KFC SuperCoach winners and losers from NRL transfer madness — part 1
The off-season NRL transfer market is in overdrive. We reveal the biggest winners and losers for KFC SuperCoach NRL.
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The NRL pre-season has begun and that can mean just one thing — it’s time to start your research for KFC SuperCoach NRL in 2021.
We take a look at the player gains and losses at every club and who stands to benefit.
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BRONCOS
LOSSES
David Fifita – Games: 9, PPG: 64, MPG: 76
A big loss for the Broncos, Fifita only managed nine games in 2020, but his absence creates plenty of opportunity for someone at Brisbane. Tevita Pangai Jr would provide an almost like-for-like replacement as a hard running edge though new coach Kevin Walters has said he would like to use Pangai more in the middle in 2021. If not Pangai then Jordan Riki, a big-bodied edge who made his debut last year, could be the man to fill Fifita’s slot. Riki debuted in round 14 of 2020 slowly building up his minutes off the interchange bench before playing the full 80 minutes as a starter in the final game of the regular season.
Joe Ofahengaue – Games: 15, PPG: 38, MPG: 48
Joe O played a mix of prop, second row and interchange forward for the Broncos. When the team was injury free he was a bench player. Last year he managed four starts at prop, one at lock and three 80 minute stints in the second row along with seven games off the bench. The Broncos will miss his versatility but they have options in the middle. The aforementioned Pangai Jr is a KFC SuperCoach stud at prop. Young Tom Flegler is also one I expect to play more minutes. Then there’s Matt Lodge, the big fella missed much of 2020 due to injury and is reportedly being shopped around by the Broncos but if he’s at the club in 2021 he can certainly do a job at prop.
KFC SuperCoach NRL prices for 2021 are released for SuperCoach Gold subscribers on Tuesday 22 Dec. Stay tuned!!!!
Darius Boyd – Games: 20, PPG: 43, MPG: 80
Boyd brought his long career to an end at the conclusion of 2020 in a year where he played 11 games at centre and nine at fullback. Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth can cover the centres with new recruit Dale Copley and a mixed bag of players who usually play wing as backups. This leaves a fullback battle between Tesi Niu and Jamayne Isaako.
Sean O’Sullivan – Games: 3, PPG: 29, MPG: 80
Played just the three games at five-eighth from round 16-18. The Broncos should have no trouble covering him.
Jack Bird – N/A
Bird’s troubled stint at the Broncos ends and he returns to NSW to play for the St George Illawarra Dragons. There are SC implications for the Dragons, more on that below, but none for the Broncos.
GAINS
John Asiata – Games: 11, PPG: 28, MPG: 31
Mr Versatility, Asiata is big enough to motor through the middle and skilful enough to be used as a pinch-hitting playmaker. Asiata says he came to Brisbane on a mission from God to make the number 13 jersey his own, which would appear to be a task of somewhat biblical proportions because standing in his way is 2020 breakout star Pat Carrigan. I expect Asiata to fill a utility role similar to Ofahengaue and as such limited minutes mean a limited KFC SuperCoach relevance. However his addition could see reduced minutes for Carrigan.
Dale Copley: Games: 10, PPG: 28, MPG: 65
Copley returns to where his NRL career began after a four-year 57-game stint at the Titans. In 2020 Copley managed 10 games for the Gold Coast before his season was ended in round 14 by a nasty pectoral injury. As mentioned above, I expect Copley to be largely used as a back-up in the centres.
Andrew McCullough: Games: 10, PPG: 52, MPG: 65
Another old Bronco returning to Red Hill, McCullough played 250+ games for the Broncos before an ill-fated loan year at the Knights which saw him manage just 10 games before a serious hamstring injury ended his season. Jake Turpin was the first choice hooker for the Broncos to start 2020, but injuries limited him to just six games. In his absence Cory Paix and Issac Luke (who is currently unsigned) filled the role. I expect Turpin to have first shot to start 2021 but McCullough provides an excellent backup.
