NRL SuperCoach 2016 ultimate study guide: Every club, every player, every price, expert analysis
NRL SuperCoach 2016 is finally here! To help you prepare your dream team we’ve compiled this detailed study guide. Every club, every player, every price and expert analysis on the cheapies, the guns and more.
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NRL SuperCoach 2016 is finally here!
To help you prepare your dream team ahead of round one we’ve compiled this detailed study guide. Every club, every player, every price and expert analysis on the cheapies, the guns and more.
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Wests Tigers
THE Wests Tigers may not have the strongest NRL squad but they do have two SuperCoach guns in their ranks with James Tedesco and Aaron Woods. Both men should feature heavily in SuperCoach considerations. Tedesco especially is a SuperCoach gun. If you have him in your team expect exhilarating performances with line breaks, tackle busts, tries, try assists and offloads.
Aaron Woods is set to step up in his role as captain and should have a massive year.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Wests Tigers
Cronulla Sharks
THE Cronulla Sharks boast several NRL SuperCoach guns such as Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and James Maloney, yet the team still has a number of question marks regarding its make-up.
The Sharks will field a largely new spine with new halves James Maloney (Sydney Roosters) and Chad Townsend (New Zealand Warriors) along with a new fullback which will most likely be Jack Bird or Valentine Holmes.
Maloney is a star recruit but is priced at a premium and will take time to gel with his new teammates. Paul Gallen is 35 years old this season and injury concerns along with State Of Origin duties make him a SuperCoach dilemma.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Cronulla Sharks
North Queensland Cowboys
THEY may have clinched their first premiership last year, but the Cowboys still have plenty to prove in 2016.
North Queensland has made it clear already that they are chasing elusive back-to-back titles and have not lost any motivation.
With these promises, the Cowboys loom as one team with a number of potential big guns for the SuperCoach season ahead. However, do not look to them too much for rookies and cheapies, with the Cows on track to field the same grand final 17 for the opening rounds.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: North Queensland Cowboys
Penrith Panthers
A CHANGE of coach, a couple of big money inclusions (Trent Merrin and Peta Hiku) and numerous young stars back fit and healthy (Matt Moylan, Tyrone Peachey, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak etc.) make the Panthers an intriguing SuperCoach production line this season.
With the Trent Barrett bus leaving the west with about 50 players on its way to the northern beaches, there is also plenty of opportunity for big minutes and role increases.
This is a team with guns aplenty and some mid-priced gems.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Penrith Panthers
Newcastle Knights
HE mass exodus of senior players (Kurt Gidley, Chris Houston, Beau Scott etc.) will no doubt perk up some SuperCoach interest and may even make this team watchable from a fantasy standpoint.
Nathan Brown coming in as head coach replacing Rick Stone can only be a bonus, with the Sione Mata’utia not likely to be named on the bench every week only to start come game day. Thank goodness for that!
There are no real guns to speak of here, but some value players may arise come round one team lists, but Joseph Tapine and Robbie Rochow in particular are ones to watch out for in the back row.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Newcastle Knights
Parramatta Eels
THE Parramatta Eels should look forward to a season of considerable improvement following astute recruiting in the off season.
Players such as Michael Jennings (Sydney Roosters), Michael Gordon (Cronulla Sharks), Beau Scott (Newcastle Knights) and star recruit Kieran Foran (Manly Sea Eagles) give the Eels experience and a much stronger presence on the field.
This coupled with the Eels playing all the three major bye rounds makes them very compelling from a SuperCoach perspective. Gordon from the outset and Semi Radradra prior to round 12 are must haves. The challenge is to then find a few more hidden gems from mid-range players like Manu Ma’u and Nathan Peats.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Parramatta Eels
St George Illawarra Dragons
THE Dragons offer value all across the park in 2016.
Trent Merrin’s exit could dramatically improve the outputs of Jack De Belin and/or Mike Cooper, while recruit Tim Lafai joins the club at a juicy price.
However, SuperCoaches hope the biggest wins come in the cheapie price range, with veteran Josh McCrone and Junior Kangaroo Drew Hutchinson ready to swoop if there are injuries.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: St George Illawarra Dragons
Brisbane Broncos
SUPERCOACHES take note: The Broncos are almost certain to blood a cheapie on the wing in round one as they battle injury and a backline exodus.
