KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Tom Sangster’s teams analysis Round 2

The Roosters forward pack is one of the hardest to crack in the NRL, yet this emerging prop has got from impact bench man to big-minute starter.

KFC SuperCoach Editor Tom Sangster runs his eye over the Round 2 teams.

WINNERS

* Ryan James – Brilliant on his return from a double ACL injury last week with 69 including a try, although the most promising part was the game time of 41 minutes. Most popular buy this week as KFC SuperCoaches scramble to replace Matt Lodge (hamstring, round 4-5) and Jacob Host (dropped). James retains his spot on the bench despite Cory Horsburgh (suspension) being available.

* Jai Arrow – Very strong in the opening round with 70 points in 45 minutes, all in pure base and base attack. What’s more, he could score a starting prop role this week with Tom Burgess (neck/shoulder) in doubt.

* David Mead – Second most popular buy after a strong 77 in round one. The try and two linebreaks were obvious highlights, but the unusually high workrate (15 runs) was also very encouraging. Let’s see if he can back it up this week.

Damien Cook and Jason Taumalolo are both coming off poor weeks.

* Tyrell Fuimaono – Dark horse. Currently just the 29th most purchased player despite playing 60 minutes and scoring 56 points, all in base and base attack. There are question marks over his workrate given his season PPM has been as low as 0.44, although that was as an edge back rower and centre, not lock where he is currently playing for the Dragons. Too many question marks for now, but jot him down for next week.

* James Tedesco – Teddy showed why he’s an all-time KFC SuperCoach great by notching 162 points — his seventh career 150-plus score. If you don’t yet own him, move heaven and earth.

LOSERS

* Angus Crichton – Slammed out 98 as the Roosters belted the Sea Eagles, but unfortunately got himself suspended for one week for a crusher tackle. Hold.

* Matt Lodge – Out until round 4-5 with a hamstring issue and a definite sell for 17 per cent of KFC SuperCoaches.

* Jacob Host – After starting last week, the borderline cheapie has been axed by South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett. Eight per cent of KFC SuperCoaches are on the hunt for a replacement.

* Jacob Liddle – Liddle was strong in round one with 71 points including a try, playing the full 80 minutes. But he seemingly won’t play the whole game this week with return of Adam Doueihi (suspension) pushing Moses Mbye to the bench, where he presumably spells Liddle at hooker. Liddle is still a definite hold for those who got on, but those looking to buy should take another peep at the Tigers’ rotations this week. Conversely, Mbye’s use as a bench hooker is great news for KFC SuperCoach cheapie Daine Laurie, who seems assured 80 minutes at fullback.

* Jason Taumalolo – Only 36 points in 51 minutes in his new role as a limited-minute, ball-playing, sometime-edge-backrower. Worrying signs and a definite sell if he fails to produce this week.

MORE KFC SUPERCOACH

Full NRL teams: Bennett wields axe

10 things: Taumalolo horror show

Weekend wrap: Hits, misses, trade targets

* Damien Cook – Only two runs and 36 points. Definitely worth another chance given he started with 47 and 35 last season and went on to top the position. But he’s on the chopping block if he fails again given the strong cheap buys at hooker (Jayden Brailey, Connor Watson and potentially Jacob Liddle).

* Apisai Koroisau – Starts at a keeper price after averaging 76 minutes last year, but only played 48 in the opening week, spelled by Tyrone May. This is likely coach Ivan Cleary’s of nursing Api’s injury-prone body through the season to have him singing for the back-end, which spells horribly for KFC SuperCoach, especially with bargain replacements beckoning.

ROUND TWO TEAMS

TEAM NEWS

EELS: Just the one change. Marata Niukore (suspension) returns after missing the opening game. He scores a bench spot with Keegan Hipgrave dropping to 18th man. Reed Mahoney is the third most purchased player after a career-best 134, but is a classic case of chasing last week’s points.

