SUPERRAD! + Semi's No.1! (RLW CVR Articles)

SUPERRAD!

The Eels are fizzling, but winger Semi Radradra is sizzling
BY TONY ADAMS

HIS EELS ARE BATTERED, bruised and battling, but cult-hero winger Semi Radradra is the most valuable player in the NRL - that's the shock finding of a special RLW investigation this week.

With the assistance of the statistical experts from Sportsdata, RLW examined the Contributor Value Rating - or CVR - of every player in the NRL, and Radrada emerged top of the pile.

With his ability to score tries out of nothing and run the Eels out of trouble near their own tryline, the Fijian flyer has the top average rating in 2015.

The CVRs are baed on Major League Baseball's 'Moneyball' concept, where players are ranked not on reputation, or salary, but purely on the numbers they crunch out on the field. One of the CVRs' founders, stats guru Will Badel, isn't surprised by Radradra's result.

"The fact he's playing on the end of a struggling backline, yet is leading the league in CVRs shows he's a very special player," Badel says. "He's scoring tries, which is obviously a winger's main job, and they rank highly in CVRs because they are major events in games."

"But he's also making the hard yards on kick returns, taking the pressure of his forwards and getting the Eels on the front foot."

"All those factors are earning him points."

Badel says the CVR concept was pioneered by Sportsdata's Andrew Monfarrige seven years ago.

"We analysed the NYC also and the two top scorers (Forty20 - CVR score that is) that year were Daly Cherry-Evans and Keiran Foran," he says.

"Both have gone on to become superstars, so it goes to show what an accurate indicator and useful tool the CVRs are."

Radradra is also the biggest improve in the NRL bases on the CVRs. Of all those who played at least half the season in 2014, Radradra is by far the most improved, up almost 203 points per game on last year's 289.

Last year rampaging Rabbitoh Sam Burgess finished top of the CVRs, with Jarryd Hayne close behind.

THE BIG IMPROVERS
Player (Club)20142015  Change
Semi Radradra (Eels)289.98507.01  202.84
Tyson Frizell (Dragons)238.99407.21  168.22
Lachlan Maranta (Broncos)160.22  317.57  157.35
Kade Snowden (Knights)285.01425.06  140.05
Tohu Harris (Storm)255.58393.21  137.63
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Roosters)293.05424.67  131.62
David Klemmer (Bulldogs)179.45310.77  131.32
James Roberts (Titans)215.73245.11  129.38
Ben Matulino (Warriors)276.99403.46  126.47
Jack De Belin (Dragons)268.01379.71  111.7

RLW, July 27, Pg.3
Semi's No.1!

The numbers confirm what we've seen all year - there's no stopping runaway Radradra
BY GREG PRICHARD

PARRAMATTA HAVE PIONEERED a new style of play this year - 'Semi-ball'.

It's pretty simple, really. Just like the Under-8s - when everyone lobs the ball to the biggest, fastest kid on the team and waits for him to do something - that's what the Eels do with their Fijian winger Semi Radradra.

And why not? After all, it's a style of play that worked pretty well for the Blue-and-Golds in their glory era. Parramatta legend Peter Sterling says the way the Eels seek out Radradra to do something special is the same as what the champion Parramatta teams of the 1980s did with Eric Grothe.

"They would be crazy not to," says 'Sterlo', who isn't surprised Radradra rates a clear No.1 in the latest Contributor Value Rating (CVR) figures, which are regarded as league's version of Major League Baseball's 'Moneyball'.

"Semi has improved enormously during his relatively short time in the game and I think the biggest improvement with him - and a very important part of his game - has been to do with bringing the ball back off his own line," Sterling says. "When they're in trouble he gets in there and helps out and takes those tough metres. He reads things much better in defence now, as well. He used to get a bit lost as to whether to come in or stay out. He's always had the ability to score tries, we all know that, but it's in the other important areas that I think he has really improved."

