NRL SuperCoach 2016: Past winner Dave Von Kotze reveals top 10 point of difference players
A CUNNINGLY concocted POD plan can be the difference between finishing in the top 50 or the top 5000, writes former winner Dave Von Kotze.
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GETTING off to a flying start in the SuperCoach season is an absolute must for those looking to put themselves in a position to take the Holy Grail.
When formulating a starting team strategy, a tried-and-tested approach is to load your team with as many cows (usually rookie players who will make cash) and guns (top players who will bring in the big scores) as possible.
However, with 118,511 other SuperCoaches shooting for glory, it becomes necessary to spend the remainder of your starting salary cap on “point of difference” players who are going to not only increase in value, but more importantly score valuable points that will see you soar up the leaderboard.
Point of difference players are commonly referred to in SuperCoach world as “PODS”, and according to the “Sangster New World SuperCoach Dictionary”, the definition of a POD is a player who is owned by under 20 per cent of SuperCoaches.
A cunningly concocted POD plan can be the difference between finishing in the top 50 or the top 5000. Last year’s overall joint winner Mary Konstantopoulos started the season with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (13.6 per cent ownership) and Tohu Harris (4.7 per cent).
After round five, Harris was averaging 70 points per game and had increased in value by a massive $134,600, while Tuivasa-Sheck finished the year as the highest scoring SuperCoach player and increased in value by an incredible $212,000.
It is also important to mention for those joining us for the first time in 2016 that there isn’t a SuperCoach alive who doesn’t have a story or two of a POD who crashed and burned and cost them big time, so be sure to do your research and choose wisely.
Obviously at this point of the year we are unable to tell what percentage ownership any of the players will have, but what we can look at is how some players may benefit as a result of player movement during the off-season.
Let’s have a sneaky peak at a few POD options who could see you fly out of the barriers this year.
1. Mike Cooper (2RF, FRF) $337,300 and/or Jack De Belin (2RF, FRF) $355,300
With Trent Merrin making the move to Penrith this year, these two shape as worthy candidates to replace the NSW forward. Englishman Mike Cooper looks set to start at lock and with a PPM of 0.96, could see a handy increase in value. Jack De Belin is a smoky who could also step up and deliver for potential owners. De Belin played most of his footy off the bench last year and usually this puts a player in the no-go zone. However, in the five games Merrin missed last season due to injury and Origin duty, JDB averaged 56 points per game. Include this with the fact he scored at a very efficient 0.98 points per minute and De Belin becomes one to consider, especially if he is the beneficiary of extra minutes due to the new interchange rule. Keep an eye on the Charity Shield.
2. Valentine Holmes (FLB, CTW) $291,400
Valentine Holmes will get a shot to make the fullback position his own at The Shire this year as a result of Michael Gordon taking up new digs with the Parramatta Eels. Holmes lit up the park with natural talent last season, scoring sixteen tries (including four doubles). He retains dual FLB/CTW status, making him someone to consider in a Sharkies team that look the goods. A huge asterisk sits beside Holmes’ name if Jack Bird starts the season at fullback.
3. Trent Hodkinson (HFB) $293,200
Trent Hodkinson will spearhead the attack for the Newcastle Knights this year. Despite being the Blues halfback for the past two years, Hodkinson has never really been SuperCoach relevant, however, word on the street in Novocastrian territory is that Hodkinson will not be restricted to one side and will have a ticket to roam. This means he should have his hands on the ball more frequently, which could lead to a higher output of attacking stats. Throw in the fact he is one of the most accurate goal kickers in the competition and you may have yourself a POD.
4. Manu Ma’u (2RF) $341,700
Parramatta has landed a dream run from a SuperCoach perspective through the Origin period, with the Eels playing all three major bye rounds. Eels players who cut the mustard will be like gold through this time and Manu Ma’u could be a set and forget POD who will keep scores ticking over and provide cover for this all important part of the SuperCoach year. Ma’u is expected to remain as a big-minute player on the left edge and if new recruit Kieran Foran also plays on the left, as he usually did for Manly, Ma’u may reap the rewards of having an international ballplayer inside him.
5. Agnatius Paasi (FRF, 2RF) $244,100
Agnatius Paasi is set to be one of the main benefactors from the departures of Nate Myles and Dave Taylor from Titans camp. Reports from north of the border suggest Paasi will spend big minutes on an edge. If these reports are correct, he will make some much needed early season cash if he maintains his season average of 0.80 PPM. SuperCoaches may also like to know that when Myles missed the last two matches of the 2015 season due to injury, Paasi played 80 minutes and finished the year with a three-game average of 68 points.
6. Chris Grevsmuhl (FRF, 2RF) $235,800
Chris Grevsmuhl was one of the cheapies of the year in 2015, but the South Sydney backrower will start this season as a tasty POD. Glenn Stewart and Chris McQueen have both left Redfern, meaning Grevsmuhl could see more game time than his 38 minute average last season. Throw in a lovely 0.98 PPM and the dollar signs could be rolling for Grevsmuhl and his future owners.
7. Konrad Hurrell (CTW) $266,600
Konrad Hurrell optimises the saying “no risk, no reward”. On one hand, Hurrell is training the house down in pre-season, has extended his contract until the end of 2018 and is one of the most potent attacking weapons in the CTW position when in-form. On the other, he spent a fair bit of time in reserve grade during the back end of last season while in the bad books of Warriors coach Andrew McFadden. If selected, Hurrell will be a bargain buy after playing off the bench in his last three NRL appearances.
8. Jamie Lyon (CTW) $348,100
Jamie Lyon spent plenty of time in the rehab group last season, but the former gun hit some serious form in the back half of the year, notching three tons and averaging 75 points a game in his last eight appearances for the Sea Eagles. Lyon’s starting price of $348,100 is based on his season average of 55 and if the new halves pairing for Manly fires in 2016, the goalkicking skipper could return to gun status.
9. Jake Trbojevic (FRF) $310,700
Jake Trbojevic stormed onto the scene last year and many SuperCoaches highlighted his name as a genuine starter in their teams for 2016. There are various theories as to which players will benefit from the new interchange rule, but looking at the back end of JTurbo’s 2015 season, the Manly prop could be brilliant value at $310,700. In his last three games Trbojevic averaged 57 minutes and 56.33 points per game at a rate of 0.98 points per minute.
10. Robbie Rochow (2RF) $282,300
Robbie Rochow is a left-field POD option who may come into contention for the opening five rounds. Newcastle’s forward pack has lost a bit of sting this year with Beau Scott now wearing Parramatta colours and Tariq Sims spending the first five weeks in the naughty corner for a shoulder charge in the final game of last season. Rochow has had a horror run of injuries but scored at a rate of 0.88 points per minute last season, meaning if he gets the nod to start the year, $282,300 may be too hard to pass up.
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2016: Past winner Dave Von Kotze reveals top 10 point of difference players
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