STORM: No changes to the 17. Back-up hooker Tyson Smoothy retains his bench spot after debuting last week with Nicho Hynes again 18th man. Tui Kamikamica passed game day HIA and should be fit to play. The opening game of round one was the Cameron Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen show and KFC SuperCoaches hope in continues this week.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

EELS: Reed Mahoney is the third most purchased player after a career-best 134, with KFC SuperCoaches looking to sell the underperforming Damien Cook and Apisai Koroisau. But this is the classic case of chasing last week’s points. Mahoney is not a noted attacking hooker and has only scored above 100 one other time in his career. He has averaged 54 and 52 over the last two seasons despite playing big game time (72 minutes in each of those seasons), which doesn’t leave much room for improvement unless he keeps scoring and setting up tries, which history says he won’t.

Blake Ferguson could barely muster an attacking stat in 2020 (only three tries) but delivered a try, try assist and two linebreaks for 92 in round one. He is therefore the fifth most purchased player. Base is never a problem for Fergo, even during his lean patch last year, but Sangster’s Paradise will wait to see if he backs it up.

STORM:Ryan Papenhuyzen (124 points) nearly notched a ton by halftime, then had a quiet second half. He scored 18 extra points through goalkicking alone — stats he didn’t get last year — and he’s a clear-must for those who don’t already own him.

Reimis Smith’s 32 on club debut without any real attacking stats was encouraging enough and he’s worth persisting with. Christian Welch’s 52 minutes at lock was about what we were expecting. And while the PPM of 1.02 wasn’t quite where we want it to be, he’ll be a decent money-maker and easy upgrade to a keeper at the very least.

TEAM NEWS

WARRIORS: Euan Aitken (elbow) is out, replaced at centre by Adam Pompey in the only change coach Nathan Brown has made to the team that won so well.

KNIGHTS: Despite reports he’d miss up to six weeks, five-eighth Kurt Mann (knee) has made a miraculous recovery. Coach Adam O’Brien has therefore stuck to the same 17 players, with Connor Watson switched back to lock despite playing from the bench last week. Both Mann (knee) and Bradman Best (ankle) are expected to play.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

WARRIORS: Bayley Sironen is one for the watchlist after scoring 74 in 49 minutes. Take out the try with linebreak and he scored 44 in base, which is very solid for a guy who spent time alternating between edge and middle. Game time is an unknown given his day was ended by concussion, but it’s fair to say his score could have been a fair bit larger. At a tick under $350,000 and just 3.3 per cent ownership, he’s one to stash in the back pocket.

Tohu Harris played 80 minutes alternating between edge and middle and proved he will be a serious factor at some stage this year. David Fusitu’a’s 20 was about where we expected without a try given his lack of base. Just needs a try or two for a massive spike.

KNIGHTS:I wrote last week that Jayden Brailey could “sneak under the radar to become the best money-maker of all at hooker.” Unfortunately I didn’t take my own advice. Brailey is the fourth most purchased player this week after 86 points, including a try assist. He played the full 80 minutes, although that could have been impacted by the injury to Kurt Mann. The safe bet is to wait and week and see how the rotation works this round.

The office is buzzing about Mitch Barnett, but personally I don’t see it. His 105 was brilliant but benefited from a try, linebreak and 22 points from goalkicking. He won’t score every week and will relinquish the goalkicking to Kalyn Ponga in a month. Still, the 44 points in base for an edge backrower in 80 minutes is nothing to be sneezed at and he’s therefore the ninth most purchased player. Speaking of inflated scores, be wary of Daniel Saifiti (two tries) and David Klemmer (74 minutes) or risk being stung when law of averages takes over.

Kurt Mann has been cleared of a serious knee injury (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

TEAM NEWS

TITANS: Brian Kelly (fractured hand) is out for three weeks and replaced at centre by Phillip Sami. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui played 65 minutes at lock last week in a very encouraging sign for KFC SuperCoaches.

BRONCOS: Matt Lodge (hamstring) will miss the next 2-3 weeks and his absence sees Tom Flegler move into the starting side at prop and Rhys Kennedy come into the 17.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

TITANS: The 65 minutes from Big Tino was even more than I expected. While the PPM was slightly down, he’ll still prove a very solid buy for 2021 and may even become a keeper. David Fifita’s handy 60 is better than it looks as he spent two days in hospital during the week with an infection and was spelled for the final 10 minutes.

