NRL SuperCoach: We run the rule over every Darling Downs player

The Darling Downs, centred around Toowoomba, is one of the prime rugby league heartlands in the country. Here is our Supercoach analysis of each player from the region.

Tom Dearden is set for a big season as co-captain of the North Queensland Cowboys. Picture: Evan Morgan

The NRL season is right around the corner, which means it is time to finalise your SuperCoach teams for round 1.

The Toowoomba and Darling Downs region has always been a hotbed for NRL talent and this year is no exception, with a mixture of experienced campaigners and exciting young guns who are looking to stake their claim at the highest level.

We take a look at the players with Darling Downs connections and whether or not they would make a good fit for your team.

TOM DEARDEN (NORTH QUEENSLAND, 5/8, $592,200)

Dearden is set for a huge 2024 season having been named as co-captain of the Cowboys.

Playing at five-eighth, he is in one of the most competitive positions in SuperCoach but has shown he can be a potential game-changer for your side, as he went on a superb three-game run between rounds 16 and 18 last year where he scored 118, 95 and 179 points.

However, in his final seven games, he scored more than 60 points on just one occasion.

Yet when you consider he is still only 22 years of age, there is plenty of room for growth for Dearden and he is already the fifth-most expensive five-eighth in the game, which is evidence of his meteoric rise in the NRL.

While he definitely would be a strong addition to your SuperCoach side, with Broncos young superstar Ezra Mam costing almost $60,000 less than Dearden and Penrith’s Jarome Luai also a slightly cheaper option, there are some better value options around.

Selwyn Cobbo at training with the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: Adam Head

SELWYN COBBO (BRISBANE, CTW, $602,900)

It comes as no surprise that Cobbo is the most expensive player on this list after his amazing 2023 season.

The Broncos outside back is capable of scoring a try almost anywhere on the field, as was evident in Brisbane’s clash with The Dolphins in round 18 last year.

The main concerns for SuperCoach players looking at adding Cobbo to their teams is his inconsistency in points-scoring and the fact he is making the shift to the centres this year.

In nine games last year, he picked up less than 50 points, three of which were games with less than 25 points.

However, the fact he now has an extra year of experience under his belt, we can expect him to be far more consistent in 2024.

This partnered with the fact he is currently owned by just five per cent of SuperCoach players, makes him an exciting player who could prove to be a key difference maker in your leagues.

KURT CAPEWELL (NEW ZEALAND, 2RF, $548,900)

Capewell is a new addition to the New Zealand Warriors this year after making the switch from the Broncos in the off-season.

The Charleville junior will be a pivotal member of a Warriors second row which will look to make the next step in 2024 after falling in the preliminary final last year.

Capewell scored 1129 points at an average of 53.8 points per game last year, making him a handy option, but not one who is going to take your team from good to great.

DAVID ARMSTRONG (NEWCASTLE, FLB, $204,300)

The former Goondiwindi Boar was sensational during his time in the TRL and has continued that form with the Newcastle Knights in the NSW Cup and the trial games this year.

The young fullback scored two tries and made one try assist in the trial game against the Sharks in round 1 of the 2024 Pre-Season Challenge.

Armstrong is unlikely to take to the field in round 1, but if there are injuries in the Knights’ backline and his superb form continues, then an NRL call-up could be on the cards.

If he does earn a call-up, then he could be a great cheap option who could score points and allow you to beef-up your stocks in other areas of the team.

JAKE SIMPKIN (WESTS TIGERS, HOK, $279,100)

The Southern Suburbs junior will be hoping for a strong pre-season to boost his stocks within the Wests Tigers ranks.

With Apisai Koroisau holding the starting hooker spot for the Tigers, Simpkin is set for a battle with Tallyn Da Silva for the bench spot within the team.

While the back-up hooker role is unlikely to be the difference between you winning and losing your SuperCoach competition, there are some other cheap options around who are more likely to come of the bench week-in week-out.

CORY PAIX (BRISBANE, HOK, $267,500)

The Southern Suburbs junior was looking like a strong back-up option to Billy Walters in the first half of 2023 but fell down the pecking order with Tyson Smoothy taking his role as the deputy number nine.

After playing more than 30 minutes per game in the first nine games of the season, Paix played just 130 minutes across six games for the rest of the season.

Due to this, Paix is a player to avoid as your back-up hooker in the early stages of 2024 at least.

TYSON SMOOTHY (BRISBANE, HOK, $243,00)

Smoothy began his junior rugby league career in Toowoomba with Brothers before eventually settling on the Sunshine Coast and will look to continue the rise he showed towards the end of 2023.

After not featuring at all in the Broncos’ first 14 games, Smoothy played in all of Brisbane’s final 13 games including the grand final.

Out of Paix, Simpkin and himself, Smoothy is the most likely to gain consistent minutes at the start of the season.

However, his opportunities will still be limited with Walters firmly locking down the starting hooker position at Red Hill.

As a result, it is unlikely that he will make any major improvements on his average of 23.8 points per game this season unless Walters picks up an injury or suspension.

XAVIER VA’A (SYD ROOSTERS, FRF, $204,300)

Va’a has captained Queensland at under-19 level and is now making his mark in the NSW Cup.

The Roosters young gun is a powerful forward but will have to bide his time before getting a chance at a first-grade debut.

Even if he does get called up to make his debut, coaches should still be cautious with Va’a as he will need time to adapt to the top level.

Tristan Powell scores a try for the Brisbane Tigers in the Hostplus Cup grand final. Photo: QRL

TRISTAN POWELL (MELBOURNE, FRF, $204,300)

Like fellow Darling Downs rising stars Va’a and Armstrong, Powell is not a player who coaches should turn to for points in the opening rounds but could be an option in the latter half of the season.

However if the Goondiwindi and Southern Suburbs junior continues his impressive 2023 form then he could be a player Craig Bellamy would look to blood for future years ahead.

Beau Fermor will be a key player for the Titans in 2024. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

BEAU FERMOR (GOLD COAST, 2RF, $467,300)

After missing the entire 2023 season with a ruptured ACL, Fermor is set to be a force to be reckoned with this year.

The devastating injury has resulted in his starting SuperCoach price plummeting more than $200,000 this year.

During the 2022 season, Fermor’s SuperCoach stocks rose through the roof, as he went from being valued at $379,300 at the beginning of the campaign, to $696,400 by the end of the year.

The Titans forward was an extremely valuable asset for those who had him in their team during his last campaign as he scored an impressive 1504 points at an average of 65.4 points per game.

However, due to the fact he has returned from such a serious injury, he may take time to return to those exceptional levels but if he can stay fit, he could be a game-changing signing if you are willing to take a punt on him early in the season when his price is reasonably low.