Fatima Kdouh’s KFC SuperCoach NRL side revealed
UPDATE - The Daily Telegraph’s NRL reporter and KFC SuperCoach NRL Countdown Show host regular Fatima Kdouh reveals the updated squad she will take into round one of the 2020 season.
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Credit to the boys. It’s been a tough pre-season and houses, maybe entire cul-de-sacs, were trained down. But they made it, all 25 of them.
This team has been a long time coming but what can I say, I’m a busy woman.
With the help of a few ‘eyeball’ tests, a daddy anecdote and some inspiration from a taco ad, I present to you – belatedly – the Power Puff Boys
UPDATED - The season’s first Team List Tuesday has spoken and forced my hand. I made only a handful of changes and most at CTW. I also reluctantly dropped one star forward, it’s a decision I’m hoping I won’t regret.
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HOOKERS - no change
Api Koroisau
I should know better. In the past I have started without Cameron Smith, trying to find an edge. Leaving out the best hooker wasn’t it. So naturally, I’ve done it again this year and left out Damien Cook. But this is the girl who tipped the Broncos to make the eight this year (don’t @ me). Seriously though, Api is in for more minutes in 2020 as confirmed by Ivan Cleary last week. Reckon the attacking stats won’t come as soon as round one but they will come.
Blayke ‘Better’ Brailey
The Brailey’s are actually a trio of hookers. There’s Jayden, Blayke and Taj, who is still only 16. I asked Newcastle’s Jayden once who he thought was the most talented. He said his dad, Glenn, had a ratings system that went ‘Good, Better, Best’. The ‘Better’ Brailey should play big minutes but I hear Connor Tracey is really impressing down in the Shire. He’s assured a bench spot and 50 per cent of teams hope he doesn’t eat into Brailey’s minutes.
FRONT ROW - updated 12 March
Marty Taupau and Stefano Utoikamanu out Zane Tetevano and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown in
Zane Tetevano
I was quite chuffed with myself for managing to find a place for Manly’s Marty Taupau but I’ve had to sacrifice him. I already feel like this is one of those calls I’ll regret down the track. I was super impressed with Zane Tetevano’s 60 minute stint in Penrith’s last trial. Last week former Roosters teammate Boyd Cordner told me hoped Tetevano forgets his boots because the forward is primed for a big one a Saturday night. I reckon he’s sewn up a starting spot for the long term and it’s now his to lose.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Long term injury to the likes Bunty Afoa and Jackson Frei - both suffered season ending ACL injuries - have handed Taunoa-Brown some job security in this Warriors line-up. The youngster is already promising attacking stats, saying he wants to bring in his ball playing at footwork into the Warriors pack.
Payne Haas
An average of 78.4PPG from a forward capable of playing 80 minutes and who is only set to get better in 2020 feels like a must-have pick, even at the hefty price tag. He’ll probably play Origin but with 12 points more on offer than his nearest rival, we can all worry about his Blues stint later.
Toby Rudolf
Word is Rudolf’s trial form against the Sea Eagles, where he scored a try, made seven tackle busts and 28 tackles, may have just been enough for him to steal a bench spot.
SECOND ROW - updated 12 March
Billy Magoulias and Keaon Koloamatangi out Jaydn S’uA and Isaah Yeo in
Isaah Yeo
Initially I had Luciano Leilua instead of Yeo but I couldn’t muster the courage to keep him in my side. Leilua’s has enormous upside potential but didn’t show enough consistency last season to trust he’ll reach that ceiling in 2020. At least with Yeo I get some dual position flexibility.
Jason Taumalolo
The unofficial king of Tonga averaged 78PPG (of which 57.8PPG were in base stats) in 64MPG last year. It was also his third season of an average of 70 plus points. My gut tells me the Cowboys are in for a revival in 2020, led by the original egg boy himself.
David Fifita
He emerged as an 80-minute forward in the back end of last season and hammered out back to back 100 plus point games in rounds 23 and 24. If that doesn’t whet your supercoach appetite, nothing will.
Liam Knight
With coach Wayne Bennett shifting Cameron Murray out onto the left edge, Knight will step into the middle which should result in an uptake in game time towards the 60 minutes mark.
Patrick Carrigan
Carrigan will graduate from the ‘Trained the House Down Academy’ into a starting spot in Brisbane’s pack at lock which means a nice bump up in minutes. It’s his spot to lose. We got a taste of what could come from Carrigan in a trial against the Titans – 165 metres, seven tackle busts and 35 tackles. Plus he is a dual position forward.
HALFBACK - no changes
Mitchell Moses
My pick for this year’s Dally M Player of the Year (again, don’t @ me) so I had to have him. He covers the first buy and I watched him closely in Bega during the Panthers trial, as a whole the Eels attack was a bit clunky but when Moses decided to take matters into his own hands he scored two impressive individual tries.
Nathan Cleary
Moses or Cleary? Porque no los dos? Like the girl from that taco ad I’m having both. I know the Panthers are facing a VERY tough first five weeks against the Roosters, Dragons, Storm, Broncos and Raiders but I’m backing Cleary, who is down to 14 per cent ownership, to come good through the opening rounds.
FIVE EIGHTH - no changes
George Williams
Proven in the Super League but not in SuperCoach, as a Raiders fan I’m hopeful (quietly confident) his performances for the Wigan Warriors will translate into points for Supercoaches. At 333k, he offers too much value to ignore.
Jarome Luai
Guaranteed a starting spot in the halves alongside Cleary. Interestingly, Ivan Cleary moved Luai to hooker when Koroisau left the field during the Eels trial with Matt Burton coming off the bench and into the halves. There’s also Tyrone May to return into the Panthers outfit in round 5, all food for thought.
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CTW- updated 12 March
Tommy Talau and Braidon Burns out Gehamat Shibasaki, Brayden Wiliame, Maika Sivo in
Maika Sivo
This one could come back to bite me! The first signs that Sivo might be in for a bout of ‘second-year syndrome’ appeared during the Eels’ final trial against Penrith, where he was a non factor. He also relies on tries for big scores but he’s in for now. If I have a change of heart - probably will - it will be for Burns, who I already had in my side.
Kallum Watkins
He could earn a spot centre spot for the Titans but I’ve heard new coach Justin Holbrook isn’t decided on how he’ll use Tyrone Peachey in 2020 which could have an impact on Watkins.
Zac Lomax
I’m sticking firm with this selection even after his performance against the Rabbitohs was a bit of a mixed bag. But Lomax was impressive in the first trial against the Knights and slotted four from five conversions.
Bradman Best and Jake Avarillo
I know he’s injured and set to miss at least the first three rounds but being a notorious trade hoarder, he’s staying in my 25 so I don’t have to use a trade to bring him in at a later date.
As for Avarillo, he didn’t snatch a spot in the 17 but with Jayden Okunbor stood down for an off-field indiscretion, he might get his chance sooner rather than later… and Dean Pay did chop and change his outside backs last year.
FULLBACK - no changes
James Tedesco
Tedesco promises us he can get better, and I believe him. Lock him in.
Ryan Papenhuyzen
When you look at the scores he dished out when he played the full eighty minutes then it becomes VERY hard to leave Pap out of your side. He played six 80 minutes games over the course of last year for an average of 95.3PPG.
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