RANKED: Top five North Queensland Cowboys players for NRL SuperCoach

Round 1 of SuperCoach is just weeks away and now is a great time to piece together your team. Find out which players make our top five selections for North Queensland Cowboys fans.

Round 1 of SuperCoach is just weeks away and with NRL squads taking shape during the Pre-Season Challenge now is a great time to piece together your team.

The Cowboys are hunting a finals return in 2024 and reporter Patrick Woods has broken down the top five buys for North Queensland fans.

1. VALENTINE HOLMES (CTW, $736,300)

Despite being the North Queensland’s second-most expensive player, Holmes’ exceptional goalkicking makes him an exciting prospect for any team.

Holmes finished with the fourth-best average of any CTW with a minimum of five games in 2023 with kicks at goal adding 13.5PPG.

Valentine Holmes’ goalkicking sets him apart. Picture: Evan Morgan

Holmes converted 68 of his 82 attempts at goal at an impressive 83 per cent and is a certainty to be the club’s first-choice goal-kicker again in 2024.

Backup options at the club include Scott Drinkwater, Chad Townsend and Kyle Feldt – but barring injury expect Holmes to line up most of this year’s kicks.

The 28-year-old scored eight tries and assisted six in 18 games last season. One drawback of Holmes is his annual appearances at Origin, but round 16 and 19 byes for the club reduce that impact.

2. JEREMIAH NANAI (2RF, $583,500)

For punters who believe Nanai can rediscover his breakout 2022 form this season, the towering young gun is a steal at just under $600k.

Jeremiah Nanai of the Cowboys. Picture: NRL Imagery

Fresh from celebrating his 21st birthday, Nanai is all-but-guaranteed a starting jersey for the season after Luciano Leilua’s departure.

After a stunning 17 tries in 23 games in 2022, injuries and suspensions kept him off the park for half of last season – leading to just six tries in 13 appearances.

A return to the mean could see North Queensland’s greatest aerial threat become one of the top-scoring SuperCoach backrowers.

3. REUBEN COTTER (FRF/2RF, 542,700)

After a horror start to his NRL career Cotter has become one of the competition’s best workhorses, earning him Queensland and Australian rep honours.

He has proven in the Origin arena that he is capable of playing big minutes and that will be his biggest SuperCoach question mark in club land.

Reuben Cotter’s minutes are the biggest question mark for SuperCoach. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

North Queensland has a hulking front row rotation including Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean, Coen Hess, Griffin Neame, Sam McIntyre and Thomas Mikaele, while Jamayne Taunoa-Brown will miss the first half of the season after suffering an Achilles injury.

Cotter is expected to wear the No.13 jersey in round 1 and could see big minutes with McIntyre the most likely backup lock, and Taumalolo also a possibility to cover the position during the in-game rotation.

Priced at 53.2PPG after an injury interrupted 2023, SuperCoach reporter Ian Maybanks believes he is about 10 points under what he should deliver as the Cowboys new captain.

4. HEILUM LUKI (2RF, $471,200)

Luki has become a hot SuperCoach commodity after Luciano Leilua’s reported move to the Dragons.

Heilum Luki’s stocks have improved with Luciano Leilua’s move to the Dragons. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

The young backrower should own the Cowboys No.11 jersey and if he can stay fit he will show the rest of the NRL why he is still one of North Queensland’s most highly rated prospects.

Luki has endured a brutal history of injuries since his 2021 debut, playing just 14 games in 2022 and 13 in 2023.

The Cairns product will turn 23 this year, and as the 55th most expensive 2RF he has a lot of room for his price tag to rise.

Historically used as an interchange player, in the seven NRL games that Luki has played 60 minutes or more he’s averaged 77.5 points.

Reece Robson of the Cowboys during the 2023 NRL season. Picture: NRL Imagery

5. REECE ROBSON (HOK, $561,100)

One of the NRL’s few 80-minute hookers, Robson is an ironman of the NRL and has only missed one game in the last three seasons – when he was rested in round 16 ahead of his State of Origin debut alongside Murray Taulagi, Holmes, Nanai and Cotter.

Robson averaged 54.79 points in 2023 and is a solid rock to pick and stick with at hooker.

While Harry Grant and Damien Cook remain popular choices, Robson’s price tag will attract buyers who are searching for a reliable player with a good base.

Originally published as RANKED: Top five North Queensland Cowboys players for NRL SuperCoach