It appears now that even when it may not be the obvious way to go, Parramatta look to go to Radradra. Asked if he sees that when he watches the Eels, Sterling replies: "Oh yeah, absolutely. I feel a bit sorry for Semi, because I know in my days playing alongside Eric Grothe, if someone made a break against us we'd all turn around and look at Eric to run him down. And if we needed something special we all turned and looked at Eric. If we needed a try we'd get the ball to Eric. There's a bit of pressure in that, but Semi doesn't seem to be affected. He doesn't seem too tense."

The CVRs, produced by Sportsdata, are the best statistical analysis available to gauge a player's impact on and input to a game. A number of NRL coaches refer to them to track their player's progress. 

Another high-impact player, Sam Burgess was the highest-ranked player in 2014. Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita, Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, Penrith hooker James Segeyaro and North Queensland fullback Lachlan Coote round of the top five of the top CVR averages per game in 2015. 

That all makes sense to Sterling as well.

"Andrew Fifita is a bit of a freak. The only thing about him is he's got a bit of a mistake in his game and he gets a bit personal out on the field at times, which doesn't help him, but what he can do with a football and the size of the man and his ability to beat players and get balls away makes him a bit of a standout," he says.

"And if you ask Jonathan Thurston who takes pressure off him most, he's got Lachlan Coote at the top of that list. I think he's the best fullback in the competition when it comes to positional play. Very rarely does the ball (from opposition kicks) get to bounce when he's around."

"We've seen how Penrith have gone without Segeyaro while he's been out injured. He's a very creative player and also a damaging runner. Cherry-Evans has had a disrupted season, but on his day he's right up there with the top No.7s. Each of these players is a bit different to most players who play in their positions, which is why they rate so highly, I think."

OVERALL
1. Semi Radradra (Eels)507.01
2. Andrew Fifita (Sharks)465.7
3. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)458.97
4. James Segeyaro (Panthers)458.44
5. Lachlan Coote (Cowboys)447.37
6. Aaron Woods (Tigers)440.4
7. Simon Mannering (Warriors)440
8. James Tedesco (Tigers)437.88
9. Ben Hunt (Broncos)437.37
10. Corey Parker (Broncos)435.35
11. Andrew McCullough (Broncos)435.19
12. Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs)427.81
13. Jonathan Thurston (Cowboys)426.64
14. Kade Snowden (Knights)425.06
15. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Roosters)424.67
16. Shaun Johnson (Warriors)419.3
17. Mike Cooper (Dragons)417.16
18. Jesse Bromwich (Storm)415.63
19. Robbie Farah (Tigers)413.3
20. Trent Merrin (Dragons)412.31
21. George Burgess (Rabbitohs)410.67
22. Gavin Cooper (Cowboys)407.78
23. Tyson Frizell (Dragons)407.21
24. Josh Dugan (Dragons)405.25
25. Michael Morgan (Cowboys)404.03

FULLBACK 
1. Lachlan Coote (Cowboys)447.39
2. James Tedesco (Tigers)437.88
3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Roosters)424.67
4. Josh Dugan (Dragons)405.25
5. Matt Moylan (Panthers)377.89

WINGER 
1. Semi Radradra (Eels)507.01
2. Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)382.38
3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters)369.57
4. Marika Koroibete (Storm)339.53
5. Curtis Rona (Bulldogs)335.02
6. Jorge Taufua (Sea Eagles)333.43
7. Akuila Uate (Knights)326.41
8. Jason Nightingale (Dragons)320.84
9. Lachlan Maranta (Broncos)317.57
10. Pat Richards (Tigers)273.37

CENTRE 
1. Dane Gagai (Knights)359.59
2. James Roberts (Titans)345.11
3. Will Chambers (Storm)342.64
4. Dylan Walker (Rabbitohs)340.66
5. Jack Reed (Broncos)328.26
6. Euan Aitken (Dragons)322.66
7. Kane Linnett (Cowboys)322.26
8. Michael Jennings (Roosters)321.13
9. Josh Morris (Bulldogs)314.34
10. Justin Hodges (Broncos)307.24

