NRL transfers 2022: Full player movement at every club and KFC SuperCoach NRL implications
Check out our updated pre-season whispers about round one roles including David Fifita’s potential for growth and serious doubts over a popular pick.
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NRL rosters are not yet set in stone but the big moves have been made ahead of the 2022 season.
In this updated article we review all the gains and losses at every club and look at the opportunities created – and lost – for KFC SuperCoach NRL players.
BRONCOS
The Broncos lost stalwart Alex Glenn but I expect Kurt Capewell to step straight into that void playing 80 minutes on an edge and providing cover in the centres in an emergency. Tevita Pangai Jr’s departure opens up the other edge and I would think Jordan Rikki is the frontrunner for that position though both will feel pressure from young guns Brendan Piakura and TC Robati.
The arrival of Adam Reynolds offsets the departure of Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft with Albert Kelly, Tyson Gamble, Billy Walters and Ezra Mam left to fight it out for the chance to partner Reynolds.
Coach Kevin Walters has said that defensive effort is what he wants from his five-eighth and while that may seem to benefit the aggressive Gamble I think Kelly is underrated here boasting better tackle efficiency than Gamble last year.
I’m expecting we’ll see Mam – who was crowned the Intrust Super Cup’s rookie of the year in 2021 – at some point in 2022 but I do not think it will be for the first half of the season which makes his current ownership of 11% far too high.
The departure of Xavier Coates (Storm) leaves a void on the edge, but there are options to fill it. Should first choice centres Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth be fit, then Selwyn Cobbo looks a good shout for one wing leaving David Mead, Jamayne Isaako, Corey Oates and new recruits Jordan Pereira and Brenko Lee (more of a centre really) battling it out for the other side.
SuperCoach Comment: Injury has limited Kotoni Staggs to just 18 games over the past two seasons but reportedly fit, firing and training the house down the classy centre is very much a pre-season SuperCoach darling with over 40% ownership. It’s easy to see Staggs’ appeal as he’s priced at $433K – roughly a 50PPG average – and yet averaged 59PPG in 2020 and 62PPG in 2021. On the downside though, 5PPG of Staggs’ 2020 average came off the kicking tee (he won’t kick in 2022), he has a poor injury history and at 41% he’s far from a POD. I’m not sold yet.
He’s battling to gain a starting role and so you’re probably not high on Jamayne Isaako, but the arrival of Adam Reynolds should kill off any interest you had in the winger. Isaako averaged 10PPG in goalkicking in 2021, it would take an injury to Reynolds for him to be taking any shots in the coming season. Speaking of new arrivals … Kurt Capewell averaged 66 minutes per game in 2021 thanks to Penrith’s stacked backrow. He’s likely to play the full 80 as a straight replacement for Glenn and while not a workrate monster he is on my radar priced at a 50ppg average. Keep an eye on Pat Carrigan’s minutes, injury ended his season in rounds nine and his minutes were down on what we know he can play – priced at 53ppg he’s 10+ better than that and should be one you consider for classic (and pick up ahead of others in draft too!).
Losses
Alex Glenn: 18 games/2RF
Xavier Coates: 17 games/wing
Tevita Pangai jnr: 15 games/10 2RF, 3 prop, 1 lock, 1 interchange
Anthony Milford: 13 games/12 five-eighth, 1 interchange
Ethan Bullemor: 18 games/1 prop, 17 interchange
Jesse Arthars: 11 games/9 centre, 2 interchange (1 year loan)
John Asiata: 10 games/2 lock, 1 prop, seven interchange
Brodie Croft: 12 games/8 games halfback, 2 five-eighth, 2 interchange
Gains
Adam Reynolds: 22 games/HFB (Rabbitohs)
Kurt Capewell: 19 games/18 2RF, 1 centre (Panthers)
Ryan James: 14 games/5 starts FRF, 1 lock/8 interchange (Raiders)
Corey Jensen: 9 games/1 FRF, 8 interchange (Cowboys)
Billy Walters: 2 games/1 five-eighth, 1 interchange (Wests Tigers)
Brenko Lee: 0 games (Storm)
Jordan Pereira: 4 games/wing (Dragons)
Logan Bayliss: 0 games (QRL Cup)
Ezra Mam: 0 games (QRL Cup)
BULLDOGS
No team has bought up in the off-season like the Bulldogs. Though to be fair no team quite needed to buy up like they did either, both as a result of years of underperforming and also a big clean out.
Will Hopoate’s departure is a blow as the veteran centre was both a willing defender and worker, while Nick Cotric (Raiders) added versatility to the backline. However, the arrival of Burns and Naden along with the development of Aaron Schoupp offsets these departures. Addo-Carr is a walk-up start to secure one wing role leaving Corey Allen (who provides fullback cover) and Jayden Okunbor battling it out for the other sideline spot.
