There are two obvious standouts in the halfback position with three-time premiership winner Nathan Cleary and former Dally M Medal winner Nicho Hynes leading the way in NRL Supercoach.
The Cronulla playmaker has finished as the highest-scoring player in the game for the past two seasons, while Cleary will once again be in hot demand after a stellar display in last year’s grand final.
The Sporting News runs the rule over the halfback position for NRL Supercoach in 2024.
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Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes once again lead the way in the halfback position for NRL Supercoach
Cleary starts over $50k cheaper than Hynes at $912,500 after averaging 89.4 points per game (PPG) in 2023. It was the highest average of his career except from his incredible 108.3PPG total in 2021.
His 19 matches were also the most he has managed in the regular season since 2019, after the past few years have been interrupted either through Origin commitments, suspension or injury setbacks.
After missing five rounds in the middle of last season through a hamstring issue, Cleary returned to the park and showcased exactly why he’s so important to Penrith.
In his final seven appearances of the regular season, he notched four century scores having done so on just four occasions throughout the prior 20 rounds.
The Panthers start the campaign with a tough-looking run of fixtures as they go in search of their fourth successive premiership, yet Cleary could get off to a rapid start.
He has notched triple figures against Melbourne, Parramatta and Brisbane in his most recent games against them.
Meanwhile, Hynes ($970,000) is priced at a 99.5PPG average after another stellar Supercoach campaign.
The Cronulla star failed to score a try or provide at least one try assist in just five matches last season as his incredible consistency in the game was once again on full display.
Hynes notched 90 points or above on 12 occasions last year and did so 11 times in 2022 as he provides a constant threat in attack for the free-scoring Sharks.
The cost of the duo is hefty, but it is a massive risk to go without the two proven guns in the HFB position.
Can Shaun Johnson recreate his magic for the Warriors?
The fifth highest-scoring player, a 77.7PPG average, over a quarter of a million dollars' worth in price increases and just five scores under 50 points - 2023 was quite a Supercoach season for Shaun Johnson.
The playmaker was on fire as he guided the Warriors to a fairytale run into the finals off the back of eight tries and 29 assists.
Johnson starts just $100k or so cheaper than Cleary after his stellar campaign and therein lies the problem.
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You have to venture back to 2020 to find a quality Supercoach season from the 33-year-old after he averaged 43PPG and 52.7PPG in 2022 and 2021 respectively.
In 2020, Johnson played 16 matches for a 68-point average before injury cut short his campaign in Round 19.
In the two years prior to that he managed a similar number of games for a 63.5PPG average. So, was last season simply an incredible outlier or can Johnson once again produce magic and rival the best HFB's in the game?
History would suggest the former and that he will struggle to replicate the same form in the twilight of his career.
Why does Daly Cherry-Evans continue to be overlooked?
Daly Cherry-Evans ($782,900) is in the tier below Hynes and Cleary but sits at just two per cent ownership despite averaging only one point less per game than Johnson during his fairytale season last year.
The Manly skipper has been a picture of consistency throughout his career but finished inside the top 10 for highest scorers in Supercoach for only the second time in 2023.
DCE crossed for nine tries and laid on 18 assists to record just shy of 500 points for tries, assists and contributions alone.
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Since 2021, the 34-year-old has also upped his offloading game to constantly add some decent additions to his scores.
After notching in the 40–50-point range for his season total for them from 2018 to 2020, DCE has suddenly managed to double this metric in the past three seasons.
He will also be part of an exciting line-up on the Northern Beaches with Luke Brooks expected to alleviate some of the responsibility off his shoulders and Tom Trbojevic back on deck.
Could this impact his attacking stats, or will more freedom allow DCE to create even more tries? The Queenslander could be a dark horse in the HFB position this year if it clicks with the former Tigers half and Turbo stays fit.
NRL Supercoach Guide to 2024
- NRL Supercoach 2024: Cheapies to watch for new season
- NRL Supercoach 2024: Most expensive players in the game
- NRL Supercoach 2024: Comprehensive guide on how to play, how to score points, strategies and more
- NRL Supercoach 2024: Who to buy in the hooker position
- NRL Supercoach 2024: Who to buy in the halfback position
- NRL Supercoach 2024: Who to buy in the fullback position
