Top 10 SuperCoach cheapies revealed: Ashley Taylor surges into contention

REIGNING Holden Cup Player of the Year Ashley Taylor this week emerged as a contender for most popular player in SuperCoach 2016.

WE reveal the 10 cheapies set to take NRL SuperCoach by storm in 2016.

1. Ashley Taylor

Last week he barely rated a mention. Now Ashley Taylor has emerged as a contender for SuperCoach buy of the year.

The former Bronco was previously set to start in Queensland Cup behind recruit Tyrone Roberts and 2015 revelation Kane Elgey.

However, with Elgey (ACL) ruled out for the season earlier this week, The Daily Telegraph understands Taylor merely needs to produce decent form in the trials to score a halves spot for round one.

Taylor was blooded in the NRL by Wayne Bennett last year, producing a poised display before suffering multiple compound finger fractures and being ruled out for the season.

The positive for SuperCoaches is that Taylor scored just 12 points in 30 minutes and will therefore start at close to bottom dollar.

Taylor is back to 70 per cent training following the injury and will be right for the first trial, where he is expected to ward off halves rivals Josh Hoffman, Daniel Mortimer and Greg Bird.

Ashley Taylor is set to start the year for the Titans in the halves. Picture: Scott Fletcher

2. Jackson Hastings

Will rival Ashley Taylor as the most popular player in SuperCoach 2016. Hastings will take over from James Maloney as Roosters five-eighth — where he averaged 41 in five games last year when filling in for Mitchell Pearce. However, Hastings will start close to bottom dollar due to a season average of just 18.57 — down due to stints as bench hooker.

Jackson Hastings will play five-eighth at the Roosters this year. Picture: Darren England.

3. An outside back at the Knights (Chanel Mata’utia, Jaelen Feeney)

Newcastle have serious depth issues in the backline. New coach Nathan Brown has identified the deficiency and says he is in the market, but even so it appears certain that cheapies will be blooded. They have lost Kurt Gidley, Joseph Leilua and Carlos Tuimavave, while former Origin star James McManus is yet to resume training and likely to retire due to concussion. NSW Cup star Kerrod Holland (Bulldogs), who was on the verge of an NRL debut last year, has also exited.

We currently have the following personnel locked in as outside backs: Jake Mamo, Nathan Ross, Sione Mata’utia, Dane Gagai and Akuila Uate. However, where they play is totally up in the air under new coach Nathan Brown, with a final decision to be made after the trials. Mamo has trained at fullback and wing. Sione Mata’utia has trained at fullback, centre and wing. Gagai has trained at fullback and centre. Ross has trained at centre and wing, while Uate is considered a lock on the right wing. However, behind these five players, there are only cheapies.

Chanel Mata’utia is near-certain to score game time during the year - and could even score a round one spot with just one injury. Mata’utia had a strong debut season in 2014 after being blooded by Wayne Bennett, averaging 41 in eight games, including five tries. However, he notched just one game last year for 22 points and will therefore start at close to bottom dollar.

Young gun Jaelen Feeney has also been training at fullback. Feeney was a dominant part of the Knights’ 2015 NSW Cup win in the halves, but Brown believes his speed and footwork would be perfect for the No. 1 position. Feeney will play NRL at some stage in 2016, we just don’t know at what time and in what position.

4. An outside back at the Titans (Brian Kelly, Leva Li)

Gold Coast lack depth in the backs. Coach Neil Henry has openly stated he is in the market for a cheap centre following the exits of James Roberts, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Kevin Gordon, Brad Tighe and Dave Taylor (who played a little bit at centre over the last few years). As it currently stands, the outside backline will consist of Josh Hoffman, Anthony Don, Will Zillman, Nene Macdonald and David Mead. From there, it’s only cheapies, with Brian Kelly and Leva Li heading the list.

Ballina-raised Kelly is the cousin of former Titans Albert Kelly and James Roberts. The electrifying speedster scored four tries for NSW in last year’s under 20s Origin. He is eligible for Holden Cup again this year, but is training with the NRL squad in the pre-season, with Titans insiders claiming he is first cab off the rank if there is an injury in the outside backs.

Li was a revelation in the 2015 pre-season, surging into the NRL squad after impressing on a train-and-trial contract. He made his first grade debut in round 23 last year, despite a persistent foot injury interrupting the bulk of his season. The Tongan international made just 23 SuperCoach points on debut and will therefore start at close to bottom dollar. Note: Recruit Chris McQueen is also capable of switching from the forwards to the outside backs, although he’s not a SuperCoach factor at approximately $240,000.

ROUND ONE: Predicted NRL teams

SUPERCOACH: 10 studs, 10 duds

FIXTURES: Semi biggest winner from draw

CASUALTIES: Pre-season injuries for each club

5. Latrell Mitchell

One of the most hyped rookies in the NRL. The Holden Cup Team of the Year member, who has been compared to Greg Inglis, is aiming to play NRL next year following the departure of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Mitchell and English recruit Joe Burgess are gunning for the one wing spot.

6. An outside back at the Bulldogs (Tyrone Phillips, Brad Abbey)

The Bulldogs are just two injuries away from blooding a cheapie in the backline. At the very least, a cheapie will play over Origin when Brett and Josh Morris are out. Certainties for the backline are: Brett Morris, Curtis Rona, Josh Morris, Sam Perrett and Hopoate (note: Tim Lafai and Corey Thompson have been released). The injury-prone Chase Stanley is next in line, but from there it’s only cheapies, with Tyrone Phillips and Brad Abbey the key contenders.