BULLDOGS
LOSSES
Aiden Tolman – Games: 17, PPG: 65, MPG: 61
The departure of Tolman, signed by the Sharks, leaves a big hole at the Bulldogs. More on what the move means for the reliable base stat producer in the Sharks section, to be released in part 2 tomorrow.
Kieran Foran – Games: 14, PPG: 54, MPG: 74
He was never the most durable Bulldog but he was arguably the most influential in terms of scoring points. Flanagan is not the ballplayer that Foran is but he’s developing and will be the player expected to take over as lead playmaker.
Jack Cogger – Games: 6, PPG: 34, MPG: 59
After playing 20 games in 2019, Cogger was restricted to just four starts in 2020 and two games off the bench (one of which he did not see the field). Heading to the Super League, Cogger removes one name from the “those who can partner Flanagan in the halves” list which still includes the likes of Jake Averillo, Lachlan Lewis, Brandon Wakeham and Jeremy Marshall-King.
Sauaso Sue – Games: 15, PPG: 32, MPG: 31
He played plenty of games in 2020, but started just two. The Dogs should be able to cover his departure with Ofahiki Ogden and Renouf To’omaga in house and Corey Waddell able to play edge and middle.
Marcelo Montoya – Games: 9, PPG: 37, MPG: 80/Kerrod Holland – Games 12, PPG: 30, MPG: 58/Reimis Smith – Games 14, PPG: 37, MPG: 78
The trio of outside backs played 35 games between them in 2020 and yet only scored nine tries. Their departure leaves the club pretty thin if injuries strike.
KFC SuperCoach NRL prices for 2021 are released for SuperCoach Gold subscribers on Tuesday 22 Dec. Stay tuned!!!!
GAINS
Nick Cotric – Games: 20, PPG: 48, MPG: 80
One of the boom recruits for the Dogs, Nick Cotric played primarily as a winger for the Raiders but early indications are the Bulldogs plan to use him at centre. Over 2019-20 Cotric started 10 of his 39 games at centre averaging 44.3PPG. Not super-exciting. In three of those games Cotric played limited minutes though; if we remove those games from the calculations then his average lifts to 49PPG. That’s a bit better, but Cotric’s still not a guy I would be rushing to get at the price and rather will wait to see how he adapts to the new club/position.
Kyle Flanagan – Games: 18, PPG: 59, MPG: 80
After a season with the Roosters that, to be fair, was far from terrible, Flanagan finds himself at a new club. How far from terrible I hear at least one of you wonder? Well 59PPG was the eighth best average of any HFB eligible player (10 game minimum) and 5PPG better than experienced rival Mitch Moses. Flanagan finished, at position, 10th for try assists and 11th for last touches and linebreak assists. He slotted more goals than Adam Reynolds and Nathan Cleary and — and I was surprised by this one — he made the third most tackles (428 made/32 missed) of any halfback. That’s worth repeating I feel.
Only Ben Hunt (who played a fair bit of hooker) and Mitch Pearce made more tackles. Flanagan made 124 more tackles than Daly Cherry-Evans (and missed 12 less) and 134 more than Nathan Cleary (same number of misses). Often criticised for not running the ball enough, I’d suggest that if the Roosters lightened his defensive workload he may have had more zip in his legs. And yet, despite all this positivity I wouldn’t buy Flanagan to start the season. As with Cotric above, new team, new system and in this case nowhere near the calibre of players running off the playmaker. The Bulldogs profile to be better this year, but it’s still a drop down in backline talent from the all-international unit Flanagan was a part of in 2020.
Jack Hetherington – Games: 8, PPG: 33, MPG: 45
The raw-boned middle forward played two games off the bench for the Panthers (averaging 16PPG in 18.5MPG) and then got six games on loan to the Warriors. His first two loan games were off the bench (39PPG, 37MPG), there was one start at lock (42 points, 58 minutes) and then three starts at prop (35PPG, 65MPG). Those numbers when starting prop are a little deceptive I feel, as Hetherington clearly throttled back his workrate knowing he would play big minutes. Though, perhaps he should have throttled back the aggression as he spent 10 in the bin for an ugly high shot in the match against Manly.
