Powered by www.thebench.com.au

I00 TOP PLAYERS LISTED 5 0 500+ TOP METRE EATERS PLAYER STATISTICS I0 I6 TOP WORKHORSES TEAM PREVIEWS PLUS

U20’s Graduates I 0 Super League Scouting

TOP TRY SCORERS I $8.95 Cover art by TITLE PER COMP! Jay Hilgenfeld www. jayhilgenfeld.com

Fellow NRLCEO Coaches,

Thanks for coming back for yet another season. We’re bloody excited about this Now onto the questions that really matter this year: season and by purchasing this guide, I’m sure you are too! 1. Can the Cowboys go back to back? We now move onto our eighth season running publicly, our third season in partnership with TheBench and we couldn’t be happier. To thank you all for your 2. Can Semi Radradra top the try scoring charts again? support over the past few years, we’re also moving back to a free model for seasonal draft games. We know many of you have been with us since the rough 3. Will Ricky’s Raiders make the finals? Or will he finally get the sack? old green website days and put up with many issues. 4. Will James Roberts look more like Renouf or Reed at the Broncos? You’ve also been good enough to support the continuation of our site by purchasing the season guide. So we thank you. Enjoy the free competitions. 5. Will the Titans or the Knights get the spoon?

So what else is new on the site? Well we’ve added a new scoring option for you to 6. Can Ben Barba cross the try line ever again? select if you wish – called the metre eater. Many of you have been asking about 7. Will find a club to take him? implementing this statistic to reward those hard running forwards and powerful backs. You can read more in this guide about how it will vary for each position and 8. Will you have a crack at our daily fantasy games? also the top metre eaters based on last year’s stats. …and most importantly – who will you pick in Round 1 of your draft? This year we’re also taking on the world of daily fantasy games too. Sometimes you just want to have more of an investment in a night of footy that doesn’t With the countdown to round one well and truly on, our attention is now solely feature many of your own NRLCEO stars. That’s where daily fantasy kicks in. The on the initial (and arguably the most exciting) phase of NRLCEO - the Draft. majority of games will be pay to play and the top portion of each competition will Please get in touch with us at [email protected] if you have any questions or win real cash prizes. feedback. We love hearing from you! The scoring will be slightly different and it won’t be based on a draft model. The Good luck in the 2016 season and we hope you enjoy the 2016 NRLCEO Season same players will be able to be picked by multiple teams in a competition based Guide. on a salary cap. I know that defeats what you love about NRLCEO, but trust me, daily fantasy is a lot of fun! The NRLCEO CEO

Once again we have a Super Rugby version of our game, so if you went to a private school and dabble in the Rah Rah make sure you check it out. We needed to reduce the workhorse qualification from 40 to 20+ for these lazy pricks. Other than that it is virtually exactly as the same as NRLCEO minus Line Break Assists and 40/20s.

Copyright © NRLCEO 2016 This Season Guide and any of the content within it may not be reproduced without prior permission from the owners. HINTS FROM THE GURUS

Making the most of customisations on TheBench Using the Waiver Wire

We like to think that we have the most flexible and customisable fantasy Since it was only the first time we used the waiver wire last year, we thought it draft platform in Australia. So much so that there are probably many worthwhile to talk about it again. features on the site that you didn’t even know about! The Waiver Wire is used to stop that trigger happy nerd in your competition who 1. Customising your draft order spends every waking minute on the Internet. This is obviously the most basic option available and one that 90% of It stops them from picking up replacement players as soon as an injury happens competitions take up straight away. and allows the players at the bottom of the table to climb back up the ladder. It will also help stop the loophole of players being dropped for a few minutes on a But did you know you can also trade draft picks with other players just bye weekend until teams are locked in and then picked up straight away. like they do in the AFL? All you have to do is organise the trades between two clubs in person or on email and notify your competition In our game, the Waivers are a way to better manage the drafting and dropping of administrator who can set it up players during the season. At the most simple level, it works like this:

If a Player is dropped from a Squad, they cannot be immediately drafted by 2. Evening out the bye rounds another Club. The bye rounds are tough. We know. Quite often luck of the draw means that you can have just six players up against an opposition with Instead, the Player is listed on the Waiver Wire where all Clubs are able submit a 14 players which would likely lead to an automatic loss. request to draft the Player.

Want to avoid the lopsided rounds? Then get your competition After 24 hours on the Waiver Wire, requests are processed in reverse ladder administrator to restrict which positions can be selected for specific order. The result is the lowest ranking Club’s request will be accepted and all rounds only. You could make it three forwards, a half and three backs or other requests for the same player are rejected. even just remove the bench positions. If there are no requests for the Player, the Player returns to the free agent pool

and can be drafted by anyone at any time. 3. Manual score overriding Ever felt like we got the scores wrong, only to email us and for us to tell In addition to dropped players being placed on the Waiver Wire, from the start of you the result stands? If you’re still not happy then your competitions the first game of the Round to approx. 24 hours after the last game of the Round, administrator can actually override the weekly scores for you. all players will be included on the Waiver Wire and so will require a Waiver Request to be drafted.

2015 Champions League Wrap

MIG’s Title Defence Begins

This was the fifth year that the Champion’s League has been contested and coaches were keener than ever to take home the ultimate championship in NRLCEO.

With 10 top notch coaches qualifying for the blue ribbon event, the competition was always going to be a tight one.

After 22 gruelling, tightly contested rounds, five teams qualified for the finals and once Globo Gym Cobras was 2015 Qualification Result Team eliminated in the first week, it came down to the top st four. 1 Champions League The Gurus*

In the Grand Final Qualifier, minor premiers Injury 2nd Champions League Injury Brigade Brigade, took on Mig’s Gurus while in the knock out After four years of qualifying for the Champion’s semi, The Fighting Mongooses tried to continue their 3rd Champions League The Fighting Mongoose League, Coach Mig had finally won the coveted glory run against 2014 champions, The Clyde Frowgs. Champion of Champions and he was stoked! th 4 Champions League The Clyde Frowgs With the Gurus and Mongooses recording finals wins, In his victory speech, Mig was gracious… the penultimate contest for 2015 came down to the 1st Briggy’s Dentites* Minor Premiers, Injury Brigade and The Fighting “Thanks for a great comp this year guys. Mongooses who continued their glory run off the back 1st Andrew Johns Soup-a-Stars of Jonathan Thurston! With the winner to meet the The Champion’s League is always hotly Gurus in the GF, tension was high... contested and you are all worthy 1st Arthur Beetson Team Enormous* combatants. I feel proud to have beaten st In a close battle, Injury Brigade won through to their you all and finally be the true NRLCEO 1 Clive Churchill Globo Gym Purple Cobras debut Champions League Grand Final where they would Champion! See some of you next year st take on co-founder Mig’s troops. This was a well- 1 Mal Meninga Bundy Bears deserved victory for the most consistent team of the where I will defend my title!” season. There was plenty of banter getting thrown 1st Wally Lewis Cooks Crushers around from all the coaches, not just the coaches Of course, the job doesn’t stop there for Mig as he involved in the final of course most wanted to see the will now try and defend his title in 2016. The top 4 Gurus get knocked off! from last year’s competition automatically qualify * Denotes NRLCEO Gurus (The Original Owners/Players) and with the 6 Legends of League Champions, the In a worthy Grand Final, Mig’s Gurus piled on the points 2016 Champion’s League will again be a cracker! and won easily.

2016 Legends of League The Premium NRLCEO Contests

Can you believe it?

The Legends of League tournament is now in its sixth season! CHAMPIONS The tournament is now the most popular drafting LEAGUE promotion/relegation tournament in Australia! It’s your chance to pit yourself against the best NRLCEOs as well as ‘the Gurus’ who established NRLCEO over ten years ago now. Wally Andrew Clive Allan Arthur Mal One of the writers of this very guide is the reigning Lewis Johns Churchill Langer Beetson Meninga champion of the Champions League so put all your efforts into knocking Mig off!

Despite the site now being free for most leagues, we’d Hazem Darren Anthony Matt Sam Stacey like to keep this as a premium tournament with prizes El Masri Lockyer Minichiello Bowen Burgess Jones and trophies so we ask for $10 entry.

Below is an outline of each tier: 3 TIERS OF The Top Tier is the Champions League Competition TROPHIES GLORY 106 PROMOTION & where 10 victorious Legends of League teams will vie $10 FOR EACH PLACES RELEGATION TO BE for the honour of becoming the ultimate Champion of ENTRY COMP Champions. The top four will be automatically invited WON!

to have another crack at the title.

The Second Tier is made up of six Legends of League The Third Tier is made up of six Rookie Qualifying As there are now incumbents in all of the competitions where ten teams in each competition will Competitions. Each of these have been renamed competitions, there will be limited positions available compete for a solitary position in the Champions after NRLCEO superstars of yesteryear. to new entrants. League. The four lowest ranked teams will be relegated while the remainder will be invited back the following In each of these competitions, all four finalists will The entry fee for coaches to enter Legends of League year for another shot with the champion obviously progress to the Legends of League Competitions Competitions (Tier 2) and the Qualifying Leagues defending their title. where they will take on seasoned NRLCEO Coaches. (Tier 3) is $10 per team.

2015 Supporters Cup

In 2015, a new NRLCEO Competition called the Supporters Cup got underway with 16 teams battling it out in a brand new format. Each NRL team was represented by a diehard supporter and prior to the snake draft, coaches had to recruit six players from their NRL team’s squad.

With a squad size of only 14 players and a team of 13 players being selected each week, it was often frantic in the free agent pool and turnover of players was high. However, scores were very close each week and all teams battled hard for a top eight position.

Throughout the season, the Broncos led the way with the Storm, Rabbitohs, Warriors, Roosters, Eels and Dragons all pushing for the minor premiership. In the end, it was the Broncos who easily took out the minor premiership but once the 8 team finals started, it was a different story!

In two excellent grudge matches, the preliminary finals saw the Broncos meet the Eels and the Rabbitohs meet the Roosters. Both were nail-biting encounters, with the Eels and Rabbitohs upsetting their more fancied rivals to secure a place in the inaugural Grand Final.

In a one-sided affair, the Eels were crowned champions after a dominant, runaway victory. The prize for winning the 2015 Supporters Cup was a 2016 NRL Eels jersey and Coach Shaggs was ecstatic with his win!

“Being a Parramatta fan, I never thought I had the troops to win this competition. I started off with Peats, Radradra, Sandow, Watmough, Hopoate and Moeroa so there wasn’t much to get excited about. I knew I had to hit the free agent pool and be smart about who I recruited. Cheers for the Eels jersey – I’ll be back in 2016 – GO the EELS”

Nominations will be called for early this year so if you are interested in having a crack at this exciting format, follow us on Facebook!

The U nder 20’s Graduates

Another half who starts the year as a shadow player, You have to take a punt to win NRLCEO titles. When many but could very well end up as a starting half is the in your competition switch off in the last 3-4 rounds of the Panthers new recruit Te Maire Martin. Before we draft after too many beers, you can take a calculated punt compare him to former greats, let’s just say he is a on a young gun. touch footy superstar from New Zealand. Remind you of anyone? He starts behind Jamie Soward and Peter Last year we tipped big things for Jack Bird, , Wallace but based on the Panthers injuries from last Jake Mamo, Waqa Blake, Euan Aitken, Tevita Pangai, Matt year he’ll definitely see some first grade this year. Lodge and . Sure one got arrested and another never played first grade but 6/9 isn’t too bad. It’s hard to become a breakout workhorse forward in your first year in first grade, so it’s lucky that Cowboys The most obvious choice is . The young Sea backrower has already made his debut! A There is room for another front rower to step up at the Eagle played nine games of first grade last season scoring hardworking backrower with a good build is the Sea Eagles and Liam Knight could be the next guy to fill eight tries, but the crazy thing is he is still eligible for perfect replacement for or Ethan Lowe if a bench slot. He’s known to be as hard working on the another season of Under 20’s. But that will not happen! they go down injured this year. He’s an out and out first grade star now and should score field as , which is an exciting prospect. If plenty of tries outside in 2016. he can snare a bench spot from Darcy Lussick or Lastly a real punt is Cowboys flyer Gideon Moseby. At Brenton Lawrence then he will be competing for just 18 years old he has already scored 39 tries in just The next most obvious “next big thing” is a young Rooster minutes but is one to watch for the future. 25 Under 20s games. Of course no one can ever keep with plenty of wraps on him – . There are up that try scoring ratio when they get into first grade, The Broncos halves were on fire last year, so what do talks of him being the next , but keep in mind he but we have seen that many are able to step up and you do if you are a young half looking for a start? Move is behind Blake Ferguson in line for the fullback jersey and score tries on the end of the talented Cowboys on to a new club, which is just what Ashley Taylor has will need to oust Daniel Tupou or Joe Burgess for a crack in backline there’s just a fair line of talent in front to get done and the karma gods have smiled on him. The first grade. Rest assured he will see first grade this year, but a starting berth in the reigning premiers team. he’s probably not worth the preseason draft gamble. half has missed a bit of preseason but will now need to fire up his fitness fast as it’s certain that he will be starting in the halves after the unfortunate season ending injury to .

