KFC SuperCoach NRL 2022: Best dual-position players revealed
These are the crown duals: Players who’ll give your team the ultimate in flexibility and save you trades. We’ve analysed the best premium and cheapie options in every position.
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Meet the crown duals of KFC NRL SuperCoach. The best of the best dual position players give your team vital coverage, save you trades and provide big points as proven by last year’s Isaiah Papali’i, Brandon Smith, Nicho Hynes, Adam Doueihi, Alex Johnston and Connor Watson.
With the right type of duals in your squad an injury to a star hooker can be replaced with a fullback; all you need to do is shuffle a 2RF to HOK, a CTW to 2RF, and a FLB to CTW and bam Harry Grant becomes Ryan Papenhuyzen in one trade.
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Or you could just have the most exotic dual available HOK/FLB Jake Granville in your team, but I’d advise against that, even as a Cowboys fan. Actually probably the most unique and useful dual position player is Josh Schuster at 2RF/5/8 but he’s out injured, so just add him to your watchlist for later in the year.
There promises to be more dual options then ever with a review of positions pre-season and Rounds 6, 12 and 18.
My first thought was the likes of Jack Bird, Connor Watson, Tyrone Peachey and Kurt Mann could gain four or five different positions between now and the end of the season.
But sorry to say, it’s two positions per player maximum.
If a player already has two positions that’s where they’re staying for the year. They can’t be changed. Players with one position can have another added at those review points.
Here’s my take on the best dual position players and some cheaper options to pair them with in the alternate position for maximum flexibility.
HOK/2RF
Pick Cameron McInnes ($535,400), Brandon Smith ($596,600) or Connor Watson ($515,500)
McInnes is undervalued based on his past performances of 76PPG in 2020 and 68PPG in 2019 with a discount applied after missing all of 2021 through injury. I like the idea of pairing him with Reuben Cotter. Brandon Smith is coming off an 11 try season, when his previous best was three in a season. He looks overvalued and is suspended for Round 1. Connor Watson’s role with the Roosters isn’t clear yet, but I’d expect him to come off the bench and spell Sam Verrills at hooker and also Victor Radley in the middle for a total of 55MPG which might be enough for him to match but not exceed last year’s output. Though if the Roosters cop injuries like last year he may just be plugging whatever gap is needed given his utility value.
Paired with... Reuben Cotter ($381,400), Karl Lawton ($346,700) or Kobe Hetherington ($301,200).
Cotter averaged 58PPG in the last five games of 2020 and smashed out 74 points of base in 60 minutes against the Tigers in 2021 before going down injured for the bulk of the season. If he can avoid injury he could be a KFC SuperCoach points machine. Cotter at lock and Jason Taumalolo in the front row is the ideal scenario. The injury to Josh Schuster brings Kane Lawton into calculations, he filled in for Schuster for five games last year averaging 67.4PPG. Hetherington established himself in the Broncos pack in 2021 playing every game from Round 11 including a memorable -5 points against the Raiders when he was sent off.
FRF/2RF
Pick Isaiah Papali’i, ($688,100) or Tevita Pangai ($569,900),
Papali’i was 10 points clear of Payne Haas as the best scorer in the position with an impressive seven tries and three try assists through the middle of the season bolstering his impressive base stats. Can he find those big attacking stats again? Pangai averaged 67.5PPG in his 10 games on the edge in 2021. If you’re picking him you know what you’re in for with injury and suspension. As mentioned in my last article he’s only played 45 games of a possible 68 in the past three years.
There are a stack of options below the top tier if you’re strapped for cash but they all have issues. Luke Thompson missed nine games through suspension in 2021. Alex Twal has zero attacking upside going five seasons without a try in the NRL, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, had games where he wasn’t involved enough in 2021, twice going under 30 points and another seven games under 50 points. Joseph Tapine, is one of too many options in the Raiders pack and a likely victim of Ricky roulette. Jai Arrow could be the best of the next tier if the Rabbitohs work out how to make better use of him. His 52.2PPG from 47MPG in 2021 is 10 points less than what we saw from him at his best for the Titans.
Paired with... Tepai Moeroa ($205,100), Jirah Momoisea ($205,100) or Ethan Bullemore ($280,000)
These three loom as the most likely cheapie duals for Round 1. Don’t expect massive minutes or points but they should do a job. Moeroa only played four games after returning from a stint in rugby union. Momoisea played the last three games of 2021 for the Knights. Bullemore scored three tries in 17 games averaging 26MPG for the Broncos.
2RF/CTW
Jack Bird ($498,600) or Euan Aitken ($486,00)
Jack Bird averaged 67.2PPG in four games starting in the backrow in 2021. He averaged 54PPG in his other 18 games, mostly at centre. Set for a middle or edge forward role so he’s definitely undervalued and sure to be a good POD with his injury history likely to turn most off. Aitken is a more popular option at the moment after he pumped out 80PPG in the backrow to finish 2021, but will he shuffle back out to the centres when Tohu Harris returns from injury?
Paired with... Izack Tago ($287,900)
Tago looks a safe bet for a spot in the Panthers backline. He punched out an average of 32PPG in just 37MPG coming off the bench in six games last year. What can he do in 80 minutes? Ben Trbojevic is proving a popular option again with 38% of teams picking him up already. He played a grand total of 45 minutes in four games in 2021 with scores of 1, 5, 6 and 24. I really want every player in my squad playing this season and not being an auto-emergency nightmare, but I understand his price is hard to resist. If only we had king of the 2RF/CTW dual nuffies Jarred Anderson, but his name seems to be missing from SuperCoach after many years in many teams.