He has a good offload and solid but not great workrate. But is he a buy? Well, that depends. Big minutes are available at the Bulldogs due to the departure of Aiden Tolman, but I’m not sure Hetherington will soak those up. Adam Elliott missed most of 2020 due to a shoulder injury but when back should once again own the lock role and average 60+ MPG there. That frees up Englishman Luke Thompson to move to prop. Thompson covered lock for much of 2020 but moved to his preferred prop role in the final two rounds averaging 62MPG — exactly the gap Tolman leaves behind. In short, absent injuries Hetherington will be relegated to minor minutes on the bench to start 2021 and thus is a watch not buy.
Corey Waddell – Games: 13; PPG: 39, MPG: 48
A bit of an odd move this with Waddell leaving Manly — where he’d be very much in demand in 2021 due to Joel Thompson leaving — and going to the Bulldogs, a team that already has two excellent 80-minute edge players in Josh Jackson and Raymond Faitala-Mariner and backup edges like Joe Stimson and Dean Britt. But that’s the Bulldogs for you, always looking to corner the market in backrowers. Waddell has talent and a workrate that works in KFC SuperCoach but there’s too much competition here for him to be SC relevant.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
LOSSES
John Bateman – Games: 8, PPG: 70, MPG: 80
Remembered fondly by every KFC SuperCoach who selected him at CTW in 2019, Bateman was still worth selection at 2RF in 2020 producing a solid blend of 50 points in base to go with his regular attacking stats. His absence will see the likes of Hudson Young and Corey Harawira-Naera battle it out for the left edge starting role with my money firmly on Young. I discuss Young at greater detail here.
Nick Cotric – Games: 20, PPG: 48, MPG: 80
The powerful outside back is heading to the Bulldogs, creating an opportunity for someone to step up and grab big minutes. The man most likely to land the left wing slot is Bailey ‘Former New Zealand Rugby 7s star’ Simonsson. After playing 18 games in 2019, Simonsson was limited to seven games in 2020 — four full matches and three of limited minutes. In 2019 Simonsson averaged 38PPG suggesting that if he can secure Cotric’s role he’ll be underpriced at his 2020 average of just 23PPG. It’s also worth noting that recruit Albert Hopoate is also in the running for this slot (more below).
Michael Oldfield – Games: 6, PPG: 14, MPG: 43
Unable to secure a regular starting role at the Raiders, Oldfield is off to the Eels for 2021. Used as injury cover in 2020, his departure does not create a big opportunity.
GAINS
Caleb Aekins – Games 8, PPG: 33, MPG: 75
After serving as backup fullback to Dylan Edwards at the Panthers, Aekins is taking his talents to Canberra where he will back-up Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Only injury or rest would see him play significant game time.
Ryan James – N/A
One of the unluckiest men in league, back-to-back knee reconstructions mean Ryan James has not played in the NRL since round six 2019. At the peak of his powers 2016-18 James played 69 games averaging an outstanding 65PPG. Capable of playing edge or middle, James will play a back-up role at the Raiders and barring a slew of injuries will not be SC relevant but will be a great mature addition to the young(ish) pack.
Harry Rushton – N/A
Just 19-years-old, backrower Harry Rushton is the latest in a long line of English imports to make Canberra home. Rushton has just one senior Super League game to his name and it’s hard to see him making a huge impact in 2021. Definitely one to watch as he matures though.
Albert Hopoate – Games: 5, PPG: 24, MPG: 67
A prodigiously talented youngster, Hopoate’s 2019 season was lost to an ACL injury and his 2020 season with Manly did not begin until round 16 following an aborted loan deal to the Warriors. His 2020 numbers don’t scream ‘buy’. Though to be fair Hoppa junior only played 15 minutes in the final game of the season so a truer reflection would be to say he averaged 30PPG across his four 80MPG efforts. Still not stellar, but should the word from Canberra be that he looked good in the pre-season and secured the role left vacant by Nick Cotric then he’s worth a look.
