KFC SuperCoach NRL 2022: Tom Sangster’s team revealed

After almost six months of planning and deliberation, Tom Sangster has finally settled on this squad of 25 champions and soon-to-be champions.

So after almost six months of planning and deliberation, I’ve finally settled on these 25 soldiers.

Go well. Do stuff.

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HOOKER

Damien Cook ($575,700)

Cook is well under-owned compared to his KFC SuperCoach history. The adage floating around SC circles is that Wayne Bennett ruined Cook’s running game. So let’s test the theory. Cook averaged 4.7 runs under Bennett and 70 KFC SuperCoach points per game. He averaged almost double the runs (eight) under Anthony Seibold in 2018 for 78 points, eight points per game more. It’s not conclusive but there is hope his running game will return under a new coach and in a depleted backline minus his main pass-target Adam Reynolds.

Chris Randall ($245,500)

The injury to Jayden Brailey (Achilles, 4-6 months) has opened the hooking spot at the Knights for Randall. KFC SuperCoach fanatics will remember Randall made a memorable debut in 2020 when he notched 68 tackles, so he clearly has KFC SuperCoach talent.

KFC SuperCoach Editor Tom Sangster.

FRONT ROW

Payne Haas ($595,800)

Haas is coming off his worst ever KFC SuperCoach season, yet he still averaged 68. That’s staggering. Of course, the reason for Haas’s 10 point drop in average is not that he’s become a worse player, rather a serious drop in game time as the Broncos move to protect their most important forward. His current game time is far more sustainable and he’s found his KFC SuperCoach sweet spot at 60 minutes for 68 points. I’ll take that any day for a set and forget player.

Ethan Bullemor ($280,000)

Will start on an edge for the Sea Eagles for six games or so while Josh Schuster is injured. That’s more than enough for some serious price rises. Averaged a brilliant 1.21 points per minute last year at the Broncos so clearly he likes to work. I’m slightly uneasy about starting him but no round one team is perfect and you need to make sacrifices somewhere.

Josh King ($255,800)

Every serious KFC SuperCoach knows about the big forward opportunities at the Storm, who are without Dale Finucane (Sharks) and Tui Kamikamica (legal). However, we were backing the wrong player all along with Tepai Moerea at 35 per cent ownership yet left out for round one, while King slipped under the radar at 2.2 per cent prior to teams day yet has scored the starting lock spot. He’s now at 16 per cent ownership and rising.

Max King ($188,700)

Not to be confused with Josh King (above), Max is a former Storm prop who has scored a bench spot at the Bulldogs. Owned by a quarter of KFC SuperCoaches, King had a very strong trial against the Knights, running for 106 metres from 14 runs for 46 KFC SuperCoach points.

BACK ROW

David Fifita ($745,200)

Once Cleary was ruled out, I promised to use that money on another position leader. Fifita fits the bill after finishing 10 points clear of the next best 2RFs. He did that in just 66 minutes per game last year but should up that to 80 this season. Showed fearsome form in the All Stars match.

Jason Taumalolo ($485,700)

Buying Taumalolo is a bit of a Hail Mary given how poorly he performed under the ever-changing roles of new coach Todd Payten last year, but he starts cheap and there’s no doubt Taumalolo is one of the greatest KFC SuperCoach players of all time. Before last year’s aberration of 55, he averaged 72, 78, 70 and 75. Named in his favoured lock position and assistant coach Dean Young has hinted at increased minutes.

Euan Aitken ($486,000)

After playing almost every one of his 135 games at centre, Aitken was switched to the back row for his final six games of 2021 and promptly averaged a keeper-like 80.8. However, his KFC SuperCoach price is based on a 55.4 season average, which is down due to eight games at centre. He’ll end up in the centres for Sangster’s Paradise, but for now I want to keep the CTW open for cheapies.

Euan Aitken could make a permanent switch to the back row (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Heilum Luki ($351,500)

Luki is on the way up. The young Cowboy was promising in 11 games last year but averaged only 38 minutes for the season. Now as a starting edge backrower, hopefully he pushes up towards the 80 minute mark.

Kelma Tuilagi ($253,900)

Tuilagi impressed me immensely in the trials. The injury to Shawn Blore (ACL) has opened a back row spot at the Tigers with Tuilagai prefered over the far more experienced Luke Garner. He showed real promise in five games last year averaging 35 in 25 minutes at the impressive PPM of 1.38. Must-have cheapie.

