Squad breakdown: Parramatta Eels 2024 Supercoach analysis


<p>Parramatta start the season as intriguing NRL Supercoach prospects, with genuine gun, mid-range and cheapie options on the table.</p>



<p>After a disappointing 2023 campaign, they’ll be out to put themselves back in the frame for finals footy in the new year.</p>



<p>They possess a great draw to start the year, including four of their opening six games at home at Commbank Stadium.</p>



<p>While there’s a number of Supercoach guns in the team, all eyes are on the hooking position with Brad Arthur declaring his preference for an 80-minute No.9.</p>



<p>Not only would this provide Supercoach cheapie opportunity, but it also will shape how the bench make-up sits in round 1 which may lead to further opportunities.</p>



<p>Let’s take a look at the Eels NRL Supercoach credentials leading into round 1.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Parramatta Eels predicted team</strong></h2>



<p>1. Clint Gutherson<br>2.&nbsp;Maika Sivo<br>3.&nbsp;Will Penisini<br>4.&nbsp;Bailey Simonsson<br>5.&nbsp;Sean Russell<br>6.&nbsp;Dylan Brown<br>7. Mitchell Moses<br>8.&nbsp;Junior Paulo<br>9.&nbsp;Joey Lussick/Brendan Hands<br>10.&nbsp;Reagan Campbell-Gillard<br>11.&nbsp;Shaun Lane<br>12.&nbsp;Bryce Cartwright<br>13.&nbsp;J’maine Hopgood</p>



<p>14. Kelma Tuilagi<br>15. Joe Ofahengaue<br>16. Ryan Matterson<br>17.&nbsp;Wiremu Greig</p>



<p><strong>Unavailable:</strong></p>



<p><strong>Analysis</strong></p>



<p>Likely no major changes to the backline, although Daejarn Asi could start at centre which would push Bailey Simonsson to the wing and Sean Russell out of the team.</p>



<p>The starting pack pretty picks itself, with Brad Arthur hinting he’ll run with just one hooker this season.</p>



<p>Recruit Kelma Tuilagi may struggle to sneak his way onto bench for round 1, but the one hooker option may open up a spot unless Arthur opts for a utility back in that spot.</p>



<p>It’s anyone’s guess as the whether Brendan Hands or Joey Lussick gets the starting hooker role.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Draw</strong></h2>



<p>Bulldogs (A), Panthers (A), Sea Eagles (H), Tigers (H), Raiders (A), Cowboys (H), Dolphins (H, Darwin)</p>



<p><strong>First five round rating: </strong>8/10</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Guns</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Clint Gutherson ($807,000, FLB)</strong></p>



<p>I don’t have King Gutho in my plans for round 1, but when you average 79 points with six tonnes and a soft draw to start it’d be highly unfair not to include a bit of a spiel.</p>



<p>He did have three lows of 33, 37 and 25 last season, but they were against the Panthers, Broncos and Rabbitohs (when top of the table), so it’s excusable considering their softer draw to begin 2024.</p>



<p>His three biggest centuries also came smack bang in the middle of the Origin period.</p>



<p>Not for me as I just don’t think he has those 150+ scores in him that Turbo, Papy, Ponga have.</p>



<p>If anything happens to Mitchy Moses and he becomes primary goal-kicker it’ll become very interesting for Gutho.</p>



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<p><strong>Dylan Brown ($780,800, 5/8)</strong></p>



<p>Pay up for the proven 5/8 gun in Dylan Brown or seek value elsewhere?</p>



<p>It’s looming as a tough spot to begin the season, and Brown is the most consistent player in the position alongside Cam Munster.</p>



<p>It does concern me a touch that Moses and Gutherson can take away his attacking opportunities that may limit his ceiling a touch, but his scoring in 2023 is impossible to ignore.</p>



<p>Further, a limited ceiling is acceptable when you’re as reliable as they come and average 76 and 74 in the past two seasons.</p>



<p>He scored just 32 against the Storm in round 1 last season, then didn’t have a score below 47 in his remaining 16 games.</p>



<p>That 47 came against three-time defending premiers Penrith also.</p>



<p>His 37 in base is elite for a 5/8, and he has the benefit of a fully fit Shaun Lane next to him this season.</p>