GOLD COAST TITANS
LOSSES
Jai Arrow – Games: 18, PPG: 54, MPG: 54/ Keegan Hipgrave – Games: 13, PPG: 41, MPG: 61
Arrow was the starting lock for the Titans for much of 2020 while Hipgrave started on an edge for eight of his 13 games. The loss of both is more than offset by the high-calibre replacements discussed below.
Bryce Cartwright – Games: 7, PPG: 42, MPG: 80
The enigma that is the Carty Party has found a new venue for the 2021 season in a move which makes sense for the club — Tyrone Peachey is more than enough enigmatic utility for any one club — and no impact for KFC SuperCoaches. Remember — friends don’t let friends Party with Carty!
Ryan James – N/A
One of the unluckiest men in rugby league, James hasn’t played a game since round six 2019 due to consecutive ACL injuries. His departure leaves a gap in off-field leadership but there are no SC points in that.
Dale Copley – Games: 10, PPG: 28, MPG: 65/ Young Tonumaipea – Games: 10, PPG: 44, MPG: 77
Between them Copley and Tonumaipea amounted to a starting centre. In house the Titans have Treymain Spry and Phillip Sami capable of playing centre along with a host of wingers. They’ve also recruited Patrick Herbert who I’m tipping to get first shot at the position. More on him in Part 2.
Nathan Peats – Games: 8, PPG: 38, MPG: 59
The Titans have Mitch Rein still on their books and provided he’s not injured Rein is a fine 55-60 minute hooker. As back-up there’s Tanah Boyd who really feels like a half playing hooker as opposed to a player capable of filling the role permanently. There are a couple of hookers called Smith floating around though and either Brandon or Cameron would make this club serious contenders should they join so let’s watch this space for now.
Tyrone Roberts – Games: 3, PPG: 14, MPG: 69
The Titans have these three games covered.
KFC SuperCoach NRL prices for 2021 are released for SuperCoach Gold subscribers on Tuesday 22 Dec. Stay tuned!!!!
GAINS
David Fifita – Games: 9, PPG: 64, MPG: 76
One of the biggest buys of the season, Fifita adds instant offence to the Gold Coast forward pack. Sadly for KFC SuperCoaches, Fifita was pretty darn good for the Broncos despite injury limiting him to nine games and as a result will start 2021 priced just below the elite 2RF. A somewhat risky buy, Fifita is not a base stat monster. Despite averaging 76MPG in 2020 (20MPG more than he averaged in 2019) he averaged just 40PPG in base which places him near enough 50th at position in that category — and the lowest in the cohort for base as percentage of average score.
And yet, Fifita’s 64PPG was the 13th best at position. ‘How’ I hopefully here you say? In two words — tackle busts. Fifita had the best tackle busting rate of any top-50 2RF last year recording a tackle bust at a rate better than one in four runs. That combined with good, though not great, offload numbers more than made up for Fifita’s low base. I’m going to have to go into this in more detail elsewhere (I smell a base v bash yarn here) but let me finish by saying, Fifita is one of the most exciting forwards in the game. The Titans paid a fortune for him and I expect him to play huge minutes for them in which he will do lots of highlight reel stuff.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Games: 19, PPG: 57, MPG: 46
Another big buy for the Titans, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui began 2020 as an intriguing impact option off the Storm bench and finished being lauded as one of the key reasons the Maroons defeated NSW in Origin. Big Tino was not lured to the Titans to play a bench impact role, he’ll start. Where is not certain, but barring injuries it will be in the middle with Fifita and Proctor both 80-minute edges.
A quick look at Fa’asuamaleaui’s output when playing good minutes in the middle in 2020 shows why he’s going to be a popular starter in 2021. The big unit had one start at prop playing 48 minutes for 62 points. He also started four games at lock (71PPG in 57MPG) and in the five bench games in which he played at least 40 minutes, Tino averaged 67PPG in 48MPG. There were six tries in those 10 games which seems high, but Fa’asuamaleaui is an excellent hole runner and hard to stop close to the line so while he may not score at that rate he will score. Priced at 57PPG, with great attacking upside and very good base (he averaged 45BPPG over the 46MPG) Tino is very tempting for 2021.