Phillips is a talented centre/winger/fullback who made his first grade debut during Origin last year. He scored 30 points, and with a discount applied for playing just one game, should start at close to bottom dollar in 2016. He capped a strong year in reserves by being named on the wing in the NSW Cup Team of the Year and making his Test debut for Fiji. However, he is perhaps best known for becoming embroiled in a wild bar brawl, which also involved former South Sydney teammate Dylan Walker.

That said, Phillips and fellow fringe backs face serious competition from prodigious 18-year-old Abbey. Considered one of the best fullback prospects in the game, the Warriors reluctantly let Abbey go to accommodate Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. The Bulldogs had to ward off a raid from Melbourne, who viewed him as a long-term replacement for Billy Slater (prior to the emergence of Cameron Munster). Abbey is eligible for Holden Cup this year, but is likely to play plenty of NSW Cup, and even some NRL.

7. John Olive

The exit of Dylan Walker leaves the Rabbitohs thin in the outside backs, with only Greg Inglis and Alex Johnston confirmed starters. From there, Bryson Goodwin, Kirisome Auva’a and Aaron Gray have the edge based on experience and last year’s pecking order, although they are far from superstars. Behind them is a list of young guns and journeymen, including former Storm player Hymel Hunt and ex-Sea Eagle Michael Oldfield, although both will start well above bottom dollar based on past averages.

The best possible scenario for SuperCoaches would be for young gun John Olive to play NRL this year. The Australian Schoolboy and NSW under 20s Origin representative got a taste for first grade in round 14 last year. He only scored 18, meaning he won’t incur a price rise for 2016. The Kingsgrove Colts junior is viewed as a long term NRL player by the Rabbitohs and will likely get another crack this year, although probably not from round one. Former schoolboy rugby prodigy Angus Crichton is also considered a future rep player at the club. He may come into contention for a centre spot if there are injuries, but is considered more of a backrower.

8. An outside back at the Broncos (Carlin Anderson, Aaron Whitchurch, Tom Opacic)

Backline depth at Brisbane is thin following the exits of Justin Hodges and Daniel Vidot. Further, Dale Copley is expected to be released, while Jack Reed (shoulder) will miss the opening month of the season. Star recruit James Roberts will slot straight in at right centre for Hodges. We therefore expect the Broncos’ outside backs to line up as follows in round one: Darius Boyd, Corey Oates, Jordan Kahu, James Roberts and Lachlan Maranta. However, with just one injury, a cheapie could get a crack. The key contenders are Carlin Anderson, Aaron Whitchurch and Tom Opacic.

Anderson is the most exciting prospect from a SuperCoach perspective, although he’s yet to play an NRL game. The Broncos had to stave of five rivals to sign the Intrust Super Cup sensation, who played a key role in the Ipswich Jets’ title-winning side. The freakish fullback/winger scored the try of the year in the Queensland competition (featuring four soccer kicks) and can produce attacking stats galore. Anderson will get plenty of opportunities in the pre-season to prove his worth. “Carlin can do things very few people can do and I know that is a throwaway line from most coaches but it really applies to Carlin,” Jets co-coach Ben Walker said. “Carlin can do anything in the game. I have no doubt he can play 10 years of first grade and he has the ability to go all the way if he keeps working hard.”

Whitchurch, a 100kg centre/winger/backrower, was a shock selection for round one last season as a bench utility. The Broncos were smacked 36-6 that night and Whitchurch was promptly dropped for Kodi Nikorima, who made the spot his own. The 23-year-old played one more game over Origin, but will start at bottom dollar for SuperCoach after averaging just 11.5 in 20 minutes per game. The fact Whitchurch played at all last year in a very strong side shows he is rated by coach Wayne Bennett. He started the pre-season on fire by winning the club beep test.

Opacic is a favourite of Bennett. The tough-as-teak defensive centre went into last pre-season as an unheralded Holden Cup graduate trying to prove himself to the big boys. He ended up scoring a heap of trial time and impressed enough to earn a spot on the plane to England for the World Club Series (note: Reed, Copley, Oates and Boyd were rested). Bennett re-signed Opacic a few months later, and while he wasn’t sighted in first grade, 2016 could be his year.

9. Tevita Pangai Jr

While young props are often problematic as SuperCoach cheapies due to limited game time, there is no doubting Pangai Jr’s talent and chances of selection. In fact, he may even score a spot for round one following the exits of David Shillington and Dane Tilse. We currently have the following forward pack pencilled in: Paul Vaughan, Josh Hodgson, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sia Soliola, Josh Papalii, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Kurt Baptiste, Elliot Whitehead, Jeff Lima, Shannon Boyd. However, word out of the nation’s capital is that the Holden Cup Team of the Year member and Junior Kangaroos stalwart is training the house down and could push Lima and co for a spot in the prop rotation.

10. Te Maire Martin

The talented playmaker has been compared to Benji Marshall, but was pushed out by the Tigers over the off-season in an effort to retain Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses. However, on paper Martin has at least as good a pedigree as his more illustrious former teammates. He made the Holden Cup Team of the Year for two years running and led the 2015 competition in try assists. The New Zealand product was lured to the Panthers by coaching supremo Phil Gould, who has been waxing lyrical over the potential superstar in the pre-season.

The exits of Isaac John and Apisai Koroisau have slashed halves depth at the foot of the mountains. And with veterans Peter Wallace (returning from a second ACL injury in as many seasons) and Jamie Soward (battling persistent back and ankle injuries), Martin could be the next half in line. Bryce Cartwright is also an option. “Te Maire is one of the outstanding young talents coming through the NYC system,” Gould said. “We believe he’s a player of great potential, a long-term NRL player and we’re excited to have him here at the Panthers.”

Originally published as Top 10 SuperCoach cheapies revealed: Ashley Taylor surges into contention