NRL SuperCoach trials wrap: Jackson Hastings, Jayden Nikorima, Latrell Mitchell make Roosters most exciting team

THE Roosters are by far the most exciting team in SuperCoach 2016. Check out TOM SANGSTER’S SuperCoach analysis of all the NRL trials.

Brett Stewart injured his hamstring against the Ipswich Jets.

THE Roosters are by far the most exciting team in SuperCoach 2016, despite missing their six most high-profile players from last year.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), James Maloney (Sharks), Michael Jennings (Eels), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL, indefinite), Boyd Cordner (pectoral, round eight) and Mitchell Pearce (disciplinary, indefinite) will be missing for round one, but SuperCoaches are the big winners because the Roosters are forced to play three must-have cheapies.

Jackson Hastings is the most popular player in SuperCoach, while World Club Series revelations Jayden Nikorima and Latrell Mitchell also sit in the top four most-purchased players.

COWBOYS 38 v LEEDS RHINOS 4

* Johnathan Thurston showed he has lost none of his competitive edge with a brilliant performance that justified his massive price tag. He set up three tries and scored one himself in a trademark second half blitz.

* Unfortunately, there are no other players of fantasy relevance at the Cowboys and SuperCoaches are sweating on young guns Gideon Gela-Mosby and Kalyn Ponga getting a run to score any value out of the North Queensland side.

BRONCOS 42 v WIGAN 12

* Anthony Milford was a class above and wouldn’t look out of place in any SuperCoach side, especially for those wanting to avoid Thurston’s massive price tag. Thurston is owned by 36.45 per cent. Milford is owned by 11.58 per cent. POD alert.

* Cheapie option Greg Eden cemented his wing position for round one with an exciting debut. He ran for 223m and scored an 80-metre try.

Anthony Milford is a POD prospect.

ROOSTERS 38 v ST HELENS 12

* The Roosters are the most SuperCoach-relevant team in the NRL, with their team possessing three must-have cheapies — Latrell Mitchell, Jaynden Nikorima and Jackson Hastings. Mitchell is confirmed to play round one following a brilliant display. He busted six tackles in one run after starting at centre, with Andrew Johns comparing the Taree junior to Greg Inglis. Nikorima had a hand in five of the seven tries and simply cannot be ignored. Hastings did most of the organising to lay the platform for Nikorima and kicked goals.

* Kane Evans was simply awesome up front. He was promoted to start, scored a try and played close to 60 minutes. He finished 2015 with the almost unfathomable points per minute rate of 1.42 (average 27 minutes), and therefore has the potential to emerge as an Andrew Fifita-like keeper if the big minutes continue while Jared Warea-Hargreaves (ACL, indefinite) is out.

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* Mitchell Aubusson played 80 minutes in the back row in place of Boyd Cordner (pectoral, round eight).

* Blake Ferguson had a mixed night in his first game at fullback. He had some decent runs, but struggled with ball play. Put a line through him for round one.

* With Cordner and Waerea-Hargreaves out, Vincent Leuluai scored the final bench spot and is therefore a cheapie option. He made 23 tackles and 65 metres in limited game time.

Jackson Hastings is the most popular player in SuperCoach.

DRAGONS 46 v WARRIORS 10

* The Warriors were absolutely hammered by the Dragons, despite fielding star recruits Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke, which doesn’t bode well for the trio’s SuperCoach claims.

* The highest point scorer in SuperCoach last year, Tuivasa-Sheck (ribs), picked up an injury. The club is confident he will play round one.

* Popular sleeper Konrad Hurrell was injected into the backline at stages off the bench, but missed the 17 and is therefore a SuperCoach bust.

* Ligi Sao (dislocated shoulder) played lock, but is likely out long-term. This frees the No. 13 jumper for SuperCoach gun Simon Mannering.

* Sleeper Tim Lafai and potential keeper Josh Dugan played in the centres for the Dragons, with Euan Aitken on a wing. Aitken scored two tries and surely locked in a spot for round one following a stunning pre-season.

* The race for the lock spot vacated by Trent Merrin hotted up. Mike Cooper won the starting spot ahead of Jack De Belin — the opposite of the Charity Shield.

* Recruit Siliva Havili all but locked in a bench spot with a strong display against his former club, including a try.

BULLDOGS 20 v STORM 0

* James Graham, the sixth most popular prop in SuperCoach, succumbed to concussion and rib issues. He was later cleared of serious injury and is set to play round one;

* David Klemmer (ribs) was also cleared of serious injury, but could face a suspension for spearing at the legs of an attacker;

* Moses Mbye (glute) missed the game as a precaution;

* Brett Morris (knee) is fighting an uphill battle to play round one, but Will Hopoate (knee) is back running and considered a certainty, which for now spells an end to the cheapie claims of Brad Abbey and Tyrone Phillips;

* Melbourne’s boom cheapie prospect Curtis Scott had limited attacking opportunities in the 20-0 drubbing. 18-year-old Scott is undoubtedly a superstar of the future, but the huge loss could lead to coach Craig Bellamy going with experience in round one.

James Graham has been cleared of serious injury.

