KFC SuperCoach NRL: Reigning champion Matthew Wight’s 11 secrets to success
Our reigning KFC SuperCoach champion reveals the 11 tips and tricks that got him over the line – and why it could be you on the podium in 2023.
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It’s hard to argue that 50k, a personalised KFC tracksuit and the Holy Grail trophy is not the win of a lifetime, but the best part about SuperCoach is there are so many ways to be a winner.
Whether you beat your work colleagues in your head-to-head league with a POD from the clouds, secure bragging rights over your mates each week with a cheeky VC loop or round out the year inside the top 1011 overall players and become the only family member with a KFC water bottle next Christmas, we are all winners.
Hopefully with a little something from each of the following 11 tips and ticks you too can feel some of the highs KFC NRL SuperCoach has given me:
1 Depth, depth, depth
It might look enticing on paper to have a starting 13 even the 2008 QLD Maroons would be jealous of, but if that means 12 bottom priced cheapies on your bench to make it happen it’s not going to work. This will be more critical than ever this year with a team on the bye each round. Having solid depth in each position not only puts you in a position to deal with the wear and tear of each round of footy, it gives you options for sit and starts each week based on match-ups and form and can help build overall squad value for a barnstorming finish to the year.
2 Chase value and balance
A similar theme to the first tip, but it’s important to start with a balanced squad from fullback to hooker and everything in between with players that present the most value for money. A point scoring combination of guns priced at an achievable high point, midrangers set for breakout seasons and cheapies ready to burst onto the scene is the way to put up a solid score week in week out.
3 You can make mistakes and still win it all
My first trade of the year last year was Jamayne Taunoa-Brown to Spencer Leniu. Both solid NRL players, but neither scream KFC SuperCoach guns. Stay patient and don’t beat yourself up over a poor starting 17 selection, a bad trade or a tragic captaincy choice. Next week is a new week.
4 Trust your gut
Don’t second guess yourself. Planning is always a good thing and thinking through different starting combinations or trades will help you in the long run. But be prepared to watch in disgust every now and then when things don’t go your way.
5 It’s a stock market, you need to buy low
Starting the season with players that look set for an increase in minutes and role, or moving to a better club with more attacking upside, or even someone off the back of injury-plagued season are the keys to fitting the most value into your squad. This play also holds true throughout the season. If someone has a few tough games and scores poorly, it doesn’t necessarily make them a bad SuperCoach player, but it does make them cheaper than they were two games ago.
6 Attacking players with a dream month ahead
The key to getting the most out of players that are heavily reliant on attacking stats is finding runs of at least four games against soft opposition. These players often include strike backrowers, five-eighths and centre-wingers.
7 Matchup proof players
Seemingly counter to the above point but subtly different is finding matchup proof players. Generally speaking, these are front row forwards, high base stat scoring outside backs and the elite of elite in other positions. With FRF and even your high base outside backs, your meat and potato guys, they don’t need match-ups, just avoid the byes and Origin players where possible because it’s a good place to save trades.
8 Clubs with a utility 14
NRL teams that play a utility at 14 have big SuperCoach ramifications. They will make your hooker much less enticing due to the likelihood of minutes sharing, but they’re also a goldmine for middle forwards. FRFs and lock forwards that start in teams with a utility on the bench have a better chance at increased minutes and SuperCoach points.
9 Dual position players are a green light
With more byes, the increasing mine field of Origin and a longer season to survive, players with dual position availability are going to offer some much-needed flexibility. Hopefully before round one the guys and girls of SuperCoach will give us more DPPs, but until then the current eligible players will inevitably help you get 17 on the park when others won’t.
10 No need to out-think the room
You don’t need 13 point of difference players to win head-to-head games or even lead the nation overall. The name of the game is getting the 17 highest scoring players you can fit under the salary cap for 27 weeks.
11 It’s your team, have fun with it!
Love the name of your team and choose players you like to support. The last thing you want when watching a game of footy on a Sunday afternoon is to need a player to score a hat-trick to win your head-to-head, but you can’t stand to cheer them on. If you’re happy with the look of your team, you’re halfway there.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: Reigning champion Matthew Wight’s 11 secrets to success
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