NRL SuperCoach study guide 2018: North Queensland Cowboys

GUNS, PODS and bounce-back candidates, the North Queensland Cowboys have them all. Read former NRL SuperCoach Champion Wilfred Zee’s guide to 2017s ‘overacheivers’.

There are plenty of SuperCoach guns playing for North Queensland in 2018.

THE North Queensland Cowboys overachieved in 2017.

Any team that loses both of their captains, one who happens to be a future Immortal and the other an Australian Test prop, as well as suffering an injury crisis all year long, yet somehow scrapped and fought their way into the Grand Final (with a little bit of luck along the way) — yep, I’d say they overachieved.

So, what of the Cowboys in 2018?

Well, you take a tight-knit team that just made the Grand Final, then add halfback maestro Johnathan Thurston, now add Matt Scott and Jordan McLean to a monster forward pack that already features the rampaging twin threats of Jason Taumalolo and Coen Hess … that’s one scary footy team.

A genuine premiership contender, there are plenty of SuperCoach options to consider for your Round 1 team at North Queensland.

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There are plenty of SuperCoach guns playing for North Queensland in 2018.

BEST 17

1. Lachlan Coote 2. Antonio Winterstein 3. Kane Linnett 4. Justin O’Neill 5. Kyle Feldt 6. Michael Morgan 7. Johnathan Thurston 8. Matt Scott 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Te Maire Martin/Ben Hampton 15. Scott Bolton 16. John Asiata 17. Coen Hess

Who’s left: Shaun Fensom, Sam Hoare, Shaun Hudson, Corey Jensen, Marcus Jensen, Kyle Laybutt, Francis Molo, Carlin Anderson, Javid Bowen, Josh Chudleigh, Jake Clifford, Mitchell Dunn, Gideon Gela-Mosby, Emry Pere, Murray Tualagi, Enari Tuala, Shane Wright

PLAYER MOVEMENTS

In: Carlin Anderson (2019), Te Maire Martin (Penrith Panthers, 2019), Jordan McLean (Melbourne Storm, 2020), Francis Molo (Brisbane Broncos, 2018)

Out: Patrick Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm), Patrick Mago (Brisbane Broncos), Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights), Ray Thompson (retired), Braden Uele (Cronulla Sharks)

BYE

Round 17

Johnathan Thurston calling the shots during North Queensland Cowboys pre-season training. Picture: Alix Sweeney

GUNS

Johnathan Thurston (HFB, $536,300) 2017 average: 67.1

It was clearly JT’s worst season in recent memory, only managing to play seven games all season (plus an Origin game). The Cowboys’ 2017 loss is our gain in 2018 though as this means Thurston is available at a discounted price (priced at closer to a 59-60 average).

It was also his worst average since the scoring rules changed. Check his last four years’ averages (in reverse chronological order): 69.9, 77.0, 82.0, 76.0. There’s two ways to look at those numbers; with furrowed brow, as it looks like he might be declining; or while licking your lips, knowing that the Cowboys are going to be so strong upfront that he will have plenty of time to work his magic and rack up those attacking stats. The narrative is either that he is getting old and he will let Morgan and the other star players around him do the work, as he eases himself into retirement in his last season; or perhaps he will leave absolutely nothing in the tank as he sets out on a mission to finish his career with a fairytale — holding the Provans-Summons trophy aloft on the 30th of September this year. I know which way I’m leaning!

Jason Taumalolo (2RF, $668,400) 2017 average: 75.3

The second most expensive forward in SuperCoach to start 2018, Taumalolo is a superstar both on the field and on the stats sheet. Missing only the two games last year for a shoulder charge suspension, Taumalolo turned up almost every single week and delivered exactly what SuperCoaches wanted — plenty of work up the middle, and the occasional attacking stat. The only concern is minutes — will he get the minutes he needs to be a premium forward again? Here’s a stat for you: when Taumalolo played less than 55 minutes (five games last year), he averaged just 52.8 points per game from an average of 49.8 minutes per game. His average in the other 17 games where he played at least 56 minutes? A mammoth 81.9 points per game from an average of 66.4 minutes per game! It’s likely that he will be a must-have for your final 17 — but do you start with him or not?

Michael Morgan will step back into Johnathan Thurston’s shadow in 2018. Picture: Alix Sweeney

PODS

Michael Morgan (HFB/5/8, $520,500) 2017 average: 58.6

It’s unfair to say that Morgan “arrived” in the NRL last season, but it certainly saw him stand up and show that he is a legitimate playmaker capable of carrying a team all the way to the Grand Final. It’s understandable though, when you’re in the shadow of JT. The big question is whether or not JT’s return to the #7 jersey means that Morgan takes a back seat again and is happy to let JT run the show. The reason is simple: seven games with JT beside him, average of 39.0 points per game; 16 games without JT beside him (even including two concussion or injury-shortened games) for an average of 67.3 points per game. It would be a brave SuperCoach to bank on JT having a poor season and Morgan continuing to be the main playmaker, but at a slightly lower price while still maintaining dual position status, Morgan could certainly be a season-defining POD for your team!

