NRL SuperCoach Last Word round 14: Trent Merrin best of round 16 buys
THE round 15 bye is the immediate priority, but SuperCoaches must also be planning ahead for the great purchases in round 16.
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THE round 15 bye is the immediate priority, but SuperCoaches must also be planning ahead for the great purchases in round 16. The Sharks and Panthers will have finished all their byes, making them the most valuable teams in the competition.
Trent Merrin
Price: $395,100
Average: 68.8
Ownership: 22.7%
Break even: 62
Currently holds the 11th best average of any player to notch over four games and therefore sits in the genuine keeper category. That said, he could bow out of SuperCoach contention if injuries strike in Origin II and he gets the nod for NSW.
James Tedesco
Price: $375,200
Average: 74.2
Ownership: 17.0%
Break even: 46
The best fullback in SuperCoach is predicted to be available for just $380,000 in round 16 following injury-affected rounds. However, the trade is again Origin dependent. If not named for Origin III, Tedesco would miss just the relatively easy round 19. However, if picked for Origin, Tedesco would miss both 18 and 19, making him more of a purchase for round 20.
Bryce Cartwright
Price: $400,100
Average: 66.8
Ownership: 33.5%
Break even: 61
Already the eighth most popular player in SuperCoach and will be essential from round 16 if he appears set to miss Origin III. Laurie Daley said this week that Cartwright is not ready to start Origin and is only in contention for the fourth bench spot (ie utility spot).
Ben Barba
Price: $416,700
Average: 63.6
Ownership: 35.8%
Break even: 48
The Cronulla fullback is officially the cheapie of the year, having seen the biggest rise of any player ($232,600). Those who sold prior to the round 12 bye will be kicking themselves as Barba has returned to the sort of form that saw him win a Dally M, averaging 71 in the last five rounds and 88 in the last three rounds.
Matt Moylan
Price: $372,200
Average: 59.1
Ownership: 4.0%
Break even: 46
Moylan comes into serious SuperCoach contention if Tedesco is the preferred fullback for NSW. He has averaged 59 this season and 72 over the last three weeks, placing him in the keeper category at both five-eighth and fullback.
Tyrone Peachey
Price: $382,900
Average: 55.0
Ownership: 3.3%
Break even: 93
Peachey is tough to pick for SuperCoach because he switches positions so regularly. But the numbers are hard to argue with. Peachey has averaged 69 in the last three rounds and is a massive POD at just 3.3 per cent ownership.
NRL SUPERCOACH PODCAST FOR ROUND 14
Wade Graham
Price: $359,700
Average: 54.8
Ownership: 5.0%
Break even: 71
Another Origin dependent trade, especially given he is heavily fancied to take the Origin spot of Boyd Cordner (foot). But if Graham appears on the outer with Laurie Daley, he’s the sort of solid base stat player who can take SuperCoaches through to round 19 and possibly beyond. Plays 80 minutes almost every week and has recovered from a slow start to average 70 in the last three rounds.
Jack Bird
Price: $345,000
Average: 53.4
Ownership: 3.6%
Break even: 60
Produced a freakish offload for a try last week and is an attacking stats magnet, even though he’s not getting his hands on the ball as much as last year after switching to centre. Check Origin team lists and injuries before buying.
Nathan Cleary
Price: $113,800
Average: 36.0
Ownership: 0.6%
Break even: -14
Looms as the cheapie of the week for round 16. Jamie Soward is out of favour, Peter Wallace is playing hooker and Te Marie Martin is injured, giving the son of Ivan Cleary strong job security. However, he could be hard to fit in given many SuperCoaches are banking on a four-gun rotation in the halves.
WINNING TIPS
“This week is all about bye planning for round 15. Although numbers are important for round 15, trades are equally as important so it is vital you bring in quality or downgrade non keepers to free up some cash. Shaun Johnson is a keeper and should be brought in if you can afford him. Tui Lolohea and Ryan James also are very tempting. You can hold off on players like Bevan French for one more week just to make sure he retains his spot.”
