KFC SuperCoach NRL: Sunia Turuva and Kalyn Ponga among the fresh dual positions
KFC SuperCoaches have a dozen new DPP eligible players to pick from ahead of round one. See who has gained a new position and why they gained it here.
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This article is going to be one of both pleasure and pain.
On the one hand, I get to make the day for many SuperCoaches by confirming that the likes of Sunia Turuva are getting a second position.
On the other hand, there’s bound to be someone that people were hoping would get a DPP added who doesn’t. Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth …
But enough about my problems, let’s get on to the new duals!
SUNIA TURUVA GAINS CTW
Turuva was a superstar at fullback for Fiji at the World Cup and for the Panthers in NSW Cup. However, while his best position may be fullback his best position for the Panthers is wing – especially after the injury to Taylan May. Expected to nab that spot (though possibly on the right allowing Brian To’o to move back to the lethal left) Turuva’s ownership is set to soar once available at CTW.
KALYN PONGA GAINS 5/8
Yes we all knew the Knights planned to move Ponga to five-eighth, but when the positions were set back in December the club did not actually have a quality option at fullback which would permit the move. With Lachie Miller at the club the Ponga move appears to be a reality and so he gains the extra position.
JAKE AVERILLO GAINS CTW & HAYZE PERHAM GAINS FLB
These two changes are related and so are bracketed. Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo sees something in Hayze Perham that has eluded other NRL coaches and looks set to start the former Warrior/Eels and Redcliffe Dolphin at fullback. The promotion would displace Averillo to the centres and so both gain DPP accordingly.
TE MAIRE MARTIN GAINS 5/8
New Warriors recruit Te Maire Martin played every one of his 13 NRL games in 2022 (for the Broncos) at fullback. But he’s a talented playmaker too, and looks set to start at five-eighth for the Warriors in 2023 with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad preferred at fullback and Luke Metcalf in the casualty ward.
FONUA POLE GAINS 2RF
There might be a bit of serendipity here with Pole gaining 2RF based off how he was used in the trials (he started in the second row in the first game and at lock in the second). The Tigers putative starting lock, Joe Ofahengaue, was unavailable for selection in both games and their star second-row recruit John Bateman wasn’t available either. When both are on deck Pole likely slips back to the front-row rotation but we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t so welcome to the DPP club Fonua.
TEVITA PANGAI JR GAINS FRF
Capable of covering prop, lock and edge TPJ is always a challenge to assign just one position to in December. We took a punt that he was more likely to play edge or lock than prop but it seems we picked the wrong position. Heading into the final trial Pangai gave an interview where he revealed that Bulldogs coach Ciraldo had instructed him to focus on playing prop. We’ve added FRF to the big man – though now he has a calf niggle and will not be available for selection until round four.
MITCH BARNETT GAINS FRF
Ahh the evolution of the rugby league forward … Warriors recruit Barnett was a second-row who could play a bit of middle but he’s now expected to start at prop for the New Zealand based team – and then play a bit of edge. Either way we’ll honour the starting position and add DPP.
JAKE TRBOJEVIC GAINS FRF & SEAN KEPPIE GAINS 2RF
In 2022 the Sea Eagles were starting Jake Trbojevic at lock and Sean Keppie at prop. In 2023 they look set to potentially flip that and so each gains DPP.
JOE TAPINE GAINS 2RF
The best prop in the world (or at least in the NRL) in 2022 is moving to lock in 2023, or at least it seems that way based on trial teams and round one whispers. Tapine was a SuperCoach stud in the FRF in 2022 – could he be a DPP stud in 2023?
KAEO WEEKES GAINS FLB
A fullback for 12 of his 13 NSW Cup games (though five-eighth for his final one in round 15 of 2022), Weekes probably really should have been listed as a fullback to start 2023. That’s the position he played in the pre-season while Tom Trbojevic regained fitness and could play again if Turbo goes pop again. Hey, we all make mistakes, just some of us get to fix them.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: Sunia Turuva and Kalyn Ponga among the fresh dual positions
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