Herman Ese’ese – Games: 20, PPG: 45, MPG: 41
The other big forward recruit by the Gold Coast, Ese’ese lacks the star power of the first two players covered here and if you just look at his 2020 numbers then you’d be excused for scrolling on — but wait! If, and despite what I have read elsewhere, I rate it an if not when, Ese’ese can secure a regular starting role playing 45+ mins in the middle then he can once again have SC relevance.
This is the guy who averaged 55PPG in 52MPG playing prop/lock in 2018. He’s capable. That’s the if. Now the but. But, the Titans have Mo Fotuaika and Tino as legitimate options at lock. Both those players can also play prop, a position well filled by both Jarrod Wallace and Jaimin Joliffe at times last year. It’s a capable middle Herman is attempting to crack so let’s see if he does.
Patrick Herbert – Games: 13, PPG: 41, MPG: 77
The departure of Dale Copley and Young Tonumaipea leaves a spot in the centres up for grabs on the Gold Coast and I for one am hoping it’s Patrick Herbert who wins the race. Herbert played 13 games last year for the Warriors and just two of those were at centre with the rest on the wing. But in 2019 Herbert played all of his eight games in the centres so he’s certainly capable of playing there.
Herbert is also a decent goalkicker, something the Titans could use as Ash Taylor, while able, does not seem to enjoy the job. Unfortunately, Herbert went on a bit of a tear to finish 2020 scoring five tries in his final three games averaging 74PPG over that period. Absent those three games, Herbert would have averaged fully 10PPG less over 2020 and thus been priced far more attractively. Still, if Herbert wins a starting centre role AND the goalkicking he’ll be worth some thought.
Sam McIntyre – Games: 12, PPG: 35, MPG: 37
McIntyre was pretty good in his debut season, with solid workrate for an edge player generally coming off the bench. McIntyre is a good flexible roster piece but hard to see him as anything other than injury cover absent injuries so unlikely to see much game time early in 2021.
MELBOURNE STORM
LOSSES
Suliasi Vunivalu – Games: 14, PPG: 47, MPG: 77
The Fijian Flyer is off to rugby union leaving a big(ish) gap on the right edge of the Storm. I added the ‘ish’ there because Vunivalu was limited to just 14 games in 2020 and, perhaps more importantly for SC purposes, the right edge of the Storm has not been anywhere as productive since Cooper Cronk took his talents to Bondi Beach in 2018. It may not be the best edge, but it is an edge with the reigning premiers and there’s a good chance a cheap to mid-range option lands it so whoever that is should be in your watchlist at least.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui – Games: 19, PPG: 57, MPG: 46
These are big shoes to fill both figuratively and literally. Fa’asuamaleaui’s role and impact grew over the course of 2020 and he finished the season as one of the team’s key middles starting in his final five regular season games and averaging 55MPG. If fully fit I expect Dale Finucane (13), Jesse Bromwich (8) and Christian Welch (10) to cover the starting middle roles but Fa’asuamaleaui’s departure still creates a big gap in their rotation for someone to step up and take. For KFC SuperCoach purposes I hope it’s Tui Kamikamica who gets the chance to expand his role though Darryn Schonig is another I really rate at the club.
Paul Momirovski – Games: 6, PPG: 48, MPG: 70
A mixture of injury and Storm selection apathy limited Momirovski to just six games during his loan season with Melbourne in 2020. Momirovski heads back to the Wests Tigers for 2021 and just when the Storm could really use him with both the right side CTW and wing spots up for grabs.
Albert Vete – Games: 6, PPG: 21, MPG: 22
Used as a bench middle forward, Vete’s departure does not create much in the way of KFC SuperCoach opportunity.
GAINS
George Jennings – Games: 7, PPG: 45.7, MPG: 80
The club need to replace Vunivalu and while the Storm do have Isaac ‘Fijian Flyer MkII’ Lumelume on their books I expect Jennings to also be in the selection mix. Jennings played seven games in 2020 (plus one where he was selected on bench but did not play), six of them for the Warriors on a short-term loan. He was pretty good too scoring three regular season tries and finishing with an average of almost 46PPG. That’s not great KFC SuperCoach news and would see him priced out of selection range even if he wins the right-side wing job.