Nick Meaney’s absence at fullback is covered by the arrival of Matt Dufty with the aforementioned Allen a backup.
Joining Dufty in ‘the spine’ is premiership winner Matt Burton. While Burton was used primarily as a centre at the Panthers, he is expected to play five-eighth at the Bulldogs which will leave Jake Averillo and Kyle Flanagan battling it out to play halfback.
In the forwards, Dylan Napa and Adam Elliott are the major departures, losses offset by the addition of Paul Vaughan in the FRF rotation and the versatile Pangai Jr who can cover every position in the pack bar hooker. Max King is a 50 game veteran who missed all of 2021 due to an Achilles injury.
It’s hooker that is the last piece in the puzzle at Belmore. Katoa’s departure is only partly offset by the signing of Josh Cook from the Rabbitohs, a rake with patchy NSW Cup stats. Jeremy Marshall-King can play there though he’s a lightweight option, Jackson Topine is a club leader of the future but he was only a pinch hitting hooker who’s best in the backrow.
SuperCoach comment: It seems perverse to highlight someone other than the galaxy of star recruits but that’s me so – Aaron Schoupp come on down! The bullocking Bulldog averaged the fourth best base for any CTW last year and two of those above him (Capewell and Euan Aitken) spent plenty of time in the second row. With a big upgrade in the class of player around him Schoupp is very much on my watchlist – now he just needs to hold off one of Burns or Naden to secure a start. While on the topic of base, take a bow Josh Jackson after you trounced every other 2RF finishing 5PPG better than the next best at the position (interestingly that was teammate Luke Thompson). There’s not much flash to go with the hard work so I’m wary of investing in Jackson but he’s on my watchlist. Elsewhere, I’ll watch pre-season to see how a team that has undergone such a transformation gels.
Losses
Will Hopoate: 24 games/CTW
Nick Meaney: 22 games/13 fullback, 8 wing, 1 centre
Dylan Napa: 18 games/8 prop, 10 interchange
Sione Katoa: 18 games/14 hooker, 4 interchange
Adam Elliott: 18 games/ 17 2RF, 1 lock
Renouf Atoni: 14 games/10 interchange, 2 lock, 1 prop, 1 second row
Nick Cotric: 14 games/10 wing, 4 centre
Brad Deitz: 7 games/1 hooker, 6 interchange
Chris Smith: 6 games/5 2RF, 1 interchange
Lachlan Lewis: 6 games/5 five-eighth, 1 interchange
Kiko Manu: 4 games/3 wing, 1 centre
Dean Britt: 1 game/interchange
James Roumanos: 0 games
Watson Heleta: 0 games
Gains
Matt Burton: 22 games/15 centre/7 halves (Panthers)
Josh Addo-Carr: 21 games/wing (Storm)
Tevita Pangai jnr: 18 games/ 10 2RF, 4 interchange, 3 prop, 1 lock (Broncos/Panthers)
Matt Dufty: 15 games/fullback (Dragons)
Paul Vaughan: 16 games/14 prop, 2 interchange (Dragons)
Braidon Burns: 8 games/6 centre, 2 interchange (Rabbitohs)
Brent Naden: 6 games/3 wing, 2 centre, 1 interchange (Panthers)
Reece Hoffman: CTW 0 games (Wests Tigers)
Max King: 0 games (Storm)
Josh Cook: 0 games (Rabbitohs)
John Asiata (Signed but has left club for Super League)
COWBOYS
Let’s start with the biggest recruit rather than the biggest loss of games played and talk the Chad. Investing $950K per year on a halfback who was limited in 2021 due to injury and had shoulder surgery in the off-season is a bold move. If it pays off the club covers some of the leadership and experience lost via the retirement of Michael Morgan; if injury strikes again then, well, they are back where they were with Morgan and will be paying a big chunk of change for a veteran clubhouse presence who cannot help you come gameday.
Peta Hiku adds a veteran presence to the backline and he’ll likely start at centre while Taunoa-Brown is a quality young prop – neither has huge SuperCoach appeal.
SuperCoach comment: I find coach Todd Payten very very hard to get any sort of read from in terms of how he will use a player week in and week out. However, Payten praised young Heilum Luki in the coaching clipboard series and developing the likes of Luki is clearly one of his goals. Luki is not a ‘base stat monster’ and even if named to start he may not play the full 80 minutes on an edge. However, he averaged 50PPG when starting in 2021 and is priced 10PPG cheaper than that. The Cowboys’ 2021 rookie-of-the-year, Luki is a talent who will only get better this season and one I am sorely tempted to take as an upside speculator to start the season as my 2RF four or five.