Finding a quality backup hooker is crucial in NRLCEO. So if you miss out on the hooker run and can’t get a guaranteed starter you might want to take a look at young Knights rake . He got a taste of first grade last year, but the former Under 20s captain will contest for the full time gig with Tyler Randell this year and is a very good chance to take the spot full time. He’s seen as a future leader not only for his club, but for his country of birth, New Zealand, too. He will need to lift his minutes but his work rate is good and he racks up a good amount of tackles.

Super League Scouting

After captaining Hull KR last year, 27 year old Irish Last year we highlighted Josh Hodgson to make a big toiler Tyrone McCarthy will head to the Dragons in impact if he got the minutes in Canberra and he certainly 2016. Having tasted Australian a few did that and more. He ended up being one of the buys of years ago in the , this will be his first the year but still needs more minutes to be NRLCEO real crack at the NRL. He’ll do well to make the squad relevant. We also said Sia Soliola would make some but won’t have an impact on NRLCEO this season. waves, but he outdid even our wildest expectations becoming one of the few returning from the UK to Mickey Paea, Michael Oldfield and Benjamin Garcia become a regular workhorse in the NRL. will all be honest, but I wouldn’t expect them to be NRLCEO relevant. In most cases they’re too old and This year’s crop sees 11 players coming or returning to will play out the year in NSW Cup. the NRL via Heathrow Airport and there are at least three who will be very NRLCEO relevant this year. Lastly we have to mention big Ali Lauitiiti (pictured below) who becomes the oldest man in the NRL! Once At the Roosters, Joe Burgess (pictured below) is the most upon a time he was touted the Michael Jordan of high profile signing. He’s only 21 but with 49 tries in 55 league, but in 21 appearances for Wakefield (16 off Super League appearances he is a star in the making! the bench) last year he looked a shadow of his former We’ve predicted that he will take the vacant wing positon self (with a bit of extra meat on the bones). We might in a reshuffled Roosters backline outside of Shaun Kenny- The turned the two previously see a trademark offload or two, but he will mainly be Dowall. He’s here for all the right reasons, but we have to mentioned former Super League stars into NRL stars used as a mentor for the young Kiwi forwards over at hope he is more Brian Carney than Sam Tomkins! and will be hoping for three from three with wide the . running back rower Elliott Whitehead (pictured above). He scored 11 tries in 24 games for Catalans last season as well as 18 line breaks, 937 tackles (7th in the Super League) and 328 carries, which equates to an average 42 involvements per game. A very handy try scoring workhorse, but he faces stiff competition to get the minutes next to Fensom, Papalii and Soliola.

His backrow partner in France, Zeb Taia, also returns to the NRL after three seasons in the Super League. He had a profitable return in the try scoring stakes with 11 tries in 18 games last season (the most in his team) and 36 tries in 75 games in total. The last time he was in the NRL in 2012 he scored 15 workhorses, but his returns were much less in the Super League averaging only 22 tackles per game last year. Playing in a weakened Titans squad he will need to make more tackles, but we’re not predicting much.

Metre Eaters

We have implemented a new scoring option on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is head and shoulders above Player MEs Player MEs NRLCEO for the first time this season. the rest of the field when it comes to metre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 40 Jeremy Latimore 14 eaters. His metre returns are incredible. He had It’s called the “metre eater” and it’s there to help some games where he returned over 300 metres! 25 Korbin Sims 14 boost the value of the hard working runners in So if you are going to use the new rule, then his Aaron Woods 23 James Roberts 13 the NRL. selection is a must. Ben Matulino 22 Lachlan Maranta 13 We know that different positions have varied Paul Gallen is already gold on NRLCEO but under Cameron Munster 22 Corey Oates 13 opportunities to make more runs so we have used this new scoring option he has become 25 times Dane Gagai 21 Bryson Goodwin 13 different requirements for each position. more valuable! Gal racked up 200m on a weekly basis which meant he qualified for the full double Paul Vaughan 21 13 metre eater regularly. His metre eating will make Josh Dugan 20 Junior Paulo 13 Metre Eaters: him extremely valuable. Fullbacks: 150m or more 18 Curtis Rona 12 Wingers: 150m or more Aaron Woods and Ben Matulino each scored very Sione Mata'utia 18 Aiden Tolman 12 Centres: 100m or more well based on last year’s stats as well with 23 and James Tedesco 17 Andrew Fifita 12 Five-Eighths: 100m or more 22 metre eater efforts respectively. Both will keep Halfbacks: 100m or more the same role this year and you can expect much Kade Snowden 17 James Graham 12 Front Rowers: 150m or more of the same again this year. Marika Koroibete 17 Jack Wighton 12 Hookers: 100m or more Back Rowers: 150m or more Coming in as a rookie last year Cameron Munster David Klemmer 17 12 quickly established himself in the Storm line-up at Semi Radradra 16 Josh Morris 10 Double Metre Eaters: fullback, but with returning he will go 16 All positions: 200m or more back to the centres and struggle for the same 10 metre returns. Siosiua Teukeiaho 16 James Tamou 10 When considering what the stats on the right 16 Michael Jennings 10 hand side mean, consider each metre eater to be As you creep down the rest of the list you notice a worth two points. So the new rule would have bit more of a mixture of positions but it is 15 Josh McGuire 10 been worth an extra 80 points to RTS last year! dominated by front rowers who take the kickoff 15 Sosaia Feki 10 returns and full backs and wingers who take the Anthony Milford 15 kick returns. Jake Mamo 10 Taking a look at the statistics it’s pretty easy to Boyd Cordner 15 Jack Reed 9 see who the big winners will be for this new It isn’t until you get down to 19th position that you Kevin Naiqama 15 Matthew Wright 9 scoring option: fullbacks, wingers and front see Simon Mannering, Anthony Milford and rowers. Hence why we have split the Boyd Cordner in different positions. Jake Trbojevic 15 Ava Seumanufagai 9 requirements for each position so that each Michael Gordon 14 Corey Parker 8 different type of player and position have a We’re always interested to hear what you guys chance to hit the mark with this new think about our new improvements. Is the metre Manu Vatuvei 14 Ethan Lowe 8 requirement. eater what you want? Or are there still tweaks we Sam Perrett 14 Bodene Thompson 8 need to make to perfect it?

Top Players from 2015

# Name Club GAMES TRIES GLS FG 40/20 WH TA LB LBA SB Overall Points* 1 James Tedesco Tigers 24 17 13 16 14 124 2 Semi Radradra Eels 18 24 6 25 5 138 3 James Roberts Titans 24 16 1 4 15 4 91 (93) 4 Dylan Walker Rabbitohs 21 12 2 10 2 79 5 Curtis Rona Bulldogs 23 22 6 21 7 128 6 Anthony Milford Broncos 24 11 4 2 15 13 18 107 (115) 7 Cowboys 21 3 80 4 28 4 27 103 (263) 8 Jesse Bromwich Storm 24 3 20 1 4 3 101 9 Andrew McCullough Broncos 24 4 2 23 4 3 6 127 10 Kade Snowden Knights 21 3 20 1 3 1 98 11 Bodene Thompson Warriors 21 6 18 1 6 4 108 12 Simon Mannering Warriors 24 1 26 1 2 111 13 Shaun Fensom Raiders 23 3 28 1 2 127

Points in this guide are: Tries = 4 | Workhorses = 4 | Double Workhorses = 4 | Field Goals = 1 | Try Assists = 2 | Line Breaks = 1 | Line Break Assists = 1 | Sin Bins = -4 | Send Offs = -6 (brackets includes goals) Top Players from 2015

FULLBACKS FIVE EIGHTHS BACK ROW

Player Team TR TA LB TOTAL Player Team TR TA LBA TOTAL Player Team TR WH DWH TOTAL J. Tedesco WST 17 13 16 124 A. Milford BRS 11 15 18 107 S. Fensom CBR 3 23 5 127 B. Stewart MAN 16 9 6 97 J. Maloney CRO 9 22 17 107 S. Mannering NZL 1 23 3 111 R. Tuivasa-Sheck NZL 11 12 15 92 M. Morgan NQL 11 10 7 89 B. Thompson NZL 6 18 108 G. Inglis STH 8 14 13 89 B. Austin CBR 14 7 3 89 G. Cooper NQL 9 14 107 V. Holmes CRO 16 1 13 82 G. Widdop STG 9 15 9 81 T. Harris MEL 4 16 103 P. Gallen CRO 1 16 8 103 WINGERS HALF BACKS M. Gillett BRS 3 21 102 Player Team TR TA LB TOTAL Player Team TR TA LBA TOTAL C. Parker BRS 3 18 1 97 S. Radradra PAR 24 6 25 138 J. Thurston NQL 3 28 27 103 E. Lowe NQL 3 19 1 97 C. Rona CTB 22 6 21 128 B. Hunt BRS 10 15 18 95 J. Jackson CTB 2 18 95 A. Johnston STH 17 7 19 105 L. Brooks WST 10 17 11 90 L. Lewis CRO 11 7 91 D. Tupou SYD 16 3 15 86 D. Cherry-Evans MAN 4 20 16 85 J. Papalii CBR 8 10 89 V. Holmes CRO 16 1 13 82 B. Marshall STG 3 21 18 81 W. Graham CRO 3 14 87 M. Koroibete MEL 15 17 1 78 E. Taylor PEN 1 19 84 T. Lolohea NZL 11 8 10 78 HOOKERS S. Soliola CBR 4 13 83 L. Maranta BRS 15 1 15 77 Player Team TR WH TA TOTAL A. Uate NEW 12 3 17 72 A. McCullough BRS 4 23 4 127 FRONT ROW E. Lee CBR 12 4 9 67 C. Smith MEL 1 20 10 117 Player Team TR WH DWH TOTAL M. Lichaa CTB 3 22 2 114 J. Bromwich MEL 3 18 2 101 CENTRES N. Peats PAR 4 21 3 112 K. Snowden NEW 3 20 98 Player Team TR TA LB TOTAL J. Granville NQL 10 9 7 107 A. Tolman CTB 1 19 3 96 J. Roberts GLD 16 4 15 91 A. Fifita CRO 7 15 94 D. Walker STH 12 6 11 79 KICKERS J. De Belin STG 1 18 77 J. Reed BRS 9 10 13 78 Player Team Goals Attempts % J. Graham CTB 1 13 3 76 J. Croker CBR 12 7 6 74 J. Maloney CRO 106 128 82 M. Cooper STG 2 16 74 J. Morris CTB 10 4 14 69 J. Croker CBR 94 111 84 L. Douglas GLD 16 1 73 D. Gagai NEW 7 8 12 68 J. Thurston NQL 93 119 78 A. Woods WST 1 16 70 K. Linnett NQL 10 7 7 66 G. Widdop STG 70 90 77 G. Burgess STH 1 15 70 J. Kahu BRS 9 6 12 65 M. Gordon PAR 68 88 77 B. Matulino NZL 2 13 68 S. Kata NZL 12 2 10 64 P. Richards WST 64 90 71 J. Trbojevic MAN 3 11 62 M. Jennings PAR 8 8 7 64 C. Parker BRS 66 91 72 S. Thaiday BRS 2 12 59

Top Players from 2015

TOP 10 WORKHORSES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 TRIES WHs DWHs Shaun Fensom 4 4 4 4 8 4 4 4 4 12 8 4 4 4 4 4 8 4 8 8 4 9 4 3 28 5 Simon Mannering 4 8 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 8 4 4 4 0 4 1 25 3 Paul Gallen 4 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 8 13 8 8 8 4 4 4 1 24 8 Andrew McCullough 4 4 8 8 6 8 7 4 4 4 9 9 0 4 9 6 6 4 0 4 0 4 5 4 4 23 2 Aiden Tolman 4 0 4 8 8 8 4 4 4 8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 11 4 1 22 4 Michael Lichaa 4 4 4 9 4 0 4 4 4 4 15 4 8 4 4 4 8 9 4 6 0 3 22 3 Matt Gillett 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0 4 5 4 4 14 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 21 0 Nathan Peats 0 4 4 4 13 4 15 4 8 8 4 4 8 0 4 4 11 4 6 4 21 4 8 6 21 8 14 10 10 6 12 14 6 14 10 4 6 16 12 8 14 16 6 12 0 1 20 0 Ethan Lowe 4 12 6 4 9 0 0 4 4 9 8 4 4 4 6 10 4 4 4 4 4 0 4 0 3 20 1

