KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Tom Sangster’s teams analysis Round 3

No Cameron Smith, no worries. The hooker position is suddenly one of the most exciting in KFC SuperCoach following the retirement of The GOAT.

WINNERS

* Angus Crichton – Back from a one-game suspension and a welcome inclusion for many following the injury to Ryan Matterson (more below).

* James Roberts – Named to return from a minor shoulder injury. Big KFC SuperCoach news given he’s in the top 20 most popular players.

* Jayden Brailey – By far the most popular buy this week. Break even of -54 and SuperCoach Plus predicts he will rise by almost $100,000 after this week (your KFC SuperCoach Plus free trial has run out so sign up now for $24.95). Brailey is hard to ignore. Sangster’s Paradise have locked in Matt Moylan to Brailey via Connor Watson.

* Ryan James – Scored 69 in 41 minutes in round one, mainly due to a try and linebreak. But surely he couldn’t keep the attacking stats coming in round two? Well, he smashed out 64 in 39 minutes with the only real attacking stat a linebreak. With a break even of -52 and projected price rise of $82,400 according to SuperCoach Plus, he’s close to a must-have for those who don’t already own him.

* Sean O’Sullivan (Warriors, in at halfback for Chanel Harris-Tavita), Josh Schuster (Manly, starting on edge with Andrew Davey out), Connor Tracey (named at centre for Sharks) – All named to start, all cheapies to keep an eye on.

Jayden Brailey is the most popular purchase this week (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

LOSERS

* Ryan Matterson – Knocked out again on the weekend and with his history of concussions he is set to miss a number of weeks. Most sold player.

* Nathan Cleary – The second most popular player in KFC SuperCoach has been ruled out, don’t trade him just cop the auto emergency if you have a non-playing HFB reserve like Sam Walker

* Ryan Papenhuyzen - it’s a trifecta of pain for many SuperCoaches with the Storm ruling star fullback Papenhuyzen out late on Wednesday. Paps is expected to miss just the one week though so I would not be selling.

* Chanel Harris-Tavita – It just hasn’t worked out for the popular pre-season purchase. He carried a quad injury through the opening two rounds and therefore relinquished the goalkicking duties, and now he’s been ruled out for three months with a foot injury.

* Apisai Koroisau – Old news now but Koroisau was a late withdrawal for the Panthers on the weekend and is out for 4-6 weeks with a wrist injury. He is therefore the third most sold player. There are some unmissable options at hooker including Jayden Brailey, Connor Watson and Jacob Liddle.

* Jason Taumalolo – Even older news, but Jason Taumalolo was a late withdrawal for the Cowboys on the weekend with a broken hand and will miss four weeks. He’s the fourth most sold player after being the most sold player last week. Sangster’s Paradise concurs.

PANTHERS

Team news: Nathan Cleary (concussion) is out replaced by Matt Burton in the halves. Api Koroisau (broken wrist) was a late withdrawal last week and is again replaced by Mitch Kenny at hooker.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: See Nathan Cleary analysis above. Spencer Leniu is hardly the sexiest player but very consistent. Scores of 37 and 46 have led to a predicted rise of +$28.8k. It’s a slow burn but stick strong, and the eye ball test is overwhelmingly in the affirmative. Kurt Capewell only scored 36 points from 50 minutes on the weekend. We were hoping Capewell could be our one and only “2RF banker at CTW” kinda guy. Looks like that won’t be the case but minor injuries in both games are contributing factors. Definitely persist if you own him, but don’t buy.

STORM

Team news: Felise Kaufusi (suspension, round five) is replaced in the starting side by Tom Eisenhuth. Ryan Papenhuyzen (neck) is out which sees Nicho Hynes come into the side as starting fullback. Reserve hooker Tyson Smoothy also drops out of the 17. Aaron Pene is new faces on the bench.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Ryan Papenhuyzen has the fourth most points of any player so don’t trade him out just because he will miss the one game. Christian Welch is chugging along nicely with a season average of 59 so far, up from 51 last year. The minutes are also up from 43 to 51. He’s a very handy money maker at the very least, before being sold to David Klemmer prior to Origin (assuming Klemmer misses Blues selection again)

DRAGONS

Team news: No changes after an important win over the Cowboys in Townsville.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: I was pretty hot on Tyrell Fuimaono last week but thankfully I took my own advice and had another look. While in actual NRL he was a crucial factor in the Dragons’ win over the Cowboys, pulling off three crucial hits in his second stint, it’s clear he doesn’t have the work rate to be a KFC SuperCoach player, even as a middle this year compared to an edge or centre in previous seasons. Anyways, I’m confident that if Fui keeps hitting like a jackhammer my Dragons could finish as high as 13th. Which would be a huge result.

