No guts, no glory: SuperPODS and AntiPODs

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This week I was reading through some of the questions from the SC Playbook faithful for our podcast and one came through that was brilliant in summing up all current dilemmas of SuperCoaches.

The question was along the lines of which is a better strategy with the season being shortened and he gave three options:

1. Use your five trades to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible.
2. Balance trades between making money and scores.
3. Aim to get as many guns in now as you can!

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Now the question was asked in terms of Head-to-Head play, but if we apply it to everyone’s quest to be the overall SuperCoach Champion for 2020 then I think it’s fair to say everyone has this dilemma facing them.

The real answer we will only know in 18 weeks time for sure, but I suspect it will be a balancing act between earning enough money to have a high scoring team for the run home and getting in those big scoring players (Guns) before your realistic chance of winning vanishes before your eyes.

No doubt players who currently sit in the top 1000 in rankings will be more likely to look at building some bank.

Whereas players coming from behind in the rankings like myself certainly feel the urgency to get points and get ourselves within striking distance of the major prize.

It’s certainly going to be an enthralling and highly entertaining SuperCoach season.

Which takes me to my next point. AntiPOD plays and SuperPODs might be the order of the day for those trying to mix it up a bit.

I’ve come up with four of the biggest AntiPOD moves you could make and three of the rarest SuperPOD players you could take a flyer on.

Beware they are full of risk, but if they come off they could just make the difference.

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ANTIPOD PLAYS

1. Leave Payne Haas out of your side – I know what you’re thinking, why would I do this? Hear me out. Haas is right now after two weeks performing pretty much right on value.

You’ve shelled out almost $730,000 of your salary cap. Payne Haas is likely to score an average of 78 points per game and his price will stay pretty steady, but he’s highly unlikely to exceed value. The ultimate AntiPOD. Caution: I will not be doing this!

2. Go without Mitch Moses. Owned by over 40% of SuperCoaches, Moses had a shaky start followed by a sound performance against a woeful Titans outfit.

I wouldn’t say he’s set the world on fire and with PODish options like Shaun Johnson (13%), Luke Brooks (1%), Ben Hunt (1%), Dylan Brown (8%) and Jake Turpin (8%) there’s definitely a strong argument for ignoring the pack.

3. Sack the PAP! Ryan Papenhuyzen is currently the highest owned FLB if you disregard Lomax who is DPP for CTW/FLB. He hasn’t exactly set the world on fire these first two weeks and his salary goes a long way to upgrading to a Teddy or Turbo.

4. Don’t trade in Kotoni Staggs. Sure, if you picked him at the start then well done to you. You thoroughly deserve the points and the inevitable cash rises.

If you didn’t like me then with nearly 12% of all owners trading him in this week and with more sure to come, Staggs could be 30% owned by Thursday night’s kick-off.

Buck the trend and leave him out and you will either be happy if he doesn’t score well or deeply regretful if he tears up the Eels.  

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SUPERPOD PLAYS

– All currently 1% owned

1. Luke Brooks – In 2019 Brooks averaged a career high 58 SuperCoach points per game and finished the season averaging 76 for the last eight rounds and a finishing price of just a tick over $604,000.

That suggests his price could be decent value for a player on the up in an improving team with an influx of attacking weapons.

One key point to consider though is Brooks is a left side player and the shiny new acquisitions, the Leilua brothers play outside Benji on the right side of the field.

I am warming to Brooks as a superPOD move. Obviously this percentage will go up some as he’s been injured but he is currently only owned by 1% of SuperCoach players. Seriously consider.

2. Cam McInnes – A serious, serious POD consideration. It would take some serious kahunas to do it, but it’s relatively safe if you are certain he is set for an 80 minute stint.

In 2019 McInnes scored over 60 in 74% of his games. That’s better than Cam Smith (67%) and Damien Cook (61%). That’s in a struggling St George side.

So if you like the Dragons draw and it’s hard not to with the Warriors, Bulldogs, Sharks and Titans in the next four weeks, coupled with the rule changes set to suit explosive dummy half runners like Cam McInnes. Put that all together and you may just have the ultimate SuperPOD.

3. Kurt Capewell – Available in CTW and named as starting 2RF for the Penrith Panthers. Capewell is set to play 80 minutes and if he does you can expect him to go very close to finishing the season in the Top-5 averaging CTW’s.

In 2019 due to injuries in the Sharks back-row and centres he played 15 x 80 minute games.

Take out the one he played as a centre, in the 14 games he played in the backrow he averaged 55.86PPG.

Based on that average he would have been the 8^th highest averaging CTW (who played 14 games or more) for 2019 behind Latrell, Nofo, Maumalo, Sivo, Hopoate, Xerri and Tupou.

Based on that he is a steal at $400k as a DPP available in the CTW playing 80 minutes for the Panthers.

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