Gavin Cooper (2RF, $412,900) 2017 average: 46.5

“Thurston’s got the ball inside the 10, there’s space on his left, he heads that way, he shapes to kick OH and he finds GAVIN COOPER with a lovely short ball into a gaping hole next to the tryline …” We didn’t hear that much, if at all, in 2017, for obvious reasons. And suffice to say, Cooper did not have a good 2017 in SuperCoach terms, finishing the year priced at only $236,400 — a ridiculously low price for an 80 minute edge forward. In fact, he has not had such a poor average since 2008 (the first year for SuperCoach) when he was mainly playing off the bench for the Titans before being dropped altogether. In fact, Cooper is fresh off season averages of 62.9 and 58.7 in 2015 and 2016. It’s no surprise though when Cooper is JT’s go-to guy more often than not, so with the return of JT, perhaps we’ll also see the return of Gavin Cooper?

LISTEN!!! The podcast team dissect important pre-season news and reveal their early picks for 2018.

CHEAPIES

Carlin Anderson (CTW/FLB, $164,600) 2017 average: N/A

The Cowboys are boring when it comes to cheapies. Their team is so established that it’s rare to find any gems — barring injury. Anderson is a speedster who has some exciting attacking skills, but it’s hard to see even him getting an opportunity barring mass injury to their backline, as the likes of Javid Bowen and Gideon Gela-Mosby (both of whom have played a number of games in first grade are not cheapies at all) are seemingly first cabs off the rank as injury cover in the backline.

Ben Hampton. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Te Maire Martin. Picture: Alix Sweeney

NO GO ZONE

Ben Hampton (FLB/5/8, $199,700) / Te Maire Martin (HFB/5/8, $430,700) 2017 averages: 22.5 / 48.5

If you didn’t know before, in SuperCoach bench utilities are poison. It’s likely that one of these two players will be the utility for the Cowboys (unless Paul Green decides to change his team structure) so barring a long term injury to a playmaker, give the two of these blokes a swerve.

Kane Linnett (CTW, $343,200)

2017 average: 38.7

If one were to extrapolate the Gavin Cooper excuse (i.e. the absence of JT) to Linnett who had a lower average in 2017 than his previous years (usually around 50 points per game), you might be tempted to take a punt on Linnett given his low price and the fact that he’ll play for the Cowboys. The concern however is due to his decrease in work rate last year, which was the primary reason for his lower average (his attacking stats were only slightly lower than the previous year). Given that he is also getting older and slower, there is also the chance that the youngsters snapping at his heels could claim his spot this year.

SQUAD, POSITIONS, PRICES

First name	Surname	Position 1	Position 2	Games	Average	Price
Carlin	Anderson	CTW	FLB	0		$164,600
John	Asiata	2RF	FRF	24	37.50	$332,800
Scott	Bolton	FRF		24	51.46	$456,700
Javid	Bowen	CTW		12	40.17	$356,500
Josh	Chudleigh	HOK		0		$177,300
Jake	Clifford	Five-eighth		0		$164,600
Gavin	Cooper	2RF		21	46.52	$412,900
Lachlan	Coote	FLB		17	33.71	$299,100
Kyle	Feldt	CTW		24	43.75	$388,300
Shaun	Fensom	FRF		17	38.59	$342,500
Gideon	Gela-Mosby	CTW		4	47.25	$335,500
Jake	Granville	HOK		20	46.90	$416,200
Ben	Hampton	Five-eighth	FLB	22	22.50	$199,700
Coen	Hess	2RF	FRF	23	57.87	$513,600
Sam	Hoare	FRF		4	22.25	$197,500
Shaun	Hudson	CTW		0		$164,600
Corey	Jensen	2RF		13	28.54	$253,300
Kyle	Laybutt	HFB		2	32.00	$213,000
Kane	Linnett	CTW		24	38.67	$343,200
Ethan	Lowe	2RF		24	52.46	$465,600
Te Maire	Martin	Five-eighth	HFB	15	48.53	$430,700
Jordan	McLean	FRF		17	40.12	$356,000
Francis	Molo	FRF		0		$164,600
Michael	Morgan	Five-eighth	HFB	23	58.65	$520,500
Justin	O'Neill	CTW		17	33.53	$297,600
Emry	Pere	FRF		0		$164,600
Matthew	Scott	FRF		2	48.50	$344,300
Murray	Taulagi	FLB		0		$164,600
Jason	Taumalolo	2RF		22	75.32	$668,400
Johnathan	Thurston	HFB		7	67.14	$536,300
Enari	Tuala	CTW		1	19.00	$177,300
Antonio	Winterstein	CTW		15	30.40	$269,800
Shane	Wright	2RF		1	33.00	$205,000

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Originally published as NRL SuperCoach study guide 2018: North Queensland Cowboys