Our Journalists

Ian MaybanksSuperCoach NRL writer

Ian Maybanks is an NRL SuperCoach writer for the Courier Mail. He has a top 50 best finish and been a regular top 1000 finisher, including the past three seasons of NRL SuperCoach. He formerly wrote under “The Mastermind” alias, but now he’s unmasked and you can follow his NRL SuperCoach analysis here.

@ian_maybanks

Ian Maybanks

Latest

SuperCoach

Nicho Hynes has a great opening schedule.

SuperCoach schedule rater: The guns set to fire and fizzle

The first step for selecting a SuperCoach squad is deciding which premium players to spend big on. We analyse who’ll be top, who’ll flop and the match-ups that matter.

SuperCoach

Selwyn Cobbo, Payne Haas and Reece Walsh.

Bargain Broncos: Brisbane a hot-bed of SuperCoach value

Broncos bargains are up for grabs in NRL SuperCoach 2025 as new coach Michael Maguire shakes up a squad that fell in a heap in the second half of 2024.

SuperCoach

Kalyn Ponga is one of the first players picked for Ian Maybankas, AKA the Mastermind.

Mastermind’s SuperCoach team: Four must-have players of 2025

Choosing where to spend the big money in NRL SuperCoach is as important as cheapies and THE MASTERMIND just can’t go past this quartet of keepers.

UpdatedSuperCoach

*APAC Sports Pictures of the Week - 2023, May 1* - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: J'maine Hopgood of the Eels looks to pass as he is tackled during the round nine NRL match between Parramatta Eels and Newcastle Knights at CommBank Stadium on April 28, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

SuperCoach: Mastermind’s last-minute switch to 2RF gun

He’s managed to squeeze Nathan Cleary, Nicho Hynes, Kalyn Ponga, Tom Trbojevic AND J’maine Hopgood into his team – no wonder they call Ian Maybanks ‘The Mastermind’.

SuperCoach

Tom Turbo, Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary

SuperCoach top guns: Which players are really worth big bucks?

One SuperCoach gun is so dominant at home, he’s an automatic lock for captain – but he’s only in 33 per cent of teams so far. Find out which pricey players are worth the cash.

SuperCoach

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 21: Reece Walsh and Patrick Carrigan of the Maroons take a selfie after winning game two of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on June 21, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Maroon Zone: Ultimate SuperCoach squad for Queenslanders

This is how to rid your NRL SuperCoach squad of pesky NSW cockroaches and load in Queensland’s stacked pack of talent.

SuperCoach

Liam Martin, Brandon Smith and Jai Arrow.

SuperCoach: Mastermind’s POD Squad full of hidden gems

NRL SuperCoach teams are looking very generic at the moment. The Mastermind reveals the point of difference players to get the jump on rivals.

SuperCoach

The SuperCoach NRL consensus team

No time to pick your own SuperCoach NRL team? Our experts have done all the work for you right here. CHECK OUT THE CONSENSUS TEAM

SuperCoach

NRL ironmen: Most durable and injury-prone players

They are the NRL’s ultimate ironmen, the durable players every team can rely on. And at the other end of the spectrum, those players who just can’t take a trick with injury.

UpdatedSuperCoach

SuperCoach NRL: What the trials taught us about mid-rangers

Traditionally the mid-ranger is anathema to SuperCoaches, but 2024 has thrown up a bumper crop of buys worth considering. We look at who shone and who stank in the trials.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/ian-maybanks