SEA EAGLES

Team news: Josh Schuster looms as a KFC SuperCoach cheapie after being named to start in the edge back row spot vacated by Andrew Davey (ACL), with Curtis Sironen (knee, round six) and Haumole Olakau’atu (elbow, indefinite) also unavailable. Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) is at least another week away.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: SC Plus predicts popular early season cheapie Jason Saab will actually drop in price by -$10.3k. Saab is often compared to Daniel Tupou but the comparison must only be on looks and height as they are totally different players in many senses. For example, Tupou is a high workrate winger, averaging 17.5 runs so far this season. Meanwhile Saab has averaged half that. The stats are hardly promising, but he’s a reluctant hold for Sangster’s Paradise due to other issues. Keep an eye on Josh Schuster as a cheapie after being named to start in the back row in the absence of Andrew Davey (ACL), Curtis Sironen (knee, round six) and Haumole Olakau’atu (elbow, indefinite). It would undoubtedly be a premature move, but Connor Watson to Schuster next week has been discussed in Paradise camp.

RABBITOHS

Team news: Veteran winger Josh Mansour has been recalled to the starting side to replace Jaxson Paulo (concussion). Adam Reynolds (concussion) has been named but is in doubt, with Troy Dargan named as cover on the extended bench.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: We told you last week to keep faith in Damien Cook and he duly bounced back with 102. Hooker is stacked with good buys – Brailey, Watson, Liddle – but all signs point to Cook topping the position once again come round 25.

ROOSTERS

Team news: Big news for KFC SuperCoaches with Angus Crichton (suspension) returning, which is particularly important following the unavailability of Ryan Matterson (concussion). Victor Radley (ACL/disciplinary suspension) returns on the bench after a long lay-off. The return of Radley and Crichton pushes Drew Hutchison and Fletcher Baker out of the side. Highly-touted young gun Sam Walker is again lurking on the extended bench after an aborted debut last week.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: No surprises that James Tedesco is the highest scoring player in KFC SuperCoach after two rounds. But perhaps more surprising is the fact Brett Morris sits second, then daylight. Being on the end of the Roosters’ backline is no doubt a lovely place to be, but Morris has rarely been a KFC SuperCoach factor during his career. The $637,000 price tag is way too steep for mine, but clearly KFC SuperCoaches think otherwise given he’s the fourth most popular player this week. With Ryan Matterson to be sold, Sangster’s Paradise are seriously considering Sitili Tupouniua or Lindsay Collins and banking some cash. Both are amazing mid-range buys but strangely ignored by the crown with Tupouniua just the ninth most purchased player and Collins 25th.

RAIDERS

Team news: Jarrod Croker (shoulder) returns after off-season surgery with impressive young gun Sebastian Kris making way.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Hudson Young is set for +$53.4k rise after two tries in as many weeks. At just five per cent ownership, he has POD appeal. But I have Tupouniua and Collins ahead in a similar price bracket. See Ryan James analysis above. Bailey Simonsson is hardly setting the world on fire for KFC SuperCoach but it’s only a matter of time before he scores a try or two on the end of such a potent backline.

WARRIORS

Team news: Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot) is out for three months, replaced by cheapie prospect Sean O’Sullivan at halfback. Bayley Sironen (shoulder) has been named but is in doubt. Bunty Afoa will start at prop in place of the suspended Jamayne Taunua-Brown and Jack Murchie returns from a pectoral injury on the bench.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Sean O’Sullivan pricks the ears as a cheapie at $231,000. He takes over from the injured Chanel Harris-Tavita at halfback and appears set for a long run in the position given CHT is out for three months. Translation: job security looks good, but let’s see if he can stack up some points in the next two rounds. That said, even if Sullivan does do well he’s tricky to fit in given he’s only available at halfback, meaning he clashes with the likes of Nathan Cleary and Sam Walker.

BRONCOS

Team news: No changes from the team that was towelled up by the Titans last week as Kevvie picks and sticks. Tom Dearden has been named at 18 but it would not surprise to see him lifted into the 17-man squad prior to kick-off.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Jordan Riki (81) and Tesi Niu (92) are must-have cheapies for those living under a rock. We told you to wait a week on David Mead and the advice proved prudent. Last week’s 77 was backed up by a more expected and sustainable 21. He’s still set for a $50,000 rise according to SC Plus, but the money-making tails off very quickly from there. Avoid. Tevita Pangai’s PPM of 1.97 is as brilliant as it is unsustainable. Definitely on the radar for the Origin period, but not before given lack of minutes.

