NRL SuperCoach - Low Ownership Players With Excellent SC Potential
Every NRL SuperCoach (SC) season, certain players are more popular than others. For example, this season, James Tedesco (41% own.) and Bryce Cartwright (51% own.) are owned by a large portion of players. Owning some players is essential, as they are such superb SC assets that not having them would impact your overall rank. However, if everyone owns the same players, a 'template squad' is formed, where most teams look the same. This results in players struggling to climb the ranks.
Due to this, NRL SC players should look to mix up their squads with highly owned players who are essential, but also lowly owned players with great potential to attain SC points. This will help you to stand out from the rest.
So, we at WFC have complied a list of what we like to call 'super differentials' (players owned by 5% or less of all SC players), and justified why our selections are deserving of your consideration.
Let's get into it.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck | New Zealand Warriors | $533,700 | FLB | 3% Own.
RTS
started off the 2017 season slowly, but finished in fine form, ending the year
with 10 tries and 8 try assists, making almost 5 tackle busts per game. Despite
New Zealand’s failure, Tuivasa-Sheck will gain confidence from his superb
personal performances during the World Cup. In 4 games, the fullback scored
3 tries, provided 4 try assists, busted 29 tackles and made 8 line breaks. SC
players shouldn’t be too worried about the rumours linking RTS to rugby union,
and should seriously consider him as an alternative to popular players such
as Tedesco, Trobjevic, Munster, Holmes or Ponga.
Dylan
Edwards | Penrith Panthers | $510,900 | FLB | 1% Own.
After
breaking into the Panthers starting line up last season, Edwards impressed and
took over from Matt Moylan with ease. In his 16 appearances last season,
Edwards broke on average 6 tackles per game, and was a constant threat to
opposition defences. His return of 2 tries and 5 try assists is not amazing,
but expect Edwards to build on this and excel in 2018.
Tautau Moga | Newcastle Knights | $461,100 | CTW | 2% Own.
As
expected of a player in his first season as a starting team regular, Moga was
inconsistent last season. However, when Moga had a good game, he was
unstoppable, such as in round 13 against the Roosters when he scored 1 try,
provided 1 try assist, made 2 offloads, 1 line break, 9 tackle breaks and 2 line
break assists. This was not a one off, as he scored 1 try and made 4+ tackle breaks
on numerous occasions in 2017. In 2018, Moga will only improve, and expect him
to exceed his 2017 SC average of 52.0 points per game.
![Image result for tautau moga 2017](https://www.newcastleknights.com.au/siteassets/2017/11/img_6262-copy.jpg?center=0.3%2C0.5&preset=hero-article-fill)
Brenko Lee | Gold Coast Titans | $508,300 | CTW | 0% Own.
The
former Bulldog performed very well in 2017. In his 18 matches, he scored 3
tries and set up 12, averaging 57.3 SC points per game. This was off the back
of a 2016 season where he scored 8 tries in 9 games, averaging 50.7 SC points
per games. With over 2 offloads per game last season, Lee is a player who has
the potential continue his rise as a SC points bearer, and could be one of the
top scoring centre/wing options in 2018.
Euan Aitken | St. George Illawarra Dragons | $470,400 | CTW | 4% Own.
Euan
Aitken has been a surprisingly consistent performer in NRL SC. In the past 3
seasons, he has averaged 50+ on each occasion. In this period, he has had a
high ceiling, with season high scores of 92, 105 and 107. Despite missing the
majority of last season, Aitken had his best attacking season ever. In just 12
games in 2017, he managed to score 6 tries and provide 1 try assist. In
addition to Aitken’s productivity, he also attracts points from evasive actions
and meters gained. In the past three seasons, he has averaged 4 tackle breaks
per game and 1 offload per game. Impressively, he has also averaged 124m gained
per game in the past 3 seasons. Fit and raring to go in the 2018 season, Aitken
will almost certainly start at centre for the Dragons this season. If he
manages to get a full season under his belt, expect Aitken to reward his owners
with regular hauls in 2018.
![Image result for euan aitken 2017](https://i.nextmedia.com.au/Utils/ImageResizer.ashx?n=http%3A%2F%2Fi.nextmedia.com.au%2FNews%2FGettyImages-579452994.jpg&c=0)
Luke Keary | Sydney Roosters | $521,400 | 5/8 | 2% Own.
Having
enjoyed his best ever SC season in 2017 with an average of 58.8 and a season high
of 126 points, Keary will only get better in 2018. The signings of Cooper Cronk
and James Tedesco will improve Keary’s stocks greatly, and expect him to
achieve even greater attacking outputs this season than his 8 tries and 16 try
assists in 2017. For those concerned about his jaw injury, expect Keary to line up at five-eighth come round one.
Matt
Moylan | Cronulla Sharks | $526,100 | FLB - 5/8 | 4% Own.
Moylan
has been one of the most consistently good SC performers over the past 4
seasons. Over this time, he has averaged 59.3, 63.0, 60.6 and 52.8, with season
highs of 103, 115, 113 and 98. From 2015-2017, Moylan has provided 40 try
assists and scored 14 tries in 50 games. Over this time, he has also averaged
over 2 tackle breaks and 1 offload per game. At the Sharks, expect Moylan to be
a far more important attacker than at the Panthers, regardless of whether he
lines up at five-eighth or fullback.
Brodie Croft | Melbourne Storm | $476,800 | HFB | 5% Own.