TOP 10 TRY SCORERS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 TRIES LB's Semi Radradra 16 5 1 5 3 12 11 9 15 11 5 2 0 6 5 10 6 11 24 25 Curtis Rona 5 10 0 12 5 0 10 5 4 5 9 8 10 5 2 0 5 0 0 10 5 4 7 22 21 Alex Johnston 3 9 5 7 2 5 5 1 5 4 2 5 5 0 2 1 5 14 4 5 7 5 0 0 17 19 James Tedesco 5 9 1 8 4 7 1 10 0 2 0 5 10 4 1 3 0 5 14 7 4 0 4 6 17 16 Pat Richards 17 16 2 15 11 11 17 0 4 1 8 10 9 4 9 4 5 15 9 11 6 19 16 17 18 Daniel Tupou 5 5 0 7 0 0 5 0 14 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 8 8 3 0 14 0 16 15 James Roberts 9 1 0 8 2 16 5 8 0 0 7 5 10 5 2 1 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 16 15 0 5 10 5 5 4 4 8 10 4 0 5 0 0 10 7 8 9 0 0 9 1 0 16 13 Lachlan Maranta 0 4 11 5 3 0 0 0 9 1 5 5 10 1 13 0 5 0 5 0 15 15 Marika Koroibete 0 1 5 5 11 1 4 5 5 0 0 6 4 11 4 10 5 0 0 0 0 15 17

Top 100 Players from 2015

Rank Name 2015 Rank Name 2015 Rank Name 2015 Rank Name 2015 1 Semi Radradra 138 26 Aiden Tolman 96 51 Gareth Widdop 81 76 70 2 Curtis Rona 128 27 Josh Jackson 95 52 Alex Glenn 81 77 Josh Morris 69 3 Shaun Fensom 127 28 Ben Hunt 95 53 81 78 Aidan Guerra 68 4 Andrew McCullough 127 29 Andrew Fifita 94 54 Dylan Walker 79 79 Nathan Friend 68 5 James Tedesco 124 30 Jake Friend 94 55 Tuimoala Lolohea 78 80 68 6 Cameron Smith 117 31 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 92 56 Tyson Frizell 78 81 Edrick Lee 67 7 Michael Lichaa 114 32 Pat Richards 91 57 Marika Koroibete 78 82 Dane Gagai 67 8 Nathan Peats 112 33 James Roberts 91 58 78 83 Frank Pritchard 67 9 Bodene Thompson 108 34 91 59 Jack Reed 78 84 Kane Linnett 66 10 James Maloney 107 35 90 60 Lachlan Maranta 77 85 65 11 Gavin Cooper 107 36 Luke Brooks 90 61 Boyd Cordner 77 86 Antonio Winterstein 64 12 Simon Mannering 107 37 Blake Austin 89 62 Jack De Belin 77 87 Ben Matulino 64 13 Jake Granville 107 38 Josh Papalii 89 63 James Graham 76 88 Solomone Kata 64 14 Anthony Milford 107 39 Michael Morgan 89 64 Blake Green 76 89 Dale Finucane 64 15 Alex Johnston 105 40 Brett Stewart 89 65 75 90 Kevin Naiqama 64 16 Johnathan Thurston 103 41 Greg Inglis 89 66 Ryan James 75 91 Michael Jennings 64 17 103 42 Josh Hodgson 88 67 75 92 Kane Elgey 63 18 Paul Gallen 103 43 Wade Graham 87 68 Jarrod Croker 74 93 Anthony Don 63 19 Matt Gillett 102 44 Daly Cherry-Evans 87 69 Mike Cooper 74 94 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 63 20 James Segeyaro 102 45 Daniel Tupou 86 70 Luke Douglas 73 95 Trent Merrin 63 21 Jesse Bromwich 101 46 Mitch Rein 86 71 Reece Robinson 72 96 Chris Sandow 61 22 Kade Snowden 98 47 84 72 Akuila Uate 72 97 Manu Vatuvei 61 23 98 48 Iosia Soliola 83 73 70 98 Will Chambers 61 24 Corey Parker 97 49 83 74 Aaron Woods 70 99 Tariq Sims 60 25 Ethan Lowe 97 50 Valentine Holmes 82 75 George Burgess 70 100 Jack Bird 60

Premiership Odds: $5.50 2 8 12 8 Premierships: Six

Broncos <2015------2012> Bye Rounds: 15 & 18

On the Hunt Andrew McCullough Squad Changes Tries: 4 Gains: James Roberts (Titans), Carlin Anderson (), After a demoralising Grand Final loss, the Caleb Timu (Mormon mission) Broncos will be relying on bounce back factor Workhorses: 23 as they head into the 2016 season with a very Try Assists: 4 strong squad and as firm favourites. I27 Line Breaks: 3 Losses: (retirement), Dale Copley (Roosters), Todd Line Break Assists: 6 Lowrie (Knights), Ashley Taylor (Titans), Mitch Garbutt (Leeds POINTS With movement in the playing personnel at a Rhinos), Matt Parcell (Sea Eagles), Mitchell Dodds (Warrington), minimum, one gets the feeling that the Jayden Nikorima (Roosters), David Stagg (retirement), Brisbane boys will be up there again this In the backs, the Broncos seem to be in the (Sharks), Daniel Vidot (Salford) season and hard to beat. This is especially so ‘consistent rather than brilliant’ category. with departure of Justin Hodges being capably None of them appear to be 18+ try filled by the electric 2015 centre of the year, candidates with Ben Hunt the most likely to James Roberts. consistently trouble the scorers from week to Best Line Up week. For the NRLCEO coach, the Broncos boast an abundance of solid recruitment options. Their The recruitment of Hunt in 2016 will be an forwards are littered with hard workers who interesting prospect for the CEO coach and have been priority ranked targets for many much will be asked of his ability to put his years. However, the likes of Parker and horror Grand Final display behind him. If he Thaiday now carry a ‘proceed with caution’ can, he forms one of the most dangerous tag as with age comes a degree of nursing scrum combinations with the electric, through the season with rests on the pine Anthony Milford. more often when games are decided. Milford was slow to find his feet in 2015 but As minutes diminish for those two, the he had his owners salivating by the way he benefits fall to the likes of Gillett and McGuire finished the season. As far as five-eighths go, who must be considered high value when he has to be up there when drafting. drafting. At hooker, Andrew McCullough Overall, the Broncos represent a team on the continues to surge towards NRLCEO immortality – his work ethic and consistency rise who, despite their focus on defence, are has made him a top priority pick but his lack of able to put points on the board. While they running out of dummy half is a concern for tend to share the pies around, their halves greedy CEO coaches who seek double love going to the edges and hitting the likes of Gillett and Alex Glenn on the fringes… workhorses.

Broncos

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Andrew McCullough HK 24 4 0 2 23 1 4 3 6 0 127 Anthony Milford FE 24 11 4 2 0 15 15 13 18 0 107 (115) Matt Gillett BR 23 3 0 0 21 8 0 4 2 0 102 Corey Parker BR, K6 21 3 57 0 19 8 2 3 2 0 97 (211)

Ben Hunt HB, K1 23 10 4 0 0 0 15 7 18 0 95 James Roberts CT 24 16 1 0 19 0 4 15 4 0 87 (89) Alex Glenn BR 22 4 0 0 12 3 4 6 3 0 81 Lachlan Maranta WG 20 15 0 0 0 13 1 15 0 0 77 Jack Reed CT 21 9 0 0 0 9 10 13 9 0 78 Jordan Kahu WG, CT, K2 19 9 19 0 0 2 6 12 5 0 65 (103) Corey Oates WG 22 12 0 0 0 13 0 10 0 0 58

Sam Thaiday BR, FR 20 2 0 0 12 10 0 2 1 0 59 Josh McGuire FR 13 2 0 0 11 10 0 2 0 0 54 FR 20 1 0 0 8 1 1 1 5 0 44 Darius Boyd FB 15 2 0 0 0 12 7 5 9 0 36 Jarrod Wallace FR 22 3 0 0 3 0 0 3 1 0 28 FB, HK 17 1 0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 11 Joe Ofahengaue FR 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Francis Molo FR 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Herman Ese'ese FR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 James Gavet FR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Joe Boyce BR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Anthony Cherrington BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Greg Eden FB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Carlin Anderson FB, WG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

If James Roberts can score for the Titans, he certainly will here Word on the street is that Jack Reed’s position in the starting team is at his new home. There have been talks of him shadowing the great not so secure and with plenty of depth, he’ll have to avoid injuries and Steve Renouf but he’s got a long way to become the Pearl. Get in quick! form slumps if he is to feature constantly in this Broncos backline.

NOT! HOT!

Premiership Odds: $13 5 7 6 1 Premierships: Eight

Bulldogs < 2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 15 & 19

Bought or Bred? Curtis Rona Squad Changes Tries: 22 The Bulldogs will be a force again in 2016 Workhorses: 0 but much will depend on how Moses Mbye Gains: Will Hopoate (Eels), Bradley Abbey (Warriors), Try Assists: 6 steps up in place of Trent Hodkinson who Kerrod Holland (Knights) Line Breaks: 21 has gone to the Knights. He’ll have the I28 Line Break Assists: 7 added burden of the kicking boots and on POINTS Losses: Trent Hodkinson (Knights), Tim Lafai (Dragons), Frank Pritchard (Hull FC), Corey Thompson (Widnes Vikings), last season’s performances, he’s got plenty of practice to do in the off season! Damien Cook (Rabbitohs) Hooker Michael Lichaa also looks to be an

As has become the norm, the Bulldogs will excellent draft candidate with no obvious back-up on the bench. If he becomes one of rely on their huge pack to go forward with ease and create time and space for their the last 80 minute hookers, he will be great Best Line-Up fast men out wide. value and proved in 2015 to be just that. Another 100 NRLCEO points season is well Contrary to their ‘bred not bought’ within his reach. approach of the 80s and 90s, the Bulldogs have opened the cheque book and in comes In the backs, the Morris Brothers headline the Will Hopoate at the expense of Tim Lafai. act but are well supported by Curtis Rona on Most fans however would consider this the left wing who finishes everything. A change a massive downgrade with surprise packet last season, Rona won’t fly Hopoate’s form at the Eels erratic since his under the radar this season and the Bulldogs return to rugby league. just love going left to that side of the field.

Doggies’ fans will be hoping that the Coach Overall, the Bulldogs represent a quality Hasler will have the same effect on Hoppa outfit and the reduced interchange should that he did at the Sea Eagles, which thrust really suit the high impact style of Klemmer, the young star into the SOO spotlight in his T-Bag and Kasiano, while Graham and Tolman debut season. do the hard work.

For the NRLCEO Coach, the Bulldogs pack Josh Reynolds will also have to rein his idiocy led by James Graham and Aiden Tolman is in and stay on the park more often than not. where it’s at. Together with Josh Jackson, When he is focused on his game, he is a the threesome should play huge minutes, sneaky draft option for a non-kicking five especially with the changed interchange eighth, but reality says ‘grub’ is in his DNA… restrictions. Bulldogs

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Curtis Rona WG 23 22 0 0 0 12 6 21 7 0 128 Michael Lichaa HK 21 3 0 0 22 0 2 3 7 0 114 Aiden Tolman FR 19 1 0 0 22 12 1 1 1 0 96 Josh Jackson BR 21 2 0 0 18 8 4 4 3 0 95

James Graham FR 16 1 0 0 16 12 2 1 3 0 76 Josh Morris CT 20 10 0 0 0 10 4 14 7 0 69 Sam Perrett WG 24 10 0 0 0 14 4 8 4 0 60 FB 14 8 0 0 0 5 2 13 2 0 51 Moses Mbye FE, K6 21 3 14 3 0 0 10 6 8 0 49 (76) David Klemmer FR 19 1 0 0 7 17 0 2 0 1 32 Josh Reynolds FE 15 3 0 2 0 0 8 3 7 1 38

Shaun Lane BR 12 4 0 0 1 0 2 2 4 0 30 Tim Browne FR 22 2 3 0 3 0 2 2 2 0 28 (34) CT 19 3 0 0 0 0 3 4 5 0 27 Sam Kasiano FR 22 2 0 0 0 0 4 2 8 0 26 Chase Stanley CT, K1 6 2 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 0 16 BR 22 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 15 Tony Williams BR 11 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 7

Lloyd Perrett FR 14 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Antonio Kaufusi FR 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Craig Garvey HK 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Danny Fualalo BR 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tyrone Phillips WG 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Patrick O'Hanlon BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Adam Elliott BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Michael Lichaa is set to play 80 minutes every week with Damien Cook Tony Williams (T-Rex/T-Bag) looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane… going to the Bunnies. He’ll be better for the run this year and should Has never been a good NRLCEO player and never will! crack the magical 100 NRLCEO point mark again.

NOT! HOT!

