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2020 Squad breakdown: Cash in on Kiwi cheapies

We've assessed every starting player at the New Zealand Warriors and provided their Round 3 buy rating.

Squad Breakdown
Tim Williams

SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'

May 24, 2020

With the season returning on May 28, we’ve decided to take a look at the SuperCoach credentials of every starting 13 player in the NRL.

We’ve taken the starting side from each club’s Round 2 clash, and included any significant players who come off the bench or will return from injury upon the competition’s resumption.

We’ve provided an immediate buy rating for each player for the upcoming round, not to be confused with their overall SuperCoach rating.

It’s been a tough opening to the 2020 season for the Warriors, yet they possess two of the best cheapies in SuperCoach.

Here’s our thoughts:

Click on the player to reveal their analysis and Round 3 buy rating.

*Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a key on all SuperCoach relevant abbreviations.

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Forwards

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Prop

Wayde Egan

Hooker

Lachlan Burr

Prop

Eliesa Katoa

Second-row

Tohu Harris

Second-row

Adam Blair

Lock

Backs

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Fullback

Ken Maumalo

Wing

David Fusitu'a

Centre

Patrick Herbert

Centre

Adam Pompey

Wing

Blake Green

5/8

Chanel Harris-Tevita

Halfback

SUPERCOACH TERMINOLOGY KEY

MPG = Minutes per game

PPG = Points per game

PPM= Points per minute

BPG = Base per game (point accrued in tackles + runs + missed tackles)

POD = Point of difference

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

*Please note all our stats are taken from the geniuses at nrlsupercoachstats.com

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

$659,800 || Ave: 40 || B/E: 122 || Buy rating: 3/10

Despite being a stellar SuperCoach player, I’m not convinced he’s in the same class as Tedesco and Trbojevic. His 34BPG in the opening rounds shows that he’ll rarely have a bad score, but he doesn’t have the ceiling of his elite opposition.

This largely comes down to the fact that he’s playing in a Warriors outfit who are struggling to find any attacking cohesion. He’ll likely become a decent POD at some stage of the season, but the Warriors will have to click into gear to make him an alternative to the key fullbacks in SuperCoach.

Ken Maumalo

 $557,200 || Ave: 30 || B/E: 111 || Buy rating: 2/10

After a breakout season in 2019 where he averaged 60PPG, Maumalo hasn’t been able to match his feats this year. Along with a swag full of tries, it was his immense base that made him such a viable option at CTW last season.

In two games this year he’s regressed to just 20BPG. In a struggling attacking outfit he’s limited in his scoring, but he’ll be one to keep an eye on if the men around him click into gear.

David Fusitu'a

$345,000 || Ave: 22 || B/E: 62 || Buy rating: 2/10

A shift to centre hasn’t helped Fusitu’a thus far in 2020. Base stats have never been his greatest attribute, so we’ll need to see plenty more before jumping on as a potential cash-cow.

Patrick Herbert

$381,000 || Ave: 29 || B/E: 59 || Buy rating: 2/10

Herbert has SuperCoach potential, but it’s been a slow start to 2020 for the centre. He’s likely the reserve goal-kicker to Harris-Tevita, so he’s one to watch should the duties fall his way.

Adam Pompey

$227,500 || Ave: 26 || B/E: 18 || Buy rating: 3/10

Pompey has played just the one game so far against tough opposition in the Raiders. He underwhelmed in that outing, but he does present some appeal at his price. While he’s not one for Round 3, if he can jag a decent score he’ll have a negative breakeven the following week and may warrant some consideration.

Blake Green

$405,400 || Ave: 26 || B/E: 72 || Buy rating: 1/10

There are far superior halves option than Green.

Chanel Harris-Tevita

$384,600 || Ave: 18 || B/E: 82 || Buy rating: 2/10

There was some hype around CHT as a mid-ranger in the pre-season, but he’s managed just 18PPG thus far. There may be a few decent scores around the corner, particularly while goal-kicking, but the mediocre outings make him difficult to own.

Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

 $171,900 || Ave: 41 || B/E: -29 || Buy rating: 8/10

Leeson Ah Mau ruptured his pec and will miss up to four months of action. This will hopefully open up a starting role for impressive rookie Taunoa-Brown. JTB has averaged 40MPG in the opening weeks, with an impressive 41BPG. The injury to Ah Mau, as well as Jazz Tevaga who won’t be available for an extended period, may mean a 45-50 minute role for JTB.

Ah Mau was currently averaging 47MPG, so there’s a hefty chunk to fill. With a -29 breakeven there’s an enormous amount of cash to be made. Even if he does remain on the bench he looks an exceptional option for Round 3 with what should be strong job security.

Wayde Egan

$298,400 || Ave: 36 || B/E: 19 || Buy rating: 2/10 

Averaging 58MPG, Egan won’t factor with the likes of of Brailey, Grant and Koroisau available at much better value for Round 3.

Lachlan Burr

$470,300 || Ave: 38 || B/E: 68 || Buy rating: 3/10

Burr is likely to be a benefactor of Ah Mau’s injury. He played 49 minutes in Round 1 for 55 points, then played just 24 minutes in Round 2. As a result his price won’t alter much in coming weeks, but after a breakout (at stages) SuperCoach season in 2019 he’s shown he can offer value for those interested. Keep a close eye on his minutes upon resumption.

Eliesa Katoa

$171,900 || Ave: 51 || B/E: -49 || Buy rating: 10/10

Katoa is among the elite category of the cheapie crop this season. After a blistering pre-season, he earned a starting role in Round 2 in which he should keep for the upcoming round.

He played 65 minutes in Round 2 for 50 points, with 46 coming in base. He’s big, busts tackles, and will find attacking stats at times. If you don’t own him, you’re doing it wrong.

Tohu Harris

$546,200 || Ave: 52 || B/E: 63 || Buy rating: 3/10

Tohu has always been a decent POD option, but with such a stacked back-row in SuperCoach this season he’s hard to fit in. He’s playing an 80 minute role and churning out a serious 50BPG, but perhaps his best attacking football is behind him?

At 28-years-old he’s certainly not old, but he’s fought off injury after injury throughout his career. If the Warriors start to fire Tohu may be a beneficiary, but there’s probably better options in the position.

Adam Blair

$457,100 || Ave: 38 || B/E: 64 || Buy rating: 2/10

Blair may play additional minutes with Ah Mau injured, but there’s far better options available.

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