NRL SuperCoach 2015: Sleeping giants — established players set to step it up in 2016
WANT to win big? Then take our tip and do some smart shopping in the bargain bin — a crucial ingredient in the strategy of any winning SuperCoach. Check out these 12 specials.
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WHEN you think of the NRL’s elite players, it’s all about the likes of Gallen, Smith, Thurston and Inglis etc.
But the beauty of SuperCoach is, yes, you have to pick some guns to start with, but the most important selections to start the season are the bargain buys.
Players who will exceed their salary average points ratio by the greatest margin are what we’re talking about here, and these little gems are not only the keys to being able to afford more guns to start with, but significantly reduce the burning of trades as they become elite keepers in the process, so no need to get rid of them!
Rookies who are bottom dollar fit the criteria, but even more important are those mid-priced players who have increased opportunity, be it through their own development, changing clubs, retirements, other players vacating a starting role and so many more factors.
It’s my job here to unearth 10 potential steals in terms of starting price that could be this year’s Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Tedesco or Jack Bird.
Yes, you can be that person in your league who says “I told you so, I had player X from the start …”
1. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly) HFB — $385,700
You could argue that DCE is already “elite”, but at different times last season he took a real back seat to Kieran Foran at Manly, and was left out of Queensland’s Origin teams for game two and three in favour of Michael Morgan. DCE’s 2015 finishing price of $283,800 and five-round average to finish the year of 43.60 isn’t what we are after, but the season average of 61 and PPM of 0.78 is nothing to scoff at. Well, I’m going to backflip (lame joke, sorry couldn’t help myself) on his form and say he is now THE man at Manly and his SuperCoach scores will reflect that.
Here’s why … No Foran. No Hiku. Lyon is getting older and missing more games. Plus Marty Taupau and Nate Myles have joined the pack, Brenton Lawrence is back from injury and Api Koroisau will provide pace around the ruck. I like the sound of that! The gelling with whoever plays with DCE in the halves — probably Dylan Walker (seemingly favourite), Jamie Lyon or Jack Littlejohn — will take some time, but this guy is class and has been ever since he led Manly to the 2011 grand final in his rookie season. I’m backing he’ll be the second-highest scoring half behind JT this year, we will see!
2. Bryce Cartwright (Penrith) 2RF | 5/8 — $361,600
Thank God Ivan Cleary is gone — with all due respect of course! Playing this wunderkind anything less than 80 minutes is absolutely criminal, and hopefully with a change of coach, the new interchange rules and the added leadership/solidarity of Trent Merrin at lock, Carty will earn exactly that. Here’s a sure thing for you — with 80 minutes every game, Cartwright will challenge the likes of Gallen, Parker and Burgess as the best back rower in SuperCoach.
Last year Cartwright averaged 57.18 but at the crazy good PPM of 1.08, and in the four matches where he played 80-minutes his scores were: 50, 123, 74 and 67. He could be a viable 5/8 option to start the season and I will be doing everything I can to have him in my starting team. The major downside is the Panthers have the worst byes in the comp (rounds 12 and 15).
3. Nathan Peats (Parramatta) HOK | 2RF — $367,400
Dual position is a nice little bonus, but this one is plain and simple. Peats will be one of the most coveted Origin-period commodities as the Eels play all three of the big bye rounds. Hard-nosed, tackles the house down and will be a sneaky start of season pick for many of the serious players out there.
Peats’ season average of 58.11 with PPM of 0.78 is encouraging and has him in the upper echelon of the hooker position, however the main hesitation here is the last two seasons he has played only 10 games (ACL, season) and 19 games (neck, season) respectively. Would you start with him over Smith, Farah, and Segeyaro? It’s like a kebab after a night out, it seems like such a good idea at the time … But maybe you should reassess your options.
4. Tyrone Roberts (Gold Coast) HFB | 5/8 — $260,500
Did you consider or own Tyrone Roberts last season? With an average of 41.19 and PPM of 0.54, I’m backing that’s a big fat NO. Well this year it’s time to reconsider. Not only has he escaped the Rick Stone antics (thankfully so have all the Knights players) and being on the bench at times behind Gidley and Mullen, but since signing on the dotted line with the Titans he unexpectedly became the go-to guy from the get go.
The departure of Aiden Sezer and the terribly unfortunate season-ending injury to prodigy Kane Elgey means that Roberts will be the organiser, playmaker, and likely the goalkicker. We’ve seen in the past Sezer being quite successful as the primary playmaker up on Cavill Ave so hopefully Roberts doesn’t let us down. Youngster Ashley Taylor will be a popular selection alongside Roberts also, but this one is a wait and see.
5. Jamie Buhrer (Manly) 2RF — $285,400
Remember that time when Jamie Buhrer played in an Origin series … looking like the kid left on the park bench his parents had forgotten to pick up from training (much like myself every time I’ve been 12th man, so I can’t really sledge!). Well that selection was on the back of some seriously good 80-minute form for Manly, and I think he can get back there.
