SuperCoach NRL: Rob Sutherland reveals the Belalie Beasts squad for 2019

The Belalie Beasts are still riding on the coat-tails of a 379th placed finish in 2016 and Rob Sutherland hopes this is the team that will see him return to a respectable ranking in 2019.

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There’s no way to sugar-coat this, the Belalie Beasts had a shocker last year finishing in the 3000s.

In fact we are still riding on the coat-tails of a 379th placed finish in 2016.

That said, my job is not to win - it’s to help you win - and with that in mind I’ll set out my team as it stands early on in 2019.

There are a couple of PODs, plenty of guns and as usual when I get rolling lots of words.

HOOKERS

Josh Hodgson ($592,100)

Having decided I wouldn’t pay the team-balance destroying price tag that Damien Cook rightly commands after his massive 2018 season it was a choice in two for mine: Josh Hodgson or Cam Smith. With Smith getting on and having a very able deputy nipping at his heels for minutes it became a choice in one. The Englishman’s 2018 season was mightily delayed as he recovered from a knee injury suffered in 2017, but once back on the field from round 15 onwards he showed he hadn’t missed a beat averaging 63.3 PPG last season. With a full off-season under his belt and the Raiders having a juicy draw to start 2019 I’m backing Hodgson to average 65-70 through the first eight weeks and I’ll take that all day.

Victor Radley ($400,700)

Having started 2018 as an impact player off the bench, then filling an edge role over Origin, Radley played lock for the Roosters from rounds 16-24. In the seven games he started at lock Radley averaged 54 PPG. After a spectacular finals series I fully expect Radley to start at lock to start 2019 and on that basis he’s priced at close to a $100K discount. His dual-position eligibility (HOK/2RF) may come in handy at some point too.

Martin Taupau of the Sea Eagles is my leading premium priced FRF. Picture: AAP Image

FRONT ROWERS

Martin Taupau ($605,100)

I avoided Fifta last year worried about his dodgy knee and possible Origin selection issues and then the big fella went out and averaged a position-leading 67.8 PPG. As a result I told myself I wouldn’t make that mistake again. But it looks like I will. And this despite history telling me Fifita goes ‘large’ more often than Taupau - for reference over the past four seasons Fifita exceeded 60 points in 66% of games while Taupau exceeded that mark in just 52% of games. So why ‘Kapow’ you ask? Well, big Marty doesn’t have a chronic knee problem, he’s just a little under $30K cheaper, he’s dual-position eligible and his new coach Des Hasler has a proven track record of entrusting props to play big minutes. Oh and he plays the first bye too.

Tevita Pangai Jr ($495,000)

TPJ as he’s fondly known by a legion of fans bounced around positions last season playing prop, bench, lock and edge second-row at various stages of the 2018 season. New coach Anthony Seibold has made it clear he sees TPJ playing in the middle in 2019 and the departure of Josh McGuire frees up plenty of minutes at lock. Assuming he gets 55-65 MPG in the middle then Pangai should be good for 40-45 in base and the man loves an offload so attacking stats can be expected too. Dual-position and a bit of a bargain at the price.

Payne Haas ($181,100)

A big man with huge potential, Haas is widely tipped to earn a bench role at the Broncos to start 2019. Bench forwards are always a bit of a slow money making burn but I’m happy to carry one with the skill and physicality that Haas has shown.

Patrick Carrigan ($168,100)

This selection is speculative at best with Carrigan competing against the likes of Patrick Mago, David Fifita, Jaydn Su’A, Thomas Flegler and Kotoni Staggs (who apparently has the inside running for the 14 jersey due to his ability to cover CTW and 2RF). Carrigan was immense in the QLD Cup last year and if given a chance I have no doubt he can impress at NRL level, but if he is not selected to start Round One I’ll move him on as it’s vital to make money straight away and you can’t carry potential on your bench - you need points.

SECOND ROWERS

Jake Trbojevic ($667,600)

As reliable a player as you can find in the NRL, Trbojevic averaged 59 PPG in base stats alone in 2018 and that workrate is a key factor in ‘Jurbo’ posting consecutive seasons in which he scored over 60 PPG in 70% of games played. Loves scoring a try and has a great combination with his brother. A safe captaincy choice every week and one worth paying for.

Jai Arrow ($598,000)

Pretty close to the first person picked in my squad, Jai Arrow was immense early/mid 2018 until injuries and fatigue wore him down. Despite reducing his minutes and workload over the back third or the season, Arrow still finished the season averaging over 50PPG in base and averaged better than 6PPG in offloads across the season too. The tough end to 2018 means he’s a bit of a bargain to start 2019 and with an off-season to recover and also learn to manage the workload I’m expecting big things.

Angus Crichton ($646,900)

I’ll be honest, I have been toying with a few options for my third premium 2RF. I originally had Josh Papalii as I liked the flexibility his dual-position eligibility provided and appreciated his low ownership level. However, there is word Papalii will move to the FRF in 2019 and I don’t like uncertainty when I’m paying the best part of $600K. Next I threw in ‘God MkII’ AKA Rhyse Martin as it’s hard not to ignore the lure of a goalkicking 80 minute forward. But again there are some questions over Martin’s role with the recruitment of Corey Harawira-Naere raising at least the spectre of reduced minutes for Martin in 2019. Of course Jason Taumalolo has to be considered. But what about the recruitment of Josh McGuire I thought? The Cowboys run very very deep in the middle now and surely JT’s minutes could suffer. So the Mighty Angus it is. Averaging 52 PPG in base in 2018 and moving to a Rooster’s team that will see him running off gun halves in Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk in 2019 combined with an almost POD-alicious 11% ownership equals sign me up.

New Sydney Roosters star the mighty Angus Crichton. Picture: Roosters Digital.

