SuperCoach: How to replace the set-and-forget heroes who have moved on from the NRL

Johnathan Thurston, Simon Mannering, Valentine Holmes, Billy Slater. They were our SuperCoach set-and-forget heroes that have now moved on from the NRL. So who do we replace them with?

With the retirement of Johnathan Thurston, everyone has been wondering how the Cowboys will perform now with The GOAT gone?

I, on the other hand, can only think how will Hon’s Heroes fare now without our go-to halfback?

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Along with JT, the Heroes have also lost its stalwarts in Simon Mannering, Valentine Holmes and Billy Slater this year - the set-and-forget options I would bring in at the start of each season and hold on (through thick and thin) until the very end.

And I suspect there are several thousand other SuperCoaches who have been left in the same position as I have.

So, let me introduce you to The Replacements - those players with the potential to become high scoring pick-and-stick options for the rest of the year.

They’ve got some pretty big boots to fill this year but these are the boys who can go from zero to, well, a Hon’s Hero.

Johnathan Thurston passes both the SuperCoach and Cowboys baton to Michael Morgan this season. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

JT to Michael Morgan - 5/8 | HFB - $409,200

Who better to replace the GOAT than with his real life predecessor. He averaged 43.7 last year despite being hampered by injury. When he’s fighting fit though, he’s shown he can be the best in the league and stepped up in the absence of JT in the 2017 season.

Jai Arrow leads the pack at Titans pre-season training. Picture: Titans Media

Simon Mannering to Jai Arrow - 2RF - $598,000

Manners was a simple set-and-forget forward option of mine for the past few seasons and now Arrow looks to be the next best thing. Expect a big year from the boys on the Gold Coast following another lacklustre year and no doubt Arrow will help spearhead their forward attack and defence.

Zac Lomax is one of the post popular players picked up so far this pre-season. Picture: Richard Dobson

Valentine Holmes to Zac Lomax - CTW - $196,900

He’s quick, he’s skilful and he’s cheap. Understandably the most popular player picked ahead of Round One, Lomax has the potential to be a point scoring machine.

AJ Brimson showed glimpses of what he could do last season, and should get more opportunities this year. Picture: AAP

Billy Slater to AJ Brimson - FLB | 5/8 - $462,200

Young AJ showed off his potential last season averaging 49.4 in just 15 matches, which included a top score of 99 against the Warriors in Round 20. It will be interesting to see what coach Garth Brennan does with the youngster with the aging Flash Gordon expected to retain the No.1 jersey.

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Originally published as SuperCoach: How to replace the set-and-forget heroes who have moved on from the NRL