KFC SuperCoach teams analysis Round 19: Best Ryan Papenhuyzen replacements revealed
Teams are in for Round 19 and the burning KFC SuperCoach question is how to replace Melbourne Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen.
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Tom Sangster reveals the players to target and avoid in KFC SuperCoach Round 19.
WINNERS
* Payne Haas - Still owned by 31 per cent of KFC SuperCoaches and back for the Broncos after two weeks out to rest up injuries to both shoulders and an ankle. Haas has carried injury since round eight and averaged “just” 52 in that time compared to 75.8 before that.
Now he’s given his injuries time to heal, Haas can hopefully return to keeper-like output. Maybe not his previous 75.8 average but anything close will still rank extremely high in a problematic FRF position. Translation: The future is bright for those who held.
* Ryan Matterson - Matto is back after missing a month through a rib injury. Those who held are cheering given he still possess the third best average of any 2RF in the game, second best if you have Isaiah Papali’i at FRF, which you should.
* Latrell Mitchell - This week is all about Ryan Papenhuyzen replacements and Latrell is right at the top of the list as the most purchased player this round. Since returning from injury three rounds ago, Latrell has averaged a massive 109. But most importantly, he looks extremely committed and has the numbers to match. Perhaps the most telling stat is that Latrell has averaged 11 runs since his return from injury compared to seven prior.
* James Tedesco - It’s hardly been Teddy’s best KFC SuperCoach season, for him. Not helped by the Roosters’ relatively poor form, for them. But even a “bad” season is good from Teddy and he is ranked 10th for average this season for all players, fifth for fullbacks. The injury crisis at the Roosters means Teddy could take on even more prominence in attack, which can only be good for KFC SuperCoach. He is therefore the second most popular replacement for Papenhuyzen behind Latrell.
* Joseph Manu - Speaking of prominence in attack at the Roosters, Manu has been at the centre of everything at the Chooks in recent times after playing plenty of five-eighth and fullback and averaging 114 over the last five rounds. Alas, with Luke Keary back from concussion and Tedesco free to fly again after Origin, Manu drops to the centres this week where he has averaged mid-70s for the season. For those without a calculator, that’s a points loss of 40 per game compared to the last five rounds. Even so, his mid-70s average at CTW is still elite for the position, this is more just a note to not get too carried away with recent stats.
* Reuben Garrick - Speaking of CTW, it is a position where overall prizes and head-to-head leagues are often decided. Garrick has averaged 72.5 for the season, which is enough to sit second in the position behind Manu. However, this figure is a tad misleading given he has averaged 10 points better per game (82) since moving to fullback in place of Tom Trbojevic (shoulder, season). Note however, Garrick has only taken one shot at goal in the last two games as he battles a niggle.
* Valentine Holmes - Another Pap replacement worth serious consideration. The next three games are about as good as they come for KFC SuperCoach against the Tigers, Dragons and Bulldogs.
* Cameron Munster - This one doesn’t need too much explanation. Despite missing plenty of games this season, Munster is a clear leader at five-eighth by almost 10 points per game - a huge gap in anyone’s books. He is also a popular replacement for Papenhuyzen via duals (mostly using Nicho Hynes as the swing man) and is also a very popular option for Ezra Mam, who can be cashed in after a rise of almost $250,000.
* Grant Anderson - The popular cheapie returns from an elbow injury for the Storm, but on the bench. This is a serious blow to KFC SuperCoach owners given he will cause auto emergency drama and all-but rule out the captaincy loophole.
* Siosifa Talakai, Nathan Cleary, Cameron Murray, Damien Cook - Among a host of KFC SuperCoach-relevant players due to return after post-Origin resting.
LOSERS
* Ryan Papenhuyzen - Out for the season with a fractured knee cap and therefore the most popular sell this week by a long, long way.
* Ezra Mam - The Broncos young gun has made almost $250,000 and is therefore a popular cash-in this week for the likes of Latrell, Tedesco, Munster and pretty much every player mentioned in the “winners”. That said, he’s hardly an automatic sell given he has the Tigers next week.
* Will Penisini - One of the best cheapies of KFC SuperCoach 2022 but starting to leak cash heavily after averaging 22.7 in the last three weeks.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach teams analysis Round 19: Best Ryan Papenhuyzen replacements revealed
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