Premiership Odds: $15 3 5 6 5 Premierships: One Cowboys < 2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 15 & 19

Back to Back Baby Gavin Cooper Squad Changes Tries: 9 Gains: Shaun Hudson (Gold Coast Titans), Jahrome Hughes Winners are grinners and despite the Workhorses: 14 () dreaded defending champion curse, there is Try Assists: 3 no real reason why the boys from the north Line Breaks: 8 Losses: (Panthers), Cameron King (Eels), Glenn Hall can’t give the title a good shake and defend I07 Line Break Assists: 1 their title in 2016. POINTS (retirement), Robert Lui (Salford Red Devils), Kelepi Tanginoa (Eels), Scott Schulte (Eels)

Like the Broncos, the Cowboys’ squad remains relatively the same. The backs and For a successful title defence, the go to cliché forwards both exhibit various levels of value predictor of success revolves around JT. Age but once again, the scoring of the tries shall not weary him…..or will it? As JT sets his tends to be well shared. sights on a World Club Challenge, Origin Best Line-Up Series and everything else related to the On the wing, Kyle Feldt looks to have Cowboys, surely more rest will be required in cemented the right wing position and if Ash the back end of the season…? Graham can score copious tries on that side, the world is Feldt’s oyster in 2016 to do Unlike the bad old days though, the Cowboys plenty of the same! are not solely relying of JT anymore. Michael Morgan’s rise to stardom is inevitable and has Up front, the Cowboys share the workload fans very optimistic about the post JT days. around with Matt Scott given rests Morgan has to be a quality draft option in a whenever the team is in a good position. competition where try scoring 5/8’s are few James Tamou regained his form late last and far between. season and his numbers were impressive. and Scott Bolton round out a At the back, Lachlan Coote has found a home solid front row rotation but look for some and the likes of Winterstein, Linnett and young blood to be injected off the bench. O’Neill can all score tries in braces depending on which way JT feels like going on the day. For the NRLCEO coach, the fringe forwards are where the interest lies. Ethan Lowe and Overall, the Cowboys are remarkably similar Gavin Cooper are key men in both defence to the Broncos when it comes to NRLCEO and attack and their numbers tend to be draft value. Again, it’s the spine that will complimented with a handy number of tries determine the success of the Cows. and line breaks.

Cowboys

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Johnathan Thurston HB, K9 21 3 80 4 0 0 28 4 27 0 103 (263) Gavin Cooper BR 23 9 0 0 14 6 3 8 1 0 107

Jake Granville HK 24 10 0 0 9 1 7 10 7 0 107 Ethan Lowe BR, K1 24 3 8 0 20 8 0 4 1 0 97 (105) Michael Morgan FE 19 11 0 0 0 4 10 18 7 0 89 Lachlan Coote FB 22 6 0 1 0 6 14 10 12 0 75 Kane Linnett CT 24 10 0 0 0 7 7 7 5 0 66 Antonio Winterstein WG 22 14 0 0 0 5 0 8 0 0 64 James Tamou FR 20 1 0 0 13 10 0 2 1 0 59

Matthew Scott FR 21 3 0 0 11 7 0 2 0 0 58 Justin O'Neill CT 22 9 0 0 0 1 2 12 1 0 53 Matthew Wright WG 17 9 0 0 0 9 1 6 2 0 46 Ben Hannant FR 24 0 0 0 9 6 0 0 0 0 36 Kyle Feldt WG, K1 5 6 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 27 (29) Jason Taumalolo BR 22 2 0 0 4 13 0 3 0 0 27 Scott Bolton FR 16 1 0 0 3 1 0 2 0 0 18

Ben Spina BR 5 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 12 John Asiata BR 21 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 14 Rory Kostjasyn HK 20 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 6 0 17 Tautau Moga CT 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 4 0 11 Ray Thompson HB, HK 8 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 10 Coen Hess BR 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 7 Sam Hoare FR 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4

Patrick Kaufusi FR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Javid Bowen WG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Johnathan Thurston (aka God) does it all and will keep on doing it! Matt Scott is one of the best in the game but he’ll be rested as much as Will top the try assist tally for the fourth year in a row and kick plenty possible. I’m not saying don’t draft him, but don’t draft him for his of goals to top it off! workhorses… A later round pick up this year.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $34 8 11 14 9 Premierships: One

Dragons <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 13 & 18

Boring, Boring... Mitch Rein Squad Changes Tries: 6 Gains: Kurt Mann (Storm), Tim Lafai (Bulldogs), Siliva Havili

They’ve been linked to every big name on Workhorses: 11 (Warriors), Mose Masoe (St Helens), Dunamis Lui (Sea Eagles), the free agent list and have signed… Try Assists: 4 Tyrone McCarthy (Hull KR), Sebastine Ikahihifo (Warriors), Kalifa no one of importance. 86 Line Breaks: 6 Faifai Loa (Titans), Josh McCrone (Raiders), Taane Milne (Roosters) Line Break Assists: 4 That’s an NRLCEO coaches perspective as POINTS the signings of Masoe, Lui, McCrone and Fai Losses: Trent Merrin (Panthers), Dan Hunt (retirement), Fai Loa don’t exactly get the juices flowing. Charly Runciman (Widnes Vikings), Nathan Green (Sea Eagles), Rory O'Brien (Eels), Eto Nabuli (rugby union), Justin Hunt (Tigers) With Merrin gone, one wonders if the JDB is the opposite and he makes it to 40 on

Dragons have any flair left in their tired the back of an epic work ethic and minimal looking squad. minutes each week. With Merrin gone, the The Dragons started the season well in 2015 man with the worst haircut in the NRL (that’s Best Line-up but they wilted once their defence started a big call) may be the main beneficiary. to leak and their attack exposed as being In the backs, if you got a point for every time one dimensional. It would seem that too Josh Dugan stayed down, you’d be much responsibility is placed onto Widdop’s unbeatable in NRLCEO. His neck injury is a shoulders with Benji’s passing game major concern as is the strike power of inconsistent at best. Nightingale, Aitken and whoever else they The forward pack is full of toilers with throw the ball to out wide in this team. minimal creativity. Hence why fans were As far as kicker value goes, you could do calling for the signing of Robbie Farah… worse than Widdop but seriously, there are If the back end of 2015 is anything to go by much better options unless you are in a deep

(and we think is will be), the Dragons seem league or an avid Red V fan! destined for a long, tough season. Their Finally, it would not be fair to write the backs are injury prone and their forwards Dragon’s squad off completely. After all, are simply boring. Tyson Frizell was pretty damn good in 2015 For the NRLCEO Coach, Mike Cooper is the and while his early form most of the year was newly crowned flop king who races to 40 Origin worthy, his final few weeks were Greg without a grass stain on his jersey. Bird like – play 80 minutes and make 18 tackles….

Dragons

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Mitch Rein HK 23 6 0 0 11 2 4 6 4 0 86 Gareth Widdop FE, K6 23 9 70 0 0 0 15 6 9 0 81 (221)

Benji Marshall HB, K1 22 3 0 5 0 0 21 4 18 0 81 Tyson Frizell BR 20 4 0 0 14 0 1 4 0 0 78 Jack De Belin BR, FR 21 1 0 0 18 3 0 0 1 0 77 Mike Cooper BR, FR 23 2 0 0 16 1 0 2 0 0 74 Peter Mata'utia CT 20 8 0 0 0 1 6 5 8 0 57 Joel Thompson BR 18 3 0 0 8 0 1 3 1 0 50 Euan Aitken CT 22 6 0 0 3 4 2 8 1 0 49

Josh Dugan FB, CT, K1 21 7 4 0 0 20 2 11 2 1 43 (51) Tim Lafai CT 18 4 1 0 0 0 4 3 3 0 30 (32) Leeson Ah Mau FR 24 0 0 0 7 2 0 1 0 0 29 WG 17 5 0 0 0 5 0 4 1 0 25 Kalifa Faifai-Loa WG 7 5 0 0 0 3 0 4 1 0 25 Kurt Mann FB, CT 18 3 0 0 0 6 3 4 3 0 25 Ben Creagh FR 20 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 24

Will Matthews FR 13 2 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 21 Dunamis Lui BR 17 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 20 Sebastine Ikahihfo BR 9 1 0 0 0 3 1 1 2 0 9 Jake Marketo BR 17 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 Dylan Farrell CT 14 0 0 0 0 4 1 1 1 0 4 Siliva Havili HK 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 Drew Hutchison FE 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2

Adam Quinlan FB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Josh McCrone HB 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

With no Trent Merrin, expect Jack DeBelin to thrive. He only missed a Last year we described him as “hot”. He was not. Josh Dugan seems workhorse in three games last season on his way to 18 workhorses in to be more focused on everything other than scoring tries. Playing at total. Expect much the same consistency again. centre means more tackling which means more injuries…

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $21 12 10 16 16 Premierships: Four

Eels <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 13 & 16

In Foran We Trust Semi Radradra Squad Changes Gains: (Sea Eagles), Michael Jennings (Roosters), Unlike the Dragons, the Eels have been Tries: 24 actively trying to sort out their ordinary Workhorses: 0 Michael Gordon (Sharks), (Knights), James Hasson (Sea squad and have hit the free agent market Try Assists: 6 Eagles), Cameron King (Cowboys), Mitch Cornish (Raiders), with gusto. I38 Line Breaks: 25 Kelepi Tanginoa (Cowboys), Clinton Gutherson (Sea Eagles) Line Break Assists: 5 POINTS New half Kieran Foran is the big signing and Losses: Darcy Lussick (Sea Eagles), Ryan Matterson (Roosters), Ben he’ll be in the headlights as the club look to Crooks (Castleford), Zach Dockar-Clay (Panthers), Chris Sandow move on from their halfback woes of the For the NRLCEO coach, the forwards really are (Warrington), Beau Champion (retirement), Reece Robinson (rugby) past. Foran’s tight hamstrings have to be a a flip of the coin. Manu Ma’u was awesome concern and if the Eels are to feature in the last season but there’s no guarantee of more top eight this season, he’ll have to play of the same in 2016. Tim Mannah also started Best Line-up close to 22 games – fully fit. to put together some nice numbers at the back end of the season and he mystified In the backs, Michael Gordon will provide a plenty with his ability to get past 39! calming influence and some consistency at the back but he’s no . On his In the backs, there are a couple of question day Michael Jennings can be though and it’s marks over job security. Clint Gutherson joins a major coup for the western Sydney side. from Manly and will slot in somewhere on the He and Gutherson are quick! right side of the field.

The other ‘major signing’ is a dead set Nathan Peats is the obvious draft target with mystery in Beau Scott. Seriously, the bloke his running ability always making him a is injury prone, ordinary looking, boring and Double Workhorse chance but when he gets simply past it. Surely, the Eels could have injured they are generally serious which stuck with Moeroa and Ma’u on the fringes makes relying on him as a first choice hooker and hoped like hell that Watmough gets out a tough ask. of his funk…? Overall, like previous years, the Eels players It’s more of the same on the left wing could be good but reality suggests there’s however, with big Semi Radradra simply better out there. Depending on your unstoppable if given a sniff of the try line. competition, Semi is a round one pick and Seriously, if he can score 20+ in a bad probably the first back drafted in most Parramatta team, how many could he score comps…. in a good one!!!

Eels

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Semi Radradra WG 18 24 0 0 0 16 6 25 5 0 138 Nathan Peats HK 19 4 0 0 21 0 3 3 3 0 112 Manu Ma'u BR 22 5 0 0 11 3 1 4 3 0 73 Michael Jennings CT 21 8 0 0 0 10 8 7 9 0 64

Brad Takairangi CT 17 4 0 0 0 0 11 5 11 0 54 Tim Mannah FR 23 2 0 0 10 0 0 2 1 0 51 Kieran Foran FE 18 4 4 0 0 2 11 4 7 0 49 (57) Corey Norman FE, K1 22 3 0 0 0 1 8 7 12 0 47 Anthony Watmough BR 17 1 0 0 8 0 1 1 1 0 40 Tepai Moeroa BR 19 1 0 0 8 0 0 1 0 0 37 Michael Gordon FB, K6 23 4 68 0 0 14 4 6 3 0 33 (101)

Bureta Faraimo WG 11 6 0 0 0 3 0 6 0 0 30 Danny Wicks FR 16 1 0 0 6 8 0 1 1 0 30 David Gower BR 21 1 0 0 5 0 2 1 1 0 30 Ryan Morgan WG, CT 19 5 0 0 0 0 2 5 1 0 30 Beau Scott BR 18 2 0 0 4 0 0 2 2 0 28 Isaac De Gois HK 17 1 0 0 4 0 2 1 2 0 27 John Folau WG 7 4 0 0 0 2 1 4 1 0 23

Junior Paulo FR 15 2 0 0 2 13 1 2 2 0 22 Mitch Cornish HB 7 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 5 0 19 Luke Kelly HB 12 1 14 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 12 (40) Daniel Alvaro FR 7 2 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 10 Cody Nelson BR 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 5 James Hasson FR 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Clinton Gutherson WG, CT 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Nathan Peats is a gun and surely he is due to put a full season together? This is a bold call but surely Semi Radradra can’t keep scoring tries. His ability to knock up a double workhorse and try combo when fit is too He’ll slow down this year but we’ll change our minds if Michael Jennings good to refuse. signs for the Eels in the coming weeks…

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $51 16 12 7 12 Premierships: Two Knights < 2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 15 & 18