Isaiah Papali’i ($462,400)

I’m aware he comes with the stigma of a ‘mid-ranger’ price tag but I think Papalii will finish priced as a keeper in 2019. The former rugby union prodigy was playing 80 minutes on an edge for the Warriors in 2018 while still a teenager and acquitting himself supremely well. With another off-season in the gym and the departure of Simon Mannering clearing the path for Papali’i to play 80 minutes week in week out, I’m expecting the youngster to score 45-55 in base with 10+ points in attacking stats.

Joe Stimson ($352,900)

Intermittently given big minutes through the 2018 season, Stimson appeared to earn coach Bellamy’s trust as the season progressed and then looked to cement his place on the edge with a superb finals series. In the 12 regular season games in which he played 60+ minutes, Stimson averaged 51.75PPG with 46 of those in base stats. Not overly blessed with attacking prowess, Stimson should nonetheless prove a steady money maker and dependable reserve you can upgrade once you’ve built your bank.

Taane Milne ($181,100)

The Warriors outside backs are a pretty high-class outfit so this selection is more in hope than expectation that Milne will crack it. Should he fail to win selection I’ll replace him with someone that does.

HALFBACKS

Nathan Cleary ($577,000)

Consecutive 60/60 (scoring over 60 PPG in at least 60% of games) is exceptionally rare for a half and yet Nathan Cleary achieved the feat in 2017/2018. Cleary was reduced to just 15 games in the 2018 regular season (14 if you subtract a game in which he was forced from the field at halftime) and yet he still exceeded 68 points nine times. Available for $30K less than Shaun Johnson he is the best premium HFB to own.

Insert NZ Warrior cheapie here ($168,100)

One of Chanel Harris-Tavita, Hayze Perham or Adam Keighran should win the battle to replace Shaun Johnson. Whoever does is in my team at this slot - hope it’s Keighran personally as he’s dual-position and I like his game from a SC perspective.

FIVE-EIGHTHS

Anthony Milford ($511,900)

Milford had his worst ever season last year as he dealt with chronic injury, and yet he still exceeded triple-figures twice and finished with as many points as 2019 darling Kalyn Ponga and more than Gareth Widdop and Cameron Munster. I’m tipping a big bounce back under coach Anthony Seibold and consider Milford a bargain POD at this stage.

Dylan Brown ($168,100)

Earmarked by the Eels as the man to replace Corey Norman at five-eighth. A prodigious talent, SuperCoaches will be hoping coach Brad Arthur keeps his word about giving the young kid first crack at the vacant position.

WINGS/CENTRES

Firstly a word on my tactics here. This is the first season I have opted to run completely free of a high-priced true CTW. Instead I have spent mid-ranger money on a couple of 2RF who are able to be picked at CTW and then full cheapie. I’m working on a stat heavy piece to explain the move which I aim to publish soon.

John Bateman ($400,000)

The Englishman has a touch of the Tyrone Peachey’s about him with an ability to play in the backrow, centres or even halves in a pinch. Luckily for SuperCoaches the word is Bateman should get solid minutes in the backrow and thus he has a touch of the 2018 Ryan Matterson’s about him - hopefully absent the unlucky HIA injuries. Has a very SuperCoach friendly game and averaged 23 tackles, 16.4 runs, 2.4 offloads and 4.4 tackle breaks last year in the UK - as noted by my colleague and SC idol Tim Williams here.

Kurt Capewell ($340,200)

The second 2RF/CTW in my squad, Capewell should be a major beneficiary of the upheaval at the Sharks as somebody has to take the minutes on offer after the departures of Luke Lewis, Ricky Leutele, Edrick Lee and Jesse Ramien along with the injury to Wade Graham. I’m not expecting huge scores, after all in the six games Capewell started in the backrow last year (four 80 minute games and one each of 67 and 60 minutes) he averaged 45 PPG, but I’ll take a dependable base of 45 from one CTW to start the season. Add to that Capewell is priced at a $100K discount to a 45 average and he’s a no-brainer for mine.

Zac Lomax ($196,900)

Injuries cruelled much of 2018 for Lomax but the big outside back still managed eight games for the Dragons in NSW Cup scoring seven tries, setting up three more and busting 18 tackles. Surely this is the year he delivers on his massive talent.

Cheapies

Will fill remaining slots with cheapie CTW who are named to play in round one. At this stage my leading contenders are the likes of Briton Nikora, Bronson Xerri, Corey Allan, Morgan Harper and Albert Hopoate.

FULLBACKS

James Tedesco ($689,000)

In various iterations of my team I have had all three of Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic and Kalyn Ponga. In this squad I have room for just one and currently I’m going Teddy. Ponga’s positional switch may be a masterstroke, but as stated above I like to limit uncertainty when paying top dollar. Trbojevic is a gun, but returning Manly coach Des Hasler is not renowned as an attack-minded coach. Tedesco has stability with same coach, same playmakers and - for mine- same level of ability as Trbojevic and that’s why he’s in the Beasts...that and the fact that he’s a Rooster.

TBA

I originally had Ben Barba as a bit of a wildcard POD in this slot. Thanks to the wonders of digital publishing I am able to hop back into this story following the news that Barba has been rightfully booted out of the Cowboys...

A like-for-like replacement of Matt Moylan is a possibility (yeah I know right...), if Dylan Edwards wins the fullback role at the Panthers then he’s a maybe too.

One other option is to move one of my dual-position CTW/FLB cheapies like Corey Allan or Albert Hopoate to FLB, replace them with Morgan Harper, drop Taane Milne from the 2RF and then pick up a Cam Murray or similar. Lots to think about...

There you have it the Beasts as of 1 February. I have $58K in the bank and there will no doubt be some changes post-trials and Round One TLT. I’ll republish closer to kick-off with any updates.

Good luck all.

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