SuperCoach NRL: Rob Sutherland’s team for round one of 2019

Our SuperCoach sidekick Rob Sutherland has been hammering the trade button after the first team list Tuesday of 2019 and can now reveal the greatest SuperCoach side in history!

All pre-season I told myself I couldn’t make a team with Damien Cook in it, and now I have. There was a steep price to pay, both in SuperCoach salary cap and emotional investment as it meant cutting loose some players I had locked in to my squad from the start.

But as you well know there’s no place for sentiment in SuperCoach...

Here’s the Belalie Beasts for round one - and as a bonus instalment down the bottom I’ll list those players I’m watchlisting (it’s my way of saying I still love you boys - but I couldn’t fit you in!)

Rob Sutherland's team for round one of the 2019 season.

MY FINAL TEAM WITH CHANGES TO EARLIER VERSIONS NOTED

HOOKER

IN: Damien Cook ($726,000)

OUT: Andrew McCullough ($505,300)

This was a painful call as I have little doubt that come round four, Cook will be somewhere between (best case) $40K and (worst case) $100K cheaper. So why have I bitten this bullet you ask? As I went into at greater length here - and I encourage you to read the whole article (and not just because I wrote it!) - premium priced players are often money losers. When you pay up for a gun in round one it is because you think A) the player will outscore their cheaper opposition and B) you will want that player at some point later and thus are saving a trade later. Cook ticks both those boxes emphatically and so I’m forking out the big bucks.

IN: Kerrod Holland ($428,100)

OUT: Blayke Brailey ($168,100)

I had Brailey Junior pencilled in to my squad in the hope that he might oust his brother for the starting role at the Sharks. It was not to be and one way to minimise risk is to have a back-up hooker who will score you solid points. If Cook gets a minor strain I’m not forced to trade or stuck with a bench hooker’s score. With that in mind I was considering Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney ($374,300) or Holland. Have gone with Holland as he was a beast when playing in the CTW over the back half of 2018 and he should be kicking goals - at least until Bulldogs coach Dean Pay ends Rhyse Martin’s stint in purgatory. Holland has greater upside than Mahoney and I’m prepared to pay $50K for that, his dual position eligibility doesn’t hurt either.

* edit - this note comes after I originally published and it is to say there are persistent rumours that Holland is a week-to-week proposition due to persitent ankle issues. I’m swinging back to Mahoney but holding firm at this stage...

FRONT ROWERS

Andrew Fifita ($634,300)

The most consistent FRF in SuperCoach over the last few years and he looked immense in both the All Stars game and trials; fit aggressive and as offload happy as always. I know I argued the Marty Party case in Tom and my ‘Taupau versus Fifita’ debate story, but that was a debate where we took arguable positions. Tom made some good points and while I still rate Taupau ahead of Fifita in the FRF pecking order, this isn’t a debate — I can have both. Has had his knees cleared out in the off-season and claims he’s finally pain free there - must have.

Martin Taupau ($605,100)

Starting the season with the FRF position locked, loaded and risk free is exactly what I aim to do with the Fifita/Kapow double. Taupau was second only to Fifita last year at the position. Loves an offload and can eat up big minutes. Returning coach Des Hasler has shown a willingness to entrust his FRF with plenty of time on the park and with the pack he has to choose from I’m betting he does just that with Taupau in 2019.

IN: Junior Tatola ($224,200)

OUT: Tevita Pangai Jr ($495,000)

Pangai’s hamstring issue mean he had to go, and I’m looking pretty silly for drafting him so high in our office draft but that’s another story. Junior Tatola was not my first choice here, I wanted Titans youngster Moeaki Fotuaika as my FRF3, but I just couldn’t find the extra $110K ‘Moe’ cost over Tatola. So Tatola it is. ‘Junior’ was great for the Bunnies through the trials eating up big minutes and showing a big motor and appetite for work. Named to start the position will be his until George Burgess (due back round four) returns from suspension. The starting role should get Tatola off to a flyer with regards to points so am expecting a good price rise from week three onwards - might make the jump to Fotuaika a bit easier and just in time for the young Titan to start showing his potential hopefully.

