NRL SuperCoach 2016: Melbourne Storm study guide reveals a mix of ageing guns and young superstars
A HUGE question mark hangs over Melbourne’s champion trio of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater but fortunately for the Storm they have a supporting cast of bona fide Supercoach stars.
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A HUGE question mark hangs over the Melbourne Storm’s champion trio of Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater.
The Big Three are NRL Supercoach royalty but can the veterans contend with an exhausting season which will include State of Origin duties and in the case of Billy Slater overcoming injury issues that have impacted him over the past few seasons.
Fortunately for the Storm they have a supporting cast of bona fide Supercoach stars in Will Chambers, Jesse Bromwich, Tohu Harris, Marika Koroibete and Cameron Munster who are also very worthwhile considering for your line-up.
Of these, Bromwich is a Supercoach gun who should remain one of the key Supercoach front-rowers in 2016 while Harris is an extremely reliable second-row forward who averaged 60.67 points in his 24 appearances for the Storm in 2015.
Harris is still dual position 2RF/CTW but at $383,600 the feeling is that he is fully priced and not the automatic must-have that he was in Supercoach 2015.
Coach Craig Bellamy will have to carefully manage his key trio and emerging players such as Nelson Asofa-Solomona as well as several Storm rookies should see opportunities for game time in 2016.
PLAYER MOVEMENT
Ins: Cheyse Blair (Sea Eagles), Jeremy Hawkins (Raiders), Mark Nicholls (Raiders), Matt White (Titans).
Outs: Ryan Hinchcliffe (Huddersfield), Kurt Mann (Dragons), Mahe Fonua (Hull), Matt Duffie (rugby union), Hymel Hunt (Rabbitohs), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (retired), Dane Weston (Centurions), Chanze Nicoll-Klokstad (Warriors).
PREDICTED BEST 17
Billy Slater, Marika Koroibete, Cameron Munster, Will Chambers, Cheyse Blair, Blake Green, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Jordan McLean, Kevin Proctor, Tohu Harris, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Tim Glasby, Kenny Bromwich, Matt White, Nelson Asofa-Solomona.
The Melbourne Storm have undergone relatively little change in personnel with no star recruits or departures. The most significant change will be the return of Billy Slater who missed the bulk of 2015 because of injury. The man who filled in so brilliantly for him, Cameron Munster, will shift to centre to take the position vacated by the departing Kurt Mann (St George Illawarra Dragons).
Ryan Hinchcliffe’s departure (Huddersfield) sees a bench position open up which will most likely be filled by Matt White (Gold Coast Titans). Cheyse Blair will have first opportunity at a wing spot made available through the departures of Mahe Fonua (Hull) and Matt Duffie (rugby union).
GUNS
Cameron Smith ($433,500)
Cameron Smith is a Supercoach gun and undoubtedly the premier hooker in the NRL, boasting the full armoury of high tackle counts, astute dummy half running, kicking goals, 40/20s, tackle breaks and try assists. He is almost guaranteed 80 minutes every time he starts and in 2015 Smith played 23 games for the Storm, averaging 68.57 Supercoach points.
As an alternate captain choice he rarely lets you down and has good Origin bye coverage as he only misses the three big bye weeks. If included in initial Supercoach squads Smith is a set-and-forget player who will deliver excellent Supercoach output and only needs coverage during the tricky State of Origin period.
Jesse Bromwich ($392,800)
Jesse Bromwich is a premium front-row forward who continues to improve his game. He has a huge motor which, coupled with an ability to make metres and offload, a high work rate and tackle count, sees him consistently deliver in terms of Supercoach points. In 2015 he played 24 games for an average of 62.13 SuperCoach points. Bromwich has got the ability to extend his playing time and could be a beneficiary of the reduced number of interchanges. He should be considered as one of the must-have options in initial NRL SuperCoach squads.
GAMBLE
Billy Slater ($305,700)
Billy Slater looms as one of the highest risk/reward strategy players in NRL Supercoach 2016. At his best Slater is a Supercoach gun. However, he only played seven games in 2015 due to injury, averaging 53.71 points. He has had surgery and been given ample time to fully recover which will mean he is ready to start 2016 fully fit.
If fit and back to his best Slater would be a masterstroke pick in NRL Supercoach squads. His price of $305,700 would be a bargain if near his best. However he has been prone to injury in recent seasons and at 32 could be seen as having already played his best games. Slater could prove to be an extremely useful point of difference for Supercoaches if the gamble pays off.
VALUE
Nelson Asofa-Solomona ($201,700)
Asofa-Solomona appeared 10 times for the Storm in 2015 and scored an average of 31.90
Supercoach points. He has built with immense power, speed and raw potential and at just 20 years old at 2016 season commencement has been brought only carefully by Bellamy. In his rookie season he averaged 23 minutes and in only five games did he play 30 minutes plus.
He should gain vast improvement from his rookie season and is likely to gain playing time from the low minutes of several of his 2015 starts. In a season where cash cows will be at a premium he looms as a player that will increase in value and become ripe for upgrading toward the bye rounds.
NO GO ZONE
Cameron Munster ($391,300)
Munster should be considered as a No Go Zone player in INITIAL Supercoach squads simply
because of his move away from the position which allowed him to reach stellar heights in 2015.
Munster was a revelation at fullback during the absence of Billy Slater and a huge Supercoach success, averaging 61.88 points over 17 games.
With the return of Slater, Munster will be playing centre in place of the departed Mann. Even with his immense talent Munster is most likely not going to have the opportunity to reach the heights of 2015 and his starting price should accordingly drop. The situation changes if Slater has any injury concerns or from Round 13 where he would be covering Slater in bye Round 15 and if Slater is rested in the weeks backing up from Origin series. At that time Munster could be at a price which would move him from a No Go Zone to almost must-have status.
ROOKIES
The Storm should provide the opportunity for several rookies in 2016. These include hard running Tony Tumusa who could challenge for a wing position. Joe Stimson is also an impressive Storm rookie who has emerged from the Storm development system. A rangy second-rower or lock, he has a high work rate and could emerge as rookie option during the season. Dean Britt is another second-row rookie who is mobile and skilful which should
see him make his first grade debut during the 2016 season.
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Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2016: Melbourne Storm study guide reveals a mix of ageing guns and young superstars
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