Reimis Smith – Games 14, PPG: 37, MPG: 78
The Storm do love having a ‘Smith’ floating around and with the news that Cameron is leaving and Brandon is looking it makes sense to add Reimis to the mix. The former Bulldog is big, fast and capable of playing centre or wing and so is another in contention for the right side. His selection would certainly be better for KFC SuperCoaches than Jennings as he will be considerably cheaper.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
LOSSES
Addin Fonua-Blake – Games: 15, PPG: 60, MPG: 51
With Marty Taupau and Fonua-Blake, Manly had arguably one of the best starting front rows in the game and this is a huge blow for the Sea Eagles. Josh Aloiai is a solid replacement, and Taniela Paseka is another big winner but they both have big shoes to fill.
Joel Thompson – Games: 14, PPG: 49, MPG: 73
Another massive loss to the Sea Eagles forward pack, Joel Thompson leaves an 80-minute sized hole on an edge, with Jack Gosiewski or new recruit Andrew Davey set to be the winners. Manly seem likely to run a utility and three middle forwards on the bench in 2021, so Gosiewski could play big minutes if he gets the nod.
Corey Waddell – Games: 13, PPG: 39, MPG: 48
Waddell’s move to the Bulldogs is a bit strange considering he may not get a run given their backrow depth, and he would have been in line for more gametime had he stayed at Manly.
KFC SuperCoach NRL prices for 2021 are released for SuperCoach Gold subscribers on Tuesday 22 Dec. Stay tuned!!!!
GAINS
Andrew Davey – Games: 8, PPG: 38, MPG: 40
After an impressive debut season as a 28-year-old, Davey has moved to Manly and will look to get a spot in the starting 17, with a starting edge position and bench spots up for grabs. Davey’s first six games at the Eels were as an interchange player, his last two were starts on an edge and his numbers were impressive. In the final two games of the regular season Davey averaged 64PPG (44BPPG) and 75.5MPG.
There’s a big role available on an edge thanks to Thompson heading to the UK and while Jack Gosiewski may have points as an incumbent it’s Davey who would be far more exciting from a KFC SuperCoach perspective. Statistics are just statistics but here’s an interesting one to consider when deciding between Davey and Gosiewski. In 2020 Gosiewski made 142 tackles and missed 21; Davey made 156 and missed 4.
Kieran Foran – Games: 14, PPG: 54, MPG: 74
Foz is back at Manly, but it remains a bit unclear where he fits into the starting side. A move to five-eighth seems like the obvious choice but Des Hasler has hinted a move to hooker could be on with Danny Levi unsigned for 2021 and Manase Fainu stood down. Foran in the halves would allow Dylan Walker to move back to centre, while Lachlan Croker and Cade Cust would battle it out for No.9.
Jason Saab – Games: 4, PPG: 29, MPG: 80
Moving to Manly after a disruptive season at the Dragons with multiple release requests denied, Saab will push for a starting spot in the backline, with Jorge Taufua, Reuben Garrick and Brad Parker battling to keep their spots.
Josh Aloiai – Games: 18, PPG: 56, MPG: 49
Addin Fonua-Blake is a big loss for Manly but the Sea Eagles have done well to nab Aloiai, who started at prop for the Tigers in all of his games in 2020. Averaging a career-high in points and minutes it is hard to see much KFC SuperCoach upside, but Aloiai is a handy signing.
Christian Tuipulotu – Games: 1, PPG: 67, MPG: 80
Only played one game in 2020 for the Roosters, but impressed on debut with a try against Melbourne. A very promising young talent and a good pick-up for a side lacking strikepower out wide.
UNSIGNED
Brendan Elliot, Danny Levi, Luke Metcalf, Tony Williams
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
LOSSES
Aidan Guerra – Games: 20, PPG: 45, MPG: 52
A borderline KFC SuperCoach stud when in his prime, Guerra bounced back from an injury curtailed 2019 to play every game in 2020 — starting all but six of them at second-row.
