NRL SuperCoach 2019: Trent Copeland’s team
Trent Copeland, coach of Copes’ Crusaders, has unearthed the next crop of superstars set to take the NRL by storm.
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SuperCoach is back, and so are Copes’ Crusaders for 2019.
Whilst NRL fans have been enjoying the long stretch of quiet, dull times with no newsworthy stories, scandals or coaching swaps this offseason (yeah, right), the Crusaders have been unearthing the next crop of superstars and signing the best guns in the business.
As always, it’s all out aggression with a “guns and rookies” approach. Obviously this is pending team lists falling our way, but I am sure everyone is in that boat.
Last year’s major SuperCoach hurdles stemmed from not picking the right FRF/2RF guns from the get-go, the three headed monster of Ponga/Teddy/Turbo not fitting into the two FLB slots and the navigation of the byes. Thankfully, Ponga is dual position this year, so I don’t have to cry myself to sleep watching one of the three inevitably kill my matchups each week.
With many contract meetings still to be had, plus the inevitable pre-season hype trains, here’s an early look into Crusaders HQ at how the boys are shaping up.
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HOOKER
Cameron Smith HOK (MEL | $594,400) - 2018 avg: 63.5PPG
I’d love to pay up for the best hooker in the game in Damien Cook, but with Origin and the perennial ‘attacking play killer’ in Wayne Bennett taking charge at the Rabbitohs, I think the $130k saved to the GOAT of SuperCoach is worthwhile. There may be rests, there may be a Smith with a ‘B’ taking minutes away, but one thing I know for sure is that no one can put up the safety in ‘base stats’ that this guy can with goal kicking and tackling numbers alone.
Kurt Mann HOK | CTW (NZL | $258,900) - 2018 avg: 27.7PPG
I was very tempted by a potential 80-minute, goal-kicking Isaac Luke (still may happen) in this slot, as well as Victor Radley, but my plan at this stage is to use Mann at the HOK slot if he’s named to start as expected, to open up more of the ‘rapid’ money making cheapie slots in the CTW. Then I can move Mann down and upgrade to a second HOK keeper in future.
LISTEN! Resident SuperCoach experts Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the lowdown on the players to target and avoid in 2019.
FRF
Andrew Fifita FRF (CRO | $634,300) - 2018 avg: 67.8PPG
As a theme in my team, you will see that if there is a clear standout at any given position I will always try to start with that player, in part for their elite scoring, but also in saving two trades to get them in at a later date. Fifita fits that mould. Averaging 67.8PPG in 2018, Fifita was almost 10PPG higher than the fifth highest averaging FRF in Sam Burgess, and has the prospect of Gallen playing less minutes given his age, with no Wade Graham or Luke Lewis to start the year. As one of very few FRFs with 100+ point upside in any given week, Fifita’s worth paying up for in my opinion.
Dylan Napa FRF (BUL | $288,100) - 2018 avg: 30.8PPG
Here’s where I’ve started to take a couple of mid-priced punts in order to afford the guns like Fifita, and rest assured, I separate my SuperCoach selections FAR from real life perspective for obvious reasons. I am optimistic the Bulldogs’ new signing can resurrect his somewhat stalled career, and get back to his 2016 form — averaging 52.4PPG in 57 minutes. Even if he falls slightly short of that mark, he will be a slow burning cheapie that covers round 12.
Payne Haas FRF (BRO | $181,100) - 2018 avg: 14.7PPG
Haas is a man mountain, and at the ripe old age of 19 he is primed to take a big step forward in 2018. Josh McGuire is gone to the Cowboys, and perhaps more relevantly, Wayne Bennett is gone and Anthony Seibold is in. Hallelujah. I expect the big man to play in the 35-45 minute range much like Tevita Tatola did for Seibold at the Rabbitohs.
Cheapie FRF | 2RF ($168,100)
This could be Jacob Host, Albert Vete or a similar cheapie that pops up in preseason. But what is essential here is the dual position flexibility. The reason I feel comfortable taking the punt on Dylan Napa, is if it fails I can quite easily swing a gun like TPJ forward to start.
2RF
Jake Trbojevic 2RF (MNL | $667,600) - 2018 avg: 71.3PPG
You get what you pay for here. Jurbo has finished SECOND in overall points the past two seasons, so don’t overthink this one. Pick the best and most consistent big man in the game.
Rhyse Martin 2RF (BUL | $634,300) - 2018 avg: 67.8PPG
GOD 2.0! Damn straight people. I gave him that nickname last year, and I’m backing it to come to fruition this season on the whole. There was no way he wasn’t going to be right there alongside Jurbo to start the year with coverage of that round 12 bye an added bonus. The only threat to his value is if he gets named to start on an edge rather than lock, where there is much more competition for spots. Will average 75+ if he plays 80 at lock.
Tevita Pangai Jnr 2RF (BRO| $495,000) - 2018 avg: 52.9PPG
TPJ is unashamedly one of my boys! Much like Viliame Kikau who I was screaming from the rooftops about in preseason last year, TPJ possesses keeper-like upside, but just couldn’t find the consistent role or health he needed. Wayne Bennett also made him put away the offload - lets not start on that one — something Seibold simply encourages with second phase footy a feature of his gameplans. Go you good thing!
John Bateman 2RF | CTW (CBR | $400,000) 2018 avg: N/A
The Englishman who has won two Super League titles with Wigan, he was ranked the third best second-rower in the world last year, and his game is built off yards after contact, offloads and a serious work rate. If he can find 55+ minutes at lock he will be a keeper in the CTW in the long run. If he doesn’t, he becomes Cam Murray who I really like also.
