KFC SuperCoach NRL: Reigning champ likes the look of these 11 mid-range selections

Picking the right mid-ranger is essential to KFC SuperCoach NRL success – 2020 winner Joe Naddaf reveals his 11, now not so secret selections.

“Guns and Cheapies” it’s a formula seasoned KFC Supercoaches swear by. However, as I’ve discovered in recent times there is definitely room in your 25-man squad for VFM’s- Value For Money players.

A successful VFM will put up border line keeper scores (50+) while also generating cash to make the upgrade to a gun or downgrade to a cheapie more profitable.

Picking the right $350-500k VFM’s will help you afford the Tedesco’s and Cleary’s.

The two key questions I use to identify the perfect VFM players are:

* Has there been positional or personnel changes leading to an increase in minutes or opportunity?

* Are they holding a spot for an injured/suspended player?

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A perfect example last year was Alex Twal, he had a massive off season and earned the starting lock position for the Tigers. Ryan Matterson defected to the Eels and Twal was the main beneficiary.

He started the year with scores of 78, 72, 61, 64, 78 at a price of $492,200. A fair discount on the likes Haas, Klemmer, Papalii and Co

Other successful VFM’s out of the class of 2020 include Patrick Carrigan, Zac Lomax and Issah Ye’o.

I’ve delved outside the “Zinger Stacker Burger” Box to find 11 potential VFM’s for your squad.

Christian Welch started 2020 slow but finished in sensational form. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

CHRISTIAN WELCH FRF ($453,500)

Recovering from a ruptured ACL Christian Welch was eased into 2020 averaging 27.8MPG (Minutes Per Game) in his first 6 games.

As Rob Sutherland has pointed out, “Welch finished his last 5 games averaging 67.7PPG (Points Per Game) in 55.2MPG” but is priced at an average of 51PPG this year.

His confidence will be sky high coming off a Premiership and State of Origin Series win. Throw in the defection of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Christian Welch is the perfect VFM player.

TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI FRF/2RF ($504,000)

Speaking of ‘Big Tino’, he was outstanding for the Melbourne Storm last season. From round 11 he averaged 72.4PPG in 54.4MPG, at a PPM (Points Per Minute) of 1.36. Imagine he plays 65+ minutes? Gold Coast coach Justin Holbrook has a promising young forward pack at his disposal with David Fifita, Moeaki Fotuaika, Sam McIntyre, Beau Fermor and Jaimin Jolliffe but it’s Fa’asuamaleaui that will demand the most minutes in the middle third of the field. And may I add another spice Colonel? The Cameron Smith and Gold Coast Titans marriage is only gaining momentum and we all saw how well The GOAT and Tino combined last year. As a rugby league fan, I am genuinely excited about the Gold Coast Titans prospects in the coming seasons.

Can Jackson Ford fill Frizell’s shoes at the Dragons. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

JACKSON FORD 2RF $361,700/ANDREW DAVEY 2RF ($336,600)/JACOB HOST 2RF ($317,100)

All three will be trying to cement themselves as week in week out first graders. All three boast great PPM’s but received below average minutes on the paddock.

In 2020:

-Jackson Ford averaged 46.8MPG at 0.9PPM, will he secure the right backrower spot vacated by Tyson Frizell?

-Andrew Davey averaged 39.6MPG at 1.0PPM. Joel Thompson has joined the UK Super League, will Des Hasler go with Tom Sangster’s new man crush?

-Jacob Host averaged 43.4MPG at 0.8PPM. Reports suggest Jai Arrow will miss a few weeks with ongoing hamstring issues and it appears that Cameron Murray will play lock at Redfern. Can Host jag a start on The Rabbitohs potent left edge outside Cody Walker?

How Finger Licking Good would it be if all three get named on an edge come TLT (Team List Tuesday) as their minutes will certainly increase this season?

C’mon TLT, answer ‘Yes’ to all my questions.

JACK HETHERINGTON FRF ($294,500)

It’s no “11 Secret Herbs and Spices” that I’m excited about Hetherington joining the Bulldogs pack in 2021. Built in the Willie Mason mould, the 24-year-old has made the switch to Belmore for opportunity and more game time, and both are possible with Luke Thompson suspended (until round 5) and the departure of Aiden Tolman. I am banking on an increase in PPM (0.7) and controlled discipline under new coach Trent Barrett. Rip in Jack!

Josh Hodgson’s 2020 was ended by a knee injury in the ninth round. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

JOSH HODGSON HOK ($374,000)

A fit and firing Josh Hodgson is paramount if the Raiders wish to be successful this season. In 2019 the English International peaked at $592,100 so he is seriously undervalued if he can recapture his form. The master of the one-on-one steal is recovering from a ruptured ACL suffered in round 9 last year. Add to that the emergence of Tom Starling who played so well that he earned a contract extension means I have the Canberra co-captain on my watchlist with Connor Watson, Jake Turpin and Jacob Liddle ahead at this stage.

JAKE AVERILLO CTW|5/8 ($331,200)

This kid is a superstar in the making. Available at CTW and 5/8th, Averillo is priced at his 37.4PPG from last year. There’s a big but here, if you take his five 80 minute performances that average rockets up to 65.4PPG and that was in a side fighting for the wooden spoon and had the worst attack in the NRL. A ruptured MCL in his elbow is not as serious as first feared with the Canterbury junior expected to line up in round one. With Trent Barrett as his head coach will Averillo be the Jerome Luai of 2020?

Matt Lodge has proven ability, and the Haas suspension creates opportunity. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

MATTHEW LODGE FRF ($299,000)

Many KFC Supercoaches would have had Payne Haas a set and forget FRF but a recent 3 match suspension for an off-field misdemeanour has opened the door for Matt Lodge to fight his way back into the Brisbane Broncos starting pack. Are three games enough for Lodge to force his way into the starting team and gain price rises or will he move back to the bench for 25-30 mins once Haas returns? Due to injury, Lodge only played six games for a high score of 48 last year but in 2019, he was offloading at will and averaged a very respectable 63PPG at a PPM of 1.1. Priced at an average in the mid 30s and with the departure of Joe Ofahengaue, Lodge has the opportunity to impress new coach Kevin Walters and could be a straight swap to a fallen gun come round six or seven.

ANTHONY MILFORD 5/8 ($304,600)

I have had both Anthony Milford and Matt Moylan on my ‘never again’ list in the past but currently have both in my side. But I’m moving mountains to run 2 gun fullbacks so one must go and that will be Moylan... for the extra $51k I’ll take the higher ceiling that The Milf offers. I’m banking on Milford’s reunion with Kevin Walters to resurrect his career and don’t underestimate what a contract year can do to a players’ performances.

I hope I have the courage to stick with him. I also have my eye on Josh Schuster, I really rate this kid but he needs to oust Kieran Foran and Cade Cust which looks unlikely, one to keep an eye on.

LUKE BROOKS HFB ($392,900)

Hear me out here KFC Supercoaches, he is priced under $400k due to stints in the number 14 jersey last year. In 2019 Brooks averaged a very respectful 58 and last year his priced peaked at a fraction under $540k. The departure of Benji Marshall, Harry Grant, Josh Reynolds and speculation Billy Walters is joining his father at the Broncos means Luke Brooks is the Colonel at Leichhardt. Add to that the predicted inexperienced spine of Jacob Liddle, Adam Doueihi and Dane Laurie. Is it now or never for the man that was touted the next Andrew Johns?

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: Reigning champ likes the look of these 11 mid-range selections