NRL SuperCoach Champion’s Choice: Coen Hess

Away from SuperCoach, I’m not a fan of Coen Hess as a player. But his SuperCoach scores are set to soar in 2019.

Winning SuperCoach takes a combination of things — staying updated, keeping an eye on statistics, luck, gut feel and getting advice from others.

As I look at another left of field POD, I’m relying on gut feel about the team and some advice from a friend about the feature player.

I belong to the camp that believes the North Queensland Cowboys will perform a lot better this year. Jordan McLean is healthy and the addition of Josh McGuire will bolster the pack and they get an injection of speed out wide. Whilst losing Ben Barba isn’t ideal, it’s not a problem that can’t be overcome.

COEN HESS ($547,200)

North Queensland Cowboys (2RF)

Coen Hess is set for improvement.

Away from a SuperCoach perspective, I’m not a fan of Hess as a player. He’s in the same mould as Marty Taupau in my opinion.

Built like Greek Gods and make some exciting plays but then are gassed and can be found out in defence or leave their outside men hanging as they make lazy efforts.

I much prefer the Tohu Harris or Felise Kaufusi types who rarely miss assignments and can give you 80 minutes.

Anyway I have been tipped off by a friend that Hess is looking a little slimmer this year. Stalking his Insta account and he does seem to have dropped some muscle mass.

Which will only be good for his motor.

At 22 years of age and a few pre-seasons now under his belt his body should be getting used to the rigours of a full season.

Over the last two years Hess has faltered towards the end of the season. However, his average for the opening 10 rounds of the season have been 61 and 67.

The Cowboys have a tough opening draw to start the year — Dragons, Broncos, Sharks, Raiders and Storm. Despite this they only have to travel to Suncorp to play the Broncos with the rest of the games at home.

Hess is consistent, his average over the last two years of 58 is testament to this. Though when you look at his numbers it’s interesting to see how he got there.

	TR	TA	TB	OL	H8	HU
2017	204	514	116	36	340	88
2018	119	676	106	28	290	122

In 2017 Hess scored 21ppg in evasive and scoring stats along with a 39 base in 58min.

In 2018 this changed a little with 15ppg in evade and scoring with 46 base points in 73 minutes.

2018 saw Hess’ H8 count drop. This I attribute to the fact that the forward pack last year was injured and old.

With McLean, Taumalolo and McGuire rolling up the middle, I expect Hess to take advantage of retreating defences and improve his 8m hit-ups this season.

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

Whilst Johnathan Thurston trusted Gavin Cooper, you could see in the Cowboys run through the finals of 2017 that Michael Morgan was developing that kind of relationship with Hess. This I think could see Hess regain some of his evade and scoring stats this season.

With a full pre-season on the edge, I believe he will be able to push his 58 average up into the 60s this season.

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Full SuperCoach News section / Cheapie Bible / Predicted round one teams / Sangster’s team / Champ’s team / Wilfred’s team / Tallis’s team / Copes’ team / Huge rule change / Top 10 rookies in NRL

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Champion’s Choice: Coen Hess