Oh Dear... Kade Snowden Squad Changes Tries: 3 Gains: Ins: Trent Hodkinson (Bulldogs), Mickey Paea (Hull FC), Will How do you win the first five games of the Workhorses: 20 Pearsall (Sea Eagles), David Bhana (Warriors) season and then find yourself in an epic Try Assists: 1 spoon battle just months later? Well, the 98 Line Breaks: 3 Losses: Kurt Gidley (Warrington Wolves), Beau Scott (Eels), Knights have just been there and they aren’t Line Break Assists: 1 POINTS Clint Newton (retirement), David Fa'alogo (retirement), Carlos looking back. Gone are a plethora of ‘stars’ Tuimavave (Hull FC), Tyrone Roberts (Titans), Adam Clydsdale and in comes the man who will ‘apparently’ (Raiders), Kerrod Holland (Bulldogs), Todd Lowrie (retirement) get them a title within three years. Nathan The rest of the pack cannot possibly be Brown – the job is yours and it’s scary!! considered as high priority picks unless you The major positive for the Knights is that are willing to take a punt. The Sims brothers Best Line-up pretenders, Kurt Gidley and Beau Scott are tend to be hit and miss and I wonder how gone but the negatives outweigh that and Tariq would have felt seeing his ex-team the Knights squad looks nothing short of mates bring home the bacon as soon as he disgusting. Putting $20 on a Knight’s spoon left. In terms of the pack, it’s hard to see guys is probably a good bet at this stage, despite like Tapine and Mataora fitting into an the Titans looking like lay down miseres. NRLCEO team and it seems that the inexperienced Danny Levi or Tyler Randell will For Knight’s fans, when you sign the current be #1 hooker come round one – relatively Origin halfback, you seemingly have plenty unknown and untested. to look forward to. Unfortunately, Trent Hodkinson is hardly a player to get excited In the backs, one got the feeling that Akuila about and he won’t be very effective behind Uate’s NRL days were numbered but a new a no name forward pack who struggle to coach might just be the tonic that the Fijian dominate a cheese burger let alone an Flyer needs to reinvent his try scoring prowess. Mata’utai, Gagai and Mamo all aggressive NRL opposition pack. have claims to be quality mid-low level picks. For the NRLCEOs, there are the odd draft targets amongst the litter. Kade Snowden’s Overall, if the Knights can remain injury free, numbers were impressive in 2015 as he was then they just might surprise a few people the go to man in the middle of the ruck in (namely me). Realistically though, Mullen will the absence of quality around him. With the not last long and the Knight’s chances of a top decrease in interchange his workrate will eight spot will be sitting on the pine alongside only be on the up. him….

Knights

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Kade Snowden FR 21 3 0 0 20 17 1 3 1 0 98 Akuila Uate WG 22 12 0 0 0 18 3 17 1 0 72

Dane Gagai CT 24 7 2 0 0 21 8 12 11 0 67 Tariq Sims BR 19 4 0 0 9 0 2 2 2 0 60 Trent Hodkinson HB, K6 19 1 47 1 0 0 12 4 10 0 43 (137) Korbin Sims FR 22 2 0 0 5 14 1 3 1 0 34 Jeremy Smith BR 17 2 0 0 5 0 2 1 1 0 34 James McManus WG 17 5 0 0 0 1 2 6 0 0 30 Tyler Randell HK 20 4 2 0 2 0 0 4 1 0 29

Jake Mamo FB, WG 9 4 0 0 0 10 2 2 1 0 23 Jarrod Mullen FE 10 1 0 0 0 0 6 2 8 0 26 Sione Mata'utia CT 22 3 0 0 0 18 1 2 1 0 17 Daniel Levi HK 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 14 Jack Stockwell FR 12 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 12 BR 13 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 11 Robbie Rochow BR 5 1 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 0 12

Nathan Ross WG 6 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 9 Paterika Vaivai FR 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3 Chanel Mata'utia WG 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Pat Mata'utia CT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 David Bhana BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jaelen Feeney FB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 James Elias CT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lachlan Fitzgibbon BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Marvin Filipo BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jake Mamo is ready to have a full time crack at the NRL and he has Can the whole Knights pack man up when it counts or will they speed to burn! He’d score more tries on the wing, but he’s dangerous succumb to their more fancied rivals? The latter is more likely… from anywhere on the pitch.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $17 11 4 10 15 Premierships: Two Panthers <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 15

Call the Medic! James Segeyaro Squad Changes Tries: 6 Gains: Trent Merrin (Dragons), Peter Hiku (Sea Eagles), Zach Dockar- The key to the Panther’s season is their Workhorses: 14 Clay (Eels), Ben Garcia (Catalans), Andrew Heffernan (Raiders), Viliame ability to maintain a healthy roster after Try Assists: 2 Kikau (Cowboys), Te Maire Martin (Tigers), Suaia Matagi (Roosters) 2015 where the injury ward resembled the Line Breaks: 4 I02 start of “Saving Private Ryan”. Line Break Assists: 9 POINTS Losses: Lewis Brown (Sea Eagles), (retirement), Apisai In a bid to halt the carnage, the Panthers Koroisau (Sea Eagles), Nigel Plum (retirement), Sika Manu (Hull), pulled off a coup when they lured a big David Simmons, Adam Docker (retirement), Jamal Idris (released) name to the foot of the mountains in the With Elastoplast becoming a new sponsor, resilient, Trent Merrin. Along with Panthers coaching staff will be praying that Cartwright and Peachey, the Panthers are James Segeyaro gets a clean bill of health in Best Line-up not hard up for creativity in the backrow 2016. He is the lynchpin to their attack. and Merrin certainly adds a touch of class. NRLCEO wise, the mountain men have The Panther halves will be a source of genuine talent in the pack with Elijah Taylor deliberation all season with Soward and and Merrin the workers. The rest chip in for a Wallace involved in a pressure cooker workhorse every couple of rounds but tend to situation. Whilst they deserve a crack with be rotated more often through the bench. an injury free team, the two veterans will be The backs could be where it is at in 2016 for looking over their shoulder with a number the NRLCEO coach. DWZ, Whare and of young guns ready to step up to the plate. Mansour are all hard to stop if the Panthers New recruit Te Maire Martin has many click and they love getting it wide to the singing his praises while the speed of Will fringes. 18+ tries is not out of the question Smith has to be tempting. for these guys if Seggy stays on the park. The Panthers backs look fast and it will be There are definitely some questions that need interesting to see where Matt Moylan ends to be answered before Round 1. New coach up – fullback or five-eighth? The late Anthony Griffin is not a renowned attacking signing of Peter Hiku suggests that Moylan coach so it seems sensible to assume that the could find himself in the #6 jersey before Panthers will be focussing on defence first the season concludes with any number of and foremost this season. This could youngsters able to fill the vacant left centre. influence who gets picked in the key positions of 1, 6 and 7.

Panthers

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL James Segeyaro HK 18 6 0 0 14 2 4 9 5 0 102 Elijah Taylor BR 20 1 0 0 19 0 0 4 0 0 84

Trent Merrin BR 19 1 0 0 14 0 0 3 0 0 63 BR 22 5 0 0 6 5 2 6 2 0 56 Tyrone Peachey BR 22 5 0 0 5 0 2 6 3 0 53 Matthew Moylan FB, K1 11 2 20 2 0 7 11 5 11 0 48 (88) Jeremy Latimore FR 24 0 0 0 11 14 0 0 2 0 46 CT 13 6 0 0 0 0 5 6 5 0 45 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak FB, WG 16 7 0 0 0 4 3 8 1 0 43

Josh Mansour WG 12 6 0 0 0 7 1 7 0 0 33 Peter Wallace HB 13 2 2 2 0 0 6 1 10 0 33 Waqa Blake CT 18 5 0 0 0 0 1 7 1 0 30 Will Smith FB 9 2 4 0 0 0 6 5 4 0 29 Isaah Yeo CT, BR 21 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 4 2 24 Jamie Soward FE, K6 16 0 22 0 0 0 7 1 8 0 23 (67) Jamal Idris CT 6 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 22

Reagan Campbell-Gillard FR 24 1 0 0 2 3 0 3 0 0 15 George Jennings WG 5 2 0+ \ 0 0 6 0 2 0 0 10 Sam McKendry FR 24 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 1 0 9 Robert Jennings CT 5 1 0 \ 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 Suaia Matagi FR 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 4 Leilani Latu FR 6 0 0 8 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 1 Te Maire Martin FE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Benjamin Garcia WG 18* 7* ]][|/80 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 28*

James Segeyaro has put a disappointing 2015 behind him and is ready to Peter Wallace’s time is up and expect young gun Te Maire Martin to fire! Another quality exponent of the try and workhorse double. Expect take his or Jamie Soward’s position by mid-season... him to run plenty this year!

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $11 7 3 2 3 Premierships: 21 Rabbitohs < 2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 18

Rusty to Crowe Again? Alex Johnston Squad Changes Tries: 17 Gains: Michael Oldfield (Catalans Dragons), Damien Cook The prodigal son has returned and with him Workhorses: 0 have the hopes of toothless Bunnies fans all (Bulldogs), Sam Burgess (English rugby union) Try Assists: 7 over the world. Quite simply, Sam Burgess Line Breaks: 19 carried this team to a breakthrough I05 Losses: Issac Luke (Warriors), Dylan Walker (Sea Eagles), Line Break Assists: 4 premiership in 2014 and he’ll need to pick up POINTS Chris McQueen (Titans), Tim Grant, (Tigers), where he left off if they are to revitalise their Ben Lowe (retirement), (Catalans Dragons) title expectations this season. United again, expect the three Burgess boys to dominate In the backs, it’s no secret that the Rabbitohs the middle of the ruck while Mama Burgess rely heavily on their halves and GI. If fit, the and Rusty Crowe feature off the field. Rabbitohs will trouble most teams in the competition with their pure size. Best Line-up Throughout 2015, the Rabbitohs looked tired and while Coach McGuire would have For the NRLCEO coach, the Rabbitohs learned plenty watching his team’s title represent value and you generally know what defence disintegrate, one gets the feeling you are going to get with them. If Alex that everything is not all rosy at Redfern. Johnston finds his home back on the left edge, expect plenty of tries. For some Even with Surgess returning, the ‘Pride of the reason, he looks like a fish out of water on League’ will have many questions the right side of the field but still manages to surrounding their credentials. The loss of sniff out a try or two every second game. Isaac Luke is huge and should not be underestimated while key men Adam There’s also the dilemma of who fills the right Reynolds and Greg Inglis seem to have centre position with Dylan Walker being played under constant injury concerns ever moved on. Bryson Goodwin or Hymel Hunt since their triumphant Grand Final. could be the men to fill Walker’s shoes but neither are exciting draft prospects. Coach McGuire moved quickly to soften the blow of losing Luke and the signing of the Overall, Sam Burgess is a top priority draft livewire Damien Cook could be genius. He pick. George can be great but failed to deliver will play a similar style to his predecessor but last season. If you are looking for quality, is likely to share his minutes with either Adam Reynolds’ form and goal kicking should McInnes or Carter. be back to its best as the post premiership hangover wears off.

