Rikki-Lee Arnold reveals her SuperCoach 2019 team

Every year, The Courier-Mail’s Rikki-Lee Arnold builds her SuperCoach team around one of the game’s greats. This season, however, one talent, has persuaded her to do things differently.

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Every year I start my SuperCoach team with one “must-have”.

Usually a Cameron Smith or a Johnathan Thurston-esque player, he becomes the man who I build my team around, is a common captaincy contender and is someone you just know won’t let you down.

But this season I have not gone with a veteran of the game, but rather a fresher face in Kalyn Ponga.

The Knights talent was my first selection at five-eighth, but has that dual position appeal as well given he can be used at fullback.

After a sensational first full season in the NRL last year, Ponga can only go bigger in 2019 and will no doubt be a headliner for many SuperCoaches.

Outside of Ponga, I still have plenty of experience in the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Damien Cook and James Tedesco, exciting rookies in Payne Haas and Zac Lomax, and those who I hope will fire again in 2019 in Ben Barba, Bryce Cartwright and Jack Bird.

Bring on the season.

Who hasn’t got Kalyn Ponga in their team? (AAP Image/Brendon Thorne)

RIKKI-LEE ARNOLD’S SUPERCOACH TEAM FOR 2019

HOOKER

Damien Cook ($726,000)

FRONT ROWERS

Tevita Pangai Jr ($495,000)

Joe Ofahengaue ($481,300)

SECOND ROWERS

Jason Taumalolo ($657,400)

Jake Trbojevic ($667,600)

Cameron Murray ($458,900

HALFBACK

Nathan Cleary ($577,000)

FIVE-EIGHTH

Kalyn Ponga ($614,300)

CENTRES/WINGS

Clint Gutherson ($439,300)

Jack Bird ($320,900)

Zac Lomax ($196,900)

Albert Hopoate ($168,100)

FULLBACK

James Tedesco ($689,000)

RESERVES

Payne Haas ($181,100)

Bryce Cartwright ($231,300)

Michael Morgan ($409,200)

Ben Barba ($467,300)

EXTRAS

Kurt Mann ($258,900)

Emre Guler ($227,100)

Joe Stimson ($352,900)

Taane Milne ($181,100)

Kyle Flanagan ($213,300)

Jaeman Salmon ($210,500)

Bronson Xerri ($168,100)

Corey Allan ($168,100)

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