<p>With plenty starting Lane, they are a nice combo to launch with.</p>



<p>While I’m tempted to go cheaper at 5/8, I can’t knock anyone starting Dylbags.</p>



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<p><strong>J’maine Hopgood ($748,300, 2RF)</strong></p>



<p>Hopgood produced one of the great cheapie Supercoach seasons in 2023, starting at under $300k and finishing with an average of 73 points.</p>



<p>He produced an outstanding 57 in base, and proved he has attacking upside in him.</p>



<p>He can score tries, set them up, offload, and bust tackles, all in big minutes, making him the near perfect Supercoach forward.</p>



<p>His lowest score all season was 43 against the Broncos, but that was in just 45 minutes of game time after playing off the bench for one clash having had a huge start to the season.</p>



<p>Outside of that, he didn’t score under 50 all year.</p>



<p>The only potential issue I see is that if Arthur opts for an 80-minute hooker he may have a big four forward bench, so he may lose a few minutes.</p>



<p>If there wasn’t so many quality mid-range 2RF options this season I’d be tempted, but I do think it’s a position to chase value early in the year.</p>



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<p><strong>Mitchell Moses ($695,400, HFB)</strong></p>



<p>If you’re not running a Hynes-Cleary halfback combo to start the season, I think Mitch Moses is probably my next pick.</p>



<p>Goal-kicking, in a decent team, with an extended off-season, with a soft draw, signs look good for the Eels playmaker.</p>



<p>Moses has put together back-to-back seasons averaging 68 and 70 Supercoach points.</p>



<p>In periods you do feel he’s shed that rollercoaster tag that followed his Supercoach scoring around a few years back, but it does crop up at times.</p>



<p>He started last season with a 16 against Melbourne, scored 17 in round 10 against the Titans, then finished with an 11 against Brisbane when playing just half a game due to injury which is excusable.</p>



<p>He had six scores of 43 or below in 2022, with a bottom of just 6 points.</p>



<p>That’s the negative side of Moses, but the fact he averaged so well shows his ceiling.</p>



<p>He had four tonnes last season, with tops of 147 against Newcastle and 130 against the Rabbitohs.</p>



<p>His 21 in base isn’t great, hence the occasional stinker of a score, but the goal-kicking duties largely make up for that.</p>



<p>Potentially worth a gamble to start the year.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mid-rangers</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Shaun Lane ($446,200, 2RF)</strong></p>



<p>Shaun Lane is the fifth most owned player in Supercoach, surprisingly at just 38.6% ownership at the time of writing.</p>



<p>I hope this grows substantially by round 1, he’s my first picked player.</p>



<p>Lane is priced on a 44 point average from his injury interrupted 2023 season where he played 10 games and just 61 minutes per game.</p>



<p>He’s an 80-minute player for the Eels and is one of the best attacking weapons on the edge in the game.</p>



<p>In 77 minutes per game in 2022 he averaged 69 points per game.</p>



<p>He averaged a solid 46 in base that season, with just two tries to his name, but remarkably 11 try-assists!</p>



<p>Barring injury, I fail to see how he doesn’t at the absolute worst case scenario match his value.</p>



<p>Best case scenario he’s a season-long keeper.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cheapies</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Brendan Hands ($342,300, HOK) and Joey Lussick ($313,700, HOK)</strong></p>



<p>If Brad Arthur is true to his word and plays an 80-minute hooker we’re onto a winner in Supercoach.</p>



<p>Both Hands and Lussick are fighting for the role and are both in cheapie range.</p>



<p>Hands is priced on a 34 point average from 50 minutes of game time last season.</p>



<p>He averaged 55.8 in his five 80 minute games last season, with a solid 44.2 in base in those fixtures.</p>



<p>Lussick averaged 47 in his three 80 minute games last season for the Eels, with 44.6 in base.</p>



<p>His base scores were all over the shop with scores of 56, 35, and 43, so make sense of that what you will.</p>



<p>Regardless, I think if either player does get the sole role they’ll be a great back-up hooker pick, and potentially a starting option if going cheap.</p>


Squad breakdown: Parramatta Eels 2024 Supercoach analysis

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