NRL SuperCoach 2016 player prices and positions: Winners and losers revealed
RETURNING Rabbitoh Sam Burgess is the big winner from the 2016 player prices, but the news isn’t so good for Semi Radradra.
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NRL SuperCoach 2016 opens in exactly two weeks from today!
Yep, jot down January 29 for the launch of Australia’s biggest NRL fantasy game.
Note: the site will go live at midnight, meaning hardcore players can wait up late on the 28th to get first access.
To celebrate the impending launch, we today reveal key player prices for 2016.
And for the first time, we’ll also be revealing every price for every player over the next few days.
Stay tuned.
WINNERS
Sam Burgess
Price: $423,700
Position(s): Back row, front row
The English international ended his last season of NRL SuperCoach as the best player in the comp. It may therefore be expected that he start as the most expensive player in 2016. However, following a year out in rugby union, he starts as the ninth most expensive player. The following players all cost more: Semi Radradra ($512,900), Paul Gallen ($499,500), Roger Tuivasa Sheck ($489,500), Johnathan Thurston ($486,900), Corey Parker ($481,800), James Tedesco ($469,500), Andrew Fifita ($464,000) and Shaun Johnson ($445,800).
Tohu Harris
Price: $383,600
Position(s): Back row, centre/wing
The Melbourne back rower is set to be the most popular centre/wing in SuperCoach after scoring dual position status.
Ben Henry
Price: $133,300
Position(s): Back row, centre/wing
Starts at a cheapie price following a horror season that saw him notch an average of just 19.5, before rupturing his ACL for the second time. However, the NZRL’s Rookie of the Year for 2012 has been a $250,000 player in the past. Recent injuries are a massive issue, but surely the only way is up.
Ashley Taylor
Price: $133,300
Position(s): Halfback, five-eighth
The Titans recruit has avoided a price penalty, despite an injury-induced 12 on debut for the Broncos. He therefore starts at a cheapie price and is set to emerge as the most popular player in SuperCoach following a season-ending injury to Kane Elgey, which all but guarantees Taylor a halves spot for round one.
Jackson Hastings
Price: $133,300
Position(s): Halfback, five-eighth
The boom youngster is the only player who could rival Ashley Taylor as the most popular player in the game. 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 starts at bottom dollar due to a season average of just 18.57 — down due to stints as bench hooker.
Josh Mansour
Price: $338,800
Position(s): Centre/wing
The former Kangaroo starts at just $338,000 following an injury-ravaged season — a bargain given he was the best centre/wing in SuperCoach 2014. Mansour is the only winger who can go close to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in base stats.
Michael Gordon
Price: $285,900
Position(s): Fullback, centre/wing
Gordon’s price is based on an interrupted season in which he switched between wing, fullback and bench at the Sharks for an average of 45. Now at the Eels, he is set to play solely in his favoured No. 1 jersey, where he has been a SuperCoach keeper in the past. He averaged 57 in each of the two preceding seasons.
LOSERS
Semi Radradra
Price: $512,900
Position(s): Centre/wing
The Fijian flyer is the most expensive player in SuperCoach due to finishing 2015 with the highest average. He is therefore a big no-no for round one. That said, the Eels possess the best draw in the comp for the byes, making Radradra essential over the Origin period — hopefully after a price drop.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Price: $489,500
Position(s): Fullback
The man who scored the most points in SuperCoach 2015 has been stripped of dual position status and is only available at fullback. With James Tedesco and Greg Inglis also only at No. 1, SuperCoaches have some serious decisions to make in what is the most stacked position in the game.
Cameron Munster
Price: $391,300
Position(s): Centre/wing, fullback
Tuivasa-Sheck’s fullback switch means Cameron Munster starts 2016 with the second-highest price of any centre/wing (behind only Radradra). However, with Billy Slater fit and firing, Munster is expected to move to centre, which will dramatically reduce his involvement.
Anthony Milford
Price: $408,900
Position(s): Five-eighth
The Brisbane playmaker was a revelation at the back end of last year, averaging 80 in the last five weeks and 75 from round eight onwards. However, he will be slightly less adaptable this year after relinquishing dual position status (only available at five-eighth).
Sia Soliola
Position(s): Back row
Price: $367,700
The Canberra hit-man was the most popular centre/wing in SuperCoach for most of last year as he banged out 80 minutes in the back row. However, he is not an option for 2016 because he starts expensive following a strong year and is no longer dual position.
Shaun Johnson
Price: $445,800
Position(s): Halfback
The second best playmaker in SuperCoach last year (behind only the mercurial Johnathan Thurston), has been stripped of five-eighth status and is only available at halfback. May start slowly following a serious ankle injury. Avoid first up.
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Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2016 player prices and positions: Winners and losers revealed
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