SuperCoach: Every Greater Whitsundays NRL player ranked
The Greater Whitsundays region is a hotbed of rugby league talent. Discover which locals you should include in your SuperCoach side, with every player from the region ranked and analysed.
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The clock is ticking on the first SuperCoach lockout of the season, with the NRL season kicking off in Las Vegas on March 3.
Numerous top-end talents hail from Mackay and the Greater Whitsunday region, with three players worth over $700,000 available.
We run the rule over every Greater Whitsunday player and determine which players are the best local options for your team. Discover our rankings below.
1. Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle, FLB, $892,800)
One of the premier NRL fullbacks and the most expensive in SuperCoach, Ponga is proving a very popular selection. It’s understandable given he averaged 87.4 points last season, including six scores over 100, punctuated by a monster 180 in round 18.
The fullback, who spent two of his formative footy years in Mackay, produced five of his six 100-plus scores after round 18 in a scintillating finish to the season. Despite his heavy price tag it can also be argued that Ponga offers some value, given he finished last season worth a monstrous $973,000
Ponga also seemed to step up in a goalkicking capacity for the Knights towards the back-end of last season. His goalkicking accuracy can vary dramatically, converting at 100% in some games last season and below 50% in others. That being said, he still averaged a touch over 16 points per game in the eight games he was tasked with goalkicking duties.
A must-have player, and the best option from Mackay.
2. Reuben Cotter (North Queensland, FRF/2RF, $542,700)
The freshly crowned Cowboys co-captain, alongside Dearden, is entering the prime years of his career and his SuperCoach scoring should do the same.
A dual position player, Cotter’s versatility as a forward option is clearly appealing to coaches as 26 per cent have selected him in their teams. The Sarina product highlighted what he’s capable of between rounds six and 12 in 2023, notching four 70-plus scores during that time.
Given his injury-affected 2023, Cotter also comes in slightly underpriced and if he can manage more minutes - as he did in his Wally Lewis medal-winning Origin campaign last season - expect him to be well worth the investment.
3. Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly, HFB, $782,900)
Cherry-Evans enters the 2024 SuperCoach season with an eye-watering price tag a touch below $800,000, making him the game’s fourth most expensive halfback.
Halfback is a position coaches are showing a willingness to invest in, with the game’s two most expensive players in Nicho Hynes (who spent two seasons with the Cutters) and Nathan Cleary coming in at 34 per cent and 43 per cent ownership respectively, despite their prices both being above $900,000.
If looking for cheaper halfback, the likes of Luke Brooks and Matt Burton are priced below $600,000 and offer enticing value.
Cherry-Evans isn’t a poor selection by any stretch however, given he enters this season close to $60,000 below what his finishing value last year was. A purple patch of form at the back-end of 2023 allowed the half to finish with scores of 96, 146, and 153 in the final four games of the season. His break-even to begin 2024 is just 77.
Also adding to his value is his standing as a back-up goalkicker. He converted 77% of his 26 conversion attempts last season and has a lifetime conversion rate of 73%.
4. Dane Gagai (Newcastle, CTW, $739,200)
The third most expensive centre/winger in the game, coaches are sticking clear of Gagai with just one per cent willing to include him in their sides.
Given he managed two scores of 97 between rounds 22 and 24 last season, Gagai is far from a horrible selection, but there are better value options, hence only one in 100 coaches or less have selected him.
Having ticked over 33 years of age heading into this season, Gagai is a slight risk as his likelihood of playing a full season is somewhat diminishing. What makes him an appealing selection however is a career-high 72-point average in 2023 came in a season where he only scored three tries, making him a consistent SuperCoach scorer regardless of whether he crosses the stripe.
5. Tom Dearden (North Queensland, 5/8, $592,200)
The fifth most expensive five-eighth in the game, at just seven per cent ownership Dearden shapes as somewhat of a point-of-difference selection for those looking to break the mould and avoid the likes of top-end players Dylan Brown and Ezra Mam in his position.
It’s worth noting that while Dearden does offer a point-of-difference to Ezra Mam, he is $60,000 more expensive, and failed to crack a score above 68 in the final seven rounds last season.
If you’re looking to get some local Mackay flavour in your team however, Dearden shapes as a solid top-end option.
6. Isaiah Tass (South Sydney, CTW, $577,100)
A point-of-difference option with just one per cent ownership, Tass averaged 56.5 points per game throughout 2023. While the Devils junior can be an inconsistent SuperCoach scorer, he is capable of producing big scores. 119 was his best effort last season, while he also managed scores of 83, 92, and 99. On the flip side Tass only missed three games last season, and Campbell Graham’s sternum injury - which could see the centre sidelined for six months after surgery to repair damage - is only going to bolster his job security.
There may be better centre/wing options out there, but Tass certainly has upside and offers your side a unique option.
7. Corey Jensen (Brisbane, FRF, $413,700)
The Bowen Seagulls junior and Bowen State High School attendee is a fairly cheap SuperCoach option at $413,700.
Doesn’t have a great case for SuperCoach selection as despite featuring in 21 matches last season, he only broke the 50-point barrier on four occasions.
Of those four 50-plus scores however, two came in the final two rounds of the season, with a 51 followed by a 64.
It could be a sign of an upturn in performance to come.
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Originally published as SuperCoach: Every Greater Whitsundays NRL player ranked
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