KFC SuperCoach NRL 2023: Mastermind’s POD squad, best point of difference players

The Mastermind reveals his team of point of difference KFC SuperCoach buys set to give you an all-important edge in season 2023.

Do you trust the KFC NRL SuperCoach hivemind?

For the most part I’d say yes, but then I see Ray Stone (29.4%) and Jack Howarth (24.8%) among the most owned players destined for low or no minutes and shake my head.

If you want to play it safe check the percentage ownership using SuperCoach Plus and follow the team template with big guns Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco the most popular top dollar buys.

That’s a perfectly viable and safe strategy to stick with the pack early until we’ve got enough information to make solid calls on which teams are on the up in 2023.

I usually lean the other way and like to roll the dice on more than a few (points of difference) PODs knowing I’m running the risk of falling behind but a chance of pushing ahead early.

Here is my POD squad for 2023 with a player in each position tracking at under 10% ownership who could give you the edge on more popular picks.

Damien Cook is at just 3.5 per cent ownership. Picture: Richard Dobson

HOOKER

Damien Cook (3.5%)

Cook’s not getting the respect or ownership he deserves from KFC SuperCoaches. He finished just 50 points behind Harry Grant overall in 2022 but is being completely overlooked despite his proven point scoring and durability over the past five seasons.

The Rabbitohs draw isn’t particularly favourable but they are one of the most settled teams in the competition and don’t have a bye until Round 15. I think they’ll start strong with Cook in the thick of the points.

Most owned: Brandon Smith (49%), Ray Stone (29.4%), Harry Grant (25.6%), Tanah Boyd (24.1%)

FRONT ROW

Jake Trbojevic (4%)

Prior to Des Hasler’s return to Manly in 2019 Jake was the leading Trbojevic in KFC SuperCoach. The past four seasons have seen Jake’s scores decrease dramatically with Hasler wanting him to pass more than run. He averaged 13 hit ups per game in 2018 and just seven in 2022. Jake is coming off a 50PPG average in 2022, his worst season since breaking through in 2015.

How does new coach Anthony Seibold plan on using him? Surely it’s more than seven hit ups a game. Jake managed 15 hit ups in his two State of Origin games last year. I can see some good value here and a handy dual position status.

Most owned: Stefano Utoikamanu (35.6%), Franklin Pele (25.5%), Joseph Tapine (22.7%)

Reuben Cotter (22.5%) Christian Welch (21.8%)

Jake Trbojevic should increase his running game in 2023. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

SECOND ROW

Jason Taumalolo (7%)

Taumalolo had an injury affected game and two others where Todd Payten didn’t use him in the second half in 2022 pulling his average down to 57.7PPG. Looking the fittest he’s been with 23 games played last season after a horrid run of hand injuries in 2021. Taumalolo and the Cowboys have a great draw and don’t have a bye until Round 15 giving you a consistent mid-60PPG scorer with attacking upside.

Most Popular: Josh Schuster (54.7%), J’Maine Hopgood (49.3%), Cameron Murray (29.8%), Ray Stone (29.4%), Jack Howarth (24.8%), David Fifita (20.3%)

HALFBACK

Sam Walker (8%)

If you’re not reaching for both the top shelf options in Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes then Sam Walker shapes up as the next best option for me. There was a little bit of second season syndrome about Walker’s start to last season averaging 52PPG over the first 16 rounds but he stormed home post-Origin with 73.5PPG in the last eight games.

With fixtures against the Dolphins and Warriors in the first two rounds he could well continue that form and help you burst out of the blocks.

Most popular: Nathan Cleary (52%), Nicho Hynes (30%), Isaiah Katoa (24.7%), Tanah Boyd (24.1%)

NRL 2022 RD08 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Sydney Roosters - Sam Walker. Picture: NRL Photos

FIVE-EIGHTH

Alexander Brimson (2.5%)

There is serious merit in picking either Cody Walker (6.1%) or Thomas Dearden (2.8%) because as mentioned above both the Rabbitohs and Cowboys are very settled attack-minded teams which don’t hit a bye until round 15.

However, the man I really like for a roll of the dice here is Brimson who slots in at fullback for the Titans. He plays the Dragons twice, the Tigers, Broncos and Dolphins in the opening rounds, all games that scream plenty of points.

Most popular: Josh Schuster (54.5%), Matt Burton (32.9%), Isaiah Katoa (24.3%), Adam Doueihi (22.9%)

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CENTRE/WING

Nick Meaney (4.1%), Campbell Graham (2%), Isaiah Tass (0.5%)

CTW is the position you can take a real swing with the PODs. Most teams will load in a stack of cheapies here with room for maybe one top player or two mid options at most. With Ryan Papenhuyzen confirming he’s even further off than expected, Nick Meaney will have the Storm fullback spot and goalkicking duties with a sweet draw until at least Round 9.

It’s a gamble worth taking if you don’t have Melbourne coverage elsewhere in your team. If you’re looking for a more reliable option Rabbitohs centres Isaiah Tass (33 base per game) and Campbell Graham (37 base per game) were among the top CTW options for base stats in 2022. The upside is there for both with their try strike rates easy to improve on – Tass had two tries in 13 games while Graham had five tries in 17 games in 2022.

Most popular: Paul Alamoti (47.5%), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (44.5%), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (37.6%), Valentine Holmes (30.3%), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (30.2%), Jack Howarth (24.8%), William Warbrick (19.1%)

FULLBACK

Lachlan Miller (7.1%)

This isn’t a position I’d be mucking about with too much. James Tedesco is highly owned for good reason as the most consistent KFC SuperCoach performer in the game. Tom Trbojevic has the highest ceiling of any player in the game. You can trust the crowd here. If Tedesco’s early bye or Turbo’s horror injury history turn you off then look at Latrell Mitchell (15.4%) who hit new heights coming back from injury last year.

I don’t think you should look beyond those options but if you really want to POD up try Lachlan Miller at the Knights. Miller only has six games at NRL level with the Sharks last season so it’s hard to get a good read on him. One area he did excel at was tackle bust percentage. Proving very hard to tackle, Miller busted tackles on 61% of his runs (a handy stat from www.nrlsupercoachstats.com). That screams KFC SuperCoach gold and the Knights do have a nice opening draw. The dual position status would give you some nice flexibility too.

Most popular: James Tedesco (42%), Tom Trbojevic (35.5%)

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL 2023: Mastermind’s POD squad, best point of difference players