NRL SuperCoach Last Word round 15: Warriors most exciting team in comp

THE Warriors have suddenly become the most exciting team in NRL SuperCoach. The Origin period is when the New Zealanders come out to play.

THE Warriors have suddenly become the most exciting team in NRL SuperCoach.

The Origin period is traditionally when the New Zealanders come out to play — and 2016 has been no different.

The Warriors are almost unaffected by Origin, with only prop Jacob Lillyman in the Queensland fold.

Andrew McFadden’s men have handsomely won both games since Origin started, notching a massive 86 points in the process.

Further, the Warriors have one of the best draws in the competition.

Not only do they play this week’s tough bye, but they have a home game against the 15th-placed Roosters, who are without star players Aidan Guerra (Queensland), Blake Ferguson (NSW), Mitchell Pearce (calf) and Boyd Cordner (foot).

The Warriors play top eight sides in just four of their remaining 11 games.

In fact, they take on just two top four teams from here on — including the Sharks, who will have Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and James Maloney backing up three days after Origin.

Shaun Johnson

Price: $454,400

Break even: 50

Projected price rise: $8,300

Ownership: 29.5%

An all-time SuperCoach great and the single most purchased player over the last three weeks. He has scored the fifth most points of any player this year and the most of any halfback.

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Simon Mannering

Price: $328,700

Break even: 41

Projected price rise: $2,900

Ownership: 17%

Another all-time SuperCoach great who can be picked up for just $328,700 — a discount of more than $100,000 on his starting price — due to injury and stints on the edge. Returned to 80 minutes last week and could be a top 17 player for the rest of the year — or at the very least a handy 18th or 19th man.

Tuimoala Lolohea

Price: $308,800

Break even: -16

Projected price rise: $38,000

Ownership: 5.9%

Discounting an injury-affected score of three in round eight, Lolohea has averaged 68 since moving to fullback in place of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (ACL). That would suggest a price around the $400,000 mark, but he costs just $308,800 due to the injury-affected round. In the best case scenario, Lolohea is a keeper. And if this doesn’t eventuate, his surging price makes him the perfect stepping stone to James Tedesco, Cameron Munster, BJ Leilua, Johnathan Thurston etc.

Tuimoala Lolohea is a popular buy this week.

David Fusitua

Price: $291,600

Break even: -65

Projected price rise: $57,600

Ownership: 1.6%

Set for the biggest price rise of any player this week ($57,600) and predicted to rise by almost $100,000 over the next two rounds. Unlike Lolohea, Fusitua doesn’t have keeper claims. But with his price to rise almost to $400,000, he’s a great stepping stone to a keeper.

Bodene Thompson

Price: $391,600

Break even: 57

Projected price rise: $2,000

Ownership: 1.6%

POD alert. Thompson has averaged 65 this year — 73 in the last three rounds — but is somehow owned by just 1.6 per cent. Possesses great base stats, while attacking stats are served to him on a platter by Shaun Johnson on the right edge.

Thomas Leuluai

Price: $192,300

Break even: -13

Projected price rise: $21,400

Ownership: 1.1%

Attention Jayden Nikorima owners — a trade to Leuluai is on the cards. He will provide an extra number this week, and with a break even of -13, could be a stepping stone to Cameron Smith. That said, Leuluai is far from the best buy of all time and the trade should only be considered by SuperCoaches with a heap of trades.

WINNING TIPS

“Hopefully your bye planning has come together and you should be aiming to have 14+ players this week if you are going to improve your overall position. This week try to cash out some non-keepers who are weighing down your squad and bring in cash cows like Joseph Manu and Bevan French. These players will provide cash and hopefully points for rounds 15 and 18. In the process of freeing up cash however you should definitely also be upgrading a non-keeper or two to genuine keepers. Simon Mannering will unlikely ever be cheaper whilst Shaun Johnson and Cameron Munster are must haves for the remainder for the season. Be careful of round 16 where the Eels and the Roosters have the bye.”

- Mary Kaye (2015 winner)

“The next big bye round is upon us and we can make solid trades by bringing in season long keepers who cover this round like Bromwich, Munster and Harris. Harris is playing at 5/8 and has a breakeven of 109 so prioritise the other two first. VC loophole is on like Donkey Kong and if you are able to jag a POD VC like Tuimoala Lolohea or Cody Walker and they go large, then huge ground can be made up.”

- Dave Von Kotze (2014 winner)

“Most overall teams will go close to having a full squad this week, but don’t pull your side apart for round 15 coverage. Beginning next week with Penrith and Cronulla, there will be sides that have completed both byes and offer excellent coverage for rounds 16, 18 and 19, so you may want to consider cashing up this week to secure the likes of Merrin, Peachey, Barba and Bird next week. This may mean going a week early on Nathan Cleary. With low numbers this week, use the VC selection wisely to give yourself two bites at the cherry.”

- Darren Thompson

“SuperCoaches should look at their individual teams closely when considering cheapie Bevan French . The positives the trade bring you are the ability to cash in a cow to gain funds, the dual positioning to help cover injuries, and of course the extra points in rounds 15 and 18. However, with low base stats he may take too long to create significant cash to justify the trades you have used.”

- Matt Mullen (2009 winner)

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN

Sam Burgess - average v this week’s opponent 77

Solomone Kata - 75.67

Tom Trbojevic - 73

Sio Siua Taukeiaho - 70

Manu Ma’u - 68.67

* Full figures in SuperCoach Gold, just $19.95 for season

MOST TRADED IN

1 Bevan French, 10049 trades (12.53%)

2 Cameron Munster, 6654 trades (8.30%)

3 Nathan Cleary, 5759 trades (7.18%)

4 Siosifa Talaki, 4166 trades (5.20%)

5 David Fusitua, 2557 trades (3.19%)

6 Simon Mannering, 2199 trades (2.74%)

7 Tom Trbojevic, 2163 trades (2.70%)

8 Jesse Bromwich, 2145 trades (2.68%)

9 Shaun Johnson, 2082 trades (2.60%)

10 Tuimoala Lolohea, 1724 trades (2.15%)

* Full figures in SuperCoach Gold, just $19.95 for season

MOST TRADED OUT

1 Josh Addo-Carr, 8633 trades (10.77%)

2 Pauli Pauli, 3716 trades (4.63%)

3 Kerrod Holland, 3096 trades (3.86%)

4 Latrell Mitchell, 2772 trades (3.46%)

5 Ben Hunt, 2482 trades (3.10%)

6 Ben Barba, 2201 trades (2.75%)

7 Javid Bowen, 2169 trades (2.71%)

8 James Roberts, 1713 trades (2.14%)

9 Moses Mbye, 1635 trades (2.04%)

10 Johnathan Thurston, 1590 trades (1.98%)

* Full figures in SuperCoach Gold, just $19.95 for season

TOP 10 SUPERCOACHES

Traders Anonymous - 16,329

Bizness - 16,232

Amber Ales - 16,206

Gallensofpeptides - 16,196

Dynamite Donkeys - 16,175

Outta My Weyman - 16,141

Doggies - 16,137

Costas - 16,095

NoisyBarkers - 16,076

Monaghan’s Dogwash - 16,069

TOP 10 SUPERCOACHES (ROUND 14)

woopi - 1,415

Got HUGE QUADS! - 1,414

Flaming Flamingoes - 1,414

Dragon Slayers - 1,404

jookendaries - 1,392

ASWAD - 1,391

Minks Men - 1,387

Gallen o’ Milk - 1,386

Jetjazz - 1,386

hobbits - 1,380

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Last Word round 15: Warriors most exciting team in comp