Had they not had lost 12 competition points, their 13-11 win/loss record was good enough to see them make the top eight.

The SuperCoach appeal is obvious as the Eels have the best bye schedule, however there must be some reservations since the Eels basically don’t have any “home” games this year with the current rebuild of Pirtek Stadium.

They say when you hit rock bottom that the only way is up, so which players in the Eels line-up deserve a place in your SuperCoach team?

BEST 17

1. Bevan French 2. Semi Radradra* 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Josh Hoffman 6. Clint Gutherson 7. Corey Norman 8. Suaia Matagi 9. Cameron King 10. Tim Mannah 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Tepai Moeroa 13. Beau Scott 14. Frank Pritchard 15. Kaysa Pritchard 16. Kenny Edwards* 17. Nathan Brown

* Pending court appearances

Who’s left: Daniel Alvaro, Kirisome Auva’a, Troy Dargan, Isaac De Gois, Bureta Faraimo, Jamal Fogarty, John Folau, David Gower, James Hasson, George Jennings, Cody Nelson, Marata Niukore, Rory O’Brien, Jeff Robson, Scott Schulte, Will Smith, Kelepi Tanginoa, Peni Terepo, Honeti Tuha, Alex Twal, Joseph Ualesi, Sosaia Vave, Matthew Woods

BYES: Round 16, Round 19

GUNS

SEMI RADRADRA (CTW, $409,900)

2016 average: 61.3

The ‘Semi-Trailer’ well and truly came back to the pack after blitzing the CTW field in 2015 with a mind-boggling average of 81.1.

Semi was the eighth highest averaging CTW option in 2016 (of all players who played more than three games), however if you take out his injury-affected score of 3, his average jumps up to 64.6 and sees him slot into seventh spot.

There is no doubting his freakish ability as a finisher, often scoring and creating opportunities that only he would be able to and for that reason Semi will always be a CTW option, provided he is in a good space off the field.

No doubt the ongoing distractions have taken their toll in some way, and there is still a shadow hanging over his head with his upcoming Court hearing in February, but if Semi is fit and firing come Round 1 and his off-field distractions are gone then he has to be considered for a spot in your starting line-up.

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Champion’s hot tips for 2017

10 most expensive in each position

The top guns

MANU MA’U (2RF/CTW, $386,800)

2016 average: 57.9

Manu Ma’u would not be listed under this category ordinary, with his average of 57.9 only ranking him as the 22nd highest averaging 2RF last year.

However, Ma’u is fresh off being awarded dual position status at CTW after four games in the centres last year and as such, his average would have placed him as the tenth highest averaging CTW option in 2016.

Ma’u actually averaged 60.8 in his four games at centre, courtesy of two tries and a try assist with the accompanying linebreak assist, but to have an 80 minute backrower running off the dominant half in a team that is hopefully on the up means he would not be out of place in any starting CTW line-up.

Ma’u will be very appealing come the byes, given the favourable bye schedule of the Eels, and may be considered a ‘must-have’ come Round 12.

So the question is, do you just lock him in from Round 1 and let him stay there all year as a consistent and more than serviceable fifth or sixth CTW option?

PODS

BEVAN FRENCH (CTW/FLB, $336,800)

2016 average: 50.4

One of the valuable mid-season cheapies from 2016, Bevan French was scoring tries like they were going out of fashion once he got a chance in first grade. 19 tries in 13 games is a tremendous strike rate — in fact it was better than Semi Radradra’s 23 tries in 18 games in 2015. The appealing part is that he has been slated for the fullback jumper vacated by Michael Gordon, and in the final two games of 2016 French lined up at fullback and scored 95 and 117 (albeit with six tries and a try assist in just those two games).

The downside is obvious — French has almost non-existent base stats, averaging a measly 13 points per game.

Yet he has an obvious nose for the line and for that reason he is the perfect high risk, high reward POD that you might wish to take a punt on come Round 1.

CLINT GUTHERSON (CTW/5/8, $336,200)

2016 average: 50.3

Clint Gutherson played somewhat of a “Mr Fix-It” role for the Eels backline, starting on the wing, shifting to centres for five games and then finishing the season with eight matches at 5/8. He averaged 39.9 on the wing, 50.2 in the centres and — wait for it — 64.6 in his eight games at 5/8. It’s obviously the 5/8 statistics which are interesting, as he has been mentioned as the likely starting halves partner for Corey Norman, as well as being the first choice goalkicker.

The big question mark is, if Gutherson is named in the halves come Round 1, whether or not he can still score at above 60 points per game if he’s no longer the dominant half.

If he does take on the goalkicking however then selecting Gutherson is not as risky as it sounds.

CHEAPIES

CAMERON KING (HOK, $132,000)

2016 average: N/A

This highly talented but seemingly fragile hooker has only managed to play 21 games in first grade since his debut with St. George in 2010.

His name has been mentioned as an option to start at hooker in 2017, which is exciting news for SuperCoaches.

His injury history is a worry but if he’s named in the no. 9 jersey in Round 1, it will be very hard to say no.

If he’s only on the bench however, he is to be avoided at all costs as bench hookers are typically poor options for SuperCoach.