NRL SuperCoach Stat Attack: Trent Copeland looks at the key stats affecting round 13
THE No. 1 player in the game has finally dropped in price, the best fullback in the game returns, a couple of bye round PODs and more in this week’s Stat Attack.
HOW many players would you think average above 70? The No. 1 player in the game has finally dropped in price, the best FLB in the game returns, a couple of bye round PODs and more in this week’s Stat Attack.
Remember, if there are any stats you would love to know about or can’t find the answer to — hit us up on Twitter @Copes9 or @SuperCoachNRL and I’ll do my best to get it in next week’s edition or cover it on the SuperCoach LIVE Countdown Show. Here we go stats nerds …
Daly Cherry-Evans: 1.9 per cent
Once considered the best SuperCoach HFB outside of Johnathan Thurston, DCE was called into Queensland Origin camp this week as potential cover for Cooper Cronk. A season average of 48.5 doesn’t scream BUY ME, but at 1.9 per cent owned DCE presents a potential POD for those looking to move on Jackson Hastings this week. The Sea Eagles don’t have another bye until round 18, meaning he covers the very tricky round 15 bye and we all know the ceiling he has is massive! Have a listen to these numbers … The past five years DCE has averaged 55.8, 49.4, 66.3, 58.7 and 61. Keeper territory for sure.
James Tedesco: $83.1k
Teddy is the best FLB in the game bar none, and this is the week SuperCoaches … He’s BACK! Teddy is currently available at a $83.1k discount on his starting price of $469,500. I don’t know about you, but I was more than happy to pay the full price to begin with so don’t even worry about his BE of 114, if he wasn’t already atop your list of trade-in targets this week I suggest you reassess. I mean, he plays the Roosters this week, he might actually rise in price!
LISTEN TO OUR ROUND 13 SUPERCOACH PODCAST
Eight players: 70+
I couldn’t fit all of the names in the header, but this stat is all about our final teams. As the first big bye round is behind us, our focus must now turn to keepers who we want in our final teams that only have one bye remaining. But, surprisingly only eight players (that have played more than three games) are currently averaging over 70. In past years there would normally be about 15 averaging over 75! Here is the list with their average points per game …
Anthony Milford — 79.2
Cameron Smith — 77.1
Sam Burgess — 75.7
Paul Gallen — 74.8
James Tedesco — 72.6
BJ Leilua — 71.9
Jesse Bromwich — 71.5
Boyd Cordner — 70.3
Amazing isn’t it! No Thurston (69.5 is pretty close to be fair), Parker, Johnson or Fifita as many would guess. These are the guys you need to be prioritising getting into your side, particularly as H2H players.
Pauli Pauli: -49
It hurts me to write this as I overlooked the big man after talking him up all of last week. #PauliSquared carried me through the byes two years ago at the Eels and it seems he may be ready to do it again for those not bothered by the Knights missing rounds 15 and 18. A BE of -49 is enticing — even after the $50k rise last week — as Pauli has scored 69 and 95 in consecutive weeks, playing 73 and 80 minutes respectively at the impressive PPM of 1.1! If he stays playing 80 minutes on an edge he presents ridiculously good value. The problem is the 31-minute average this season prior to these two games. Do you dare?
Tom Trbojevic: 106
Who has the highest career average against this week’s opponent? Tommy Turbo with 106 against the Raiders! The Trbojevic brothers have been two shining lights in what has been a disappointing start to the Sea Eagles’ season, and Tom presents a good purchase (even at premium price) this week with a season average of 60.9PPG holding him among the best keeper options in the CTW.
Luke Brooks: 46
Remember when I spoke of an unwanted stat that James Maloney held the mantle for leading into round one? That’s right, it’s missed tackles! Leading the league through 12 rounds (and he even missed a game) is Luke Brooks with a whopping 46. Not far behind is Mitchell Moses with 38. What this tells us is that when you have your outside backs or halves coming up against the Tigers, play them with confidence. Next on the list are Maloney (43), attempting to retain his title, and Gareth Widdop (41).
Anthony Milford: 183
The Milf has actually dropped in price! $56k has dissolved off the tackle-busting machine’s price over the past two weeks with scores of 19 and 44, and a BE of 183 looms this week against the Warriors away from home, at a ground where he averages 38 PPG across two career meetings. Amazingly for those who don’t own the best player in the game, SuperCoach Gold projects he may be available for under $400k in three weeks. As a current owner I hope he scores three 100’s and doesn’t drop a cent.
Cooper Cronk: 100
Here’s a little Origin flavour for the week, with the star halfback in doubt to play for Queensland in the big series opener. Although he is not named for the Storm, Bellamy has a habit of late inclusions rather than naming his stars and withdrawing them. The two highest-projected scorers according to SuperCoach Gold this week are Cooper Cronk with 100 and Cameron Smith with 90. Both not named for the Storm. What a dilemma — particularly for the large chunk of Cameron Smith owners out there as they play in the middle of the round. I suggest putting Smith as a reserve, with someone like Vunivalu sitting there who you can swap to if Smith doesn’t play.
Will Matthews: 36
Remember a month ago when Will Matthews loomed as buy of the round at a bargain $169k and the prospect of 80mins at lock with the Jack DeBelin out and Tyson Frizell in the Origin squad? Well, Matthews has seen his price rise to $265k and handy scores of 42, 64, 63 (all in big mins) then 44 last week in … 36 minutes! That is an alarming number of minutes with Frizell back in the mix, Marketo even played 58 minutes off the bench and Jack DeBelin is back training hoping for a return after their bye this week. What does all of this add up to? He will be a priority sell for owners immediately after the round 15 coverage.
Simon Mannering: 100k
Similarly to James Tedesco, one of the greats of our game is on the horizon as a must have this week — Simon Mannering. Arguably one of the best 2RF keepers there is, have a listen to these staggering numbers for consistency over his career; 53.2, 57.2, 56.1, 57.2, 54.2, 54, 58.5 (all on an edge), and last season after a permanent move to lock 69.1! Mannering has averaged above 53 every year for eight years straight and is available at an amazing $100k discount due to three games on an edge plus a horrific mouth injury-affected game earlier this season. With Corey Parker waning, and the Origin guns bound for rest over the next 6 weeks, I think Mannering needs to be in everyone’s teams — possibly even as captain in round 15.
That’s it for this week from your resident stats man. Here’s hoping the numbers point us all in the right direction this weekend.
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Stat Attack: Trent Copeland looks at the key stats affecting round 13
Walsh fumes in last-ditch NRL madness
The Eels have beaten the Broncos on the back of a Mitchell Moses masterclass after Reece Walsh was denied a last-ditch match-winner.
‘Never seen this’: NRL’s ‘Adam Goodes’ storm
The NRL is confronting a disturbing truth about the scenes of a Broncos star being booed in a way the league has never seen before.
Dogs rocked in 13-min ‘self-destruction’
The Broncos overcame a horror first half to pull off the heist of the season and stun the Bulldogs courtesy of three moments of magic.