Joe Stimson 2RF (MEL | $352,900) - 2018 avg: 37.7PPG
Stimson is one of Craig Bellamy’s favourites, and that sentence says about all you need to hear. 80-minutes on an edge is what lies in front of Stimson in the absence of Ryan Hoffman, a role he filled towards the end of the 2018 season with aplomb — finishing with scores of 60, 53, 65 and 37. Lots of people will own Stimson to start the year.
Cheapie 2RF ($168,100)
This one is also a placeholding cheapie, which I’m hoping pops up in preseason like we had last year with Viliame Kikau (wouldn’t that be nice!). Fingers crossed.
HFB
Nathan Cleary HFB (PTH | $577,000) - 2018 avg: 61.7PPG
I think Cleary is the best halfback in the world right now, which is scary given how young he is. There isn’t a safer pick in a risky position than Cleary, with a game built off great base stats, a very up-tempo offense and being one of the best goal kickers in the NRL.
Chanel Harris-Tavita HFB (NZL | $168,100) - 2018 avg: N/A
With the loss of the great SJ to the Sharks comes great opportunity for one of two Kiwi youngsters — Harris-Tavita, or Adam Keighran. At this stage my mail is that ‘CHT’ will get the gig, and he’s an exciting prospect given the likes of Mason Lino have come in and averaged well above 50PPG with the attacking prowess of the Warriors on their day. If Keighran gets the nod, this spot is his.
5/8
Kalyn Ponga 5/8 | FLB (NEW | $614,300) - 2018 avg: 65.7PPG
How bloody good was this kid in 2018!? Second in the Dally M in only his first full season at fullback, and his first at a new club, all with playing Origin on top of that. The only downside was that you couldn’t own him AND Teddy/Turbo. Not this year *sigh of relief*. Incredibly, the Knights are going to move him into the halves this season, which will naturally increase his tackle numbers but decrease his >8m runs. Does that deter me from picking him? Not one bit. With the goalkicking duties in a very good side, I can see Ponga keeping his average in the mid 60s.
Dylan Brown 5/8 | HFB (PAR | $168,100) - 2018 avg: N/A
Looks the favourite for the Corey Norman-sized No.6 hole for the Eels. Handy dual position for trades later in the season and at base price, you simply can’t ignore Brown.
CTW
Esan Marsters CTW (WST | $568,500) - 2018 avg: 60.8PPG
Every year I go in with one LOCKED-in gun in my CTW and I am happy to pay as much as required to solidify that. If you’re privy to any of my teams/articles over the past 12 months you know Esan is my boy! An incredible mixture of tackle busts, offloads, goal kicking duties and upside by way of averaging 60.8PPG with only THREE tries scored in all of 2018 — that simply has to increase in 2018. One of my first picked players.
Kurt Capewell CTW | 2RF (CRO | $340,200) - 2018 avg: 36.4PPG
Capewell is a bit of an enigma in SuperCoach circles. He has shown upside higher than most in any position (156 points in round 15, 2017!!) when playing 80 minutes, but is priced as he is due to a bit-part bench role with Luke Lewis, Wade Graham and Paul Gallen playing basically 80 minutes each in recent years in the back row. With Lewis and Jesse Ramien gone from the right edge, and Graham out until approximately round nine with a knee injury, Capewell should have an open run at a big role this season. In seven 80-minute matches last season, Capewell averaged 53.15PPG — well above what he’s priced at.
Brad Abbey CTW | FLB (CBR | $203,800) - 2018 avg: 21.8PPG
With the mooted Jack Wighton switch to the halves (Blake Austin to Warrington hole), it looks as though youngster Brad Abbey is the frontrunner to take over the permanent No.1 jersey. Nick Cotric or Michael Oldfield could also take this job, but for now, Abbey is a lock at just over $200k despite some underwhelming performances last season.
Zac Lomax CTW (STG | $196,900) - 2018 avg: 21.5PPG
Lomax was incredible in the finals for the Dragons, and has been highly regarded for some time now. The other thing Lomax possesses is an unbelievably accurate boot. If anything was to happen to Gareth Widdop, Lomax would add 8-12 points per game immediately.
Jaeman Salmon CTW | 5/8 (PAR | $210,500) - 2018 avg: N/A
Albert Hopoate CTW | FLB (MNL | $168,100) - 2018 avg: N/A
Bronson Xerri CTW (CRO | $168,100) - 2018 avg: N/A
These three talented youngsters round out my ‘place holding’ rookie slots, and certainly seem in the mix to get gigs come round one in their respective sides. Salmon is a real chance to get a gig somewhere between 2-6 in the Eels backline, as is Hopoate. Fingers crossed come TLT!
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FLB
James Tedesco FLB (SYD | $689,000) - 2018 avg: 73.6PPG
I called 80+PPG for Tedesco when he joined the Roosters from the Tigers, and after a somewhat slow start (for his standards) he got very, very close. Finishing the season with scores of 113, 108, 57, 57, 74, 85 and a 180-point BOMB against the Eels. How on earth could you pick a starting side without the prospect of THAT in there?
Tom Trbojevic FLB (MNL | $691,200) - 2018 avg: 73.9PPG
Tommy Turbo ranked third for overall points in 2017, and third for overall points in 2018, averaging an incredible 73.9PPG. Yep, to quote the great Larry David, he’s pretttttty, pretty good! With games at Leichhardt (day game), followed by three home games in the first four rounds it would be a brave call to start without Turbo.
Well, there you have it, a little insight into my painfully overworked SuperCoach mind (because I’m a nuffy) still a way out from the season. Draft one of one thousand, with lots of tinkering to be done.
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2019: Trent Copeland’s team
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