KFC SuperCoach NRL team reveal: Wacko’s Whispers round one 2021 squad
The man with the best late mail in the game, Wacko’s Whispers, revises his 2021 KFC SuperCoach NRL team dropping a playmaking superstar.
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When you have paid up for a SuperCoach spine that runs Damien Cook, Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and James Tedesco you need to save money elsewhere.
And that’s just what our late mail man Wacko’s Whispers has done finding some quality cheapies that should be in your team – or at the very least in your watchlist.
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HOOKER
Damien Cook ($621,000)
You want the best so you have to pay for it with Cook, has averaged 70+ the past three seasons. Will only get better with 6-again rule and quickness of game which I hope will allow him to take off from dummy half more in 2021. The Rabbitohs play Storm and Roosters in the opening three rounds but Cook is a keeper and shouldn’t be traded unless injury occurs.
Jacob Liddle ($247,200)
All Tigers fans, including me, will be hoping Jacob Liddle can finally deliver on his promise which has significantly hampered by injury. Will be splitting the role with either Jake Simpkin or Moses Mbye and not expecting him to become a keeper but hoping to make some cash to upgrade during the season.
FRONT ROW
Josh Papalii ($560,400)
Normally a part of the Fat Club in pre-season Papalii has returned in personal best order this pre-season after preparing for his fight against Ben Hannant in February. Only returned late to pre-season due to being on Origin duty but expecting him to be leader of Raiders pack like he has been passed few season
Braden Hamlin-Uele ($419,900)
POD option for me with view of him becoming the dominant middle forward for the Sharks with other middle forwards of Woods, Fifita and Toleman in veteran category. Played 65 minutes in Sharks semi-final loss to Raiders last season and while I don’t expect Hamlin-Uele to average that amount of minutes per game this season, if he can manage an increase on the 42 minutes he averaged in 2021 will be beneficial.
Spencer Leniu ($218,500)
The young promising prop will be the main beneficiary from James Tamou, Jack Hetherington and Zane Tetevano all leaving. Tipping he will overtake Moses Leota as starting prop by mid-season.
Stefano Utoikamanu ($186,800)
The most hyped young prop in the game since Payne Haas but can he deliver on the field like Haas did in his 2nd season?
SECOND ROW
Angus Crichton ($670,500)
With Boyd Cordner expected to be missing at the start of season you can lock Crichton in to play 80 minutes most weeks. Another issue which could help Crichton would be if Keary moved to the right side with Lam playing left edge. Most likely going to be my captain in round one.
Jason Taumalolo ($641,700)
The most consistent forward in SuperCoach averaging 70+ points over the last 4 seasons and good captain option each week.
David Fifita ($569,900)
New team, new start for Fifita this season, has had limited pre-season due to ankle injury but has been training on the right edge next to Ash Taylor. Will be looking for a big season to prove he is worth the money the Titans are paying him.
UPDATE 19 FEBRUARY: IN – Keoan Koloamatangu ($301,200) OUT Corey Harawira-Naera ($302,300)
With Corey Harawira-Naera looking like he won’t be selected for round one, ‘Koala Bear’ as he is known to me, fits into my price category, looking promising that he will start on left edge after spending time there in pre-season.
Jordan Riki ($277,500)
Promising young Kiwi who has been training on an edge for the Broncos and is a good chance to replace David Fifita.
Shawn Blore ($210,500)
Highly rated youngster who made his mark last season on debut going toe-to-toe with Nathan Brown, tipped to win right edge position and expecting big things from him this season
HALFBACK
Nathan Cleary ($734,3 00)
Last year was the first Cleary was fit for the whole season and wasn’t playing with injury which contributed to him having such a successful season. Cleary might not have another level to go to but look for him to play at level he did in 2020 if injury free.
Sam Walker ($173,700)
Young gun halfback who will debut at some stage during the season. Walker had shoulder surgery early in 2020 and returned to the NRL bubble after the COVID break and spent rest of the season in the bubble. Walker has got a good left foot step and good speed off the mark, he still needs his body to fill out but can kick goals as well. Has been promoted to a Top-30 spot after being a development player in 2020.
FIVE-EIGHTH
UPDATE 19 FEBRUARY: IN – Dylan Brown ($564,700) OUT Cameron Munster ($620,100)
If the Eels are to go to the next level and win their first NRL competition since 1986 Brown will have to have a massive season. Fits into my squad currently but not convinced that I will start round one with him.
UPDATE 19 FEBRUARY: IN – Connor Watson ($288,600) OUT Josh Schuster ($203,100)
Reportedly starting at lock for the Knights, Watson is coming off Achilles surgery which is a concern but is a good ball playing forward who can hopefully take advantage of the new six-again rules.
CTW
Valentine Holmes ($509,400)
A goalkicking fullback available in the centres, what could go wrong? Famous last words maybe, but with a full pre-season under the belt for Holmes, and hopefully an injury-free year, he can get somewhere back to the form he showed in the back end of 2018 season. Watch trial news though, Holmes started on the left wing outside of Tabuai-Fidow in a scrimmage against the Blackhawks on the weekend.
David Fusitu’a ($251,800)
Just wasn’t in right head space during the 2020 season which showed on his SuperCoach scores, headed home early last season due to personal reasons and starts cheap this season and let’s hope he gets back to his old form. Reports are that Euan Aitken will be playing left centre instead of his natural right centre position so Fusitu’a will have Peta Hiku on his inside which I consider a massive plus to Fusitu’a’s SuperCoach output in 2021.
Tesi Niu ($232,500)
Talented youngster who made his NRL debut last season before suffering a season-ending injury. Niu has been training at centre this pre-season but won’t surprise me to see him overtake Jamayne Issako at fullback once Kotoni Staggs (ACL) returns from injury.
Daine Laurie ($223,200)
Was a bit of a surprise selection but Laurie has now moved to the Tigers where he is expected to play fullback. Now we just have to hope coach Maguire starts Laurie at the back ahead of Moses Mbye.
Bailey Simonsson ($205,000)
Coming off shoulder surgery which saw his 2020 season finish early, has had a solid pre season and he looks to win the Raiders wing position for round one.
Joseph Suaalii ($173,700)
Most hyped youngster for last few seasons, cannot play till he turns 18 in August this year unless the Roosters are granted an exemption but tipping him to live up to the hype.
Haze Dunster ($173,700)
Squad filler currently till TLT but made his NRL debut in the Semi-Final last season after Michael Jennings was stood down and showed he was up to NRL standard
FULLBACK
James Tedesco ($843,100)
After breaking up with Teddy at the start of the 2020 season, I think I learnt my lesson and won’t be doing that again. Ended 2020 as the number one ranked player averaging 95.2PPG up from 84.1PPG in 2019 and I would say a must have for all teams.
Ryan Papenhuyzen ($629,000)
Was either Little Papi or Tommy Turbo here and have gone with Papenhuyzen with view of him getting goal kicking duties at the Storm.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL team reveal: Wacko’s Whispers round one 2021 squad
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