KFC SuperCoach: Channel 10’s Jelisa Apps names team for 2023

Picture this, you’re sitting at Qudos Bank Arena and Snoop Dogg has the place pumping. Then suddenly it occurs to you to change your SuperCoach side.

Picture this, you’re sitting at Qudos Bank Arena, Snoop Dogg has the place pumping.

And suddenly between Drop It Like It’s Hot and California Girls it suddenly occurs to you.

Cooper Johns starting half. Buy low now, sell later. Genius plan. Flawless.

Yes SuperCoaches, the grind simply does not stop.

And Snoop, you were good, great even, but as I stood there, dropping it like it is indeed hot, I had to make a trade. There’s $50k on the line.

So if you are like me you had a rough idea of the team you wanted in your head – of course that was wildly over budget and now half of them are injured, so it’s changed completely.

Jelisa Apps has named her SuperCoach NRL team.

Here’s the side I’ve been left with.

Last year I was all about the premium players. The whole thing was very new to me so I went expensive and of course it caught up with me. At the back end of the season I hadn’t made a whole lot to be able to buy those that went up so this year I’ve switched it up and thrown in a couple of unexpected cheapies, eg Cooper Johns... but more on that later.

I’ve also taken the view of no matter how good a player is, if they’ve been out with injury recently I haven’t taken the risk. This worked wonders for me last year when I was one of the few people without Tommy T.

Of course it comes with risk, if Turbo or Latrell or Paps are at their best and injury free and you’re one of the only ones without any of them – that can hurt.

Jelisa Apps changes her KFC SuperCoach team while at a Snoop Dogg concert.

HOOKER

Reece Robson $678,200

Bench Tyran Wishart $234,800

The obvious choice here based on 2022 points and just general form would be Harry Grant, however at $816,500 it’s a huge chunk of the cap.

Brandon Smith is by far the most owned at 52% while Harry is 30%, but Robson is being massively overlooked at just 8% ownership. He came in just under Grant for SuperCoach points last season but is a whopping $138,300 cheaper at $678,200.

On the bench I have Tyran Wishart who is $234,800. When he’s been given a crack at first grade he’s performed and he was great in the trials. Given the injury risks the Storm have in the backs, he is great utility value too.

FRONT ROW

Joseph Tapine $699,500

Nelson Asofa-Solomona $546,700

Bench

Sean Keppie $274,800

Pasami Saulo $243,000

Tapine and Asofa-Solomona are solid and consistent and likely to pick up points monstering through with a try or two, happy to spend the money here. Sean Keppie is an intriguing one, he’s been named at lock with Jake Trbojevic making the move to prop. Pasami Saulo has also been named for the Raiders. Both players are nice cheapies but also with starting spots. I can see Keppie in particular going up as he makes it his own, he’s shown glimpses in the past.

BACK ROW

Liam Martin 558,800

Victory Radley 526,700

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui $704,500

Bench

Jackson Ford $281,200

Bryce Cartwright $234,800

Shawn Blore $234,800

Liam Martin was a sure pick here for me, I feel he’s been underrated for years as an absolute workhorse in that Penrith side and he was solid in the World Cup as well. Victor Radley another consistent performer if he can keep relatively cool-headed. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is expensive but a big points earner last season.

Generally with my bench I’ve tried to go as cheap as possible with as many starting players to keep as much as I can in the kitty and Ford and Blore are both starting as is Carwright who is playing for a contract this year and has been a solid performer for the Eels.

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HALFBACK

Cooper Johns $340,900

Bench

Brayden Trindall $234,800

This is where I went a bit rogue, really rogue. But hear me out.

I like to go with one ‘out there’ pick in both NRL and Big Bash and generally they’ve paid off for me. Cooper Johns isn’t as big of gamble as you might think. He’s pretty cheap at $340,900 and of course has been handed an opportunity with Josh Schuster injured for the first round.

Speaking to Cooper at the season launch a week ago he was very relaxed and keen to prove his worth and why wouldn’t he be? According to his teammates he was the self-appointed MVP of the Pre-Season Challenge which of course the Sea Eagles took home. I think he’ll seize the chance at a debut for his junior club and of course I’ll bench him quickly for the round 2 bye and when Schuster comes back.

It’s a similar story for Brayden Trindall who is in the halves for the sharks for Nicho Hynes but comes in at a juicy $234,800.

FIVE-EIGHTHS

Matt Burton $594,500

Bench

Drew Hutchinson $234,800

If the Dogs are to have a big year, which if you’re going on roster and recruitment they should, Matt Burton is going to be front and centre of it. I expect big things.

With question marks over whether Brandon Smith will play 80 minutes and Luke Keary returning from injury, Drew Hutchinson could end up playing a pretty vital role on the bench.

CENTRE/WING

Reuben Garrick $742,600

Alex Johnston $713,200

Brian To’o 624,300

Nick Meaney $643,800

Bench

Tom Talau $301,600

Harley Smith-Shields $300,300

Paul Alamoti $200,800

Reuben Garrick has been great wherever he’s played for the Sea Eagles and his kicking points are well worth the $700k spend. Alex Johnston another player who picks up plenty of try-scoring points each season and I can’t see why that would be any different this year. I don’t buy into the story that the Panthers will struggle this year with the players they have lost so I expect another big year for To’o and Nick Meany was impossible to go past with the duel fullback role.

Once again I’ve filled my bench with cheaper players who will also start and could head up in value.

FULLBACK

James Tedesco $836,300

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad $327,100

This was the hardest decision by far. I desperately wanted to go with Ryan Papenhuyzen or Latrell Mitchell but given their previous injuries I had to stick with James Tedesco for obvious reasons.

If you’ve gone past CNK at $327k on your bench you’re mad! May not be the flashiest player you’ll find but is an absolute workhorse and was underutilised at the Raiders last season. I weep at the fact he isn’t in green this year. I would have liked him in the starting side.

Remaining Salary: $137,200

That’s it SuperCoaches! All feedback and sledging is welcome so please get in touch and may we all have fun but may I win $50K.

Drop it like it’s hot.