Losses
Francis Molo: 19 games/10 FRF, 9 interchange
Shane Wright: 16 games/2RF
Javid Bowen: 9 games/centre
Corey Jensen: 9 games/1 lock, 8 interchange
Justin O’Neill: 6 games/4 centre, 2 wing
Peter Hola: 3 games/interchange
Michael Morgan: 2 games/five-eighth
Gains
Chad Townsend: 16 games/HFB (Warriors/Sharks)
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown: 15 games/11 FRF, 4 interchange (Warriors)
Peta Hiku: 10 games/ 9 centre, 1 five-eighth (Warriors)
Brendan Elliot: Centre/winger UK Super League
DRAGONS
The retirement of Corey Norman and departure of Matt Dufty clears the way for exciting youngsters Tyrell Sloan (fullback) and Jayden Sullivan/Tautau Amone (five-eighth). Sloan played five games in 2021 scoring six tries and scoring 91 and 95 points in the final two rounds so unfortunately he’s no SuperCoach bargain. Sullivan also played five games last year (he debuted in round 20 of 2020) with two starts at five-eighth, one start from the interchange and two games at hooker – if it weren’t for the arrival of uber-utility Mbye I’d slot him in at 14. Amone is the other youngster who could fill Norman’s shoes and arguably has a stronger claim than Sullivan as finished the year at five-eighth filling that role in rounds 23-25. Amone also had six games from the interchange and two starts at centre in 2020. Both Molo and Woods will push for starting spots in place of Vaughan though I suspect the Dragons may move Jack de Belin to prop, slot Jack Bird in at lock freeing up a centre slot for Moses Suli.
SuperCoach Comment:Bird playing lock could/should be one you keep an eye on in the pre-season. He missed just two games last year and played every minute of every game he did play in; sure it was mostly at centre, but he also played four games in the 2RF averaging 67.25. He’ll get through at least as much base at lock and will touch the ball more too. Tyrell Sloan is an obvious talent but the CTW eligible Dragon I prefer is Zac Lomax who is priced well under what I expect him to produce this year. Jaydn Su’A should start on an edge and is capable of playing 80 minutes there though lacks a SuperCoach relevant workrate. New recruit George Burgess is popular, perhaps too popular with a rather astounding 18% ownership currently. The Dragons have recruited heavily in the middle and I’m not sure Burgess gets a start in round one and then Josh McGuire returns from suspension in round six to add to the logjam.
Losses
Corey Norman: 22 games/18 five-eighth, 3 halfback, 1 halfback
Paul Vaughan: 16 games/14 prop, 2 interchange
Matt Dufty: 15 games/fullback
Gerard Beale: 10 games/7 centre, 3 wing
Adam Clune: 11 games/5 halfback, 5 interchange, 1 five-eighth
Kaide Ellis: 10 games/8 interchange, 2 FRF
Cameron McInnes: 0 games
Jordan Pereira: 4 games/wing
Brayden Wiliame: 12 games/ 6 centre, 5 interchange, 1 wing
Gains
Aaron Woods: 24 games/FRF (Sharks)
Francis Molo: 19 games/10 FRF, 9 interchange (Cowboys)
Jaydn Su’A: 20 games/17 2RF, 3 interchange (Rabbitohs)
Moses Mbye: 22 games/9 interchange, 7 five-eighth, 4 fullback, 2 centre (Wests Tigers)
George Burgess: 0 games in 2021
Jack Gosiewski: 6 games/4 2RF, 2 interchange (Manly)
Tautau Moga: 1 games/interchange (Rabbitohs)
Moses Suli: 13 games/6 centre, 5 interchange, 2 wing (Sea Eagles)
EELS
With all the headlines they have been making lately, you’d think the Eels would be fielding a vastly different team in 2022 than they did last year. It’s not the case though with the big moves – Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papalii et al – all leaving in 2023. Blake Ferguson’s departure, and Maika Sivo’s injury (ACL due back mid-2022) create gaps on the wings. I expect new recruit Simonsson to slot straight in on one edge and Haze Dunster the other.
SuperCoach comment: Of the two it’s Dunster who makes the most appeal thanks to the $80K discount, though the bargains/best SC outcomes would be if Will Penisini and/or Sean Russell can jag starting roles. Word out of camp Eels is that Penisini has been superb in the pre-season so far and it’s easy to see why he’s in over 40% of teams at the moment. Elsewhere the stability of the team means you are pretty much getting what you pay for. Papalii is frightfully expensive (top priced FRF and 2nd 2RF) but consider how bad it might have been if he hadn’t had a lean, compared to his form up until the rd 17 bye, finish to the season. Prior to the Rd 17 bye, IPap was averaging 86PPG, in the six games he played after it he averaged ‘just ‘62PPG. That drop in scoring – yes just when I stumped up the cash to buy him – means he’s available for around $90K less than if he had continued to roll along at his 86PPG.