The
man leading the race to be the Storm’s first choice halfback post Cooper Cronk
has to potential to be a far better SC asset than his predecessor. Cronk never
averaged more than 60.0 in a SC season, but Croft is a more evasive player, as evidenced by his team of the tournament selection during
the 2017 Auckland Nines. In 2017, Croft averaged 76.8 with a season high of 141
(Cronk’s highest ever is only 130), thanks to 4 tries and 1 try assist in 4
games. Furthermore, Croft makes minimal errors, only registering 1 in his 4
appearances last season. The young halfback is one to watch in 2018.
Jamie
Buhrer | Newcastle Knights | $487,000 | 2RF - HOK | 2% Own.
The
Knights workhorse looks primed for a big season. Last year, Buhrer averaged 35
tackles per game, 8 hit ups per game, 1 tackle break per game and 1 offload per
game. This helped him achieve an average of 54.9 from 16 matches. Buhrer is a
highly consistent performer, averaging 50+ in the past 4 seasons, and in the
past 7 seasons achieving top scores of 84, 101, 81, 94, 101, 83 and 89. This
season, Buhrer’s match involvement will be increased as he is expected to start
the season at lock, boosting his SC stocks. He is also expected to spend time
in the second row and also at hooker, meaning that Buhrer could well be an 80
minute player this season.
![Image result for jamie buhrer 2017](https://www.sportsnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/20170413_210110.jpg)
Curtis Sironen | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | $498,200 | 2RF | 1% Own.
The
Manly second-rower was on fire last season until a serious pectoral injury
ruled him out for about 10 games. However, this didn’t prevent Sironen from
having his best season ever. In 16 games, he averaged 25 tackles per game at a
success rate of 91%. He also averaged per game 8 hit ups, 2 tackle breaks and 2
offloads. Most impressively, he scored 6 tries and assisted 1. This means
Sironen rewarded his SC owners with an attacking return almost every second
game. In 2018, Sironen will look to stay injury free continue his great 2017
form, which should see him increase his 2017 SC average of 56.1 points per
game.
Dale Finucane | Melbourne Storm | $489,300 | 2RF - FRF | 4% Own.
Finucane
really announced himself as a top class forward last season. In his 26 games,
he was extremely consistent, averaging 33 tackles and 11 hit ups per game. His meters
gained were also quite impressive, averaging around 10m per hit up. This highlights
Finucane’s great ability to gain base points, which means that his SC owners
will most likely be rewarded with a score in excess of 50 even if he does not
make an offload or score a try that game.
Ryan James | Gold Coast Titans | $530,100 | FRF | 3% Own.
After
an amazing 2016 season where he averaged 72.9 points per game, Ryan James fell
back to Earth in 2017, averaging 59.7. However, his stats suggest that in 2018,
he could return to similar 2016 heights. Base stats wise, James averaged 37
tackles per game last season, as well as making 12 hit ups and gaining 114m per
game. To go with this, he also made 1 offload per game and 2 tackle breaks per
game. Most impressively though, James is a try scoring machine, recording 20
tries and 4 try assists in the past 3 seasons. With a massive ceiling, scoring
as high as 156 points in one game, James is a consistent performer with explosive potential. A
move from prop to the back-row should also boost his involvement in attacking
play.
![Image result for ryan james](https://www.titans.com.au/siteassets/2017/03/ryan_james.jpg?center=0.3%2C0.5&preset=hero-article-fill)
Kaysa Pritchard | Parramatta Eels | $388,700 | HOK | 1% Own.
Pritchard
started off the 2017 season so well, before it was cut short in round 15 by a serious
knee injury. However, he returned in the Eels’ semi-final loss to the Cowboys,
and is all set for a big 2018. Before Pritchard’s injury last season, he was
playing 80 minutes most weeks, as Eels coach Brad Arthur prefers to choose a
bench consisting of props, second-rowers and locks only. In these matches where
Pritchard didn’t have to share minutes at hooker last season, he averaged 43
tackles per game. His tackle success rate in the past 2 seasons has also been
highly impressive, coming in at 92% and 93% respectively. One area that may
concern SC players is whether or not Pritchard will even start, as Cameron King
performed excellently in the role last season. Arthur has stated that he is
unsure who his first choice will be this season, but many believe that
Pritchard will get the role. If this is the case, SC players should expect
Pritchard to be a very consistent performer due to his high tackle making
output and success rate.
![Image result for kaysa pritchard 2017](https://www.sportsnews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/20170618_175610.jpg)
Apisai Koroisau | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | $515,500 | HOK | 2% Own.
Last
season, Koroisau was arguably the second best hooker in the competition (first
being Cameron Smith obviously), seeing him finish the year with a SC average of
58.1 points per game. As a SC asset at hooker, Koroisau is very appealing due
to his ability to gain base points but also evasive/attacking points. Base
points wise, Koroisau averaged 40 tackles per game last season. Although impressive,
this could have been so much more had he not missed 123 tackles. SC players
should not be deterred by this too much though, as Koroisau is getting into
great positions to gain base points, and only has to work on his tackling
slighting in order for his SC base points to increase dramatically. Also,
Koroisau averaged 6 hit ups per game last season at 10m per hit up, adding to
his base points from tackling. Further, Koroisau possess immense potential to
gain evasive/attacking points, as he averaged 2 tackle breaks per game last
season, scored 3 tries (=2nd most for hookers), assisted 6 tries (5th
most for hookers), and made 8 line breaks (1st most for hookers). In
2018, expect Koroisau to improve and become an even better hooker and SC
option.
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