Draft Breakdown: Depth analysis in each position


<ul><li><strong>DRAFT BREAKDOWN: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="http://13.210.220.211/2021/02/17/draft-breakdown-strategy-heading-into-2021/" target="_blank">Strategy heading into 2021 season</a></strong></li><li><strong>TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: <a href="http://13.210.220.211/2021/02/19/team-announcement-sc-spy-eyes-fast-start/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SC Spy eyes fast start to year</a></strong></li></ul>



<p>It’s important to understand the quality of depth in each position before your Draft.</p>



<p>If there’s depth in a position, this means you pick up someone that isn’t too far from the top players later in the draft.</p>



<p>Keep in mind that each league has different settings, including number of players in each position.</p>



<p>The below depth analysis is based on the traditional 17 man squad.</p>



<p><em><strong>*Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a key on all SuperCoach relevant abbreviations.</strong></em></p>



<p><a href="http://13.210.220.211/subscribe/"><em><strong>Sign up to SC Playbook&nbsp;</strong></em></a><em><strong>for hundreds of extra premium articles across the NRL pre-season and regular season, including access to our subscriber special question and answer podcast.</strong></em></p>



<a id="AitNcYsETbVWe2V1oI4toQ" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1279474297" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'AitNcYsETbVWe2V1oI4toQ',sig:'4PxOS3cM8cUpjKNIig68lhiCBBWell-p3QQVgT_uhN8=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1279474297',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



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



<p>This year looks particularly shallow for hookers compared to previous years.</p>



<p>It seems a lot of NRL teams are running the dual hooker which really limits the SuperCoach prospects.</p>



<p>However, you can still find value later in the draft in the hooker position.</p>



<p>If you don’t get one of the top 3 hookers, being Grant, Cook or Api then it’s worth waiting till much later in the draft.</p>



<p>You can usually get a hooker to do a job for you and get 40-50 points quite easily. I often fill hooker as my last pick making JMK work for me in 2020 and Mahoney in 2019 in a 14-man league.</p>



<p>I’d happily roll the dice with a Rein or a Liddle late in the draft this year and if they are duds, you can find something on the waiver when injuries occur.</p>



<a id="5GnVmH2tRVVlXGP_fxnrbQ" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1279706193" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'5GnVmH2tRVVlXGP_fxnrbQ',sig:'VdGdFR7N6Y2B5q5k18MzPTLvefbvi6iApYGqVqiprCo=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1279706193',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



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



<p>This position usually has the most depth of any and this year is no exception.</p>



<p>You could fill your FRF position as your last two spots and wouldn’t be too disappointed with the quality left.</p>



<p>If you see an attacking FRF like AFB or Papalii slip in the draft, grab them as it’s still a good play to have an elite FRF, but you aren’t losing too much if you miss them.</p>



<p>In nearly every draft you should never grab both your FRFs before Round 8.</p>



<a id="3J6ELbBzQ1xvF7BY8ej54Q" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1255201895" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'3J6ELbBzQ1xvF7BY8ej54Q',sig:'h6X19yKwC72MZOpwn7swljWa5c-obczoyAAjo7NgSK4=',w:'439px',h:'594px',items:'1255201895',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2RF</strong></h2>



<p>The 2RF position also has some depth, although there is a larger spread from the elite players to the lower tiered players.</p>



<p>We have the elite 2RF that offer a safe captain each week with some decent attacking upside, such as Angus Crichton and Cameron Murray.</p>



<p>Then you have the next tier which either offer you a solid score each week with limited attacking upside like Frizell, or the player that can really let you down in base stats but can score well on their day like Kikau.</p>



<p>In the third tier of players, you have a big group averaging about 48-50 points such as your Luke Thompson or Josh Jackson.</p>



<p>And finally you have the guys that are playing limited minutes or need an injury to be relevant.</p>



<p>Filling your third 2RF may get hairy this year, but as long as you get two solid choices for your first two 2RF picks, you can usually find a good 2RF during the year.</p>



<p><strong><em><strong><em>GET ONBOARD WITH TOPSPORT!</em></strong> <strong><em>Back your knowledge, and follow our NRL market previews throughout the season. Use the code SCPLAYBOOK when signing up.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.topsport.com.au/?Referrer=SC%20Playbook" target="_blank">Check them out here ahead of season kick off.</a></em></strong></em></strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="575" src="http://13.210.220.211/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--1024x575.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1948538" srcset="https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--300x168.jpg 300w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--768x431.jpg 768w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--1536x862.jpg 1536w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--2048x1149.jpg 2048w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--640x359.jpg 640w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--1200x673.jpg 1200w, https://blog.scplaybook.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TopSport-SC-Playbook-Rugby-2048x1149-No-SuperCoach--800x450.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px) 64vw, 770px" /></figure>



