Predicted Line Up
1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Brad Parker, 4. Moses Suli, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Dylan Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Sean Keppie, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Corey Waddell. Interchange: 14. Cade Cust, 15. Tony Williams, 16. Toafofoa Sipley, 17. Taniela Paseka
Relevant Injury/Team news
Tom Trbojevic (pectoral), Curtis Sironen (foot) and Joel Thompson (arm/neck) will all be fit for the trials.
The Sea Eagles are being very careful with the return of young gun Albert Hopoate (ACL). He could return between rounds 4-14.
Jake Trbojevic and Addin Fonua-Blake both underwent shoulder reconstructions in November. Trbojevic stated in early January that he hoped to return in round 1, but that looks unlikely at this stage. A round 2-3 return for both players looks likely.
Manase Fainu has had a setback in his recovery from a shoulder reconstruction. Even if he was not stood down by the NRL, he would be likely to miss the entire 2020 season through injury.
Jack Gosiewski had surgery on his lumbar spine in February and no return date has been specified yet.
New hooker Danny Levi could find himself sharing minutes with either Cade Cust or Lachlan Croker. Given Cust’s superior running game, he is probably ahead of Croker for the bench hooker position.
Word is that Josh Schuster could start at #6 in round 1, pushing Brad Parker out of the side and Dylan Walker back to centre. It would see harsh to drop Parker after a solid 2019 season, but this is a situation to monitor.
Goal Kickers
1. Reuben Garrick, 2. Daly Cherry Evans, 3. Dylan Walker
The Guns
Tom Trbojevic ($714,800 | FLB) – Excluding Turbo’s injury affected games last season, he averaged 86.4 PPG (more than James Tedesco). In fact, Turbo has now averaged higher than Tedesco for 3 seasons running. Last season, he scored 100+ points in 4/10 games and scored 60+ points in 70% of his games. Moreover, he is a captaincy lock when playing at Brookvale Oval, where he has scored 100+ points in 13/26 games (at fullback) over the past 4 seasons. Turbo has a 4 season average of 95.7 and a 2 season average of 103.2 at Brookie, where Manly play 4 out of their first 6 games. There’s not really much more to say. He’s the best FLB in SuperCoach.
Daly Cherry-Evans ($576,200 | HFB) – Averaging 62 in each of the past 3 seasons, DCE is one of the most consistent HFB options in SuperCoach. He scores more creative PPG than any other HFB and historically starts seasons well, averaging 76.5 and 71.6 over the opening 5 rounds of the 2019 and 2018 seasons. The only thing that reduces his appeal is that he doesn’t kick goals, unlike Cleary, Moses and Johnson.
The PODs
Curtis Sironen ($523,400 | 2RF) – If you can jump on Sironen at the right time, then you’re a winner. Most seasons, he goes on a run where the points flow. In 2019, he averaged 56 PPG for the season, but from rounds 12-20 he averaged 74.1 PPG. In 2017, he averaged 56 PPG for the season also, but averaged 63 PPG from rounds 9-16. If you miss these runs of points and attacking returns, then Sironen isn’t an option.
Moses Suli ($361,500 | CTW) – Suli had another lacklustre season in terms of SuperCoach in 2019. However, I just have a feeling he will improve this season, and possibly average around 50 PPG. In the finals series last season, Suli was outstanding, scoring approximately 86 vs Sharks and 87 vs Rabbitohs. Hopefully those games gave him confidence and he can carry that form into the 2020 season.
The Players of Interest
Marty Taupau ($571,200 | FRF) – As he wrote in our ‘Under the Microscope’ piece on Marty Taupau, he’s no longer the dominant FRF in SuperCoach. Taupau’s percentage of scores over 60 points has dropped from 57% in 2017 and 58% in 2018 to a mere 42% in 2019. This is largely due to a reduction in his evasive stats. In terms of tackling breaking, Taupau broke 87 tackles in 2017, 107 tackles in 2018, and only 78 tackles in 2019. His offloading has dried up too, dropping from 73 offloads in 2017 and 71 offloads in 2018, to 43 offloads in 2019. Resultantly, Taupau’s average evasive PPG fell from 19 in 2017 and 17 in 2018, to 11 in 2019. Worryingly, Taupau’s percentage of games scoring 10+ evasive points dropped from 81% in 2017 and 92% in 2018, to 46% in 2019. If he can become a prolific offloader again, Taupau’s SuperCoach prospects will rise.
The Cheapies
Ben Trbojevic ($171,900| CTW/2RF) – Burbo isn’t in the Sea Eagles top 30 squad so you won’t see him playing in the NRL at least until mid year.
Albert Hopoate ($171,900| FLB/CTW) – Young Hoppa is returning from his second ACL injury. His expected return date is anywhere between rounds 4-14. When available, he will probably struggle to break into Manly’s starting side anyway given the status of Jorge Taufua and Reuben Garrick.
Sean Keppie ($201,000| FRF) – Keppie made his debut in round 25 last season, scoring 19 points in 22 minutes. He then played in the Sea Eagles finals campaign, scoring approximately 52 points in 45 minutes vs Sharks, and 25 points in 29 minutes vs Rabbitohs. His PPM isn't outrageously good, so he'll need consistent minutes to score well. He may average around 50 PPG for the opening couple of games, but he'll drop out of the side when Fonua-Blake returns.
Josh Schuster ($171,900| 5/8) – Schuster is one of the most talented youngsters in the game, and will get a chance in first grade this season. There are whispers that he will be a bolter in the Manly side in round 1. Keep a look out for him.
Avoid/Be wary of
Reuben Garrick ($487,500 | CTW) – Garrick is one of the best young wingers in the game. It’s yet to be seen whether he can back up his average of 54 PPG in his debut SuperCoach season though.
Manase Fainu ($497,000) – Fainu was going to be one of my first picked in SuperCoach this season. But, he now faces a season ending shoulder injury and criminal charges.
Jake Trbojevic ($583,900 | 2RF) – Jurbo was disappointing season last season, but still averaged 63 PPG, including 58 PPG in pure base. He enters this season cheap, and is a lock for around 60 points each round. However, he is current rehabbing from a shoulder reconstruction and will probably miss the opening rounds of the season.
Addin Fonua-Blake ($612,900 | FRF) – AFB was a wrecking ball last season, finishing with an average of 66 PPG and scoring 60+ points in 60% of his matches. He’ll be an option before the round 12 bye, but he’s out injured, probably won’t play round 1 and will start the season off slowly. You should be able to pick him up for a discount later in the season.
Danny Levi ($379,400 | HOK) – The highest Levi has ever averaged in a season is 44 PPG. He has a low base, only averaging 32 tackles (2 missed tackles) and 4 runs per game last season. He is heavily reliant on attacking stats, and may have to share minutes at hooker with either Cade Cust or Lachlan Croker.
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