SuperCoach NRL: Who is the best premium priced CTW in the game?

Our SuperCoach ‘Death Match’ series continues with Tom Sangster and Rob Sutherland going head-to-head in the search for the best premium CTW in SuperCoach.

• The premium priced CTW trap
• Cut-priced keepers and discounted PODs

Our SuperCoach ‘Death Match’ series continues with Tom Sangster and Rob Sutherland going head-to-head in the search for the best premium CTW in SuperCoach.

LATRELL MITCHELL - Tom Sangster

Talk about contrasting styles. “Lazy Latrell” scored just 13 points in base stats per game last season, the worst of any elite CTW. Meanwhile the hardworking Marsters scored 30 points in pure base, the best of any player in the position. Add in goal kicking and tackle busts and the Tigers’ centre is looking at a guaranteed 50 points each week.

On paper, any sane SuperCoach would take Marsters.

However, that doesn’t account for the sheer freakishness of Mitchell, a talent rarely seen in rugby league. No game sums up Mitchell better than round 12 last season when he notched just two runs in 80 minutes, yet somehow managed 66 points courtesy of a try, linebreak and six goals.

Are you 'Team Mitchell' or 'Team Marsters'?

Put simply, Latrell goes as large as anyone, scoring four tons last year on his way to the second highest average of any CTW. And at the same time, his potential for low scores is overstated, scoring under 30 just twice.

Despite an immense season that culminated in a premiership, Latrell has only scratched the surface of his talent. Imagine his SuperCoach scores if finally pulls his finger out and takes more than two hit-ups.

Marsters has some serious obstacles to overcome this season. Second year syndrome has claimed many a SuperCoach star, while SuperCoaches should always be wary of any player under a new coach, not least a player worth close to $600,000 and in the most volatile position in SuperCoach.

In this case, I’m backing raw talent to win out over good old fashioned hard work

LISTEN! Resident SuperCoach experts Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the lowdown on the players to target and avoid in 2019.

ESAN MARSTERS - Rob Sutherland

It feels wrong to argue against a Rooster, but there’s no loyalty in SuperCoach and I’m on the right side of the debate - so here goes - time to trounce Tommy once again.

I’m on the record as warning against investing in premium priced CTW to start the season as the statistics show it’s very rare for a player to record top-ten scores at the position.

However, if I had to tip one of the 2018 CTW stars to go on and repeat his high ranking it would be Marsters - not Latrell.

As Tommy so ably points out above, hard yakka is not my man Mitchell’s modus operandi. In fact Latrell averaged just 18 PPG in base stats. In comparison Marsters punched out 33 PPG in base stats.

And it’s these base stats, combined with the most productive offload game at his position in 2018 and his goalkicking duties, that saw Marsters average a metronomic 63PPG in rounds 1-10, 57PPG in rounds 11-18 and 62PPG in rounds 19-26. In comparison Mitchell averaged 57, then 51 and then (an admittedly spectacular) 81.

Marsters is meat and potatoes, Latrell is all gravy and if I’m paying top dollar to start the season then I want a player whose substance equals safety.

Latrell may fire again in 2019, he may not, he will do plenty of arm waving on the sidelines as he encourages his teammates to make hitups.*

Marsters will be demanding the ball every set, throwing plenty of offloads and digging in on defence.

If I’m paying top dollar to start the year I want that certainty, not Latrell’s potential.

HAVE YOUR SAY

* Disclaimer: as a Roosters fan keep doing what you do Latrell, it works and I love you for it but I wanted to beat Tommy so …

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