SuperCoach NRL L-plate guide: Learn the basics of Australia’s biggest NRL fantasy game

WITH the NRL season just hours away, now is the time to get involved in SuperCoach NRL. Up to $500,000 in prizes to be won.

SuperCoach NRL — presented by hipages — is Australia’s favourite rugby league fantasy game — an internet phenomenon with more than 130,000 players and up to $500,000 in prizes to be won.

If you are new to SuperCoach, here’s how it works: You’re a real coach, with a salary cap to spend, a team to pick and games to win.

IT STARTS TONIGHT - SO DON'T MISS OUT!

Each of your players receives a weekly score based on their real-life, game-day statistics, earning a total score for your team.

Take on your mates for ultimate bragging rights, and also track your progress against all other SuperCoaches in the hunt for huge weekly and major prizes, including a potential $340,000 Perfect 8 jackpot and $50,000 overall prize.

Registering for SuperCoach is completely free and takes just a few minutes.

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SuperCoach L-Plate guide.

Once registered:

* YOU have a $9.4 million salary cap (in line with the actual NRL cap) and 25 players to pick.

* FILL each position, from front row to fullback and everything in between — you’ll need four props, six backrowers, seven centre/wings and two each at hooker, halfback, five-eighth and fullback. Remember to save your team as you go.

* HERE’S our first tip — forwards are the most consistent SuperCoach players as they perform the most work. Backs have a higher scoring potential due to attacking stats, but lack consistency as they don’t do as much running and tackling.

* IF you’re struggling to pick a side, use the auto select feature and we’ll pick a team for you.

* CHANGE your initial squad as often as you like until round one starts.

* BEFORE each round, choose a starting 13 and four reserves from your squad of 25. Select one of these players as captain; he earns double points, and a vice captain as back up.

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* DURING the season, you have 37 trades to build your side into a SuperCoach powerhouse. Each week you can make up to two trades, except for the brand new “Super” bye round between rounds 15 and 16 where you get five trades.

* KEEP on top of your team management throughout the week — and while on the go — with our fantastic apps available on Apple and Android.

* FOR essential SuperCoach info, sign up for a subcription (FREE for first month). We now have 50 pieces of unique SuperCoach content per week, including expert analysis from our resident guru Tom Sangster, past winners, Roosters great Anthony Minichiello and many more. What’s more, we are currently running a special deal where you get the first month of your subscription FREE through our app. The deal also includes SuperCoach Stats (rebrand of SuperCoach Gold) for FREE. So sign up now.

* AND don’t forget to keep up to date with the SuperCoach News Page, SuperCoach Facebook page discuss your moves with other SuperCoaches at our SuperCoach NRL Central community page.

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

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WHAT ARE ALL THE NRL PLAYER POSITIONS?

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Hooker — Amount in full Supercoach squad: 2

Number on field: 1

Role: Fields the ball first from play-the-balls and sets up each play. Defends in the middle and therefore makes a heap of tackles. Also known as dummy half.

NRL’s best: Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith is the best hooker in SuperCoach.

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Prop — Amount in full squad: 4

Number on field: 2

Role: These are the big boppers who do the hard tackling and running up the middle.

NRL’s best: Andrew Fifita

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Second row — Amount in full squad: 6

Number on field: 3

Role: Like props, second rowers also do plenty of the tough stuff, but stand a bit wider and are therefore used more in attack.

NRL’s best: Matt Gillett

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Halfback — Amount in full squad: 2

Number on field: 1

Role: The team’s chief playmaker, kicker and generally the star player. Sets up most attacking plays.

NRL’s best: Cooper Cronk

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Five-eighth — Amount in full squad: 2

Number on field: 1

Role: Also a playmaker, but generally stands one wide of the halfback and therefore has more of a running role.

NRL’s best: Johnathan Thurston

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Johnathan Thurston is a SuperCoach great.

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Centre/wing — Amount in full squad: 7

Number on field: 4

Role: The speedsters. The finishers. These guys score the most tries and benefit from the good work of those inside them.

NRL’s best: Valentine Holmes

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Fullback — Amount in full squad: 2

Number on field: 1

Role: Stands behind the play in defence to mop up kicks and cover for defensive breaks. A third playmaker and extra runner in attack.

NRL’s best: Billy Slater

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Who is the most expensive player in the game?

Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic. He is so expensive because he was the best player in SuperCoach last year, based on average. Almost all player prices are based on 2017 average, apart from rookies.

Who are the cheapest players in the game?

All rookies are added to the game at $164,600. They rise in price as they improve, so it’s important to get in early.

What is the number one tip for playing SuperCoach?

Spend up big on forwards (hooker, prop, second row). They perform the most work (tackles and runs) and are therefore the most consistent SuperCoach players.

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Cheapie Bible 2018 / Most popular SuperCoach players / Must-haves for 2018 / Pre-season casualty ward / Eels fans are biggest SuperCoach addicts / Former champ’s top 10 mid-rangers / Champion’s Choice: Alex Twal / CTW: Risk vs reward / HOK: Smith or not? / Your club’s biggest selection issue / SuperCoach study guide: Broncos / Bulldogs / Cowboys / Eels / Knights / Panthers / Roosters / Rabbitohs / Raiders / Sharks / Sea Eagles / Storm / Tigers / Titans / Warriors

Originally published as SuperCoach NRL L-plate guide: Learn the basics of Australia’s biggest NRL fantasy game