NRL SuperCoach 2018: Most popular players revealed
THE Carty Party is the hottest ticket in town with exclusive figures revealing Bryce Cartwright is the most popular player in SuperCoach 2018. See full list.
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THE Carty Party is the hottest ticket in town with exclusive figures revealing Bryce Cartwright is the most popular player in SuperCoach 2018.
Data collected since the launch of our Team Picker a month ago shows the Penrith utility is currently owned by almost 72 per cent of SuperCoaches.
Cartwright produced one of the great SuperCoach seasons in 2016 when he finished second behind Cameron Smith, but he starts cheap in 2018 after a season puncutated by injury and off-field distractions.
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MOST POPULAR PLAYERS IN SUPERCOACH 2018
1. Bryce Cartwright - 71.9% ownership
Price: $260,300
Position: 2RF, 5/8
The former great of SuperCoach starts in the cheapie range due to an injury-induced average of 29.3 last season.
LISTEN!!! The podcast team dissect important pre-season news and reveal their early picks for 2018.
2. Johnathan Thurston - 67.1% ownership
Price: $536,300
Position: HFB
Another great of SuperCoach who starts at a bargain price following a season ruined by injury. Has retired from representative footy and can concentrate entirely on the Cowboys this year.
3. Taane Milne - 66.9% ownership
Price: $192,600
Position: 2RF, CTW
Starts in the cheapie range after averaging just 29 minutes last year at the Dragons as a bench utility. However he averaged a keeper-like 54 in his debut season and is a strong chance for a starting backline spot this year at the Tigers following a brilliant World Cup for Fiji.
4. Cameron Smith - 66.8% ownership
Price: $667,400
Position: HOK
The best hooker in SuperCoach history, averaging 15 more points than any other rake last year.
5. James Tedesco - 65.7% ownership
Price: $599,700
Position: FLB
SuperCoaches predict a big increase in attacking output from Teddy who has left the struggling Tigers for the star-studded Roosters, where he will form a lethal partnership with fellow recruit Cooper Cronk.
6. Matthew Lodge - 64.5% ownership
Price: $208,900
Position: FRF
Starts almost at bottom dollar after years out of the game due to off-field issues, but Broncos coach Wayne Bennett has confirmed Lodge will replace Adam Blair at starting prop.
7. Sam Burgess - 60.2% ownership
Price: $572,600
Position: 2RF, FRF
Starts cheap following his worst SuperCoach season since 2011.
8. Craig Garvey - 53.4% ownership
Price: $177,300
Position: HOK
Tipped for the starting hooker spot at the Raiders following a season-ending ACL injury to Josh Hodgson, departure of Kurt Baptiste and unexpected retirement of Adam Clydsdale.
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9. Jason Taumalolo - 48.8% ownership
Price: $668,400
Position: 2RF
Scored the fifth most points of any SuperCoach player last year, averaging 194 metres per game.
10. Connor Watson - 47.4% ownership
Price: $286,700
Position: FLB, 5/8
Starts cheap after averaging 32.30 in 42 minutes as a super sub at the Roosters, but has far more opportunity at the Knights as Mitchell Pearce’s halves partner. Averaged 56.3 in games of 75 minutes or more last year.
11. Lachlan Croker - 42.6% ownership
Price: $164,600
Position: HFB, 5/8
Manly’s five-eighth spot is wide open following the departure of Blake Green and the former Canberra NYC star is the frontrunner.
12. Jarrod Croker - 40.6% ownership
Price: $490,900
Position: CTW
The most consistent centre/wing in SuperCoach history starts comparatively cheap this year following his worst season in four years.
13. Kalyn Ponga - 39.3% ownership
Price: $419,900
Position: FLB
Only played seven games in a strong Cowboys team last year. The most talented teen in the NRL and set take the competition by storm at the Knights in 2018.
14. Nathan Brown - 31.4% ownership
Price: $573,000
Position: 2RF
Coming off a breakout season where he averaged 65 in 67 minutes as Parramatta’s workhorse in the middle third.
15. Nat Butcher - 30.4% ownership
Price: $192,800
Position: 2RF
Starts cheap after a shoulder injury limited him to two games, but the former NYC skipper’s sights are set on a regular spot in the 17 this year following the exits of Aidan Guerra and Kane Evans.
16. Josh Mansour - 28.9% ownership
Price: $451,900
Position: CTW
Starts well below his usual bank-busting starting price after an ACL injury limited him to an average of 50.9.
17. Shaun Johnson - 27.4% ownership
Price: $641,000
Position: HFB, 5/8
Once dubbed the “Rollercoaster” by SuperCoach boffins and often derided for inconsistency in actual NRL, Johnson has matured into the most reliable halfback in fantasy footy, averaging 68.7, 70.5, 69.5 and 72.2 in the last four years.
18. Adam Doueihi - 26.4% ownership
Price: $177,300
Position: CTW
Lebanon’s breakout World Cup star is a genuine chance of a starting backline spot at the Rabbitohs, who have the worst backline depth in the NRL.
19. Greg Inglis - 23.9% ownership
Price: $519,200
Position: FLB, CTW
Did his ACL in round one last year and therefore starts at a significant discount, although a mooted switch to centre could throw a spanner in the works.
20. Simon Mannering - 22.7% ownership
Price: $660,400
Position: 2RF
One of the most consistent players in the competition for over a decade. Mannering scored below 50 just once last year, averaging 62 points in base stats alone.
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