Losses
Blake Ferguson: 16 games/wing
Will Smith: 15 games/13 interchange, 2 five-eighth
Keegan Hipgrave: 9 games/8 interchange, 1 2RF
Joey Lussick: 9 games/7 hooker, 2 interchange
Michael Oldfield: 2 games/1 wing, 1 centre
Gains
Mitch Rein: 19 games/18 hooker, 1 interchange (Titans)
Bailey Simonsson: 17 games/14 wing, 3 fullback (Raiders)
KNIGHTS
Mitchell Pearce’s departure to Super League creates a big hole for the Knights. My best guess is that new recruit Adam Clune will start at halfback, though there’s also the chance that Jake Clifford will move from five-eighth to half with Phoenix Crossland playing six. Dane Gagai is tipped to shift to right centre (having enjoyed life on the Rabbitohs lethal left in 2021) at the Knights and that’s bad news for any thinking of picking him in SuperCoach.
SuperCoach comment: Sauaso Sue is suspended for the opening two rounds of 2022 and with Connor Watson leaving the club I’d expect Mitch Barnett to start at lock. I’ve mentioned that because Barnett averaged just 52PPG at lock (six games) compared to 69.5PPG at 2RF last year so should he revert to 2RF when Sue becomes available he might be a sneaky good pickup. Kalyn Ponga was pretty horrible over the back end of 2021 averaging just 54PPG and as such he’s good value to start 2021. Can you trust him? I can’t not when there’s so many seemingly more reliable options at fullback. The only Knight boasting double-figure ownership numbers is Chris Randall who is expected to start at hooker due to Jayden Brailey’s pre-season Achilles rupture.
Losses
Connor Watson: 24 games/13 interchange, 8 lock, 3 five-eighth
Josh King: 18 games/17 interchange, 1 prop
Mitchell Pearce: 11 games/halfback
Blake Green: 6 games/5 halfback, 1 interchange
Gehamat Shibasaki: 3 games/2 centre, 1 wing
Gains
Dane Gagai: 20 games/centre (Rabbitohs)
Adam Clune: 11 games/5 halfback, 5 interchange, 1 five-eighth (Dragons)
PANTHERS
Changes galore for the reigning premiers. For starters both of the centres who started the grand final (Burton and Momirovski) have left. The Panthers do have the luxury of sliding Stephen Crichton straight back into left centre, a position in which he has excelled previously. The other centre slot is expected to be fought out between Taylan May and Izack Tago and I suspect the latter has his nose in front. Liam Martin is a ready made replacement for Kurt Capewell on the right edge and he comes into the SuperCoach selection frame available at a big discount due to playing the majority of his games off the interchange bench in 2021. Sean O’Sullivan provides some cover in the halves now that Tyrone May has left the club.
SuperCoach comment: I’ll almost certainly pick whoever gets the right centre slot whether it be Tago or May. The aforementioned Martin has the odd big game in him but even starting and playing 80 mins I’m still cautious – from a SC perspective – he is terrific in real life just sometimes SC doesn’t reward the impact a player makes. Martin’s move to an edge hopefully sees Spencer Leniu play a larger role in 2022. The young prop has been nursed along gently by the Panthers averaging just 24 MPG as he builds his motor. With a superb PPM of 1.24 then keep an eye on pre-season rotations and he could be a good money-making FRF3 or FRF4. A fully fit Nathan Cleary is very close to essential – but keep an eye out for pre-season chat as he rehabs from shoulder surgery.
Matt Burton: 22 games/15 centre/7 halves (Panthers)
Kurt Capewell: 19 games/18 2RF, 1 centre
Tyrone May: 19 games/14 interchange, 4 HFB, 1 centre
Paul Momirovski: 15 games/centre
Brent Naden: 6 games/3 wing, 2 centre, 1 interchange (Panthers)
Tevita Pangai jnr: 3 games interchange for Panthers in 2021 regular season
Gains
Sean O’Sullivan: 12 games/10 halfback, 2 five-eighth (Warriors)
Chris Smith: 6 games/5 2RF, 1 interchange (Bulldogs)
Christian Crichton: 0 games/CTW (Bulldogs)
RABBITOHS
Another team whose gains clearly don’t cover their losses, the biggest issue at the Rabbitohs is finding a replacement for halfback Adam Reynolds. We’ve covered the merits of the two most likely replacements Blake Taafe and Lachlan Ilias in the Cheapie Bible (here). However, keep in mind that the round one team list will not really answer that question. With Latrell Mitchell suspended we will likely see Taafe start at fullback and Ilias at half and it’s only once Mitchell is back that we will get a legitimate idea about who leads the race. Su’A’s spot will probably go to Jai Arrow though Jacob Host is a chance (see below). Taane Milne and Jaxson Paulo are competing to replace Gagai in the centres, with the ‘loser’ only sliding one spot further out to the wing. Anthony Milford’s legal worries have prevented him from joining the Rabbitohs as yet. He was a ready-made replacement at 14 for Benji Marshall, but should Milford’s contract/legal issues persist the underrated Siliva Havili provides a quality utility option.