And in Anthony Milford and Corey Parker, they possess two genuine SuperCoach guns.
Open the wallet, because there is plenty of value here.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Brisbane Broncos
Sydney Roosters
WITHOUT doubt the best team in the comp. Well, in my (Trent Copeland’s) eyes anyway!
All bias aside, it is hard to ignore the talent and experience that has walked out of the Eastern Suburbs changing rooms this year - Michael Jennings, James Maloney and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to name a few.
But it’s also hard not to get excited about one of the game’s real young guns - Latrell Mitchell.
Jackson Hastings creates an exciting new halves combination and Dale Copley will have big shoes to fill.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Sydney Roosters
Canberra Raiders
THE Raiders might have missed the playoffs again last season, but they were closer than you think.
A series of close losses, many of which were decided in the final five minutes, relegated them to 10th place, but they turned the corner in a big way as some of Ricky Stuart’s gambles paid off big time.
Not only do the Raiders have one of the most underrated spines in the competition with Jack Wighton, Blake Austin, Aidan Sezer and Josh Hodgson, who is one of the best purchases the club has made in some time, they have stability and class all across the park.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Canberra Raiders
Canterbury Bulldogs
A LACK of depth in the Canterbury backline could open the door for two SuperCoach cheapies.
The talented Tyrone Phillips debuted last year and is almost assured a spot over Origin, if not earlier. And in recruit Brad Abbey, still only 18, the Bulldogs possess one of the best fullback prospects in the game.
In terms of existing talent, James Graham has the potential to emerge as a genuine keeper under the new interchange rules.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Canterbury Bulldogs
Melbourne Storm
A HUGE question mark hangs over the Melbourne Storm’s champion trio of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
The Big Three are NRL Supercoach royalty but can the veterans contend with an exhausting season which will include State of Origin duties and in the case of Billy Slater overcoming injury issues that have impacted him over the past few seasons.
Fortunately for the Storm they have a supporting cast of bona fide Supercoach stars in Will Chambers, Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Marika Koroibete and Cameron Munster who are also very worthwhile considering for your line-up.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Melbourne Storm
Gold Coast Titans
WHEN SuperCoaches go on the hunt for must-have players this year, it is fair to say few will look to the Gold Coast for an answer.
The Titans have been widely panned in the lead up to 2016 for their new-look roster which saw them lose a number of their star players, including James Roberts and Aidan Sezer.
They are now set to start the season as the shortest priced wooden spoon favourites in NRL history. But, like any club going through a rebuilding phase, the Titans could very well have a few SuperCoach specials hidden within their ranks.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Gold Coast Titans
New Zealand Warriors
THIS season the Warriors will have no excuses and nowhere to hide.
There are very few who can forget the club’s appalling end to 2015, after a season-ending injury to Shaun Johnson saw the New Zealand team slide from the top eight to become near wooden spooners.
Many saw this as a sign that they were a one-man side.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: New Zealand Warriors
South Sydney Rabbitohs
THE Rabbitohs will be undergoing some big changes in 2016.
And to the delight of SuperCoaches, one of those changes will be the reintroduction of star player Sam Burgess.
The forward will provide another “must-have” option this season, while South Sydney adjust to their changing backline and forward pack.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Manly Sea Eagles
WELL, Trent Barrett has arrived on the northern beaches in his bus from the west, and he’s got about 50 players with him from the Panthers.
Aside from that though, the Sea Eagles were one of the more active clubs in terms of off-season signings with big guns Nate Myles, Martin Taupau, Apisai Koroisau and Dylan Walker all certain to make huge impacts from the outset.
The best SuperCoach buys could come from some of the more unfashionable Sea Eagles with the likes of Jamie Buhrer and Brenton Lawrence showing value at their starting price.
Guns like Jamie Lyon and Daly Cherry-Evans will reward those that are willing to pay up big from the outset with keeper-like points tallies.
NRL SuperCoach Study Guide: Manly Sea Eagles
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Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2016 ultimate study guide: Every club, every player, every price, expert analysis
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