BRONCOS PLAYER PRICES:

Ajuma Adams - FRF - $87,500

Ben Barba - FLB - $257,400

Marmin Barba - FLB, 5/8 - $87,500

Dale Copley - CTW - $102,500

Cameron Cullen - HFB, FRF - $87,500

Mitchell Dodds - FRF - $148,000

Jordan Drew - CTW - $144,200

Matt Gillett - 2RF - $329,800

Alex Glenn - 2RF - $238,500

Jake Granville - FRF - $102,500

Jon Green - FRF - $143,700

David Hala - FRF - $121,200

Ben Hannant - FRF - $289,200

Justin Hodges - CTW, FLB - $299,000

Josh Hoffman - FLB, CTW - $243,500

Ben Hunt - HFB, FRF - $146,000

Jordan Kahu - CTW - $189,200

Martin Kennedy - FRF - $209,100

Todd Lowrie - 2RF - $209,400

Lachlan Maranta - CTW - $134,100

Andrew McCullough - FRF - $264,800

Josh McGuire - FRF - $280,100

Stewart Mills - CTW - $135,100

Francis Molo - FRF - $87,500

Kodi Nikorima - HFB, 5/8 - $87,500

Corey Oates - CTW, 2RF - $263,400

Jo Ofahengaue - 2RF, FRF - $87,500

Duncan Pala'Aua - 5/8 - $87,500

Corey Parker - 2RF - $421,500

Jack Reed - CTW - $184,700

David Stagg - 2RF, CTW - $166,900

Zach Strasser - HFB, 5/8 - $87,500

Ashley Taylor - HFB, 5/8 - $87,500

Sam Thaiday - 2RF, FRF - $278,000

Daniel Vidot - CTW - $236,600

Jarrod Wallace - FRF - $102,500

Jharal Yow Yeh - CTW - $114,600

Get ready. SuperCoach 2014 launches on Wednesday 29 January!

SUMMARY:

THE Brisbane Broncos loom as the most exciting team for SuperCoach 2014, regardless of recent on-field performances.

All-time SuperCoach great Corey Parker is a must-have for the coming season given he will regain the goalkicking duties off the retired Scott Prince.

Attacking genius Ben Barba oozes SuperCoach potential. And with the former Bulldog set to play fullback, a cheapie slot could open at five-eighth.

Andrew McCullough looms as a sleeping giant, with bench hooker options Peter Wallace (Penrith) and Ben Hunt (now playing halfback) no longer there to steal minutes.





BEST OF THE PLAYER MOVEMENT:



In: Ben Barba (Bulldogs), Marmin Barba (Titans), Martin Kennedy (Roosters), Todd Lowrie (Warriors), Stewart Mills (Sharks), Daniel Vidot (Dragons)

Out: Scott Anderson (Wakefield), Kurt Baptiste (Raiders), Delroy Berryman (Sea Eagles), Joe Bond (Mounties), Luke Capewell (Panthers), Dunamis Lui (Sea Eagles), Corey Norman (Eels), Scott Prince (retired), Nick Slyney (Redcliffe), Lama Tasi (Salford Red Devils), Caleb Timu (Mormon Mission), Peter Wallace (Panthers)

New contracts: Jack Reed (2017), Matt Gillett (2016), Jake Granville (2014), Ben Hunt (2015), Ashley Taylor (2016)

Future to be decided: Liam Georgetown, Denan Kemp, Brendon Gibb, Aaron Whitchurch, Chris McLean

PREDICTED BEST 17:

Ben Barba, Josh Hoffman, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Jordan Kahu/Daniel Vidot, Zach Strasser, Ben Hunt, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker. Interchange: Martin Kennedy, Alex Glenn, Todd Lowrie, Jake Granville

Zach Strasser and the five-eighth spot:

A SuperCoach opportunity is set to open at No. 6 for the Broncos following the exits of Corey Norman (Eels), Scott Prince (retired) and Peter Wallace (Panthers), plus Anthony Milford’s decision to stick out his contract in Canberra. With recruit Ben Barba almost certain to play fullback, Redcliffe star Zach Strasser and young gun Jordan Kahu are in a two-horse race for the five-eighth spot. SuperCoaches will be hoping Strasser wins out given his juicy starting price of $87,500. Kahu has been priced at a bank-busting $189,000 due to his strong 10-game stint in the outside backs last year, which ended prematurely due to a torn ACL. Holden Cup gun Ashley Taylor, just $87,500, is also training with the NRL squad this pre-season. The Queensland Emerging squad member signed a lucrative $300,000 deal last year, but is only 18 and may be at least a season away from an NRL debut.





Andrew McCullough:

The other big opportunity comes at hooker, where Andrew McCullough is a genuine chance of 80 minutes. Both bench hookers from last year – Peter Wallace and Ben Hunt – are now out of the No. 9 frame, with Wallace joining Penrith and Hunt the only halfback of any note at the club. Put simply, if McCullough plays the full game, he will join the SuperCoach elite. He averaged 56 last year in 57 minutes per game. So if he ups his minutes to 80, he’ll average around the 80 mark. Based on 2013 averages, that would have placed him as the sixth best player of the season. In terms of hookers, it would have ranked him second, behind Cameron Smith (83) and ahead of Robbie Farah (77). All this said, young gun Jake Granville looked sharp in limited opportunities last year and would certainly be in the frame as a bench hooker.

SLEEPING GIANTS: PLAYERS SET TO STEP IT UP

Corey Parker: A must-have given he will re-assume the goalkicking duties off Scott Prince (retired).



Ben Barba: A risky purchase given inconsistency, but with his personal life seemingly back on track, Barba could re-emerge as a SuperCoach keeper from a cheap price. Put it this way, it’s hard to see him going worse than last year. News he is set to play fullback, not five-eighth, is music to SuperCoach ears.





NO GO ZONE: PLAYERS TO AVOID

Matt Gillett: Was the best centre/wing in SuperCoach for 2013, but has been stripped of dual position status. With Sam Thaiday reverting to the back row, Gillett's game time may be cut.He'll no doubt be a factor at some stage, but is a risk from round one.



Corey Oates: Will start at a huge price following a great debut season.



Justin Hodges: Matches it with any centre/wing in the competition when he plays, but SuperCoaches simply can't risk him for long-form SuperCoach given his injury history.



TRAPS: LOOK TEMPTING, WON'T DELIVER

Josh McGuire: Produced a great end to 2013, but averaged 52 minutes over the season. That will be hard to improve on for a prop, particularly with Martin Kennedy joining the rotation.