SuperCoach comment: Whoever wins the halfback spot has to come under very very strong consideration for your team. If the coach prefers to use Arrow as an impact weapon off the bench then Host could be the beneficiary – though his mediocre workrate is concerning. No concerns at all over Keaon Koloamatangi, the young monster finished with a 5RA of 77 – and while it was boosted by tries in two games his growth as a player over the back end of the season was noticeable. Koloamatangi finished the season with an average of 73MPG so there won’t be the improvement of last year, but he’s more than capable of adding 10% to his 2021 average thanks to a slight uptick in minutes and more importantly growth in attacking stats and that would see him join the elite 2RF class. New recruit Isaiah Tass is in 22% of teams at the moment. he’s bottom dollar and the Rabbitohs did lose two centres (three if you include one-gamer Steven Marsters) in the off-season but Tass is well down the pecking order and this seems unreasonably high. Lastly to Latrell Mitchell. He’s not available until round three, and that’s against the Roosters so I would not be buying Mitchell for that game (both as you get a free watch before price change AND because emotions will be running so high that he could either go sensational or atrocious), but after that you must consider him for selection. Mitchell was in blistering form to close the year averaging 97PPG over his final six weeks and he’ll most likely be goalkicking following Reynolds’ departure – that should add roughly 13-14PPG to his average right there.
Losses
Adam Reynolds: 22 games/HFB
Dane Gagai: 20 games/centre
Jaydn Su’A: 20 games/17 2RF, 3 interchange
Benji Marshall: 20 games/13 interchange, 5 halves, 1 hooker, 1 centre
Patrick Mago: 11 games/interchange
Braidon Burns: 8 games/6 centre, 2 interchange
Tautau Moga: 1 games/interchange
Steven Marsters: 1 game/centre
Josh Cook: 0 games
Gains
Anthony Milford: 13 games/12 five-eighth, 1 interchange (Broncos)*
Michael Chee-Kam: 9 games/6 centre, 3 interchange (Wests Tigers)
Siliva Havili: 11 games/interchange (Raiders)
Isaiah Tass: 0 games/CTW (Broncos)
* Note while theoretically contracted to Souths, the NRL will not ratify the contract while he deals with off-field legal issues. The relationship between club and player is reportedly broken with the Knights a likely 2022 destination for Milford pending resolution of legal matters.
RAIDERS
Jamal Fogarty is a good get for the Raiders, the former Titan is not the silkiest playmaker around but he’s tough, has a developing kicking game and provides a solid backup goalkicking option which will be crucial while captain, and regular kicker, Jarrod Croker rehabs his knee. Just beware that Fogarty averaged better than 10+ PPG off the tee last season so when Croker returns his value dips. Simonsson’s loss is offset by Cotric’s return. Adam Elliott is a versatile type, as happy at 2RF as he is at lock, the Raiders have a stacked backrow rotation now – good for them, tricky for SuperCoach. Caleb Aekins (Super League) was fair when filling in at fullback for the Raiders last year. However, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Xavier Savage were ahead of him in the race to wear No. 1 so his departure is not a huge loss.
SuperCoach Comment: As I mention above the Raiders have a pretty stacked backrow. Which is annoying for SuperCoaches as pretty decent arguments can be made for the likes of Joseph Tapine and Hudson Young should they be starting. Both offer up ‘keeper’ like averages as starters but drop away considerably when coming off the bench. To illustrate, Tapine at lock (three games with one game limited to 10 minutes removed) averaged 63PPG, from seven starts at prop he averaged 61PPG and in eight games from the bench he averaged just 46PPG. BIG BUT WARNING, even if Tapine starts round one there is every chance he then starts from the bench come round four or five as Ricky rotates his players.
Losses
Bailey Simonsson: 17 games/14 wing, 3 fullback
Sia Soliola: 17 games/11 interchange, 4 lock, 2 FRF
Ryan James: 14 games/8 interchange, 5 FRF, 1 lock
Sam Williams: 12 games/11 HFB, 1 five-eighth
Dunamis Lui: 11 games/9 FRF, 1 lock, 1 interchange
Siliva Havili: 11 games/interchange
Caleb Aekins: 7 games/fullback
Gains
Jamal Fogarty: 20 games/HFB (Titans)
Adam Elliott: 18 games/17 2RF, 1 lock (Bulldogs)
Nick Cotric: 14 games/10 wing, 4 centre (Bulldogs)
Peter Hola: 3 games/interchange (Cowboys)
ROOSTERS
Isaac Liu (Titans) is a big loss for the Roosters, he may not have the star profile of many of his former teammates but his versatility made him a real key player for the club. However, don’t shed too many tears for the Roosters, Lindsay Collins (knee) should be ready to go by round one massively bolstering their FRF stocks and new recruit Renouf Atoni brings 40 games of experience and a developing engine. The addition of Connor Watson brings a utility who can cover hooker and lock – valuable considering Victor Radley’s penchant for a suspension or two. Momirovski is a straight replacement for Josh Morris – at least in terms of position if not ability – and while I expect Joseph Suaalii to have first shot at the right wing slot the recruitment of Naiqama adds depth and experience to the backline.