BRONCOS:Jordan Riki’s 40 points probably wasn’t quite what we were after. But he did play the full 80 minutes and hopefully that’s his floor. That said, injuries to Matt Lodge, Xavier Coates and John Asiata may have inflated Riki’s game time, so keep an eye on Kevin Walters’ rotations this week.

Tevita Pangai scored 79 in just 39 minutes with seven offloads, which sits in the “completely insane” category. Even so, he needs more minutes to be a realistic buy at the price. See David Mead and Matt Lodge analysis above.

TEAM NEWS

BULLDOGS: Jeremy Marshall-King (foot) returns from a lisfranc injury on the bench, pushing out last week’s debutant Brad Deitz. Raymond Faitala-Mariner has been promoted to the starting side ahead of Corey Waddell, who drops to the bench. Nick Cotric (ankle) and Jake Averillo (elbow) got through last week’s game OK, despite Cotric suffering cramps, and should be right to play.

PANTHERS: No changes. All eyes will again be on popular KFC SuperCoach buys Charlie Staines, Nathan Cleary, Kurt Capewell and Spencer Leniu.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

BULLDOGS: I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Almost 16 per cent took the leap on Jack Hetherington despite warnings over his PPM of 0.73 from last year. And while he still sits top of my list of “favourite NRL lunatics”, he managed just 35 points in 58 minutes in round one at 0.6PPM. Sell.

PANTHERS: Nathan Cleary again showed why he’s the second most popular player in KFC SuperCoach for good reason. He notched his first ton of the year without a great deal of fanfare and is on track to better his record of 2020, where he finished 15 points per game clear at halfback. Charlie Staines struggled for ball all day and had -7 deducted for errors for just 18 points. Paul Momirovski appears to have a bit of the Aitken/Crichton/Wighton’s about him in that he is a run-first player, which limited Staines’ opportunities. Even so, Staines did come close to scoring and there’s absolutely no way he should be in the top 10 most sold players. Possibly the best buy at the Panthers this year is Kurt Capewell, who banged out 68 in 67 minutes on the right edge. While 80 minutes would have been nice, take out the try and he still scored 50. He’s not quite Isaah Yeo of 2020, but he’s a close as we have to a 2RF banker at CTW this year. The biggest question for Spencer Leniu all pre-season was whether he’d keep up his stunning PPM even with increased minutes. Well, he not only matched his amazing PPM of 1.21 from last year, but bettered it with 1.24. Will prove a very handy money-maker if he continues playing around the 40 minute mark.

TEAM NEWS

SEA EAGLES: Andrew Davey and Jack Gosiewski swap starter/bench roles in the only change to the starting 13. Cade Cust comes on to the bench in place of Tevita Funa while Sean Keppie replaces Morgan Boyle.

RABBITOHS: Josh Mansour’s Rabbitohs run has lasted just one game, replaced by Jaxson Paulo. Jacob Host has been dropped out of the 17 with his starting role taken by Keaon Koloamatangi which sees Patrick Mago come on to the bench. Tom Burgess named to start despite being stretchered from the field late last week.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

SEA EAGLES: Flops all around at the woeful Sea Eagles. Jason Saab confirmed his status as a base stat battler with just 11 points in 80 minutes and is therefore the seventh most sold player. Sangster’s Paradise will give him another crack this week but he could easily become David Mead next week. With his brother out, Jake Trbojevic is basically a one-man team at Manly. Any time a side relies so much on one player it’s good for KFC SuperCoach.

RABBITOHS:Latrell Mitchell would be an amazing buy if available in any other position. He is looking fit and his 15 runs from the opening round must be close to a career best. If Adam Reynolds got injured and Latrell added goalkicking he’d become a serious option. But he’s a way behind Teddy and Paps and fullback as it currently stands. See Jai Arrow and Damien Cook analysis above.

TEAM NEWS

COWBOYS: No changes by Todd Payten despite the Cowboys being humbled by the Panthers.