RABBITOHS 22 v TITANS 20

* Ashley Taylor (shoulder), the fourth most popular player in SuperCoach, missed the game due to a flare up of an AC joint issue, but will start the season. “(Taylor) will be right for (round one),” said coach Neil Henry. “It’s difficult but they (Taylor and Roberts) have done a lot of opposed sessions together at training. They’ve done a lot of hours together.”

* Sam Burgess had a huge return to rugby league, playing 60 minutes and scoring a try. He is a must.

* Cheapie prospects Nathan Davis and Brian Kelly were both strong in the centres, with Kelly scoring a try. However, with Josh Hoffman (knee) certain to play round one, and Nene Macdonald (knee) also favoured to play, SuperCoaches may need to wait to cash in on Gold Coast’s two bargain backline buys.

* Zeb Taia is facing suspension for a lifting tackle on Greg Inglis. This will open a starting spot for pre-season revelation Agnatius Paasi, who will play either prop or wide back row depending on where the coach decides to play Ryan James (note: Luke Douglas is also out of round one due to suspension).

Sam Burgess had a strong return for the Rabbitohs.

* Cheapie option Cody Walker combined in the halves with the man he hopes to unseat as South Sydney’s five-eighth — Luke Keary. Adam Reynolds missed the match with a foot injury, but is set for round one.

* Popular sleeper Chris Grevsmuhl (knee) missed the match, but is aiming for round one. Even so, he is unlikely to score a starting spot as he returns from injury and is therefore a SuperCoach no-no.

* Greg Inglis scored the winning try and was a constant threat. However, he is no more than a left-field POD this year given the talent available at fullback — Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Tedesco, Billy Slater, Michael Gordon, Greg Eden, Latrell Mitchell and Jaelene Feeney. Inglis is just the 17th most popular fullback at under seven per cent ownership.

SEA EAGLES 58 v IPSWICH JETS 0

* Brett Stewart (hamstring) and Tom Trbojevic (ankle) went down injured, but coach Trent Barrett expects them to be ready for round one. If not, look out for cheapies Brayden Wiliame and Hal Lavaka.

* Matt Parcell (hamstring), the second most popular cheapie at hooker, missed the game as a precaution but will be fit for round one. Apisai Koroisau (shoulder), Feleti Mateo (ankle) and Lewis Brown (knee) are also aiming for the opening round.

* Brenton Lawrence, the 19th most popular player in SuperCoach, scored a try and locked in a bench spot for round one.

Brett Stewart injured his hamstring against the Ipswich Jets.

KNIGHTS 34 v RAIDERS 28

* Star cheapie Jaelen Feeney had a nervous start, knocking on close to his own line with his first touch and then putting down a high ball not long after. The Raiders scored off the back of both errors. “Jaelene Feeney had some really good stuff, but he had some stuff where his inexperience showed,” coach Nathan Brown said.

* Young prop Daniel Saifiti emerged as a genuine round one cheapie candidate by overshadowing a host of experienced forwards, while popular buy Pauli Pauli also improved his cheapie claims. “I thought some of our younger players upstaged some of our more experienced players,” said Brown. “Players like Daniel Saifiti, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Pauli Pauli in the forwards — they really put their hands up.”

* Popular keeper Shaun Fensom (broken arm) missed the game. He is only a genuine option if he plays 80 minutes under the new interchange rules, which is unlikely early on given he has not trialled.

* Joey Leilua produced a solo effort for try and had hand in a few others. For a guy who has averaged 50s and 60s in the past, he is well-underpriced at $274,000 and owned by less than two per cent. A serious POD for the adrenaline junkies out there.

Rookie Jaelen Feeney had a nervous start for the Knights.

TIGERS 30 v SHARKS 30

* James Tedesco was a class above, having a hand in five tries and justifying his massive price tag.

* Jordan Rankin played in the halves and on the wing. He scored a try and took three shots at goal (but only landed one). He is unlikely to be a cheapie for round one, but is well in the reckoning later in the season.

* Popular cheapie Josh Addo-Carr played NSW Cup. Put a line through him for now.

* Josh Aloiai looks set to score a final bench spot for round one and is therefore a genuine cheapie option.

* Jack Bird scored two tries (one at fullback and one at centre) and has all but won the fullback spot for round one. Ben Barba is therefore no longer an option. He played fullback in the second half but struggled for impact as the Tigers benefited from 65 per cent possession.

James Tedesco was a class above for the Tigers. Picture: Jenny Evans

EELS 22 PANTHERS 8

* Josh Mansour scored a freakish try and did plenty of tough stuff. He is only the 14th most popular centre/wing in SuperCoach, despite his former uber gun status and cheap starting price.

* Popular players James Segeyaro and Michael Gordon were far more quiet than SuperCoaches would have wanted.

* Bryce Cartwright played from the bench but set up a beautiful try for Waqa Blake with a grubber.

* Trent Merrin played prop, which could dramatically reduce his minutes and SuperCoach worth. With Sam McKendry dropped to NSW Cup for the trial, either Merrin or Suaia Matagi is set to start in the front row for round one.

Josh Mansour scored a freakish try for the Panthers. Picture: Jenny Evans