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



<p>This is the lowest of the low for depth.</p>



<p>If you miss out on one of the top HFBs you could really find yourself scrapping the barrel early in the draft.</p>



<p>There aren’t a lot of dual halves this year, which has contributed to the shallow depth.</p>



<p>Cleary should go 2<sup>nd</sup> overall and DCE will go pretty early because of the depth of this position.</p>



<p>After Reynolds, Moses and Keary are picked up, you start to get into some risky options.</p>



<p>Given this depth, I may have to reach for one of these halves.</p>



<a id="HnJXiiiGQ0NbAbGhS0XLAg" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1280499925" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'HnJXiiiGQ0NbAbGhS0XLAg',sig:'29wmCS06_bs-yYlDe9Ub9FOZDFABPboKQEjMftLu3qE=',w:'594px',h:'399px',items:'1280499925',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5/8</strong></h2>



<p>The 5/8 position can be sketchy, but it’s not looking too bad this year.</p>



<p>There are a number of dual 5/8s that are bolstering this depth and if you miss out on some of the elite options there is some value in the later rounds like Lachlan Lam or Connor Watson.</p>



<a id="Epglr2QES8Ba4gP4I3GmZQ" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1266550983" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Epglr2QES8Ba4gP4I3GmZQ',sig:'wPMTdHYiDd_0HOgoQ_zv483KIDgc5FmepjemMvJJGko=',w:'396px',h:'594px',items:'1266550983',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



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



<p>Picking the top CTWs each year is harder than picking the lottery.</p>



<p>Last year before the season kicked off, many people took Blake Ferguson early in their drafts only for him to dribble out a 40PPG average.</p>



<p>Then you have a player like Sione Katoa come from nowhere to increase his average by 18PPG from 2019.</p>



<p>The point I’m trying to make is that you shouldn’t be going early on this position given the depth and unpredictability.</p>



<p>I wouldn’t begrudge anyone for getting a Nofoaluma or To’o, but coaches will have to give up some quality options in other positions to get these players.</p>



<p>I’d rather try to find the Sione Katoa of 2021 in Round 13+ or rotate CTW based on match ups.</p>



<p>I look for CTWs that have good base stats or play for a good attacking team outside a quality half.</p>



<a id="IpMGqvzXQIJ7fwglzyUjzA" class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/1269279964" target="_blank" style="color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;" rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'IpMGqvzXQIJ7fwglzyUjzA',sig:'fYEuS5oZuDZLBQD-lO7_Bdqv5BghuObj26p0qnyKNsU=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1269279964',caption: true ,tld:'com.au',is360: false })});</script><script src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" async=""></script>



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



<p>There’s a decent amount of depth at FLB this year, especially since a number of players have lost their dual CTW eligibility.</p>



<p>There’s three fullbacks I would target in the first round – Teddy, Ponga and Lil Papi which can win you games by themselves.</p>



<p>Tommy Turbo was on this list prior to his recent hamstring injury, but there&#8217;s currently a bit of uncertainty around him. With his pedigree and upside I&#8217;d still look to go early Round 3.</p>



<p>The next tier down is Gutho, Brimson, Latrell and RTS which you could probably get Rounds 3-6.</p>



<p>There’s also plenty of value in the later rounds with CNK and Isaako that could do a job for you.</p>



<p>Get an elite FLB if you can, but there are options later if people pop off too early.</p>



<p><em><strong>SUPERCOACH TERMINOLOGY KEY</strong></em></p>



<p>MPG = Minutes per game</p>



<p>PPG = Points per game</p>



<p>PPM= Points per minute</p>



<p>BPG = Base per game (point accrued in tackles + runs + missed tackles)</p>



<p>POD = Point of difference</p>



<p>BREAKEVEN (B/E) = The score a player must record to earn a price rise.</p>



<p>*Please note all our stats are taken from the geniuses at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nrlsupercoachstats.com/">nrlsupercoachstats.com</a></p>


Draft Breakdown: Depth analysis in each position

Discussion (0)

Draft rankings: FLB, 5/8 positional analysis

Draft rankings: CTW positional analysis

Supercoach Draft: 2023 positional ranks

Supercoach Draft strategy: Tips and tricks for the big day