DRAGONS: Don’t look now Dragons fans, Corey Norman is back, replacing Adam Clune at five-eighth in the only change to last week’s 17. Tyrell Fuimaono retains the lock role and Tom Sangster is excited.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

COWBOYS: As mentioned above it’s worrying times for 23.5% (and dropping) of KFC SuperCoaches who still own Jason Taumalolo. A more even split of possession will undoubtedly help Lolo make more runs and score more points, but if coach Todd Payten continues to limit him to 50MPG then even the great man won’t be able to make enough runs to maintain his price. Not much other SuperCoach interest in this team though Corey Jensen is one to monitor. The prop played 41 minutes off the bench in Rd 1 and with a PPM of around 1.1 he would offer solid value should he look set to play such a large role regularly.

DRAGONS: Paul Vaughan hasn’t been a proper KFC SuperCoach keeper since 2017 when he averaged 68 for the year. But in the three years since then he’s hovered in the borderline keeper range with averages of 53, 60 and 58. Of course, it’s an incredibly small sample size, but Vaughan played 56 minutes under new coach Anthony Griffin on Sunday, a decent bump on his average of 49 minutes from the previous four years and well up on his career year of 2017 where he averaged just 47 minutes. Huge PPM is a given with Vaughan (never below 1.09 in his career). One to keep an eye on, especially over the Origin period if he again misses NSW selection. See Tyrell Fuimaono analysis above.

TEAM NEWS

WESTS TIGERS: Adam Doueihi (suspension) is back and his return pushes Moses Mbye to the interchange. One other change, and it’s a win for Stefano Utoikamanu who retained his spot on the bench while it was Russell Packer who made way. Hopefully more minutes for Stefano with one less big bopper in the team.

ROOSTERS: Angus Crichton copped a one-week suspension and this sees Nat Butcher promoted to the starting side with Fletcher Baker coming on to the bench. Jake Friend (concussion) is out which sees Freddy Lussick get the start at hooker. Utility Adam Keighran (hand) will miss a few weeks and so the Roosters have promoted Drew Hutchison to 14.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

WESTS TIGERS: Stefano Utoikamanu looked great in actual NRL and played 33 minutes, which is at the upper end of what we were expecting. It will be a slow burn, but he should make us at least $100,000. And with Mbye on the bench this week, even more minutes could be on offer for Stefano and my guy Joe Ofahengaue. Ofa proved the round one pick of a long list of forward mid-rangers, notching 56 in base and base attack in 43 minutes. Popular cheapie James Roberts notched a respectable 34. But the workrate was worrying — take out the try assist with associated linebreak assist and he scored just 14 points. See Daine Laurie and Jacob Liddle analysis above.

ROOSTERS: Joseph Suaalii has been cleared to debut in the NRL but coach Trent Robinson says the 17-year-old sensation won’t be rushed. “We’ll get him into the side when he’s ready and when we’re ready. He’s got some exams over the next few weeks so it’s not just about the footy. He’s got to be ready off the field as well. It’s a matter of him progressing well over the next month or two.” Sounds like a perfect mid-season cheapie.

At just three per cent ownership, Lindsay Collins looms as one of the PODs of the year after scoring 63 at just over a point a minute in round one. That’s a huge bump on his average game time of 39 minutes last year. That said, the injuries to Jake Friend and Adam Keighran could have contributed to the inflated game time, so take another look this week. Those who didn’t start with James Tedesco face a difficult task to get him in given the massive price tag, but must do everything they can to buy.

TEAM NEWS

SHARKS: Jesse Ramien (suspended) is out, replaced at centre by Mawene Hiroti in the only change to last week’s 17.

RAIDERS: No changes for the Raiders with co-captain Jarrod Croker given at least one more week to regain match fitness as he comes back from a shoulder injury.

KFC SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS

SHARKS: Matt Moylan is the only KFC SuperCoach relevant player in this side and he set up a neat price rise with 52 in torrential rain at Kogarah Oval.

RAIDERS:Popular cheapie Bailey Simonsson more than paid his way with 40 including a try assist. The base of 15 is a definite worry, but we knew that coming in and it’s only a matter of time before he scores tries on the end of a red-hot backline. Joseph Tapine has attracted plenty of love from some quarters after a round one ton, but the fact he only played 42 minutes is a massive turn-off. See Ryan James analysis above.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Tom Sangster’s teams analysis Round 2