Rabbitohs

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Alex Johnston WG 24 17 0 0 0 4 7 19 4 0 105 Greg Inglis FB 19 8 0 0 0 8 14 13 16 0 89

George Burgess FR 24 1 0 0 15 8 1 3 1 0 70 Luke Keary FE 23 4 0 0 0 1 8 6 11 0 49 Aaron Gray WG 12 7 0 0 0 4 1 11 0 0 41 Thomas Burgess FR 24 2 0 0 7 0 0 3 1 0 40 John Sutton BR 17 2 0 0 2 4 7 3 6 0 39 Bryson Goodwin CT, K1 24 6 2 0 0 13 3 3 3 0 36 (40) Damien Cook HK 3 3 0 0 4 0 1 3 0 0 33

Adam Reynolds HB, K8 17 1 51 2 1 0 9 1 3 0 32 (134) Chris Grevsmuhl BR 21 5 0 0 1 1 0 6 0 0 30 Cameron McInnes HK 12 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 1 0 19 David Tyrrell FR 23 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 17 Jason Clark FR 17 2 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 14 Kyle Turner BR 5 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 Nathan Brown FR 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3

Sam Burgess BR 21** 4** 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20** Michael Oldfield WG 12* 5* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20* Paul Carter BR 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Kirisome Auva'a CT 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cody Walker FE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nathaniel Neale BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sam Manuleleua WG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hymel Hunt CT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Back with a vengeance – Sam Burgess will carve up again! During his Alex Johnson on the right wing simply does not work. Put him back on last two years Surgess racked up 46 workhorses (seven of those double the left Madge. workhorses). You don’t lose that in a year in rugby.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $26 10 15 13 6 Premierships: Three

Raiders <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 15 & 19

Success or Centrelink? Shaun Fensom Squad Changes Tries: 3 Gains: Aidan Sezer (Titans), Elliott Whitehead (Catalan Dragons), Ricky has run out of excuses and this has to Workhorses: 28 Adam Clydsdale (Knights), Jeff Lima (Wigan Warriors) be it for his NRL career – fail to make the Try Assists: 0 finals and it’s off to Centrelink he goes. The Line Breaks: 1 Losses: (Titans), Andrew Heffernan (Panthers), squad that he has assembled appears to I27 Line Break Assists: 2 Mark Nicholls (Storm), Joel Edwards (Tigers), Mitch Cornish (Eels), have quality across the park and surely they POINTS Josh McCrone (Dragons), Jeremy Hawkins (Storm) have enough depth to make a tilt at the title. But first, they need to get over a If anyone has any inside info, please email serious bout of stage fright at home. [email protected] – preferably before draft weekend! Aiden Sezer is the big name signing in the halves but his inability to stay on the field is Best Line-up Putting Papalii into the front row rotation concerning. Sam Williams is a handy depth with Elliot Whitehead on the right edge is the man though and over shadowed Blake obvious choice but with his butt on the line, Austin in the second half of 2015. Ricky will probably pull out some random shit on game day to keep everyone guessing In the forwards, the front row stocks appear to be limited at first glance with Papalii (thank you rolling lock out). unlikely to go back into the middle after an In the backs, it is hard to go past Jarrod impressive season on the edge. That means Croker as a kicking option, especially if you that much of the hard stuff up the middle are deep in non-kicking halves. CEO coaches will be left to Paul Vaughan who we tipped will like the look of Croker as his kicking is to be better than he was last season in complimented by his uncanny ability to cross terms of workhorse output. the strip, even when the Raiders are going Shaun Fensom is the true worker in the poorly. team but even he has come under fire by The rest of the backs (Sisa Waqa, Edrick Lee green critics for his ‘one dimensional play’ and BJ Leilua) all share the tries (although and poor off load accuracy. If the Raiders there’s not many to share when they play at fail to fire early in the season and Ricky home) and fullback Jack Wighton seems to be starts to believe the fan forums, Fensom’s - more of a Darius Boyd type player rather than minutes may be wound back in favour of a try scoring supremo. some fresh legs.

Raiders

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Shaun Fensom BR 23 3 0 0 28 6 0 1 2 0 127 Blake Austin FE 23 14 0 0 0 0 7 16 3 0 89

Josh Papalii BR 24 8 0 0 10 0 2 6 7 0 89 Josh Hodgson HK 24 2 0 3 9 1 13 4 11 0 88 Iosia Soliola BR 19 4 0 0 13 3 3 4 5 0 83 Jarrod Croker CT, K8 24 12 94 0 0 1 7 6 6 0 74 (262) Edrick Lee WG 23 12 0 0 0 4 4 9 2 0 67 Paul Vaughan FR 24 4 0 0 8 21 1 4 1 0 55 Jarrad Kennedy BR 23 4 0 0 8 1 0 6 1 0 55

Jack Wighton FB 21 7 0 0 0 12 6 11 6 1 55 Sam Williams HB 16 3 0 2 0 1 13 4 7 0 51 Aidan Sezer FE, K2 18 3 51 2 0 0 10 3 13 0 50 (152) Joseph Leilua CT 19 6 0 0 0 8 6 7 7 0 50 Sisa Waqa WG 21 6 0 0 0 3 6 7 7 1 48 WG 19 7 0 0 0 1 3 10 3 0 47 Shannon Boyd FR 20 5 0 0 4 7 0 5 0 0 41

Adam Clydsdale HK 17 2 0 0 3 0 2 3 4 0 31 Kurt Baptiste HK 18 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 0 18 Brenko Lee CT 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 Frank-Paul Nuuausala BR, FR 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 Elliot Whitehead BR 23* 9* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36* Jeff Lima FR 14* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Luke Bateman BR 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tevita Pangai Junior BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mitchell Barnett BR 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

He can’t tackle or pass but he sure can score tries. He makes the “hot” BJ Leilua looks like he’s been working hard in the off-season but where position for the second year in a row. Raider’s Captain Jarrod Croker does he fit into this Raiders team? has to be a certain draft this season.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $6.50 1 1 1 13 Premierships: Thirteen Roosters <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 16

Plucking Feathers Jake Friend Squad Changes Tries: 2 Gains: Joe Burgess (Wigan Warriors), Dale Copley (Broncos), Three minor premierships in a row for zero Workhorses: 16 Ian Henderson (Catalan Dragons), Ryan Matterson (Eels), Jayden titles has to hurt the latte sippers but once Try Assists: 6 Nikorima (Broncos), Paki Afu (Mormon mission) again they’ll be right in contention in season Line Breaks: 2 2016. 94 Line Break Assists: 7 POINTS Losses: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors), Michael Jennings Things might not be all peaches and cream (Roosters), James Maloney (Sharks), Nene Macdonald (Titans), though with the best fullback in the game, Nathan Stapleton (London Broncos), Scott Drinkwater (Storm), RTS heading across the Tasman and James - going to go well. They score lots of tries Suaia Matagi (Panthers) Maloney to the Shire. Both were in through SKD, Copley, Ferguson and Tupou outstanding form last season and will be and they gang tackle in the middle which is sorely missed. good for workhorses. Best Line-up

Young gun, Jackson Hastings takes over the Normally, James Maloney would be one of pivot role, a position we know he can play the first kickers picked, so it will be well, while the new owner of the custodian interesting to see how punters rate the role is a complete mystery at this stage. talents of Hastings with the boot. He could Ferguson, Mitchell, SKD and Slaimankhel are represent great value or be an early all names that have been tossed up but only termination…. Coach Robinson knows the answer. Whoever gets the gig, they have huge boots At the end of the day, the Roosters fortunes to fill if they are to even go close to running will hinge on and his ability to RTS’s 200+ metres every game. step up given that he will pretty much have full control of the team. As has been the case for what seems like a decade, the Roosters boast class across the However, for the first time in a while, the park and their pack is irresistible. JWH, Roosters could be exposed in the halves Friend, Napa, Cordner and Guerra are all big should injury or poor form strike. Overall, the names and with hard running back ups like Bondi boys are full of gems. Their forwards Taukeiaho and Moa, the intimidation factor love working and scoring tries and their backs can be high for overwhelmed opposition. speak for themselves.

For the NRLCEO Coach, if you’ve got the Expect the Roosters to be right up in NRLCEO right Roosters in your team, you’re probably value again this season.

Roosters

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Jake Friend HK 19 2 0 1 16 0 6 2 7 0 94 Daniel Tupou WG 24 16 0 0 0 6 3 15 1 0 86 Boyd Cordner BR 22 6 0 0 11 15 3 2 1 0 77 Aidan Guerra BR 19 5 0 0 10 0 2 2 2 0 68

Shaun Kenny-Dowall WG, CT 17 13 0 0 0 7 0 11 0 0 63 BR 23 5 0 0 4 0 5 5 5 0 56 Dylan Napa FR 24 1 0 0 11 3 0 2 0 0 50 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves FR 19 2 0 0 9 8 1 3 0 0 49 Mitchell Pearce HB 20 1 0 0 2 4 16 2 18 0 64 Blake Ferguson FB, CT 16 7 0 0 0 8 4 12 4 0 52 Brendan Elliott WG 8 8 0 0 0 3 0 5 0 0 37

Siosiua Teukeiaho BR 24 1 0 0 6 16 0 2 0 0 30 Sam Moa FR 19 1 0 0 5 3 0 1 0 0 25 Kane Evans FR 23 2 0 0 1 2 0 3 1 0 16 Issac Liu BR 23 1 0 0 1 6 1 1 3 0 14 Jackson Hastings FE, K6 15 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 11 Joe Burgess WG 22* 21* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 84* Dale Copley WG, CT 9 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 6

Ian Henderson HK 22* 1* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4* Abraham Papalii BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jayden Nikorima HB, HK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Latrell Mitchell WG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mitchell Frei BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Omar Slaimankhel FB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Paki Afu FR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jake Friend will show why he doesn’t need Robbie Farah at the Roosters. Without Maloney, Jennings and RTS, expect all the Rooster backs to You know what you’re going to get from Friend – workhorses every week decrease their try scoring rate. and the bonus is this year he’s not injured at draft time.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $10 9 2 4 4 Premierships: Eight Sea Eagles <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 18

Coaching Conundrum Brett Stewart Squad Changes Tries: 14 Gains: (Titans), (Tigers), Dylan Walker Six months ago, the team that everyone Workhorses: 0 loves to hate looked like they were on the (Rabbitohs), Lewis Brown (Panthers), Apisai Koroisau (Panthers), Try Assists: 9 slide – we loved it! Fast forward to now and Darcy Lussick (Eels), Tim Moltzen (Tigers), Matt Parcell (Broncos) Line Breaks: 6 the Sea Eagles have recruited some serious 89 Line Break Assists: 9 troops in the free agent pool and now look POINTS Losses: Kieran Foran (Eels), Matt Ballin (Tigers), like genuine title threats again – damn! (Panthers), James Hasson (Eels), (Catalans),), Dunamis Lui (Dragons), Cheyse Blair (Storm), Clinton Gutherson (Eels) Gone are a host of players, supposedly due When you look at the prospective starting to DCE’s pay cheque but in come a bunch of line-up, there really doesn’t appear to be any internationals to fill the void – how does glaring issues or weaknesses. Sure, Dylan that work?? Walker at #6 is not proven but he has class, Best Line-up and speed! The edge forwards pack punch Nate Myles, Api Koroisau, Dylan Walker, and overall, the Sea Eagles boast solid depth Martin Taupau and Lewis Brown all join the – something they lacked last year in club and with a great core already, the Sea particularly up front. Eagles will push for a top four spot. However, the real question mark hovers over For the NRLCEO coach, the Trbojevic boys the decision to axe Coach Toovey in favour of look like stars in the making. Jake is an old Trent Barrett. Despite regularly looking like a style workhorse who gets the job done with gibberer on camera, Barrett snaffled the gig ease while Tom, is a try scoring freak. If you ahead of some very well credentialed are in a keeper league, these guys would candidates so he must be able to coach a bit. serve you well for years to come. Overall, the Sea Eagles boast some quality The true value of the Manly squad lies with NRLCEO draft bait, but it doesn’t take much those who are tried and tested. Taufua, for things to go pair shaped at Brooky. A when fit, always scores while DCE racks up couple of key injuries or another front office the try assists. Brett Stewart continues to debacle and Barrett will come under fire, sniff inside the attacking 20 and Jamie Lyon especially when he’s in no way a true silvertail is reliable and consistent but his kicking is just yet. One thing is for certain, life is never rarely worth a gamble. boring at the Sea Eagles…

Sea Eagles

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Jamie Lyon CT, K7 16 4 43 0 0 4 9 6 7 0 47 (133) Brett Stewart FB 21 14 0 0 0 0 9 6 9 0 89

Dylan Walker CT, FE 21 12 0 0 0 1 6 11 8 0 79 Daly Cherry-Evans HB, K1 22 4 0 3 1 0 19 10 16 0 87 Peta Hiku WG 21 8 3 0 0 5 5 10 5 0 57 (63) Apisai Koroisau FE, HK 16 1 4 0 8 2 5 2 5 0 53 (61) Tom Symonds BR 19 2 0 0 7 0 6 5 5 0 58 Jake Trbojevic FR 22 2 0 0 10 15 0 4 1 0 53 Jorge Taufua WG 16 8 0 0 0 4 3 10 1 0 49

Steve Matai CT 18 9 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 0 42 Martin Taupau BR 21 4 0 0 5 1 0 6 0 1 40 Nate Myles FR 16 0 0 0 9 0 1 0 2 0 40 Tom Trbojevic WG 9 8 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 37 Feleti Mateo BR 18 2 5 0 3 2 1 3 6 0 31 (41) Lewis Brown BR 21 4 0 0 0 2 3 7 7 0 36 Blake Leary BR 12 1 0 0 5 1 1 1 1 0 28 BR 7 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 0 0 23 Darcy Lussick FR 17 0 0 0 2 4 1 1 0 0 11 Luke Burgess FR 17 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 10 Brayden Wiliame WG 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 Jayden Hodges HK 7 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Isaac John FE 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 5 Matt Parcell HK 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 Josh Starling FR 13 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 1

He doesn’t have to share the playmaking duties now so put a lazy 20 on The Manly centres in and Jamie Lyon are still class but Daly Cherry-Evans for Dally M. He also won’t be playing State of Origin their try scoring numbers are trending downwards. Expect that to continue. this season – a big bonus for NRLCEOs!

NOT! HOT!