BULLDOGS

Team news: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (broken foot) is out, possibly for the season, which will see Corey Waddell come into the starting side with Joe Stimson coming into the reserves. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (suspended) is out and Tui Katoa will start on the wing in his place.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: I’m one of Jake Averillo’s biggest fans based on what he did last year, but it just hasn’t happened for him in 2021. Two tough games against tough opponents in even tougher conditions mean Averillo has averaged just 16 for the year and is set to drop by almost $40K. He’s therefore the seventh most sold player. I’ve already mentioned Tupouniua, Collins and Young as mid-range PODs in the pack – but the best of the lot could be Josh Jackson, who is playing 80 minutes in the middle and working his backside off.

EELS

Team news: We all expected it but now we know it’s true, Ryan Matterson will not play this week having been concussed in last week’s match against the Storm. Matterson is replaced on the edge by Isaiah Papali’i – which does not necessarily make IPap a SC buy as he’ll do less work through the middle. Ray Stone comes on to the bench which means Parramatta have two utilities (Stone and Will Smith) which may mean no 80-minutes for the popular Reed Mahoney.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Reed Mahoney is the sixth most popular player this week after backing up his round one 134 with 82. But Mahoney has barely been a KFC SuperCoach factor in the past despite playing big minutes. There are far better buys in a stacked hooker position including Brailey, Watson and Liddle. See Ryan Matterson analysis above. Definite sell.

SHARKS

Team news: Mawene Hiroti was hooked at half time last week by John Morris and he’s lost his spot in the team for this game with Connor Tracey named at centre – keep an eye on Tracey he could be a cheapie pick up if he goes well.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Matt Moylan has hardly disappointed. In fact, he’s due for a +$9.6k price bump after this week. However, Jayden Brailey is impossible to pass up and Moylan is the casualty for Sangster’s Paradise. Keep an eye on Connor Tracey as a cheapie after scoring a starting centre spot.

KNIGHTS

Team news: Kurt Mann is back after missing last week with a knee injury. Mann’s return comes at the expense of Phoenix Crossland. Connor Watson has once again been named to start at lock, I expect he may actually start there this week unlike the first two rounds where Watson started off the bench despite being named at 13.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: We still don’t have a solid read on Connor Watson given he’s played halves, bench and been named to start at lock this week. But his 61 last week very promising given it included 35 tackles and not a great deal of attacking stats. He looms as one of the better money-makers this year. David Klemmer has started the season with 82 (increased minutes due to injuries) and 66. These are great numbers and he’ll be essential over Origin, assuming he again misses out on NSW selection. See Jayden Brailey analysis above.

TIGERS

Team news: After being found out in defence, Joey Leilua has been sent to the NSW Cup. Leilua’s place in the team has been taken by the returning James Roberts. Joe Ofahengaue is another to feel Maguire’s wrath though not as severely with the former Bronco sent to the reserves with Zane Musgrove named to start at prop.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: 50 minutes looks like Liddle’s new norm. After two tries in two weeks, he is predicted to see +$67.2k rise after this round and will be an easy upgrade to Damien Cook or Harry Grant in coming weeks. Daine Laurie went big last week, even against the miserly Roosters, and is predicted to see a +$62.3k rise.

COWBOYS

Team news: Kyle Feldt (suspended) is out which sees Murray Tualagi start on the wing for the Cowboys. No other changes for North Queensland which is a team lacking SC interest.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: Todd Payten’s press conferences are by far the most entertaining thing in Townsville right now because there is literally nothing doing from a KFC SuperCoach perspective. Jason Taumalolo is the fourth most sold player. See analysis above.

TITANS

Team news: Ash Taylor (hand) is out, replaced at five-eighth by Tanah Boyd. Plenty will be hoping this means Jamal Fogarty delivers on the promise he showed at the back end of 2020. No other changes to the team that beat the Broncos.

Tom Sangster’s analysis: David Fifita bounced back from an illness-affected round one by notching 105 against his old club. While Mitchell Barnett is the flavour of the week in terms of replacements for Ryan Matterson, don’t ignore big Fifi. The big minutes and attacking stats far outweigh the lack of consistency.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Tom Sangster’s teams analysis Round 3