SuperCoach comment: You’ll almost never go wrong picking the likes of James Tedesco or Angus Crichton. Aside from those perennial options, Joseph Suaalii and Momirovski are legitimate options should they lock down starter roles – just don’t expect massive things from Suaalii he’s still only 18-years-old and the Roosters will not risk his long-term viability by asking too much of him in terms of workload. I expect Collins to soak up all the minutes that Liu leaves behind though he starts at a tough price due to his terrific early 2021 form.
Losses
Isaac Liu: 24 games/15 FRF, 8 lock, 1 2RF
Josh Morris: 18 games/CTW
Matt Ikuvalu: 13 games/wing
Brett Morris: 7 games/6 wing, 1 centre
Dale Copley: 2 games/wing (3 games with Broncos between Rd 1-21)
Jake Friend: 1 game/hooker
Boyd Cordner: 0 games
Gains
Connor Watson: 24 games/13 interchange, 8 lock, 3 five-eighth (Knights)
Paul Momirovski: 15 games/centre (Panthers)
Renouf Atoni: 14 games/10 interchange, 2 lock, 1 prop, 1 second row (Bulldogs)
Kevin Naiqama (Super League)
SEA EAGLES
It’s a stable team at the Sea Eagles by and large. Suli’s departure is the biggest one of note though he was clearly behind Morgan Harper and Brad Parker in the centre pecking order over the latter part of 2021. Bullemor adds depth to a FRF rotation that already ran pretty deep.
SuperCoach comment: With no major hatchings or dispatchings, to Turbo or not to Turbo that is the Manly question faced by SuperCoaches to start the season. Not having Tom Trbojevic was my single biggest miss last year, there were others, but not having him to captain week in week out was easily the difference maker. That said, can you spend 12.5% of your salary cap on just one player? The answer to that really lies in whether you believe both that Trbojevic can continue his incredible run of form, and that opposing coaches who you can bet spent all off-season reviewing footage, have not worked out a way to limit Turbo. That and the revised six again ruling – if anything might halt Tom it’s that. So no Tom for me, and with Tom goes his pal Reuben Garrick. The surprising evolution of Dylan Walker into a middle forward playing from the bench is one that I will watch and if it continues in the pre-season then I think he’s worth putting in at CTW. And Haumole Olakauatu finished his season as well as Josh Schuster finished his poorly – Haumole is definitely on my watchlist.
Losses
Moses Suli: 13 games/6 centre, 5 interchange, 2 wing
Cade Cust: 10 games/interchange
Jack Gosiewski: 6 games/4 2RF, 2 interchange
Curtis Sironen: 5 games/4 interchange, 1 2RF
Tevita Funa: 4 games/2 interchange, 1 five-eighth, 1 fullback
Zac Saddler: 3 games/interchange
Gains
Ethan Bullemor: 18 games/1 prop, 17 interchange (Broncos)
SHARKS
There’s a new coach at the Shire and Craig Fitzgibbon has attracted some quality new signings to join him. Dale Finucane was a star at lock for the Storm, but has played prop at representative level and it’s there that he’ll likely slot in for Cronulla. The move offsets the departure of Aaron Woods but more importantly also accommodates fellow new signing Cam McInnes who I expect to play lock with Blayke Brailey hooker. Speaking of playing out of position – Nicho Hynes was superb at fullback for the Storm in 2020, but will play in the halves for Cronulla. I have Ikuvalu behind Mulitalo and Katoa in the race for a wing spot – though he does have history with Fitzgibbon at the Roosters.
SuperCoach comment: There’s so much to unpack at the Sharks that I feel it needs its own article. Nicho Hynes is all talent and application but the price is scary. I mean if you compare his price to Nathan Cleary at halfback then it looks reasonable, but Hynes scored 90% (rubbery figure alert) of his points playing fullback last year and it’s hard to justify just under $700K when you have so little of his form in the halves to go off. Cam McInnes is workrate personified and if his knee is fine then I’ll be doing my best to find the cash to start him be it at hooker or 2RF hooker.