Premiership Odds: $15 6 16 5 7 Premierships: Nil

Sharks <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 15

Great White Hope Paul Gallen Squad Changes Tries: 1 Gains: James Maloney (Roosters), Chad Townsend (Warriors), Is James Maloney the final piece of the Workhorses: 24 Jesse Sene Lefao (Sea Eagles), Jordan Drew (Broncos), Josh Cleeland puzzle that will take the Sharks to the next Try Assists: 1 level? The Shire sure hope so and with the (Ipswich Jets), Joseph Paulo (Eels), Kurt Capewell (Ipswich Jets) Line Breaks: 13 addition of Chad Townsend, they will be I03 Line Break Assists: 0 Losses: Michael Gordon (Eels), Blake Ayshford (Warriors), looking for a bit more attacking flair to POINTS Josh Addo-Carr (Tigers), Jeff Robson (Warriors), Kyle Stanley compliment to staunch defence that was present for much of 2015. (retirement), Curtis Scott (Storm) In the backs, the use of Ben Barba is a The Sharks been very active in the free conundrum for Flanagan especially so with agent pool but their forward pack remains the dynamic rookie season of Valentine Best Line-up relatively intact. The big question Holmes. Holmes has indicated that fullback is surrounds the role of skipper Paul Gallen his preference and if the Sharks don’t keep who really needs to touch less ball inside this young gun happy, you heard it here first – the attacking 20 if the Sharks are to become he will end up back where he grew up – in a genuine title threat. Townsville, with the Cowboys!

Gallen looks set to play less minutes up The other backs appear to be a little ho-hum front in combination with Andrew Fifita this with Feki capable but injury prone and the season as Coach Flanagan looks to squeeze two centres Beale and Leutele not exactly try Jack Bird into the starting line-up. With scoring marvels. Tagatese and Sene-Lafao coming off the bench, the Sharks have plenty of impact Overall for the NRLCEO coach, the true value which will give the big names some rest with the Sharks always lies in the forwards under the new interchange format. because they typically struggle to put big points on the board. Having said that, Fifita The backrow positions are solid with Wade and Graham are really the only obvious Graham and Luke Lewis holding down the targets and even they have their detractions. fort while Michael Ennis is solid, being one of very few rakes playing 80 minutes these With the guillotine hovering over Gallen’s days and no one obvious coming through to priority draft value in 2015, he remarkably take time off him. They do have former suited up for the Sharks in numerous post Raider and Rooster Matt McIlwrick as a Origin games last season but what are the back-up, but times would have to be tough! chances of that happening again this year?

Sharks

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL James Maloney FE, K7 24 9 94 2 0 1 22 8 17 0 107 (295) Paul Gallen BR 16 1 0 0 24 25 0 1 2 0 103

Andrew Fifita FR 16 7 0 0 15 12 0 6 0 0 94 Luke Lewis BR 20 11 0 0 7 0 4 7 4 0 91 Michael Ennis HK 23 3 0 0 9 0 17 3 13 0 98 Wade Graham BR 24 3 0 0 14 0 5 4 5 0 87 Valentine Holmes FB, WG, K1 23 16 11 3 0 0 1 13 0 0 82 (104) Jack Bird FE, BR 21 7 0 0 2 7 7 5 5 0 60 Ricky Leutele CT 21 7 0 0 0 2 5 7 6 0 51

Chad Townsend HB, K1 21 2 0 2 1 0 11 6 9 0 51 Sosaia Feki WG 21 7 0 0 0 10 2 10 0 1 40 Jayson Bukuya BR 22 2 0 0 6 2 1 3 1 0 38 BR, FR 21 1 0 0 4 4 1 2 2 0 26 Ben Barba FB, FE 17 3 0 0 0 0 4 3 5 0 28 CT 24 2 0 0 0 1 6 2 9 0 31 Jesse Sene-Lefao BR 11 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 11

Sam Tagataese FR 18 1 0 0 0 5 0 4 0 0 8 David Fifita FR 14 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 4 Matt McIlwrick HK 8 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 Matt Prior FR 22 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Joseph Paulo BR 14 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 6 Mitch Brown WG 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fa'amanu Brown FE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Jacob Gagan WG 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jayden Brailey HK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Valentine Holmes will only get better with James Maloney in the He can’t do it again can he? Paul Gallen. team, especially if Flanagan hands him the number 1 jersey.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $12 4 6 3 2 Premierships: Two* Storm <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 18

Slipping and Sliding Cameron Smith Squad Changes Tries: 1 Gains: Matthew White (Titans), Mark Nicholls (Raiders), The Storm are the team that just keep on Workhorses: 20 Scott Drinkwater (Roosters), Curtis Scott (Sharks), Cheyse Blair being competitive, even when they are not Try Assists: 10 (Sea Eagles), Jeremy Hawkins (Raiders) meant to be. This was so in 2015 when II7 Line Breaks: 1 despite their critics suggesting they will slide Line Break Assists: 12 Losses: Kurt Mann (Dragons), Ryan Hinchcliffe (Huddersfield out of the eight, they continued to turn up POINTS Giants), Mahe Fonua (Hull FC), Dayne Weston (Leigh Centurions), and off the back of their big three, were able Matt Duffie (rugby union), Tom Learoyd-Lahrs (retirement) to grind out more wins than they lost. - worthy left centre, Tohu’s value dropped at There are some selection headaches for the same rate at his tackle counts. This Coach Bellamy this season and how he shouldn’t be a problem in 2016 but it’s worth Best Line-up manipulates Cameron Munster into the line- noting that Bellamy considers him to be a up is an intriguing one for NRLCEO pundits. stop gap when injuries strike to the backs.

Talk of Munster or Slater slotting into the With Ryan Hinchcliffe leaving, surely Dale halves has to be random speculation with Finucane’s stocks have risen but Bellamy Blake Green performing solidly last season tends to be very vigilant when it comes to and the loss of outside backs suggests that replacing his core forwards. This could be the Slater at fullback and Munster at left centre is same for Cam Smith in 2016 – he started to the obvious way to go. show his age last season and his unwillingness to run and engage the markers rules him out In the forwards, Jess Bromwich wasn’t at his of double workhorse value. NRLCEO best last season but he is so important to the Storm that Bellamy rests For the NRLCEO Coach, Marika Koroibete is him any chance he gets. On the right edge, an exciting prospect and if he avoids injury, Kevin Proctor defied predictions and became he is a proven try scoring sneak on the left a try scoring workhorse in 2015 – something hand wing. Storm wingers are generally good he hadn’t shown before and his draft stocks to have so whoever locks down that right must surely rise this year. wing position might be a worthy, sneaky late round pick up in the draft. Despite his more fancied team mates, the early revelation for the Storm was Tohu Overall, the Storm with their grinding style of Harris. In the first half of the season, he was play should result in a glut of workhorses, but killing it but as Bellamy struggled to find a - Bellamy loves rotating his workers.

Storm

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Cameron Smith HK, K7 23 1 64 0 20 0 10 1 12 0 117 (245) Tohu Harris BR 24 4 3 0 16 0 7 5 4 0 103 (111)

Jesse Bromwich FR 24 3 0 0 20 15 1 4 3 0 101 Marika Koroibete WG 21 15 0 0 0 17 0 17 1 0 78 Kevin Proctor BR 24 3 0 0 14 7 2 4 2 0 78 Blake Green FE 24 8 0 1 0 0 11 8 13 0 76 Cooper Cronk HB 21 4 0 6 0 0 15 5 11 0 68 Dale Finucane BR 21 2 0 0 13 2 0 1 3 0 64 Will Chambers CT 23 10 0 0 0 0 3 12 3 0 61

Cameron Munster FB, CT 17 7 0 0 0 22 4 8 5 0 49 Billy Slater FB 7 2 0 0 0 0 5 4 8 0 30 BR 16 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 19 Jordan McLean FR 13 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 13 Cheyse Blair WG 7 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 12 FR 17 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 10 Young Tonumaipea WG 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 9

Nelson Asofa-Solomona FR 10 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 7 Jeremy Hawkins CT 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 7 Ben Hampton FE 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 Tim Glasby FR 24 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 Richie Kennar WG 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 Matthew White FR 15 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Mark Nicholls BR 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 3

Christian Welch FR 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 Dean Britt BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

The Storm need a big season from Jesse Bromwich who is a quality strike The Big 3 are on the wrong side of 30 now and are starting to play like front rower. He’ll once again be Bellamy’s go to man when the going is it... Don’t expect to see the same NRLCEO scores as last year! tough. HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $101 15 13 10 10 Premierships: One

Tigers <201 5 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 15 & 19

Oh DEAR! James Tedesco Squad Changes Tries: 17 Gains: Matt Ballin (Sea Eagles), Tim Grant (Rabbitohs), Jack If ever there was a case for relocation to Workhorses: 0 Littlejohn (Sea Eagles), Michael Chee-Kam (Sea Eagles), Justin Hunt Perth, surely the Tigers situation is it. There Try Assists: 13 (Dragons), Jordan Rankin (Hull FC), Joel Edwards (Raiders) has been no worse off-season than that of Line Breaks: 16 the Tigers and their off-field sagas are just I24 Line Break Assists: 14 the tip of the iceberg. In short, they are the POINTS Losses: Martin Taupau (Sea Eagles), Pat Richards (Catalans), (Leeds Rhinos), Shannon McDonnell (St Helens), Te Maire Daily Telecrap’s dream team with infighting and incompetence the norm for a franchise Martin (Panthers), Tim Moltzen (Sea Eagles) - it’s hard to visualise anyone from the heading downhill fast. current squad stepping up. On the field, the Tigers seem to have decided that Robbie Farah is worth hanging on to. In the backs, it might be a good idea for your Best Line-up drafting to pretend the Tigers don’t exist. From an NRLCEO perspective, the stats suggest that the Tigers were mad to even Sure they have some talented and fast backs but they need to get the ball in decent consider moving him. But what lies beneath the surface will determine how Farah’s value position first! If you believe in miracles and plays out this season. the Tigers actually do gel, the likes of Nofoaluma, Simona and Naiqama are ok. The Tiger’s salary cap woes have been well documented and looking at their squad, it is But the real strike weapon is James Tedesco. hard to believe that they have messed it up The young fullback is all class and in a poor this bad. A host of decent players have left team last season, he was dynamic and looked the club and in comes Matt Ballin and a dangerous every time he touched the ball. bunch of dregs. Simply put, Tedesco is a top draft option for fullback, even if the Tigers are rubbish. Coach Jason Taylor is investing a lot of time in his youngsters and ultimately this time, or Overall, much of the Tigers’ success will his relationship with Farah, is likely to cost revolve around their ability to compete as a him his job. professional franchise on and off the field. The young halves of Moses and Brooks will be For the NRLCEO Coach, the demise of Robbie relied upon to bring some consistency to their Farah could be to Aaron Woods’ benefit. He’ll games, but if they decide to sign with another play longer minutes and they need him to! club mid-season, the calls to cull the Tigers The rest of the forwards are dead set from the NRL will become even louder. ordinary when it comes to workhorses and -

Tigers

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL James Tedesco FB 24 17 0 0 0 17 13 16 14 0 124 Luke Brooks HB 23 10 0 0 0 0 17 5 11 0 90 Robbie Farah HK 17 2 0 1 14 0 5 3 5 0 83 Aaron Woods FR 20 1 0 0 16 23 0 1 1 0 70

Matt Ballin HK 21 0 0 0 15 0 2 0 6 0 70 Kevin Naiqama WG, CT 24 9 0 0 0 15 7 9 5 0 64 Mitchell Moses FE, K5 24 3 5 2 0 0 11 4 13 0 53 (63) Tim Simona CT 20 5 0 0 0 0 10 9 8 0 57 Kyle Lovett BR 21 1 0 0 10 0 1 1 1 0 48 Sauaso Sue BR, FR 23 1 0 0 8 4 0 1 1 0 38 David Nofoaluma WG 10 6 0 0 1 6 1 6 0 0 36

Chris Lawrence BR 19 3 0 0 4 0 1 1 1 0 32 Dene Halatau BR 22 4 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 29 Ava Seumanufagai FR 23 1 0 0 4 9 0 3 0 0 23 Tim Grant FR 20 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 17 Justin Hunt WG 7 3 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 15 Curtis Sironen BR 19 1 0 0 2 4 0 0 1 0 13 HK 11 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 11

Jack Buchanan FR 12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 Delouise Hoeter WG, CT 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 Josh Drinkwater HB, K1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 Joel Edwards BR 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brenden Santi BR 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jordan Rankin FE 18* 6* 10* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64*

James Tedesco, what a talent! Aaron Woods is also set to play big Jason Taylor’s coaching – is this guy serious? minutes and carry a pretty ordinary forward pack.

HOT! NOT!

