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Journey Man
NRL SuperCoach off-season study guide: Manly Sea Eagles offer front row opportunities
TOM SANGSTER NEWS LIMITED NETWORK NOVEMBER 29, 2013 12:00AM 0
GRAND final sides are generally stable and offer few SuperCoach opportunities - but the Sea Eagles buck the trend in 2014.
There will be cheapies galore in the front row following the exits of four key forwards, plus question marks over Richie Fa'aoso due to recent police charges.
Further, Manly offer some of the most consistent keepers in the game, including Jamie Lyon, who is statistically the best centre/wing in SuperCoach history.
BEST OF THE PLAYER MOVEMENT:
In: Tyson Andrews, Delroy Berryman (Broncos), Cheyse Blair (Eels), Jayden Hodges (Cowboys), Jack Littlejohn (Bulldogs), Dunamis Lui (Broncos), Mark O'Dare (Titans), Josh Starling (Rabbitohs)
Out: Jacob Gagan (Sharks), David Gower (Eels), Joe Galuvao (retired), Brent Kite (Panthers), George Rose (Storm)
New contracts: Justin Horo (2015)
Future to be decided: Dane Chisholm, James Hasson, Jamil Hopoate, Kayne Lawton, Ben Musolino, Jason Seage, Esi Tonga, Ben Farrar, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Nick Skinner, David Williams
With David Gower (Eels), Joe Galuvao (retired), Brent Kite (Panthers) and George Rose (Storm) having left the club, and the future of Richie Fa'aoso (police charges) up in the air, serious SuperCoach opportunities will open in the Manly front row. Potential beneficiaries include:
Jake Trbojevich:
The Holden Cup Team of the Year member and Junior Kangaroo got a taste of first grade in round 26 last year. He scored 15 points in 15 minutes at the respectable rate of one point per minute.
At the time, Toovey knew Galuvao, Kite and Rose were leaving in 2014, with the promotion of Trbojevich a clear indication the young gun is well in the frame for selection this year, possibly from round one.
Ligi Sao:
The trajectory of Ligi Sao's career suggests he'll play plenty of first grade in 2014. The powerhouse prop started out at the all-conquering Warriors Toyota Cup side in 2012 before being snapped up by the Sea Eagles for 2013.
He played both Holden Cup and NSW Cup last year, with Geoff Toovey keen to test the future star against men. He impressed, earning an NRL call-up for round 18.
In a great sign for SuperCoach, Sao was lauded for his long minutes and incredible workrate in the lower grades. His limited NRL stats back that up.
Sao scored at an astonishing 1.38 PPM in his only first grade game - all in hit-ups and tackles. That said, this stat may not be an accurate guide given he only played eight minutes.
Josh Starling:
The no-nonsense prop joins the Sea Eagles from the Rabbitohs, where he failed to get an extended crack in an all-star forward pack. But Starling impressed in the lower grades, earning a spot in the 2013 NSW Cup Team of the Year in the starting front row.
However, Starling's work rate, while far from disgraceful, may limit his SuperCoach price rises. In four games last year he averaged 0.95 PPM in 23 minutes per game. He will start at $102,000 for 2014, meaning he'll need to up his game time considerably to be a genuine money-maker.
Dunamis Lui:
Lui joins the Sea Eagles from the Broncos, where he was a fringe-first grader for a number of seasons. But even at his bargain basement price, Lui's work rate is not up to SuperCoach standard - he averaged 18 in 12 games last year at an average of 0.90 PPM.
PREDICTED BEST 17:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason King, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Jamie Buhrer, Tom Symonds, Richie Fa'aoso (future clouded due to police charges), Dunamis Lui/Jake Trbojevich/Josh Starling/Ligi Sao
BARGAIN BASEMENT: CHEAPIE ANALYSIS
Clint Gutherson:
The star outside back produced a brilliant year in the lower grades, culminating in a classy first grade debut in round 26. Playing on the wing, Gutherson notched a try, try assist, linebreak and linebreak assist on his way to 64 SuperCoach points. But even so, Gutherson has some hurdles to overcome if he is to play first grade this year.
The grand final backline of Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and David Williams is very set (although Williams is yet to officially re-sign):huh:. The Sea Eagles also have 2013 revelation Peta Hiku waiting in the wings, while Toovey has recruited Delroy Berryman (Broncos), Cheyse Blair (Eels) and Mark O'Dare (Titans).
KEEPER
Jamie Lyon:
The star Manly centre is the best and most consistent centre/wing in SuperCoach history, having never averaged below 61. His year-by-year averages make for impressive reading: 65 in 2013, 65 in 2012, 63 in 2011, 69 in 2010, 61 in 2009 and 66 in 2008.
And Lyon's stats may even go up in 2014 given the great service Daly Cherry-Evans will give to the right-hand attack.
NO GO ZONE: PLAYER TO AVOID
Kieran Foran:
The New Zealand five-eighth falls into the dreaded "great in NRL, poor in SuperCoach" category. Famous alumni include Darren Lockyer and Matt Scott. While awesome players, these stars simply don't produce enough stats to compete in SuperCoach.
Brett Stewart:
The former Test and NSW flyer is one of the greatest tryscorers of the modern era, but his lack of work and injury history make him a SuperCoach no-no.
TRAP: LOOKS TEMPTING, WON'T DELIVER:huh:
Glenn Stewart:
Once a SuperCoach must-have, Stewart has faded to SuperCoach irrelevancy over the last few seasons. His diminishing season averages make for stark reading - 79 in 2008, 76 in 2009, 72 in 2010, 66 in 2011, 62 in 2012 and 48 in 2013. Stewart averaged just 0.63PPM in 2013.