Losses
Aaron Woods: 24 games/FRF
Billy Magoulias: 12 games/interchange
Shaun Johnson: 10 games/7 HFB, 3 five-eighth
Will Chambers: 9 games/centre
Josh Dugan: 8 games/centre
Nene Macdonald: 0 games
Gains
Nicho Hynes: 22 games /15 fullback, 4 interchange, 2 HFB, 1 five-eighth (Storm)
Dale Finucane: 15 games/12 lock, 3 interchange (Storm)
Matt Ikuvalu: 13 games/wing (Roosters)
Cameron McInnes: 0 games (Dragons)
Jayden Berrell: 0 games/hooker (QRL Cup)
Lachlan Miller: 0 games (Rugby Sevens)
STORM
Overall the Storm squad for 2022 is weaker than the one they assembled in 2021 – but don’t assume they’ll drop too far down the ladder because they never really do. You’d think Josh Addo-Carr’s departure would weaken them, but Xavier Coates is almost as fast, and is better in the air. I’m not saying he makes the team better than when it had Foxx, but it’s hardly a big downgrade – though he is in SuperCoach (see below). You could also argue that new recruit Nick Meaney is an upgrade on George Jennings/Dean Ieremia on the right wing. That’s where the good news stops though. There’s no hiding from the fact that Dale Finucane takes quality and leadership with him, and Nicho Hynes was Melbourne’s Mr Fix-it covering fullback, halves and goalkicking in 2021. Throw in the fact that Nelson Asofa-Solomona is a vaccine hold out (at time of writing) and Tui Kamikamica is currently stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy and the Storm look almost vulnerable – almost.
SuperCoach comment: With all the off-season attention that Brandon Smith has been getting you might have forgotten that Harry Grant is no slouch at hooker himself. In the final six rounds of 2021 Grant averaged 76PPG, and that was while averaging just 56MPG. Smith must have burnt more than a few bridges at Melbourne with his podcast performance, and he’ll miss round one due to suspension AND when he returns the Storm must be tempted to play him at lock to cover the departure of Finucane. All that adds up to opportunity for Mr Grant – in my book anyway, Bellyache is yet to consult me on coaching moves – and while the price is high so is the reward. Speaking of reward, in the seven regular season games in which he played 80 minutes, Ryan Papenhuyzen averaged 138PPG! That’s 5PPG less than Tom Trbojevic for $550K less! Nicho Hynes has left the club so just pick Pappy. New recruit Xavier Coates has a very high ownership of 34% and I’m not totally sold. The pros are
* talent – Coates has it in spades as his athletic try scoring at Origin level shows, and
* opportunity – Coates should slot in on the left wing of the Storm outside Cameron Munster and that’s where you want to be if you are going to score tries for the Storm.
Now normally any player with those two ‘pros’ on their side is one you want in your team. But there’s a con too and it’s a biggie – workrate/effort. Coates has, so far in his young career, shown a nasty habit of ghosting out of games when the going gets tough. He scored less than 20 points six times in 2021, all 80-minute games. Those games were against tough opponents Souths (twice), Roosters (twice), Storm and Eels but Coates also failed to post big scores with any consistency scoring 60+ just three times last year. Now I understand the argument that heading to the Storm is a big upgrade for Coates on his time at the Bulldogs, playing outside Munster is good for any winger after all, but those stats worry me and I’ll probably avoid the herd on this one.
Losses
Nicho Hynes: 22 games /15 fullback, 4 interchange, 2 HFB, 1 five-eighth
Josh Addo-Carr: 21 games/wing
Dale Finucane: 15 games/12 lock, 3 interchange
Aaron Pene: 9 games/interchange
Aaron Booth: 5 games/interchange
Tyson Smoothy: 4 games/3 interchange, 1 hooker
Ryley Jacks: 1 game/interchange
Brenko Lee: 0 games
Max King: 0 games
Gains
Nick Meaney: 22 games/13 fullback, 8 wing, 1 centre (Bulldogs)
Josh King: 18 games/17 interchange, 1 prop (Knights)
Xavier Coates: 17 games/wing (Broncos)
Jayden Nikorima (QRL Cup)
TITANS
While there’s no ‘Gain’ covering the loss of halves Jamal Fogarty and Ash Taylor, the Titans are going to achieve this via a shuffle of existing talent with AJ Brimson moving from fullback to five-eighth and Toby Sexton (who played halfback in rounds 19-22) playing half full time. Peachey’s departure is a loss due to his tremendous versatility though new recruit Will Smith is capable of a playmaking/lock role. I’d expect Liu to slot straight into the starting side at prop and he can handle 13 and even an edge at a pinch. Once was a Warrior, Paul Turner, can play in the halves or at fullback.
SuperCoach comment: David Fifita is not a base stat monster, his coach opted to start him from the bench multiple times and yet he still scored 60+ points in 81% of games. It’s obviously frustrating from a SuperCoach perspective when coach Justin Holbrook opts to limit Fifita’s minutes to improve his NRL lifespan. After all Fifita averaged 104PPG when playing 80 minutes and 74PPG when playing fewer than 80 minutes. But we’re not the ones on the hook for $1.2M per season so I can see the Gold Coast’s reasoning. However, those flirting with selecting Fifita would take heart from coach Justin Holbrook’s recent coaching clipboard appearance in which he noted why we can expect to see Fifita play more minutes in 2022. The other Titan I will watch closely is Toby Sexton. Available at around a 50PPG price but he averaged 62PPG, Sexton is the playmaker of the future at the Titans. Just beware that those good scores did come against the Dragons, Bulldogs and Cowboys – hardly the toughest opponents and then the Rabbitohs held him to 32 points. Still worth watching but not worth buying just yet.