FIVE-EIGHTH 
1. Michael Morgan (Cowboys)404.03
2. Blake Austin (Raiders)379.11
3. Aidan Sezer (Titans)341.29
4. Gareth Widdop (Dragons)323.12
5. James Maloney (Roosters)320.16

HALFBACK 
1. Daly Cherry Evans (Sea Eagles)458.97
2. Ben Hunt (Broncos)437.37
3. Jonathan Thurston (Cowboys)426.64
4. Shaun Johnson (Warriors)419.3
5. Mitchell Pearce (Roosters)401.03

PROP 
1. Andrew Fifita (Sharks)465.7
2. Aaron Woods (Tigers)440.4
3. Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs)427.81
4. Kade Snowden (Knights)425.06
5. Mike Cooper (Dragons)417.16
6. Jesse Bromwich (Storm)415.63
7. George Burges (Rabbitohs)410.67
8. Ben Matulino (Warriors)403.46
9. Matt Scott (Cowboys)383.99
10. Josh McGuire (Broncos)382.64

HOOKER 
1. James Segeyaro (Panthers)458.44
2. Andrew McCullough (Broncos)435.19
3. Robbie Farah (Tigers)413.3
4. Cameron Smith (Storm)394.77
5. Jake Friend (Roosters)375.29

SECOND-ROWER 
1. Trent Merrin (Dragons)412.31
2. Gavin Cooper (Cowboys)407.78
3. Tyson Frizell (Dragons)407.21
4. Wade Graham (Sharks)401.23
5. Iosia Soliola (Raiders)397.99
6. Matt Gillett (Broncos)396.76
7. Tohu Harris (Storm)393.21
8. Jack De Belin (Dragons)379.71
9. Josh Jackson (Bulldogs)377.64
10. Alex Glenn (Broncos)370.74

LOCK 
1. Simon Mannering (Warriors)440
2. Corey Parker (Broncos)435.35
3. Shaun Fensom (Raiders)396.81
4. Trent Merrin (Dragons)383.41
5. Martin Taupau (Tigers)356.2

CVM - CVR per minute played (minimum 40min per game) 
1. Tim Mannah (41.9)8.84
2. Andrew Fifita (53.0)8.79
3. George Burgess ( 51.4)8
4. David Klemmer (40.3)7.99
5. Kade Snowden (55.1)7.71
6. Thomas Burgess (44.9)7.7
7. Mike Cooper (54.6)7.64
8. Josh McGuire (50.7)7.55
9. Paul Vaughan (42.6)7.44
10. Jeremy Latimore (44.1)7.43

RLW, July 27, Pgs.14-15

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Replies

  • Only Semi makes the list from all Parramatta players.....

    • Tim Mannah is the most productive player in the NRL per minute played, check the final leaderboard at the bottom.

  • What's really impressive is Semi's all round game improvement in a short space of time. He literally couldn't catch a bomb 2 seasons ago, and his kick returns now are of the highest quality.
    • His rapid development and improvement reminds me of how Kelly and Morgan have come on in leaps and bounds over the past 4 seasons. They just need more time. I ear mark 2020 as their break out seasons.

      Oh pencil in Seffa too.

    • Semi is about 3 times the size too! I can't believe it's the same kid I saw 3 years ago!
  • I think this should have been the story.....

    CVM - CVR per minute played (minimum 40min per game)
    1. Tim Mannah (41.9) 8.84
  • I did Forty. I just meant out of the player positions they listed. 1-13

    We need more players to make the list than a winger in Semi and a 40min prop if we are going to play semi finals footy. But great work by both players to make the list.

  • Impressive numbers by Mild Manners Mannah.

    We just need more players to make the list now in their respective positions.

    • I like the nick name Bert, Mild Manners Mannah lol

  • Tim Mannah is in the top 3 NSW props and has been since he first played origin. If Parra had been a finals team over the last 5 years Mannah would have remained in the blues line up.

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