TOM SANGSTER NEWS LIMITED NETWORK NOVEMBER 29, 2013 12:00AM 0
GRAND final sides are generally stable and offer few SuperCoach opportunities - but the Sea Eagles buck the trend in 2014.
There will be cheapies galore in the front row following the exits of four key forwards, plus question marks over Richie Fa'aoso due to recent police charges.
Further, Manly offer some of the most consistent keepers in the game, including Jamie Lyon, who is statistically the best centre/wing in SuperCoach history.
BEST OF THE PLAYER MOVEMENT:
In: Tyson Andrews, Delroy Berryman (Broncos), Cheyse Blair (Eels), Jayden Hodges (Cowboys), Jack Littlejohn (Bulldogs), Dunamis Lui (Broncos), Mark O'Dare (Titans), Josh Starling (Rabbitohs)
Out: Jacob Gagan (Sharks), David Gower (Eels), Joe Galuvao (retired), Brent Kite (Panthers), George Rose (Storm)
New contracts: Justin Horo (2015)
Future to be decided: Dane Chisholm, James Hasson, Jamil Hopoate, Kayne Lawton, Ben Musolino, Jason Seage, Esi Tonga, Ben Farrar, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Nick Skinner, David Williams
With David Gower (Eels), Joe Galuvao (retired), Brent Kite (Panthers) and George Rose (Storm) having left the club, and the future of Richie Fa'aoso (police charges) up in the air, serious SuperCoach opportunities will open in the Manly front row. Potential beneficiaries include:
Jake Trbojevich:
The Holden Cup Team of the Year member and Junior Kangaroo got a taste of first grade in round 26 last year. He scored 15 points in 15 minutes at the respectable rate of one point per minute.
At the time, Toovey knew Galuvao, Kite and Rose were leaving in 2014, with the promotion of Trbojevich a clear indication the young gun is well in the frame for selection this year, possibly from round one.
Ligi Sao:
The trajectory of Ligi Sao's career suggests he'll play plenty of first grade in 2014. The powerhouse prop started out at the all-conquering Warriors Toyota Cup side in 2012 before being snapped up by the Sea Eagles for 2013.
He played both Holden Cup and NSW Cup last year, with Geoff Toovey keen to test the future star against men. He impressed, earning an NRL call-up for round 18.
In a great sign for SuperCoach, Sao was lauded for his long minutes and incredible workrate in the lower grades. His limited NRL stats back that up.
Sao scored at an astonishing 1.38 PPM in his only first grade game - all in hit-ups and tackles. That said, this stat may not be an accurate guide given he only played eight minutes.
Josh Starling:
The no-nonsense prop joins the Sea Eagles from the Rabbitohs, where he failed to get an extended crack in an all-star forward pack. But Starling impressed in the lower grades, earning a spot in the 2013 NSW Cup Team of the Year in the starting front row.
However, Starling's work rate, while far from disgraceful, may limit his SuperCoach price rises. In four games last year he averaged 0.95 PPM in 23 minutes per game. He will start at $102,000 for 2014, meaning he'll need to up his game time considerably to be a genuine money-maker.
Dunamis Lui:
Lui joins the Sea Eagles from the Broncos, where he was a fringe-first grader for a number of seasons. But even at his bargain basement price, Lui's work rate is not up to SuperCoach standard - he averaged 18 in 12 games last year at an average of 0.90 PPM.
PREDICTED BEST 17:
Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason King, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Jamie Buhrer, Tom Symonds, Richie Fa'aoso (future clouded due to police charges), Dunamis Lui/Jake Trbojevich/Josh Starling/Ligi Sao
BARGAIN BASEMENT: CHEAPIE ANALYSIS
Clint Gutherson:
The star outside back produced a brilliant year in the lower grades, culminating in a classy first grade debut in round 26. Playing on the wing, Gutherson notched a try, try assist, linebreak and linebreak assist on his way to 64 SuperCoach points. But even so, Gutherson has some hurdles to overcome if he is to play first grade this year.
The grand final backline of Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and David Williams is very set (although Williams is yet to officially re-sign):huh:. The Sea Eagles also have 2013 revelation Peta Hiku waiting in the wings, while Toovey has recruited Delroy Berryman (Broncos), Cheyse Blair (Eels) and Mark O'Dare (Titans).
KEEPER
Jamie Lyon:
The star Manly centre is the best and most consistent centre/wing in SuperCoach history, having never averaged below 61. His year-by-year averages make for impressive reading: 65 in 2013, 65 in 2012, 63 in 2011, 69 in 2010, 61 in 2009 and 66 in 2008.
And Lyon's stats may even go up in 2014 given the great service Daly Cherry-Evans will give to the right-hand attack.
NO GO ZONE: PLAYER TO AVOID
Kieran Foran:
The New Zealand five-eighth falls into the dreaded "great in NRL, poor in SuperCoach" category. Famous alumni include Darren Lockyer and Matt Scott. While awesome players, these stars simply don't produce enough stats to compete in SuperCoach.
Brett Stewart:
The former Test and NSW flyer is one of the greatest tryscorers of the modern era, but his lack of work and injury history make him a SuperCoach no-no.
TRAP: LOOKS TEMPTING, WON'T DELIVER:huh:
Glenn Stewart:
Once a SuperCoach must-have, Stewart has faded to SuperCoach irrelevancy over the last few seasons. His diminishing season averages make for stark reading - 79 in 2008, 76 in 2009, 72 in 2010, 66 in 2011, 62 in 2012 and 48 in 2013. Stewart averaged just 0.63PPM in 2013.
