NRL SuperCoach Death Match: Jake Trbojevic v Jason Taumalolo

In our latest SuperCoach NRL ‘death match’ we ask which premium 2RF reigns supreme — Jake ‘Jurbo’ Trbojevic or Jason ‘Lolo’ Taumalolo?

In our latest SuperCoach NRL ‘death match’ we ask which premium 2RF reigns supreme — Jake ‘Jurbo’ Trbojevic or Jason ‘Lolo’ Taumalolo?

There is genuinely no wrong answer to this question with plenty of SuperCoaches happy to squeeze both premium priced guns into their side to start 2019.

And it is easy to see why. Over the past three seasons (2016-2018) Taumalolo averaged 65 PPG, 75 PPG and 70 PPG and scored a total of 4828 points. Over the same span Trbojevic averaged 66 PPG, 73 PPG and 71 PPG and scored 4835 points — that’s right just seven points separate the pair across three seasons!

But the ‘why not have both’ response kind of kills the debate, so if let’s just imagine you have to choose just one …

Are you team Jurbo or Lolo to start 2019?

JAKE TRBOJEVIC — Rob Sutherland

The ultimate SuperCoach workhorse, Jake Trbojevic will deliver you the safest of armband choices straight out of the gates. Averaging 59 PPG in base stats alone last year, and 57 the year before that, it is Jurbo’s reliability that puts him just ahead of Lolo as a season starter for mine.

As can be seen above, there is the tiniest of margins between the two when you spread their work across a season or even three seasons. But if you drill into their production over the first 10 rounds of the season a small gap does appear and it favours my man Jake.

Trbojevic’s average score across rounds 1-10 for 2016-2018 are 66, 69 and 73 (69.33 average). Taumalolo’s averages are 58, 74 and 66 (66 average).

A difference of 3.33 PPG is not much, and when comparing any other players probably would barely rate a mention, but here where margins are so slim it is a difference I would prefer in my favour as opposed to against.

Just for reference, Jurbo maintains his output through the middle of the season (rounds 11-18) averaging an identical 69.33 and then finishes (rounds 19-26) strong averaging 72 PPG. Lolo picks his average up a massive 5.67 PPG across the middle rounds (71.67) and finishes stronger (74.67). You will definitely want both to finish but my argument stands that if you can only pick one to start then it’s Jake Trbojevic — by a whisker.

LISTEN! Resident SuperCoach experts Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the lowdown on the players to target and avoid in 2019.

JASON TAUMALOLO — Tom Sangster

They’re almost impossible to split but Taumalolo is slightly ahead because he has more room for improvement.

Taumalolo produces his best when his club needs him — and the Cowboys desperately need him this year following the retirement of Johnathan Thurston. As we’ve seen in the past, Taumalolo fires when Thurston is out, especially during the surge to the 2017 grand final when he averaged 75 after Thurston’s injury.

Taumalolo is used mostly as a battering ram by the Cowboys and therefore struggles to attract attacking stats other than metres and tackle busts. However, he has promised to unleash an offload this year, which opens a whole new realm of attacking possibilities.

Jurbo averaged 78 minutes last year — by far the highest of any lock and well ahead of Tamalolo’s 64 minutes. The Manly workhorse therefore has almost no room for game time improvement. There is also mystery surrounding Jurbo’s minutes under new coach Des Hasler. While Hasler would be mad to reduce Jurbo’s minutes by too much, even a drop to 65 or 70 minutes would have a significant impact on a 0.91 PPM player. These days, Jurbo is the only lock in the NRL to regularly play 80 minutes. But with Origin and Test commitments, it’s entirely possible Hasler eases his most important forward through the season.

Speaking of Origin, Jurbo is guaranteed to miss two games over the byes and may back up in three others, while Taumalolo won’t play Origin and is available for the first bye. As Rob points out, Taumalolo is a slow starter and his plight is not helped this year as the Cowboys don’t leave the heat of Queensland until Round 6.

However, Lolo is an all-season proposition who won’t need to be traded through the middle of the year. Lock him in from the start and save THREE trades (two to create the money and one to bring him in).

WHICH PREMIUM 2RF REIGNS SUPREME TO START 2019?

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Full SuperCoach News section / Cheapie Bible / Predicted round one teams / Sangster’s team / Champ’s team / Wilfred’s team / Tallis’s team / Copes’ team / Huge rule change / Top 10 rookies in NRL

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Death Match: Jake Trbojevic v Jason Taumalolo