- Mary Kaye (2015 winner)
“Absolutely huge week with plenty of the big guns needing to be brought in before they go out of reach. Even though he’s not playing round 15, Pangai and his -55 breakeven will be too hard for me to pass up with fingers crossed he holds his spot long enough to make decent coin. If I was a head to head player I’d bring in Leilua before it’s too late with a BE of 41 but overall players could suffer if they don’t get involved in Shaun Johnson’s three game average of 87 and BE of 37.”
- Dave Von Kotze (2014 winner)
“There are plenty of keeper options available from the Storm (Munster, Harris, Bromwich) and Warriors (Johnston, Mannering), but when planning for round 15 you should keep an eye on your numbers for round 18 so you aren’t caught short. One of the longstanding commandments of SuperCoach is to never trade a keeper, but plenty will be considering offloading JT this week or next with a view of bringing him back in round 20. With a BE of 96 and playing the Sharks away before missing at least 3 of the next 5 games, a trade of JT to Johnson or down to Matterson for cash isn’t out of the question.”
- Darren Thompson (2013 winner)
“SuperCoaches should analyse their teams closely when considering Tevita Pangai Jr. He is predicted to rise significantly this week on the back of attacking stats last week. However typically forwards are slow burning cash cows and with the Broncos only playing 3 matches before round 19, he won’t be ready to trade out until after then. Just be content that position in your team can sit quietly unused for that time”
- Matt Mullen (2009 winner)
CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Corey Parker - average v this week’s opponent 80.75
Josh Mansour - 80.00
Paul Gallen - 75.20
Robbie Farah - 73.92
Shaun Johnson - 69.13
(Full figures in SuperCoach Gold, just $19.95 for season)
MOST TRADED IN
1 Tevita Pangai, 7155 trades (15.36%)
2 Shaun Johnson, 4179 trades (8.97%)
3 Bevan French, 3359 trades (7.21%)
4 James Tedesco, 3159 trades (6.78%)
5 Ryan James, 2193 trades (4.71%)
6 Tuimoala Lolohea, 1526 trades (3.28%)
7 Jesse Bromwich, 1439 trades (3.09%)
8 Joseph Leilua, 1307 trades (2.81%)
9 Tohu Harris, 950 trades (2.04%)
10 Siosifa Talaki, 914 trades (1.96%)
(Full figures in SuperCoach Gold, just $19.95 for season)
MOST TRADED OUT
1 Latrell Mitchell, 3113 trades (6.68%)
2 Kerrod Holland, 3103 trades (6.66%)
3 Suliasi Vunivalu, 2667 trades (5.73%)
4 Brenton Lawrence, 1660 trades (3.56%)
5 Moses Mbye, 1249 trades (2.68%)
6 Shaun Fensom, 1134 trades (2.43%)
7 James Roberts, 1110 trades (2.38%)
8 Jackson Hastings, 1103 trades (2.37%)
9 Daniel Saifiti, 1008 trades (2.16%)
10 Jarrod Croker, 938 trades (2.01%)
(Full figures in SuperCoach Gold, just $19.95 for season)
TOP 10 SUPERCOACHES
Traders Anonymous - 15,126
Amber Ales - 15,079
Bizness - 15,061
Gallensofpeptides - 15,027
Dynamite Donkeys - 15,010
turtle man 2350 - 14,946
Northen Beagles - 14,936
Doggies - 14,926
All McQueen’s Men - 14,917
Above Average Joes - 14,915
TOP 10 SUPERCOACHES (ROUND 13)
cotton candy - 1,461
That shifty team - 1,442
full of stiffs - 1,441
STORAKERS HEROS - 1,436
SheWasOnlyXIII - 1,426
Dogpower - 1,426
Waltons Warriors - 1,424
inflights - 1,420
duane - 1,416
Elvy’s Espadas - 1,415
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Last Word round 14: Trent Merrin best of round 16 buys
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