HFB/FLB
Pick Nicho Hynes ($685,900)
There’s no other premium option with the same dual setup as Nicho Hynes. In his 16 80-minute games of 2021 he averaged 97PPG. He’s priced at a 78PPG average so I see the appeal for the 11% who have him on board. But the Storm 2021 team scored the second most points and tries in a season in rugby league history. (Eels 2001 top those stats). He won’t have the same scoring opportunities at the Sharks this year so keep your expectations in check and he should still be among the best halfbacks not named Cleary.
Paired with... Blake Taaffe ($210,400)
Taaffe will play fullback and kick goals while Latrell Mitchell is suspended for the opening games then likely be the Rabbitohs bench utility. He had three 80 minute games against weak opposition in 2021 but only put up scores of 49, 25 and 47. Not super appealing numbers, but he’s only an injury away from a start in one of the best attacking setups. So you could pick him and hold him.
HFB/5/8
Pick Luke Keary ($528,400) or Shaun Johnson ($462,000)
I have my reservations about both of these players but there are options in the cheaper slot to give you coverage with four dual halves. Keary’s best season was 61.3PPG so he’s not presenting great value at his price. He returns after playing just three games in 2021 but the Roosters team looks very strong and the draw from crucial money making Rounds 4-9 couldn’t be any better. I’d take him ahead of Johnson for that reason alone. Johnson’s injury history speaks for itself and you can read more about that in my last article on the players who’ve played and missed the most games in the past three seasons. The Warriors do have a nice opening draw too and Johnson’s not started a season this cheap since 2016.
Paired with Jake Clifford ($405,600), Jackson Hastings ($350,700), Lachlan Ilias ($205,200) or Ezra Mam ($175,400)
Lachlan Ilias should be the Rabbitohs starting halfback and find a few attacking stats per game to be a good cash cow. Lock him in now. The other options are more up for debate or if you’re going super cheap in the halves. Clifford averaged 53 in the last 8 rounds of 2021. He has goalkicking duties and operates on the Knights dominant side of attack on the left. He’s underpriced after some scratchy form for the Cowboys. I think he’s a comparable option to Jackson Hastings who is slightly cheaper and much more popular but is unproven in the NRL and faces seven of last years top eight in his first 9 matches. Points may be tough to come by for the Tigers half. Mam impressed in the first trial game for the Broncos but is an outsider for Round 1 at this stage with Tyson Gamble and Albert Kelly ahead of him to partner Adam Reynolds. You could start with Mam and hope he gets a game at some point. It worked out last year with cheapie halfback Sam Walker.
5/8/CTW
Connor Tracey ($424,900) or Kurt Mann ($383,300)
A fit Adam Doueihi would be the premium option here but he’s out injured for a while yet so the Sharks’ Tracey and Knights’ Mann are the options to consider. Tracey has bounced around the Sharks backline for a couple seasons but now seems settled at left centre. He averaged 53.5PPG when you remove the games he came off the bench in 2021 so he’s undervalued. Mann was a top CTW in 2020 playing at five-eighth for the Knights averaging 64PPG. In 2021 he played mostly at right centre and averaged 48PPG across 18 80 minute games. Dane Gagai joins the Knights to play right centre so Mann will switch positions again. If he lands at lock or five-eighth he’s worth considering.
Paired with... Talatau Amone ($284,500)
Amone is in the front seat to claim the five-eighth spot at the Dragons. He played six 80 minute games in 2021 at 35.3PPG one of those a 12 point game with 8 missed tackles. Hopefully he sorts out the defensive issues because we know he can attack with 76 points in 24 minutes against the Panthers.
CTW/FLB
Pick Alex Johnston ($638,200), Fanitesi Niu ($511,300), Tyrell Sloan ($447,500) or Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ($418,800)
Alex Johnston scored 27 tries in 19 games in 2021 at 72.8PPG improving on his previous best of 55.8PPG in 2020. It’s hard to see him maintaining that incredible try scoring rate but with Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell inside him he’ll still have plenty of opportunities and is owned by just 4.5% of teams. We know SuperCoach scoring favours fullbacks so picking one of these undervalued young stars could deliver big time. Niu played the last 10 games of the season at fullback for the Broncos averaging 63.7PPG. Sloan averaged 63.8PPG with six tries in his five games of 2021. I used one of my last trades on him and he delivered 91 and 95 in the final two rounds. Tabuai-Fidow had four games at fullback in 2021 averaging 60PPG. Including 40 points in 9 minutes before going off injured in the final round.
Paired with Bailey Simonsson ($374,400), Rocco Berry ($322,200), Selwyn Cobbo ($320,100) or Joseph Suaalii ($259,500)
If Simonsson gets the Eels left wing spot he’ll be in prime position to score some big points through tries while Maika Sivo is out injured. The Eels love attacking down that edge and Sivo has scored 52 tries there in the past three seasons. Simonsson only had 6 tries in 17 games in 2021, waiting until Round 9 to score his first. Berry only managed six 80 minute games in 2021 averaging 40PPG with just two tries. The Warriors have a nice opening draw and he’s the cheapest entry point into the points in that backline. Selwyn Cobbo had similar stats in 2021, 2 tries in six 80 minute games at 43PPG and has a Broncos backline spot wrapped up. Joseph Suaalii scored one try in five games at before picking up an injury. The most popular pick but he’s no guarantee for a spot in the team with Billy Smith, Kevin Naiqama and Paul Momirovski for competition.
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