NRL SuperCoach 2019: Former champion Wilfred Zee’s team revealed

As we’ve come to expect, former champion Wilfred Zee is taking plenty of punts with his 2019 SuperCoach side.

This is still an early draft obviously and there’s every chance about half of this team ends up changing by TLT for Round 1, but you’ve got to start the planning early so this is the current draft of my team as it stands.

As you’ll see, it’s extremely light in the CTW but I’ll be rolling out some serious guns elsewhere and my reserves will be fairly strong as well!

HOOKER

Damien Cook ($726,000) / Victor Radley ($400,700)

As fearlessly predicted by myself, I see Cook being relatively unaffected by everything that’s happened and for him to continue being the No. 1 hooker in SuperCoach, as well as being a legitimate captain option from Round 1.

I’ve paired him with a mid-ranger in Radley, who may find himself downgraded if he either doesn’t start at lock (I’m expecting he does) or a genuine cheaper option is revealed before Round 1 kicks off.

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2016 NRL SuperCoach champion Wilfred Zee.

FRONT ROW

Tevita Pangai Jnr ($495,000) / Dale Finucane ($432,900)

Refer to my previous ramblings about TPJ in the Broncos’ study guide, as well as my fearless prediction about him (and the FRF position) – I believe I’ve said all I need to say about him there!

Finucane is my other starter, as he finds himself starting 2019 quite cheap (priced off an average of 46) due to an injury-affected season where not only did he have several games cut short by injury/concussion, he also played through injury in several others (which affected his usual workrate). I can see Finucane getting his minutes back to his 2016 and 2017 levels (approximately 62 minutes per game) and with it, his SuperCoach scores to an average of 55 to 60 points per game.

Tevita Pangai Jnr is set for a big year.

Payne Haas ($181,800) / Emre Guler ($227,100)

I wrote about Haas also in the Broncos’ study guide but essentially, there is a bench spot reserved for Haas and the middle forward minutes freed up by the departures of Josh McGuire, Sam Thaiday and Korbin Sims have his name on them.

Guler is a bit of a punt, after some really positive signs last year and in the preseason where he is being earmarked for a bigger role with bigger minutes. These minutes should be available with the departures of Shannon Boyd and Junior Paulo, although the unknown usage of Ryan Sutton, John Bateman and potentially a new role for Josh Papalii does throw some question marks about Guler’s pick here.

LISTEN! Resident SuperCoach experts Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the lowdown on the players to target and avoid in 2019.

SECOND ROW

Jake Trbojevic ($667,600) / Angus Crichton ($646,900) / Jai Arrow ($598,000)

This is definitely the highlight of my squad, as I see these three second row forwards as potentially the top three highest averaging 2RFs of 2019. I’m kicking it old school and stacking the pack! Trbojevic is as dependable as they come in this position, and I can’t imagine his role changing even under Des “the Mad Scientist” Hasler.

Crichton has changed clubs, but he is a hard worker who is going to be working with arguably the best halfback in the NRL at the moment, who has consistently fed the right edge backrower (think Kevin Proctor, then Tohu Harris and Ryan Matterson most recently) with plenty of attacking stats over the years.

Arrow, in my humble opinion, is undervalued at his current price due to his slightly slow start (as he earned his new coach’s trust) and his ongoing battles with multiple injuries. If he stays healthy (and by all reports, he’s as healthy as he’s been for some time), and with rumours of some changes to other middle forwards, Arrow could be in line for some big, big minutes this year.

Angus Crichton has joined the Roosters.

Joe Stimson ($352,900) / Bryce Cartwright ($231,300) / Briton Nikora ($168,100)

So to afford my three all-star starting backrowers, I’ve had to cut costs somewhere. I’m taking a punt on Joe Stimson, the expected starting left edge backrower who is taking over from the retired Ryan Hoffman. Stimson played a number of games in 2018 in Hoffman’s absence, due to injury, and showed a decent workrate and some potential attacking stats. There’s potential for more in 2019 and I can see Stimson making some money.

The Carty Party has been tentatively booked, but only if he snags a starting backrow position from Round 1. It’s certainly slim pickings in the cheapie stakes for the 2RF position this year!

Nikora is a potential nuff that I may consider starting with, due to his dual position status (2RF/CTW) but also because of the fact he is rated extremely highly and has been earmarked as a potential Luke Lewis replacement. While unlikely, there’s the possibility he earns the starting jersey for Round 1. Hopefully TLT throws up a better option.

HALFBACK

Nathan Cleary ($577,000) / Dylan Brown ($168,100)

As I fearlessly predicted that Cleary would be the highest averaging halfback in SuperCoach this year, I’m going to “put my money where my mouth is” and start with him from Round 1.

With latest reports out of Parramatta essentially confirming that Dylan Brown will start in the halves beside Mitchell Moses in Round 1 this year, you’ve got to lock him in.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Anthony Milford ($511,900) / Michael Morgan ($409,200)

Milford, Milford, Milford… the love affair continues for me and most likely he is going to be a major POD from Round 1. I’ve said plenty about him already (see the Broncos study guide again) and I’m backing him to return to his former SuperCoach scoring, despite a tough draw out of the blocks.

Morgan didn’t have a great year and it was cut short due to injury. Now, with his very esteemed halves partner now retired, the keys to the team have been well and truly handed over to him. I’m eager to see if he’s able to return to that incredibly dominant 2017 season when Morgan almost single-handedly steered the Cowboys to eighth place, then the grand final. I’m not expecting the same heroics but I am expecting an improved Cowboys team that will have had the opportunity to train all preseason with Morgan calling the shots.

Michael Morgan needs to step up in 2019. Picture: Alix Sweeney

CENTRE/WING

John Bateman ($400,000)

This is a speculative pick, and could easily become Kurt Capewell or any of the other CTW dual. Bateman looks like he may nab one of the starting forward spots for the Raiders, either at lock or on the edge. If he gets to start, I’m keen to take a punt as he could be a real solid performer each week to give a consistent base from Round 1.

Brad Abbey ($203,800) / Zac Lomax ($196,900)

Obviously I’ve had to sacrifice in the CTW position to afford my gun backrowers. Abbey looks like he may be the new Raiders fullback, assuming the Jack Wighton shift to five-eighth legitimately happens. Abbey is cheap enough that despite his low workrate, at some point you’d think he will have a bigger game and make some quick cash!

Lomax appears assured for a spot in the Dragons backline, and he is also the back-up kicking option if Gareth Widdop is injured. He showed a strong workrate in last year’s finals and appears to be the safest CTW cheapie option.

Corey Allan ($168,100) / Albert Hopoate ($168,100) / Bronson Xerri ($168,100) / Mikaele Ravalawa ($168,100)

The remainder of these names are really just CTW lottery. If not these guys, a few other names worth keeping an eye on are Maika Sivo (Eels), Morgan Harper (Bulldogs) and Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles).

FULLBACK

James Tedesco ($689,000) / Kalyn Ponga ($614,300)

This was actually my starting fullback combination from last season, and it worked a treat for the most part. Teddy’s selection speaks for itself, and I see him as the safer pick over Tom Trbojevic purely because he plays for a better team, and Tom has to deal with the new coach factor.

Ponga is a bit of a polarising one given a few other pundits are staying away – and for good reason. However, I see him as most likely taking back the goalkicking (Ken Sio is gone again), and is a potential beneficiary of the try contribution statistic being introduced this year. With the Knights looking like a better team, I can see Ponga getting amongst the attacking stats too.