NRL Supercoach bye planner: 2018 season draw introduces unique challenge
BYE planning is vital if you want to succeed at NRL Supercoach and the 2018 draw throws up some intriguing challenges for the season ahead.
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FULL DRAW: Check out the 2018 fixture list here
BLOCKBUSTERS: The five matches you won’t want to miss
BYE planning is vital if you want to succeed at NRL Supercoach and the 2018 draw throws up some intriguing challenges for the season ahead.
The introduction of a stand-alone Origin round sees each team receive just one bye this season with those byes split between rounds 13 and 17.
Players selected for Origin will not be available for their teams on those rounds.
The stand-alone Origin match is slated for Sunday June 24 and falls between round 15 and 16.
Here’s how the draw breaks down:
Some quick takeaways:
* All Origin players miss the same number of games regardless of which club they play for
* A selection premium should be given to non-bye/non-Origin players who play in round 13
* With three rounds between Origin I and Origin III Supercoaches have plenty of trades to trade out their round 13 non-bye/non-Origin players
So who are those players to target early?
Jason Taumalolo: The North Queensland workhorse averaged 75 points last year, scored under 50 points just twice and exceeded 75 points eight times. You would want this guy in your team even if it weren’t for his sweet early bye schedule, this is just the icing on the cake. Lock and load.
Paul Gallen: Yes I know he’s going to turn 37 in 2018 but the Cronulla workhorse finished last season as strong as he’s ever been with a round 24-26 run of 110 points, 63 points and 133 points. Gallen did not miss a game last year, scored under 50 just once, exceeded 75 points 11 times and averaged 76 points across the season. God is good.
Nathan Brown: Speaking of God, Nathan Brown’s 2017 season was straight out of the Supercoach Book of Revelations! Handed a starting role early in the season, Brown finished with a 65 point average, exceeded 75 six times and only scored under 60 three times (once starting — and one of those was injury affected).
Sam Burgess: By his own lofty standards, Sam Burgess had an off year in 2017. The big man played just 21 games and finished with an average of 65 ppg — 10 points less than his average in 2013 and 2016 and a whopping 24 points less than his stellar 2014 season. What was a loss for us last year will be a win in 2018 though with ‘Surgess’ set to be available at his cheapest price in years.
Martin Taupau: It was a tale of two halves for big Marty in 2017. He played nine games by round 13 and was averaging 73 ppg off the back of four games in excess of 75, a high score of 113 and an insane PPM of 1.31 while averaging 56 minutes per game. The minutes, and production, dropped away though Tapau still managed to finish with an average of 65 PPG, 52 minutes per game and a PPM of 1.25. Taupau should be available for a slight discount on his opening price last season and should be owned.
Ben Matulino: Stick with me here folks, I know Matulino was a bit of a dud last year, playing just 16 games and finishing with an average of 52 PPG. Buuut Matulino’s PPM of 1.04 was in line with his career average, and the former Warrior has shown he can post a close to keeper average when given the minutes (he averaged 62 ppg in 2015 when averaging 58 minutes per game). The Tigers have shown a willingness to give big minutes to big boppers with Aaron Woods averaging 60, 58, 55, 57 and 58 minutes per game over the last five seasons.
Unless you are as creative as my beloved Roosters you probably won’t be able to fit all six into your starting line-up — but if you can squeeze at least four of them in your forward pack is going to be well set come the byes.
As to the backline, we’ll address that in coming days.