An injury-cruelled 2015 saw Buhrer average 50.14 with a PPM of 0.71, so there is room for improvement. The interchange reduction will no doubt work in his favour, and the addition of Api Koroisau and some more attacking bigger bodies in the front row rotation could all create big game time for Buhrer. If he can find an 80-minute back row role he’s severely underpriced. One to watch in the trials.
6. Michael Gordon (Parramatta) CTW | FLB — $285,900
This guy can be an absolute GUN in the right scenario. Hands up if you got lured in by Michael Gordon last year? Yes, my hand is up! He was quickly moved to the wing and just couldn’t settle into his role at the Sharks with Ben Barba, Valentine Holmes etc. all wanting minutes at the back. He finished with an underwhelming average of 45.22 and PPM of 0.63.
Does that shy me away this year? Absolutely not! He has the best bye coverage of any fullback in the comp, dual position status and will kick goals in a team with Semi Radradra, Michael Jennings, Kieran Foran, Corey Norman, Beau Scott and Nathan Peats to name a few. He’s as close to a must-have as there is in the middle price bracket.
7. Matt Moylan (Penrith) FLB | 5/8 — $383,400
The one thing that may stop Matt Moylan from being a SuperCoach stud is that he’s so good he’ll be playing Origin regularly in no time. If the Panthers can keep Moylan, Hiku, Mansour, DWZ, Cartwright, Segeyaro etc. on the field the whole season … watch out NRL!
An average of 60.64 and PPM of 0.82 is outstanding, but only playing the 11 games is a worry. With amazing footwork and a great eye for a pass at the line, the kid is a star in the making. If the Panthers didn’t have the worst bye coverage of any team, he’d be a great option to start the season. However, he should be on everyone’s radar come the bye rounds — particularly if he is kicking goals ahead of Jamie Soward.
8. Konrad Hurrell (New Zealand) CTW — $266,600
Those who have owned big Konrad in the past will know he’s not for the faint hearted. A turnstile at times in defence, and well … a social media darling is one way to put it. Hurrell spent his share of time in reserve grade over the past two seasons, even at times playing off the bench in the back row. But what he does possess is a bulldozing attacking game that is up there with the best and most dangerous in the business.
Averaging 42.17 at a PPM of 0.62 is SO far away from what he is capable of and I’m backing him to bounce back to a $350,000-plus player on a regular basis — if he gets the nod to start the year ahead of the likes of Ben Henry, Tui Lolohea, Solomone Kata, Jono Wright, Ken Maumolo etc. If he’s in the No. 4 shirt for the Warriors, he’s got the Crusaders’ No. 4 jersey locked away also.
9. Blake Ferguson (Sydney) CTW | FLB — $314,200
The Latrell Mitchell train keeps making noise but as a Roosters fan and one who spends a lot of time at the Moore Park precinct watching training — Blake Ferguson will be the main man at the back this season. With newly signed Dale Copley and veteran Shaun Kenny-Dowall likely to fill the centre positions, young Mitchell may find himself on the wing. Ferguson is such a big body, has agile feet and is an absolute nightmare to tackle at the line. No doubt the added responsibility will test him, but the extra freedom to attack either edge and float in and out on instinct could take him to new heights.
An average of 49.69 and PPM of 0.64 gives an indication of his ability, but the negatives? His injury history, and the decrease in base stats from the tackles he made at centre. Hard to start with him at this price but don’t be surprised to see Ferguson on a lot of team sheets come the end of the season.
10. Tim Lafai (St George) CTW — $239,900
An under-the-radar signing for the Dragons, and could be an under-the-radar superstar for our SuperCoach teams! One thing I hope is that Euan Aitken doesn’t get a run, as he and Josh Dugan were fantastic in both centre positions last season. Lafai, plain and simple, had a stinker last year. He averaged a career-low 37.94 from 18 games at the Bulldogs at a PPM of 0.49. Yuck. But the reason he makes this list is …
2014: 21 games at an average of 60.62
2013: 15 games at an average of 49.80
This guy has talent and could see a major shift in his “usage rate” as I mentioned with Paul Gallen previously, and his points tally should increase as a result. No doubt Sangster already has A) Locked Lafai in to his starting team, and B) A Lafai poster on his wall (I hope it’s a superimposed Lafai head on George Rose’s body from last year’s Stalwarts starting team).
Two from left field …
Brenton Lawrence (Manly) FRF — $166,900
Missed all of last season, but averaged 50-plus in both 2013 and 2014. If he plays a decent role in the front row rotation he should be in EVERYONE’S team. Do yourself a favour when SuperCoach opens up, put him on the top of your watch list.
Joseph Tapine (Newcastle) 2RF — $233,000
What comes with people retiring and moving clubs? Other than more cash, its opportunity! Chris Houston moving on, Tariq Sims’ appetite for time on the sidelines and a few more reshuffles create more minutes for the young Novocastrian. Tapine averaged 36.85 in only 38 minutes of game time last season at an impressive 0.98 PPM, and in his only 80-minute game he notched 71. I like those odds if the minutes are there!
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