However, after 200+ games in the NRL, Guerra has decided to call time on his career. The recruitment of Frizell (below) would have relegated him to bench/injury cover at best in 2021.
Tim Glasby – Games: 7, PPG: 53, MPG: 40
Concussion concerns saw a premature end to Glasby’s career, but the middle forward will always have his premiership ring and Origin jerseys while KFC SuperCoaches will always have the memory of Glasby scoring an otherworldly 130 points against the Panthers in round three. A locked in starter back in his day Glasby is another who would have struggled to gain regular minutes in a full-strength Knights pack.
Herman Ese’ese – Games: 20, PPG: 45, MPG: 41
The departure of Herman Ese’ese to the Titans leaves a somewhat larger hole for the Knights. A more than capable lock/prop, Ese’ese is a sound defender and willing ball runner. The Knights have a very good forward pack, and Herman would be an interchange player in 2021 not a starter provided there are no injuries but that’s a rare thing in rugby league. As far as replacements go, in-house the Knights have Pasami Saulo and Jacob Saifiti crying out for expanded roles and have added Sauaso Sue (see below).
Andrew McCullough: Games: 10, PPG: 52, MPG: 65
The Knights’ number nine jersey was cursed in 2020 with Jayden Brailey, Connor Watson and McCullough all going down with long-term injuries. McCullough was released by the Broncos early in 2020 and joined the Knights to provide cover at hooker after Brailey injured his knee in the second round. The hooker hoodoo struck again when McCullough ripped his hamstring off the bone in round 11. With Brailey back, and fitness/injury permitting he’ll likely play 80 minutes at hooker in 2021, McCullough is surplus to requirements at Newcastle, lucky for him he has a savvy agent who negotiated a player option which permits a return to the Broncos for 2021.
Sione Mata’utia – Games: 11, PPG: 45, MPG: 60
Having broken into the Knights’ first grade team when just 18, Mata’utia heads to the Super League with 124 club appearances to his name — that despite missing chunks of time as he dealt with concussion injuries. Capable as an oversized centre or somewhat undersized edge the Knights will miss his versatility. A player who flirted with SC relevance largely because he carried dual position status (selected at centre in the game though churning out a safe 45-55 when starting at second row for his club) he was never really a must. If the club were at full strength, Mata-utia would be a bench option with Lachlan Fitzgibbon and new recruit Tyson Frizell (see below) as starters. However, his departure should still open up opportunity for the likes of Brodie Jones, Jirah Momoisea and new recruit Jack Johns (again, below).
Mason Lino – Games: 5, PPG: 40, MPG: 80
Lino started the final five games of the regular season at five-eighth for the Knights but is heading to the Super League in search of more regular playing opportunities. A player I really rate, I’m glad he’ll get the chance to impress in the UK. The club has plenty of options to partner Mitch Pearce in the halves namely youngsters Tex Hoy and Phoenix Crossland, utility Connor Watson and of course Blake Green (once he’s recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in round 15 last year).
Tautau Moga – Games: 4, PPG: 46, MPG: 80
Through a combination of injury and form Moga has not been KFC SuperCoach relevant since his one banner year of 2017 with the Broncos. Just the four games last year and that means his absence is not a huge KFC SuperCoach opportunity creator.
KFC SuperCoach NRL prices for 2021 are released for SuperCoach Gold subscribers on Tuesday 22 Dec. Stay tuned!!!!
GAINS
Tyson Frizell – Games: 20, PPG: 63, MPG: 80
The big recruit for Newcastle in 2021, Frizell is as capable of playing 80 on an edge as he is 60+ at lock and is one of those edge players who will go looking for work which makes him very KFC SuperCoach relevant. In 2020 Frizell played almost every minute of every match (his 73 minutes in round nine offset by an extra-time 84 minutes in round 17) and averaged the 15th best PPG at position with a 13th best BPPG for any 2RF eligible player. A player who has flirted with gun status in the past, Frizell is certainly under consideration for 2021. Unfortunately for KFC SuperCoaches Frizell had a monster final round bagging two tries and scoring 117 — that game alone will see him start $30K more expensive than if he had scored 59 in round 20.
