KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Michael Carayannis and the MC Hammers

The Daily Telegraph’s NRL writer Michael Carayannis has loaded UP at one position for 2021 while chasing cheapies in another.

SC art for MC team

Welcome to the MC’s Hammers where it’s the glitz and glamour in the forwards but rocks or diamonds out-wide with most of my money spent on beefing up the forward pack – particularly the back-row.

Tom Trbojevic’s injury caused havoc for my backs and forced me to cut a proven gun in the halves in order to squeeze James Tedesco in.

Without further ado - or excuses - here’s Michael Carayannis’s 2021 KFC SuperCoach NRL squad.

HOOKER

Damien Cook $621,000, Jayden Brailey $356,000

Playing it safe with Cook. I expect South Sydney to score plenty of points this year and it’ll start with the number nine who is guaranteed to play 80 minutes each week Injuries curtailed a promising start for Brailey. Will play 80 minutes. Undervalued big time.

Jayden Brailey is set for an 80-minute role at the Knights. Picture: Tony Feder/Getty Images

FRONT ROW FORWARD

Christian Welch $453,000

A must-own given the way he finished the season. Cheap price as started the season slowly off the back of a serious knee injury. Late off-load specialist who could finish the season as a top three prop.

Alex Twal $505, 700

Not sold on who I should I go for the next prop pick but have settled on Twal for the opening stages. Started the year well last year but fell away mid-year after injury. Inconsistent for my liking but let’s see how this plays out.

Moses Leota $350,400

With the likes of James Tamou and Zane Tetevano moving on, I love Leota at this price. Expected to start and will play a heap more minutes than last year. Had a few mid-50s scores last season which I expect will turn into his season average.

Matt Lodge $299,000

Not holding out great hope for Lodge this year but at this price he is worth the punt. Coming off a horrid year but averaged 62 in 2019. If he can get close to that he will be value.

Mick is backing Angus Crichton to have a big 2021. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

SECOND ROW FORWARD

Angus Crichton ($670,500), Jason Taumalolo ($641,700), Mitch Barnett ($543,300)

Loading up on the big guns here. If these three don’t fire then my season is in all sorts. Crichton will be huge especially while Boyd Cordner is injured. Cracked a 100 twice last year before injury slowed him up. Could finish the season as the best forward. Taumalolo is your set and forget – knowing you have guaranteed 70 plus points each week. Barnett is another who should start the year with plenty of points given Lachlan Fitzgibbon’s injury.

Andrew Davey ($336,000), Jordan Riki ($277,500), Kaide Ellis ($245,800)

Davey is firming as a favourite to replace Joel Thompson as Manly’s starting back-rower. Despite limited minutes last year still managed to crack 60 plus twice. Could be a good roughie. Riki is an obvious given his price and potential while Ellis is fighting hard to start at lock for the Dragons. Ellis could be shifted from my team before a ball is kicked.

Adam Reynolds earns plenty of points off the kicking tee. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

HALFBACK

Adam Reynolds ($528,000), Sam Walker ($173,000)

Wanted Cleary but just couldn’t get it to work. However, in Reynolds I feel like you will own the NRL’s top points-scorer. South Sydney will win plenty of games and Reynolds will lay on a heap of those points. Plus he has a super boot. Probably a season too early for Walker. A placeholder for now.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Connor Watson ($288,600), Anthony Milford ($304,600)

The Watson shift to lock is intriguing. If he can get close to playing 80 minutes he becomes a must-own, especially given the small out-lay. Milford is an interesting one. The Broncos can’t be as bad as they were last year so Milford should naturally rise in price. Hopefully I don’t have to pick him.

Anthony Milford is in Michael’s team, he just hopes to never have to play him. Picture: Supplied

OUTSIDE BACKS

Charlie Staines ($297,700), James Roberts ($277,700), Bailey Simonsson ($205,000), David Fusitu’a ($251,800), Jason Saab ($233,200), Reimis Smith ($324,600), Tesi Niu ($232,500)

Value galore here with the outside backs I’ve picked. They are either rookies or players who struggled to make the mark last year. Potential try-scoring machines in Staines, Simonsson, Fusitu’a and Smith. Roberts has never been the greatest fantasy player but at this price he is worth a look.

FULLBACKS

Ryan Papenhuyzen ($629,000), James Tedesco ($843,100)

I felt much happier with the balance of my squad when I had Trbojevic instead of Tedesco. Splashing the cash on Tedesco had to happen when Trbojevic went down. On his own merit Papenhuyzen is a gun, but should he land the kicking duties too in a good Storm team, then he could set record scores.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Michael Carayannis and the MC Hammers