NRL SuperCoach study guide: New Zealand Warriors

WITH guns on offer all across the park and largely unaffected by the Origin period, Supercoaches should be taking a close look at the Warriors.

THEIR inconsistency make them one of the more frustrating teams in the NRL but the Warriors bring plenty to the table when it comes to Supercoach.

With guns on offer all across the park and largely unaffected by the Origin period, Supercoaches will be taking a close look at the boys from across the ditch.

So who should be on your radar for 2017:

BEST 17:

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Tuimoala Lolohea 3. David Fusitu’a 4. Solomone Kata 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Kieran Foran 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Issac Luke 10. Ben Matulino 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Simon Mannering 14. Charlie Gubb 15. Albert Vete 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Sam Lisone

OTHERS: Bunty Afoa, Blake Ayshford, Ata Hingano, James Gavet, Patrick Sipley, Ken Maumalo, Matt Allwood, Nathaniel Roache, Ligi Sao

PLAYER MOVEMENT

INS: Kieran Foran (Eels)

OUTS: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Bulldogs), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Shaun Lane (Sea Eagles), Jonathan Wright (Sea Eagles), Henare Wells (Burleigh)

MORE SUPERCOACH:

SuperCoach study guides for every club

Winners and losers from price reveals

VK picks his best PODs

Champion’s hot tips for 2017

10 most expensive in each position

The top guns

BYES:

Rounds 15 & 18

GUNS

SHAUN JOHNSON (HFB, 5/8 $464,300)

Avg 2016: 69.5

The twinkle-toed playmaker kicked off 2016 with a big 97 points and then slumped to a low 29 points in round two - this pretty much sums up the rollercoaster that is Shaun Johnson.

Having said that, he did post scores of 70 or above in 14 rounds last year. He comes with the added bonus of dual position and the Warriors don’t have their first bye until round 15.

SIMON MANNERING (2RF $450,600)

Avg 2016: 67.4

When this workhorse is playing in the middle for 80 minutes, he just about picks himself as a top 17 player. As we witnessed last year, any move to the edges will impact his scoring and see his base stats plummet. At lock, where he can keep his workrate ticking over, Mannering is a genuine keeper and won’t let any SuperCoaches down — the tackling machine is one of the more consistent guns going around.

PODS

BODENE THOMPSON (2RF $442, 700)

Avg 2016: 66.2 points

We spend a lot of time talking about Bodene Thompson’s SuperCoach exploits and the message seems to be sinking in. After starting 2016 at a low 0.7% ownership he was picked up in 5.5% teams by season’s end. He now comes at a premium but is a good base stats player and can find attacking stats when running off Shaun Johnson’s hip - because of this he has huge upside, even more so than Mannering. His price could be a turn-off to some SuperCoaches, all pointing to him being a genuine POD.

ISSAC LUKE (HOK $424,100)

Avg 2016: 63.5 points

When the Warriors are on, Issac Luke’s upside potential is huge. And when he’s playing 80 minutes he shapes as a genuine alternative at hooker but he doesn’t have the consistency as someone like Cameron Smith. Those who pick up Luke will have to be prepared to cop scores in the 20s and 30s.

CHEAPIES

ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (FLB $324,000)

Avg 2016: 54 points

OK, so by definition RTS is not a cheapie. But we all know his pedigree and how immensely talented he is. So a starting price of $324k for a fullback of his calibre is a bargain too hard to hard to ignore. By all accounts, the speedy Kiwi is flying through preseason after having missed most of 2016 with a knee injury. We’ll get a glimpse as to where he is at when he turns out for the Warriors at the Nines in early February. He’s only available at FLB but has cash-cow written all over him.

Roger Tuivasa Sheck has cash cow written all over him. Picture: Getty Images

NO GO ZONE

TUIMOALA LOLOHEA (CTW, FLB $295,300)

2016 Avg: 44.2 points

Since debuting in 2014 Tui has played in EVERY position in the Warriors backline. Despite his talents he’s been unable to lock down in a spot in the halves, where he wants to play. He has reluctantly accepted he’ll be shuffled out the wing this year. His management has been vocal about him wanting out if Kieran Foran is allowed to turn out for the Warriors in 2017. So much of what happens to Tui will depend on his attitude and how he deals with the fact he can’t play where he wants to. As an aside, we tallied tries scored in his career … he’s scored 16, half of which have come when he’s been playing on the wing. Food for thought.

POSITIONS/PRICES

Bunty Afoa (2RF, FRF $276,700)

Matthew Allwood (CTW $183,800)

Blake Ayshford (CTW $281,400)

Kieran Foran (5/8 $294,900)

David Fusitua (FLB, CTW $338,700)

James Gavet (FRF $184,500)

Charlie Gubb (FRF $172,800)

Ma’afoaeata Hingano (HFB, 5/8 $165,400)

Ryan Hoffman (2RF $339,500)

Shaun Johnson (HFB $464,300)

Solomone Kata (CTW $348,900)

Jacob Lillyman (FRF $312,000)

Mason Lino (HFB, 5/8 $132,000)

Sam Lisone (FRF, 2RF $211,000)

Tuimoala Lolohea (CTW, FLB $295,300)

Issac Luke (HOK $424,100)

Simon Mannering (2RF $450,600)

Ben Matulino (FRF, 2RF $349, 300)

Ken Maumalo (CTW $203,200)

Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad (HFB, 5/8 $122,600)

Nathaniel Roache (HOK, FLB $143,600)

Ligia Sao (FRF $143,600)

Toafofoa Sipley (FRF $150,400)

Jazz Tevaga (HOK $227,300)

Bodene Thompson (2RF $442,700)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (FLB $324,000)

Manu Vatuvei (CTW $272,300)

Albert Vete (FRF $274,500)