SuperCoach NRL 2020: Tom Sangster’s team revealed
Sangster’s Paradise have been forced into a last-minute reshuffle following a crazy Teams List Tuesday and the devastating injury to Jack Bird.
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Sangster’s Paradise have been forced into a last-minute reshuffle following a crazy Teams List Tuesday and the untimely injury to Jack Bird.
In all I’ve made three changes since the teams were announced and 16 since the start of the week (grits teeth).
HOOKER
UPDATED 9 March: Cameron Smith ($684,600) to Apisai Koroisau ($338,800)
While it certainly feels strange to start without both Smith and Damien Cook, Koroisau’s credentials are simply too great to ignore. He averaged only 36 minutes behind Manase Fainu at the Sea Eagles last season but should push past 60 minutes (and maybe even to 80) as the top hooker at Penrith. Will become Cook or Smith in approx Round 5.
Blayke Brailey, Sharks, $201,000
Cheapie of the year contender. Averaged 30 minutes last year but expect his game time to double now he’s taken the top hooker role at the Sharks from brother Jayden, who’s off to the Knights.
PROP
Payne Haas, Broncos, $729,200
He sets you back $100,000 more than the next most expensive prop but he really is that much better than the rest.
UPDATED 9 March: Francis Molo ($298,600) to Liam Knight ($437,300)
I still think Molo will have a great year stepping up in place of the retired Matt Scott and Scott Bolton. But his PPM of 1.35 is unsustainable and he’s awkwardly priced. Knight is confirmed to start at lock for the Rabbitohs and should significantly up his game time from 41 minutes last year.
UPDATED 9 March: Stefano Utoikamanu ($171,900) to Toby Rudolf ($171,900)
Utoikamanu is unlikely for Round 1 but take it as gospel that Rudolf will score the final bench spot at the Sharks ahead of Billy Magoulias. Rudolf was super impressive in the final trial with a try, 11 runs for 89 metres, seven tackle busts and 28 tackles (with none missed).
UPDATED 9 March: Lindsay Collins ($201,000) to Jamayne Taunoa-Brown ($171,900)
Collins is set to score a Roosters bench spot in Round 1 but minutes could be limited in a stacked pack. I’ve therefore switched to pre-season sensation Taunoa-Brown. The barnstorming prop is set for a Round 1 bench spot at the Warriors following season-ending ACL injuries to Bunty Afoa and Jackson Frei.
A rare Victorian junior, Taunoa-Brown brained the Queensland Cup last year before heading across the ditch. He was a shock selection at starting prop for the Indigenous All Stars, notching 88 metres in 12 runs (only David Fifita made more metres), a tackle bust, offload and 28 tackles – all in just 40 minutes. He backed that up in the final trial with an almost identical stat line – eight runs for 77 metres, a tackle bust, offload and 28 tackles. Currently owned by just two per cent of KFC SuperCoaches.
BACK ROW
Jason Taumalolo, Cowboys, $723,400
You’ll need him in your final side so just lock him in from the start and save a trade. Won’t play Origin and plays the first bye.
UPDATED 11 March: Jai Arrow ($575,700) to Jack Williams ($397,200)
The complete dearth of 2RF cheapies mean I’ve had to sacrifice Arrow for a mid-ranger. Jack Williams will wear Paul Gallen’s famous No. 13 jersey and see a big increase in game time from 37 minutes last year.
David Fifita, Broncos, $501,900
Price is based on a season average of 54, which includes games off the bench before he locked down an 80 minute edge role. Fifita averaged an incredible 79 points in his last five games, so you essentially get a keeper for a mid-range price.
Jaydn Su’A, Rabbitohs, $303,600
The Rabbitohs have lost plenty of forward fire power in Sam Burgess, George Burgess and John Sutton. Su’A is therefore a chance of an 80 minute edge role, a huge increase on his average of 41 minutes last season.
UPDATED 9 March: Billy Magoulias ($221,700) to Patrick Carrigan ($326,300)
Pretty simple decision - Magoulias won’t make the Round 1 team and Carrigan is the best mid-range buy in KFC SuperCoach after scoring the starting lock role at the Broncos.