Jirah Momoisea ($205,100)

Another under-the-radar cheapie who everyone should own. He was at just 11 per cent ownership before teams day but now sits in 22 per cent of teams. Momoisea has scored a bench spot at the Knights and has crucial dual position flexibility. The injury to Daniel Saifiti (five weeks) only helps his cause.

  

HALFBACK

Jackson Hastings ($350,700)

Remember that time Jackson Hastings averaged 52 in KFC SuperCoach? The year was 2016, his last in the NRL, and Hastings was one of the most popular players in fantasy footy. A few Super League grand finals and a Man of Steel Award later and Hastings is back in the NRL. Further, he’ll start in the halves for the Tigers and kick goals, at a bargain price. Not a cheapie but still set to be one of the season’s best money makers.

Brad Schneider ($188,700)

The Canberra young gun has been named at halfback in place of recruit Jamal Fogarty (knee, four months) and will kick goals. Another must-have cheapie.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Lachlan Ilias ($205,200)

There aren’t too many really obvious cheapies in KFC SuperCoach this year, but Ilias is one. He starts close to bottom dollar and is an unbackable favourite to win the halfback spot vacated by Adam Reynolds.

Cameron Munster ($649,800)

He misses round one due to suspension, but I’m backing a career year for Munster after a stint in rehab. I’ll cover him in the starting side in round one by Ilias, who should get some attacking stats against the Broncos on a dry Suncorp Stadium track.

CENTRE/WING

Beau Fermor ($379,300)

I hate it when Rob Sutherland is right. On Tuesday’s teams podcast he pointed out that Fermor averaged almost 60 when starting in the forwards last year, yet his price is based on a season average of 43.68. With dual position swing options with Aitken and Tago, he’s a lock.

Selwyn Cobbo ($320,100)

Cobbo was simply stunning in the Queensland Cup finals last year and his pre-season form was good as well. Ideally he’d play fullback and be in a decent attacking side, but alas that’s not the case. Even so, the eye test results are simply stunning so I’m backing him on potential alone.

Izack Tago ($287,900)

Starting at centre in one of the best attacking sides in the competition, Tago is a must and may even be a season-long keeper. Third most popular player in the game.

Talatau Amone ($284,500)

Locked in for the starting five-eighth spot at the Dragons. Well under priced after playing half his games off the bench last year. Amone averaged just 51 minutes last season, so adjust that up to 80 minutes and KFC SuperCoaches are looking at an average around the 50 mark, which equates to a price rise of around $150,000. Dual position flexibility is an added bonus.

Will Penisini ($255,700)

Thankfully last year’s finals performances don’t count to this year’s KFC SuperCoach price. The highly-rated Penisini was one of Parramatta’s better players in their finals run last season, but his KFC SuperCoach price is based merely on his regular season performances — 41 average with a massive discount applied for playing just three games.

Viliami Vailea ($205,100)

There is always a cheapie who comes from absolutely nowhere and here is our 2022 version. Vailea was at just 1.5 per cent ownership prior to teams day, but he’s now up to almost 40 per cent. Another must-have cheapie.

Tolutau Koula ($175,400)

I usually advise against buying bench utilities as they generally don’t play enough minutes to be KFC SuperCoach relevant. But Koula is different. He was super impressive in the trials and showed he is capable of playing centre, wing and fullback. With just one injury he comes into Des Hasler’s starting side. Forgive a few poor scores in limited minutes at the start of the season for future gains down the track.

FULLBACK

Tom Trbojevic ($1,256,100)

I just can’t deal with the stress of NOT owning Turbo and I’m willing to tear my side apart to get him in.

Ryan Papenhuyzen ($694,700)

Fingers crossed he’s fit for round one. The Storm superstar experienced a stop-start 2021 due to injury. His price is therefore based on a season average of just 60 minutes and 79.2 points as coach Craig Bellamy eased him through the season. But he should be back to full-game duties in 2022 and Papenhuyzen averaged an astronomical 116 in 80 minute games last year. Based on these numbers, he’s underpriced by 37 points a game, which equates to somewhere around $250,000. Has the potential to rival Turbo and Cleary among the best player in KFC SuperCoach.