NRL Supercoach 2023: Who to buy – analysis of the hooker position
Almost half of clubs in the NRL will field various dummy halves in 2023, making the position of great interest for Supercoach.
Brandon Smith has traded Melbourne for Bondi, Api Koroisau is hoping to sprinkle some of his Premier League magic on a rejuvenated Wests Tigers outfit, while veteran Josh Hodgson is a new addition to Parramatta following Reed Mahoney’s move to Belmore.
Harry Grant and Damien Cook are tipped as the best at their positions for good reason, while Reece Robson will look to topple this duo after an impressive run of form for the Cowboys last year.
Under, The sports news runs rule on whore position for NRL Supercoach in 2023.
Top 5 hooker options for Supercoach to start the season
| player | Price | Break even |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Grant | $816,500 | 78 |
| Damien Cook | $790,700 | 75 |
| Reece Robson | $678,200 | 64 |
| BrandonSmith | $478,200 | 45 |
| Tanah Boyd | $384,600 | 37 |
Are Harry Grant and Damien Cook worth the price?
In a position where there isn’t much true elite talent, Grant stands head and shoulders above the rest.
MORE: Supercoach analysis of the five-eighths position | Supercoach analysis of the full-back position
After missing two of the Storm’s first three games last season, he broke down in tears. He scored 92, 85, 79, 86, 80, 104 and 138 points through the ninth round as Melbourne went on a rampage.
From rounds 10 through 18, he missed three games in the Origin period and only recorded a pretty big score in round 15 with a 78.
That dry spell might be cause for concern given the steep price tag, but Grant finished the season strong with two 90s and a century in his last five games.
The Queenslander will miss games either on representative duties or nagging injuries he appears to be picking up, but when he’s on the field his attacking prowess is too good to ignore.
Another plus for having Grant in case more is needed is the promise of more minutes following Smith’s move to the Roosters.
The Kiwi international is currently Supercoach’s most popular hooker with over 50 percent ownership.
His price was heavily influenced by his last season in Storm colors, during which he was reduced primarily to a bankroll.
Although two years ago, when he received the No. 9 jersey, he was averaging over 60 points per game, which is well above his 45.5 PPG in 2022.
Meanwhile, Cook is over $25,000 cheaper than Grant and benefits from how consistent he is. He failed to score 50 points or more only once in 2022.
In fact, he had been slowly declining since his High Water Mark campaign in 2018, during which he averaged 77.6 PPG, until last season’s 75.2 PPG average got him back into conversation with Grant.
Can Reece Robson become an Elite Supercoach option?
After finally taking on the dummy half role last year, Robson established himself as one of the few 80 Minute hookers left in the game.
He scored 43, 52, 37, 61, 39, 64, 42 and 55 in the first eight rounds of the season as the limited minutes hampered his ability to produce big results.
However, after nailing the No. 9 jersey in round nine, he continued to score consistently in his 70s and above, while breaking the 50-point mark just two other times during the season.
Combine that with North Queensland’s soft draw, which includes the Warriors twice along with the Dolphins, Titans and Newcastle in the first eight rounds and NSW’s undervalued hopeful presents as a tempting option.
Can you make money with Dummy-Half?
Mahoney didn’t miss a game last season so his consistency is one of his biggest assets – as is the prospect of him having a bigger impact on Canterbury’s attack than he did when he was with the Eels.
He has averaged in the 50ppg bracket since becoming a first-team regular in 2019, save for 2021 when he averaged 67.8ppg.
This season with 1,153 points, he has 132 points on assists and 76 on tackle busts and offloads.
Last season, he recorded just 60 points on assists while getting 58 on tackle busts and offloads. These are the attacking stats he needs to improve with the Dogs if he wants to regain his best form.
Hodgson, the man who replaced Mahoney at Parramatta, is at the other end of the reliability scale. The England international has been plagued by injuries that have seen him slide down the No9 pecking order.
But in his last full season with the Raiders, he’s been averaging a tad over 50 points per game, so offers a difference if anyone wants to take the risk of the 33-year-old staying fit and netting him some $385,600 after starting .
Ray Stone was the early cheap favorite at dummy-half, but his popularity has waned since he was benched for the Dolphins’ opening game.
Tanah Boyd is now considered the most profitable money spinner, with the Gold Coast playmaker — priced at $384,600 — also having handy double-position status as a halfback.
Is Api Koroisau a trap after joining Wests Tigers?
Despite winning two consecutive premierships last year and averaging 63.3 PPG, Koroisau finds himself on the outside in Supercoach.
In his last four seasons, he’s gone back and forth between six-figure wins and six-figure losses from his starting price. In 2022, he made $103,300 in earnings over the course of the season.
Koroisau boasts an ownership rate of just 6%, with many preferring to sidestep the $666,200 price tag in favor of its budget-friendly foothills successor, Mitch Kenny.
The 25-year-old has not always had the best results when substituting for Koroisau in the past but seems poised for a sustained run as the team’s first pick.
Although Soni Luke, priced under a quarter million dollars, might be a better choice for his attacking potential. He was a standout in the NSW Cup last year and recorded five tries, 20 try assists and 22 line break assists.