Losses
Tyrone Peachey: 21 games/10 interchange/9 lock, 2 five-eighth
Jamal Fogarty: 20 games/HFB
Mitch Rein: 19 games/18 hooker, 1 interchange
Ash Taylor: 16 games/five-eighth
Anthony Don: 9 games/wing
Sam Stone: 4 games/3 2RF, 1 interchange
Jai Whitbread: 2 games/interchange
Jonus Pearson: 1 games/wing
Gains
Isaac Liu: 24 games/15 FRF, 8 lock, 1 2RF (Roosters)
Will Smith: 15 games/13 interchange, 2 five-eighth (Eels)
Aaron Booth: 5 games/interchange (Storm)
Paul Turner: 2 games/interchange (Warriors)
WARRIORS
The Warriors were hoping to grab a big name in the off-season and failed – that Jesse Arthars is a realistic chance of nabbing a starting role in round one tells you how stretched the squad is. That said, beware that the team named for round one will not be how they will look later with Reece Walsh (fullback) and Matt Lodge (FRF) suspended and captain Tohu Harris (2RF) not expected back till mid-season.
SuperCoach comment: For those scared off of Nathan Cleary due to price/injury and the likes of Nicho Hynes due to playing a new position,Shaun Johnsononce again looms as an option. Johnson just couldn’t stay healthy last year and finished with an average of just 52.7PPG across 10 games. There’ll be plenty of eyes on the Warriors’ pre-season form because if Johnson is fit again then he looms as a risky high upside selection to start 2022.
Josh Curran and Euan Aitken are two of the trendier picks going around and it’s easy to see why. Curran’s defensive workrate is very good if not elite and while he doesn’t make loads of runs he was extremely efficient with the ones he made putting up good attacking stats. Aitken is a starting second row who is available to be picked at centre. I am a little wary on Aitken as his big scores at 2RF came against some pretty poor defensive sides in the Tigers, Sharks, Bulldogs and Broncos, but still he looks hard to resist. Also of concern were recent words from coach Nathan Brown where he said Aitken would be moved between backrow and centre – possibly within games.
Losses
Leeson Ah Mau: 18 games/16 interchange, 2 FRF
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck: 17 games/11 fullback, 5 wing, 1 five-eighth
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown: 15 games/11 FRF, 4 interchange
Kane Evans: 14 games/8 interchange, 6 FRF
Sean O’Sullivan: 12 games/10 halfback, 2 five-eighth
Peta Hiku: 10 games/9 centre, 1 five-eighth
Chad Townsend: 5 games/HFB (Warriors) 11 games HFB (Sharks)
David Fusitu’a: 5 games/wing
Paul Turner: 2 games/interchange
Gains
Ash Taylor: 16 games/five-eighth (Titans)
Jesse Arthars: 11 games/9 centre, 2 interchange (Broncos – loan)
Shaun Johnson: 10 games/7 HFB, 3 five-eighth (Sharks)
Aaron Pene: 9 games/interchange (Storm)
WESTS TIGERS
There is a strong chance that both Super League recruits Hastings (five-eighth) and Gildart (centre) start in round one for the Wests Tigers. It wouldn’t surprise if Tyrone Peachey starts too as both Tomy Talau (knee) and Adam Doueihi (knee) will miss the start of the season and the centre stocks at the club are loooow. Maybe not low enough that coach Maguire wishes he had Joey Leilua still in the squad but still awfully low.
SuperCoach comment: Who doesn’t love a redemption story? And when the subject of the story is a reasonably priced dual position half who also kicks goals it’s all the better. Jackson Hastings is available for just $350K and I for one will be hard pressed not to pick him. Elsewhere, Stefano Utoikamanu looked like he was ready to join the elite FRF brigade finishing 2021 in spectacular form averaging 66PPG over the final eight rounds and at $457K he’s $100K cheaper than the more established options.
Losses
Moses Mbye: 22 games/9 interchange, 7 five-eighth, 4 fullback, 2 centre
Michael Chee-Kam: 9 games/6 centre, 3 interchange
Joey Leilua: 7 games/centre
Billy Walters: 2 games/1 five-eighth, 1 interchange
Russell Packer: 1 game/interchange
Gains
Tyrone Peachey: 21 games/10 interchange/9 lock, 2 five-eighth (Titans)
Jackson Hastings (Super League)
Oliver Gildart (Super League)
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