramatta’s first game of the pre-season challenge and missing the first five games of the season and just struggling for consistency after that. He may have finished the year with an average of 44, but just one season prior he was one of the form 2RF’s in SuperCoach with an average of 69. He could be in for another big year if he stays fit and comes at a PDR of 222.

Dylan Lucas (2RF/CTW – Knights)

While he is higher up the PDRs than most players on this list, Dylan Lucas is certainly one to keep an eye on and grab late if you can (but he will go faster than most on this list). He has a handy dual position status, deceptively low average of 55 in 2023 and looks to have won a starting spot on the left edge at Newcastle over Kai Pearce-Paul.

OTHER SLEEPERS

Jacob Liddle (HOK – Dragons)

Billy Walters (HOK – Broncos)

Chris Randall (HOK - Titans)

Jayden Brailey (HOK – Knights)

Stefano Utoikamanu (FRF – Tigers)

Samuel Hughes (FRF – Bulldogs)

Poasa Faamausili (FRF – Bulldogs)

Leo Thompson (FRF – Knights)

Jason Taumalolo (FRF & 2RF – Cowboys)

Kai Pearce-Paul (2RF – Knights)

Joshua Curran (2RF – Bulldogs)