Premiership Odds: $151 14 14 9 11 Premierships: Nil Titans < 2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 18

A Long Season Ahead Luke Douglas Squad Changes Tries: 0 Gains: David Shillington (Raiders), Chris McQueen (Rabbitohs), If ever there was a team to give the Tigers Workhorses: 17 Nathan Friend (Warriors), Zeb Taia (Catalans), Ashley Taylor and Knights hope this season, the Titans are Try Assists: 1 (Broncos), Tyrone Roberts (Knights) that. What an epic display of incompetence 73 Line Breaks: 1 over the past few years from the Titans’ Line Break Assists: 2 Losses: Nate Myles (Sea Eagles), James Roberts (Broncos), Aidan management. POINTS Sezer (Raiders), Dave Taylor (Catalans), Matthew White (Storm), Brad

On the field, the Titans have lost some Tighe (retirement), Kalifa Faifai Loa (Dragons), Beau Falloon (Leeds) In the backs, there is a real lack of experience serious talent and what remains is just a shell of an NRL team. Myles, Sezer, Taylor, and the likely combination (with Elgey’s season over before it started) of Tyrone Gordon and of course Roberts have departed the glitter strip and in return, a Roberts and Ash Taylor could be great or Best Line-up bunch of seemingly unwanteds have joined. terrible – who knows! Elgey is a star of the future though and is a For the NRLCEO coach, the days of the Titans having a workhorse pack to die for is shattering blow on the eve of the season. no more. Luke Douglas is the marathon The talented Ashley Taylor will now look to man but even his work output isn’t what it secure a starting spot. once was. is the 80 minute, 18 At left centre, Nene McDonald could be a try tackle man and his bid to become the leader sneak and may be worth a look in deeper of the team is laughable given his off-field competitions but it is impossible to determine record and diving antics. at this stage who the Titans go to man in When positives seem few and far between, attack will be now that Roberts has fled the Ryan James will continue his big minutes sinking ship. Josh Hoffman, Will Zillman and from 2015 and the return of Nathan Friend David Mead have all been injury prone in the should give them some stability. Since past but on their day are very capable. Friend’s departure, the likes of Srama, Overall, it looks to be a long season for the Falloon and Carter have all failed to step up Titans and drafting them in your NRLCEO and secure the hooking position. Both team is a recipe for disaster. However, with James and Friend are draft quality players plenty of defence and tackling likely to be the although the latter is getting a little long in norm in most Titans’ games, there will likely the tooth and will split minutes with Daniel be a diamond in the rough when it comes to Mortimer. workers in the pack.

Titans

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Ryan James BR 21 5 0 0 10 2 4 5 2 1 73 Luke Douglas FR 24 0 0 0 17 1 1 1 2 0 73 Nathan Friend HK 23 3 0 0 10 0 3 5 5 0 68 Kane Elgey HB, K2 16 6 10 1 0 0 12 1 13 0 63

Anthony Don WG 16 12 0 0 0 7 1 13 0 0 63 (73) Daniel Mortimer HB, HK, K1 17 0 2 0 8 0 10 1 7 0 60 (62) Chris McQueen BR 23 2 0 0 8 0 0 4 0 1 42 David Shillington FR 15 0 0 0 10 7 0 1 0 0 41 Tyrone Roberts HB, K6 21 3 54 0 0 0 6 6 5 0 35 (143) Josh Hoffman FB 24 6 0 0 0 2 2 4 1 0 33 Lachlan Burr BR 20 1 0 0 6 3 0 3 0 0 31

David Mead WG 22 5 0 0 0 5 0 6 0 0 26 Greg Bird BR 12 0 2 0 4 0 2 2 2 0 24 Nene Macdonald CT 15 4 0 0 0 16 1 7 0 0 25 William Zillman FB, CT 10 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 0 20 Agnatius Paasi BR 18 2 0 0 0 5 2 5 1 0 18 Kierran Moseley HK 16 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 3 0 17 Eddy Pettybourne BR 21 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 8

Nathaniel Peteru FR 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Ryan Simpkins BR 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 Zeb Taia BR 18* 11* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44* Matt Robinson BR 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Matt Srama HK 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 David Hala FR 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ashley Taylor HB 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Yeah, we’ve got nothing here – maybe Kane Elgey…? Nope scratch Unfortunately, the entire Titans Franchise just seems incompetent and that, he’s out! jinxed – will they even win a game?

HOT! NOT!

13 9 11 14 Premiership Odds: $15 Premierships: Nil

Warriors <2015 ------2012> Bye Rounds: 12 & 18

WARRIOR WORRIES BODENE THOMPSON Squad Changes Tries: 1 Gains: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Roosters), Issac Luke (Rabbitohs), It’s been an off-season to make every Workhorses: 25 Blake Ayshford (Sharks), Jeff Robson (Sharks), Ali Lauitiiti (Leeds) Warriors fan a little excited as some serious Try Assists: 0 firepower joins the club from two glamour I05 Line Breaks: 1 Losses: Nathan Friend (Titans), Siliva Havili (Dragons), Dominique Sydney clubs. Line Break Assists: 2 Peyroux (St Helens), Sam Rapira (Huddersfield), Sam Tomkins POINTS (Wigan), Chad Townsend (Sharks), Sebastine Ikahihifo (Dragons), With Issac Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Glen Fisiiahi (rugby union) now on the books, the Warriors must harbour genuine title aspirations and with In the forwards, skipper Simon Manner ing Shaun Johnson pulling the strings, they look had a huge season last year and will look to to have some serious strike power across show even more off the back of a stronger Best Line-up the park. squad. Bodene Thompson was also epic on the right edge and his numbers were When looking at the Warriors’ squad, there outstanding given his prior pedigree – he are a few selection queries that will need to certainly has found a home across the ditch. be answered in the trials. Konrad Hurrell’s mindset and fitness have been poor in the On the left edge, is solid but past when he can’t get himself right over his numbers are trending down as age the off-season, expect the electric Lolohea catches up with him. On the other hand, Ben to take his place at right centre. Matulino has become an indispensable force in the middle of the ruck and with Jacob Johnson’s halves partner is also an Lillyman, they provide the thrust forward with interesting conundrum for Coach McFadden high work ethics to match. with Jeff Robson likely to provide the cool head with to come off the Overall, it certainly is exciting times for the bench as utility value. Warriors and Isaac Luke’s running game and speed out of dummy half is probably just the For the NRLCEO coach, the Warriors provide tonic to kick start an often dormant Warrior’s plenty of excitement and tries are predicted attack. When combined with RTS’s running to flow in 2016 if SJ can remain fit. Big metres, it is hard to see how the Warriors will Manu is always a high priority wing target miss the top eight this year. If they do not get and the likes of Kata, Hurrell, RTS and off to a solid start, expect Ivan Cleary to take Lolohea are all draft worthy. over as head coach and resurrect the Kiwis.

Warriors

2015 STATISTICS

Player Position(s) GAMES TRIES GOALS KP WH ME TA LB LBA SB TOTAL Bodene Thompson BR 20 6 0 0 18 8 1 6 4 0 108 Simon Mannering BR 23 1 0 0 25 15 0 1 2 0 107

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck FB 24 11 0 0 0 40 12 15 9 0 92 Issac Luke HK, K1 20 3 19 0 13 2 5 4 12 0 90 (128) Tuimoala Lolohea WG, FE, K1 22 11 11 0 0 0 8 10 8 0 78 (100) Shaun Johnson HB, K7 17 7 48 2 0 4 12 12 9 0 75 (171) Ben Matulino FR 22 2 0 0 12 22 2 2 2 0 64 Solomone Kata CT 23 12 0 0 0 16 2 10 2 0 64 Manu Vatuvei WG 16 11 0 0 0 14 3 11 0 0 61

Jacob Lillyman FR 20 0 0 0 9 4 0 0 0 0 36 Ryan Hoffman BR 18 3 0 0 4 3 0 3 0 0 31 Konrad Hurrell CT 12 4 0 0 0 2 3 4 1 0 27 Jonathan Wright WG 19 4 0 0 0 8 3 3 0 0 25 Jeff Robson HB, FE 24 1 0 0 0 0 6 1 5 0 22 Thomas Leuluai FE, HK 10 1 0 0 1 0 3 2 3 0 19 Matthew Allwood CT 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 15 David Fusitua WG 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 0 16 Ligi Sao FR 19 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 14 Raymond Faitala-Mariner BR 10 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 9 Ken Maumalo WG 8 1 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 6 Albert Vete FR 20 1 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 5 FR 19 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 4 Blake Ayshford CT 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 Charlie Gubb FR 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 Ali Lauitiiti BR 14* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1*

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will carve up if the Warriors can develop and Manu Vatuvei is quality but the big marn is starting to pick up some long maintain a professional attitude on and off the field… term injuries. We aren’t sure if he’s got 20 tries in him this season…

HOT! NOT!

Attack v Defence

We all know how important Work Horses are to any NRLCEO side. Tackle hungry hookers and back rowers as well as barnstorming front rowers are key to winning a title. But just how does the breakdown work between each team in the NRL?

We’ve counted up all the points from tries from each team’s squads in 2015 (in green) and compared it to all of the points from workhorse tries (in red) to give you an insight into which teams you should be looking at when drafting. Note that players leaving the NRL don’t count towards the totals.

Interesting to note that the Broncos are no longer so workhorse heavy as they have been in previous years. They’re now equally as powerful in both departments!

The Panthers, Bulldogs, Titans and Storm were the only teams to really score more workhorses than tries in a significant way.

120

100

80

60 Tries Workhorses 40

20

0 Analysing the byes GROUP 1 If you’re prone to going cross-eyed look away now! The reason this is at the end of the guide is that although it looks complicated and important, it’s just a quick guide for you to look out for when drafting. Sharks & In this table we have listed all the teams with the bye on each week. The green box indicates a team playing that round, Panthers the light pink is a bye and the darker red indicate s a shared bye week with another team highlighted further on the right.

Round 12 Round 13 Round 15 Round 16 Round 18 Round 19 GROUP 2 Broncos BYE BYE

Bulldogs BYE BYE Bulldogs, Cowboys BYE BYE Cowboys, Dragons BYE BYE Raiders Eels BYE BYE & Tigers Knights BYE BYE

Panthers BYE BYE

Rabbitohs BYE BYE

Raiders BYE BYE

Roosters BYE BYE

Sea Eagles BYE BYE GROUP 3

Sharks BYE BYE

Storm BYE BYE Knights &

Tigers BYE BYE Broncos Titans BYE BYE Warriors BYE BYE

GROUP 4 So what does this mean for NRLCEOs? The main importance of this table is for your backup players.

For example if you draft Johnathan Thurston in Round 1 as your starting half back and kicker, you might be looking for a half back for when he has the bye. In this instance you would not select a Bulldog, Raider or Tigers player as they share two weeks (15 & 19) with the same Bye Round. Your best bet would be a Dragons, Eels, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Storm, Titans or Warriors half back as they do not share a single bye week.

So in this particular instance, based on players that will actually be left when you get around to picking backups, you might pick-up Benji Marshall or Tyrone Roberts.

Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm, Titans & Warriors

Analysing the DRAW

In fantasy footy the draw can be very important to PREDICTED NUMBER OF WINS EASIEST DRAW the success of the dominant teams in your squad, Broncos 17 which is why we’ve brought in the analysis of a  Raiders Roosters 16 mathematics expert - @footy_1717 on Twitter.  Titans Sea Eagles 15 He’s a sports fan on all ball sports including mainly  Tigers NRL, A-League and Cricket and also a gun punter. Cowboys 15  Panthers Last season he smashed his NRLCEO league out of Rabbitohs 14  Warriors the park and also finished 123rd overall on NRL.com. Storm 14  Sharks Using the close game theory and Pythagorean Sharks 14 expectation he is able to predict future results. He believes the Raiders have the easiest draw and the Warriors 13 MEDIUM DRAW Dragons and Cowboys have the toughest draw Bulldogs 13 which will lead to their number of wins in 2016.  Bulldogs Raiders 11 He also believes that the NRL has had lots of  Rabbitohs Panthers 11 blockbuster games that are good for attendances  Eels but most importantly TV viewers. So the good Eels 11  Storm teams play each other a lot which contributes to Dragons 10 the close game theory.  Knights Knights 9  Sea Eagles Tough run for the Dragons: Tigers 8  Equal most games versus 2015 top eight  Most games versus 2015 top eight Titans 6 HARDEST DRAW  Equal least games versus 2015 bottom four

Tough run for the Cowboys: PUNTERS TIPS  Dragons  Equal most games versus 2015 top eight Get on the Cowboys to have less wins than  Cowboys  Least games versus 2015 bottom eight last year and the Raiders to have more wins  Roosters  Equal least games versus 2015 bottom four than last year!  Broncos

My Squad

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. FRONT ROW FRONT ROW BENCH 1

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. HOOKER BENCH 2

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. BENCH 3 BACK ROW BACK ROW

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. BACK ROW BENCH 4

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. SQUAD MEMBER HALF BACK

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. FIVE EIGHTH SQUAD MEMBER

…………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. SQUAD MEMBER CENTRE CENTRE …………………………………………………………. SQUAD MEMBER …………………………………………………………. …………………………………………………………. WINGER WINGER …………………………………………………………. SQUAD MEMBER …………………………………………………………. FULL BACK …………………………………………………………. SQUAD MEMBER

Nrlceo 2016 Season Guide

THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS:

www.thebench.com.au www.zerotackle.com.au