NRL Supercoach 2024: Who are the most expensive players in the game?

Mark Molyneux

NRL Supercoach 2024: Who are the most expensive players in the game?  image

The new season is right around the corner, which means NRL Supercoach is back for another year.

Cronulla halfback Nicho Hynes has been crowned the most expensive player in the game after another stellar campaign which saw him finish as the highest scoring player in 2023 with 1,900 points.

But who joins the playmaker in the top 10 list for who will burn the biggest holes in everyone’s pockets?

MORE: NRL Supercoach 2024 - Cheapies to buy this season | The position-by-position guide to NRL Supercoach this year

The Sporting News provides a breakdown on the most expensive talent in the game for 2024.

Who are the most expensive NRL Supercoach players in 2024? 

Hynes played 20 matches for his total and that was enough to hold off Jamayne Isaako (1,841 points from 24 appearances) and Clint Gutherson (1,818 points from 23 appearances) to finish as the highest scoring player in NRL Supercoach.

It is the second year in a row he has managed to do so, after also topping the charts in 2022 with 1,973 points. 

Hynes’ 95-point average was comfortably the best in the game, with Nathan Cleary – this year’s second most expensive player – averaging 89.4 points in his 19 matches.  

After missing the first three games of the season through injury, Hynes announced himself on the scene with a 180-point display against the Dragons.

He went on to record nine three-figure scores for the season, while dipping below the 50-point mark on just three occasions for some remarkable consistency.

Meanwhile, after his legendary performance in last year’s grand final win, Cleary will be in hot demand once again. 

MORE: When does the NRL season start? Opening round games, draw for 2024

The Penrith general ended up as the eighth highest scoring Supercoach player despite enduring a frustrating season where he missed six games during the middle of the campaign.

Dally M Medal winner, Kalyn Ponga, rounds out the top three with the Newcastle skipper stringing together a remarkable run of form in the second half of the season to storm home with the Knights.

The 25-year-old didn’t really get going until his 114-point carve up of the Titans in Round 11 after overcoming concussion issues and reverting from five-eighth to fullback.

In his final 10 games of the regular season, Ponga racked up 1,094 points to claim a 109-point average to end the year. 

North Queensland Cowboys experienced a tough season after previously making the preliminary finals under Todd Payten. Yet despite this, Scott Drinkwater was a big source of points in Supercoach.

Much like his side, he was hit and miss throughout the year but during the Cowboys’ mid-season resurgence he scored 117, 104, 95, 140, 173, 86 and 122 points in an impressive run to illustrate his ability to post big totals if North Queensland are in form.

Finally, Tom Trbojevic is priced as the fifth most expensive player in Supercoach even though he played just 11 games in 2023 as injury once again stopped him in his tracks. 

In those appearances, he managed 898 points to result in an 81.6 average which has caused his hefty price tag to start 2024.

No. Player Position Price
1 Nicho Hynes HFB $970,000
2 Nathan Cleary HFB $912,500
3 Kalyn Ponga FLB $892,800
4 Scott Drinkwater FLB $851,800
5 Tom Trbojevic FLB $833,500
6 David Fifita 2RF $832,100
7 Reece Walsh FLB $813,000
8 Clint Gutherson FLB $807,000
9 Shaun Johnson HFB $793,700
10 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2RF/FRF $791,500

Most expensive NRL Supercoach players in each position for 2024

Ponga has beaten out competition from a range of elite talent to enter into the 2024 Supercoach season as the most expensive fullback.

His Newcastle teammate Greg Marzhew, who so often profited from Ponga’s work on the left edge, surprisingly starts as the most expensive CTW option.

The tackle-busting machine bagged 22 four-pointers and seemed unstoppable out of the back field. 

Dylan Brown being the most expensive 5/8 choice showcases how inconsistent the rest in that position were in 2023.

The Kiwi international played 17 games with his season interrupted due to an off-field indiscretion which ultimately contributed to Parramatta missing out on the finals. When he was on the field though, he averaged 76.5 points per match.

Player Position Price
Kalyn Ponga FLB $892,800
Greg Marzhew CTW $789, 200
Dylan Brown 5/8 $780,800
Nicho Hynes HFB $970,000
David Fifita 2RF $832,100
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui FRF $791,500
Harry Grant HOK $750,000

Meanwhile, Gold Coast duo David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are the most expensive 2RF and FRF options respectively.

Fifita had the most impressive campaign of his career to date as his devastating attacking ability was coupled with a newfound appetite for work out of yardage and in defence.

Tino finished behind both Addin Fonua-Blake and Joe Tapine for total points in 2023 but has been priced ahead of the duo due to his superior average of 77.5-points per match.

To add extra value to his price tag this year, he is one of the rare players to maintain his dual 2RF/FRF status with the likes of Tohu Harris and Corey Horsburgh having theirs stripped. 

Finally, Harry Grant has averaged in the 70-points per match range for the past four seasons to stand out as not only the most expensive but also consistent HOK option in Supercoach.

His 73.5-point average was down a few points on his efforts in 2022, although with the possibility of a reinvigorated Cameron Munster and a fit-again Ryan Papenhuyzen around him this year, Grant could return to his best. 

NRL Supercoach Guide to 2024

 

Mark Molyneux

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Mark Molyneux is a freelance writer covering the NRL and UFC for Sporting News Australia. He has previously worked in the music industry and as a teacher around the world.