UPDATED 11 March: Josh Kerr ($233,000) to Coen Hess ($354,000)
Unfortunately Josh Kerr has been named outside the Dragons’ 17 for Round 1. He may still come into the side on game day but the Dragons play the last game of the round so I’m not willing to take the risk. With the money freed up from Arrow-Williams (see above) I’ve upgraded Kerr to Hess. Hess is priced at a very tempting $354,000, starts in the back row, is coming off a bumper off-season and averaged 58 in both 2017 and 2018 before last year’s disaster. Someone please talk me out if it.
HALFBACK
Nathan Cleary, Panthers, $631,500
Averaged a full five points more per game than the next best halfback last season. The best base stat halfback we’ve ever seen and history shows his SuperCoach output goes through the roof when James Maloney isn’t in the side.
UPDATED 9 March: Shaun Johnson ($585,500) to Mitchell Moses ($579,300)
I’ve been sucked in by Rob’s “Strength of Schedule” story which details Parramatta’s ridiculously soft start to the season including games against Bulldogs, Titans, Cowboys, Dragons, Tigers, Bulldogs, Broncos and Warriors.
FIVE-EIGHTH
George Williams, Raiders, $333,900
Latest English import at the Raiders is priced at a huge discount to his Super League stats.
Jarome Luai, Panthers, $257,400
Maloney’s exit leaves a huge hole at the Panthers and Jarome Luai has been nominated by Penrith coach Ivan Cleary as the man to get first shot at making the No. 6 jersey his own, although Tyrone May could also come into consideration now his no-fault stand-down period has ended. Luai played 13 games for the Panthers in 2019 but the majority were as a bench utility with limited minutes. In the four games he started at five-eighth last year, Luai averaged 46.75 but he is priced at a $180,000 discount to that average.
CENTRE/WING
Zac Lomax, Dragons, $324,600
After being shunted around the backline and bench last season, Lomax finally gets an extended crack at the fullback spot. Also picks up the goalkicking duties full-time.
Bradman Best, Knights, $240,700
Will miss the first three rounds with a toe injury but I’m happy to hold and save a trade.
UPDATED 9 March: Tommy Talau ($208,200) to Gehemat Shibasaki ($286,400)
The late recruitments of Joey Leilua and Adam Doueihi mean Talau will miss the Tigers’ 17, while Shibasaki is all but guaranteed a centre spot at the Knights after an impressive off-season. The former Bronco scored a try in the recent trial, albeit against a very understrength Roosters.
UPDATED 11 March: Kotoni Staggs ($477,700) to Braidon Burns ($454,400)
The devastating ACL injury to Jack Bird has totally changed the dynamics at the Broncos. Jamayne Isaako comes in at fullback and will take the kicking duties from my star POD Kotoni Staggs. So Staggs must go and I’ve opted for South Sydney’s Braidon Burns, who starts well-underpriced after an injury-interrupted season. In the seven games he played the full 80 minutes he averaged 60.3PPG, but his price is based on a season average of 49.
UPDATED 9 March: Tristan Sailor ($247,200) to Kallum Watkins ($271,800)
Sailor is a fair way down the Dragons’ pecking order while Watkins is set for a centre spot at the Titans and starts cheap after a disrupted first season in the NRL. Watkins has some decent pedigree, having played 25 Tests for England.
UPDATED 9 March: Xavier Coates ($203,500) to Brayden Wiliame ($201,100)
Coates has lost out to Jesse Arthars in the race for a Brisbane wing spot. Wiliame was very impressive in the trials and is a chance to slide into the Dragons’ starting 13 for Round 1.
UPDATED 9 March: Greg Leleisiuao ($171,900) to Kurt Mann ($287,100)
Mann will partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves at the Knights, but has handy dual positioning for KFC SuperCoach at FLB and CTW. Starts cheap after playing seven of 19 games off the bench last year.
FULLBACK
Tom Trbojevic, Sea Eagles, $714,800
Turbo is a POD. Yes, Tom Trbojevic, a great of KFC SuperCoach is only owned by 12 per cent. He is just the 11th most popular fullback. It makes no sense.
Ryan Papenhuyzen, Storm, $$508,200
I’d love a Teddy/Turbo combo but Papenhuyzen is just too tempting. He averaged mid-90s at fullback last year but is priced on a 54.7 season average.
Originally published as SuperCoach NRL 2020: Tom Sangster’s team revealed