Sauaso Sue – Games: 15, PPG: 32, MPG: 31
Former Bulldog, Sue brings 140+ games of experience to a pack in which, barring a catastrophic injury toll or as cover during Origin, he will be limited to brief stints off the interchange bench. He’s a good get for the club, but his KFC SuperCoach relevance is limited.
Jack Johns – Games: 2, PPG: 30, MPG: 38
Son of Matty and nephew of Andrew, Johns certainly brings some pedigree with him upon his return to Newcastle (Johns played for Newcastle’s Holden Cup and NSW Cup teams in 2017/18 before joining South Sydney). It was as a Rabbitoh that Johns gained his first taste of NRL action, playing 52 minutes in round 11 before a shorter cameo 23 minutes in round 13. A skillful, slightly undersized, second-rower, Johns has a touch of the Wade Graham’s about him and if he turns out to be half as good he’s a savvy pickup by Newcastle. KFC SuperCoach interest will require some injuries though I feel.
Bailey Hodgson – N/A
Super League recruit Bailey is the nephew of Canberra captain Josh Hodgson. That I opened with that little factoid may suggest that I don’t know too much about what he brings to the squad. And you would be correct dear reader. He must have some chops though, the England youth international made his Super League debut aged just 18. Joins a young backline and will be competing with current Knights Bradman Best, Edrick Lee, Gehamat Shibasaki, Starford To’a and Tex Hoy for game time.
Dominic Young – N/A
Another young Englishman joining the Knights with minimal Super League experience (two games this time), Young is tall. Yes, he’s capable, fast etc, but be prepared for Jason Saab like areas of ‘Gee he’s a tall unit isn’t he’ from commentators should Young make the field. Like Hodgson, Young joins on a three-year contract so the Knights are clearly prepared to put some time into developing him and barring injury I do not expect to see too much of him too early in 2021. When we do though remember this — he’s tall.
UNSIGNED
Tyronne Roberts-Davis
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
LOSSES
Gavin Cooper – Games: 15, PPG: 33, MPG: 41
A KFC SuperCoach gun of the past, Cooper played a restricted role in 2020 and his departure doesn’t create a huge opportunity. The backrow at the Cowboys is quite a log jam with the likes of Mitch Dunn, Shane Wright and Tom Gilbert all capable of being KFC SuperCoach keepers when given 80 minutes. So it’s a position worth watching through the pre-season.
Tom Opacic – Games: 5, PPG: 41, MPG: 80
Opacic heads to the Eels leaving just a five-game gap from his 2020 output but he played 19 in 2019. The Cowboys are a bit of a raffle at centre. You would think that Esan Marsters should lock up one slot. The other spot looks set to see competition between Justin O’Neill and or Connelly Lemuelu with the latter being my preference from a KFC SuperCoach perspective.
John Asiata – Games: 11, PPG: 28, MPG: 31
The prop with the hands of a halfback is heading south in search of a regular starting gig. I’m not sure he’ll find it at the Broncos but more on that above. As for the hole he leaves at the Cowboys, it’s not huge in terms of minutes but big in terms of being able to cope with injuries during a game. There are plenty of good middle forwards who can soak up those minutes at the club — Molo and Hola my two favourites — but also new signing Lachlan Burr (see below).
GAINS
Lachlan Burr – Games: 14, PPG: 38, MPG: 34
I must confess to having a bit of a soft spot for Lachlan Burr. I love his story of refusing to give up on his career, I love that he was a great cheapie buy in 2019 with the Warriors. I don’t absolutely love the Cowboys as a fit for him though. As I mention above, there will be those Asiata minutes going around but there are plenty of other good middle forwards ready to take them. I hope it works out, but if not; Lachlan, we’ll always have 2019 together.
UNSIGNED
Daniel Russell
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