IN: Jacob Host ($196,900)

OUT: Patrick Carrigan ($168,100)

Carrigan was always a placeholder and with him not named I looked elsewhere. Host is the beneficiary of Jack de Belin being stood down by the NRL and the starting role on an edge looks to be his - at least until Korbin Sims (suspension) is free to play in round three. Host i

is a willing worker, just don’t expect too much in the way of attacking stats. While I expect him to be replaced by Sims after a couple of weeks he should nonetheless get a bit of a kick along with the early season minutes and his DPP is a handy bonus to have when making trades.

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 Tom - who could be back from injury earlier than the original week 3-4 forecast.. 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.

IN: Nathan Brown ($582,000)

OUT: Angus Crichton ($646,900)

This one hurts, as I’m a massive fan of Crichton - both in SuperCoach and in real life - and even if being named on the bench is a bit of Roosters subterfuge it adds risk to ‘Angus’ and your team one selections should be about minimising risk not embracing it. So welcome to The Beasts Mr Brown. The Parramatta lock is the very definition of a workhorse averaging 50+ in base and possessing a sneaky good offload game too. The $60K I save on the move doesn’t hurt but Angus, let it be known I’ll come back for you at some point big fella.

Nathan Brown of the Eels has a very SuperCoach friendly workrate. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

IN: Cam Murray ($458,900)

OUT: Isaiah Papali’i ($462,400)

I was all over Warriors youngster Papali’i who looked set to be the major beneficiary of Simon Mannering’s departure from the Warriors. IPap was super impressive in the final trial and appeared assured of big minutes on an edge come round one and then he went and got himself stood down for being a naughty boy. Available for selection in round two I’m surely tempted to find a way to keep him until then but it’s just not worth it. Farewell to ‘The man they call Ice’ and hello to Murray. Cam Murray’s Charity Shield form was irresistible. The Rabbitohs youngster worked hard in the middle making plenty of hit-ups and tackles while throwing a few offloads too.

IN: Luke Garner ($265,100)

OUT: Joe Stimson ($352,900)

With Stimson injured (back) and Luke Garner being named on an edge in the Tigers starting 13 in place of the injured Chris Lawrence this move was an easy one. Garner didn’t exactly set the world on fire last year averaging 28 PPG and 37 MPG over six games, but he did win selection in the NSW Cup team of the year in 2018 averaging 31 tackles per game and better than three tackle breaks per game.

IN: Lachlan Burr ($196,900)

OUT: Taane Milne ($181,100)

I realise Burr is only in the round one squad due to IPap’s poor behaviour (see above), but despite many knowledgeable league types telling me Burr is a trap, and simply not that good a player, he more than passed my eye test in the final trial of the pre-season and I’m backing him to at least hold on to a bench spot upon Papali’i’s return. C’mon Lachlan prove the doubters wrong!

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Full SuperCoach News section / Cheapie Bible / Predicted round one teams / Sangster’s team / Champ’s team / Wilfred’s team / Tallis’s team / Copes’ team / Huge rule change / Top 10 rookies in NRL

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.

Adam Keighran ($168,100)

Base price, goal kicking, dual-position half? Shut up and take my money.

FIVE EIGHTHS

IN: Michael Morgan ($409,200)

OUT: Kalyn Ponga ($614,300)

I’m already getting a bit of FOMO just typing this out, Ponga is a guy you hate to watch when he’s not in your team as he’s capable of breaking the line or sending someone else through the line seemingly at any time. That said, Morgan is over $200K cheaper and the Cowboys are his team to boss this year following the retirement of Johnathan Thurston. With arguably the best forward pack in the game in front of him and the role of being dominant playmaker I’m tipping Morgan to average 60-65 PPG this year and so he’s close to the best bargain in the game to start 2019.

Dylan Brown ($168,100)

Another dual position base price starting half. Money maker...

WINGS/CENTRES

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 at a pinch. Sure, we have to take that on trust as we haven’t seen him all pre-season but word from Canberra is Bateman will be ready to be unwrapped from his cotton wool come round one. Selected to start at lock for the Raiders, Bateman’s Super League numbers were very SuperCoach friendly and he only has to go close to reproducing that to make him a very safe CTW selection.

IN: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ($265,500)

OUT: Kurt Capewell ($340,200)

I’ve never been quite as high on Capewell as my learned colleague Tom Sangster is and so when I needed some cash to upgrade my cheapie FLB (see below) I looked to find some here. CNK has been selected to start at fullback for the Raiders and I think he could score well there. is a hard runner who should get plenty of work bring the ball back and can bust a tackle.

CHEAPIES: ($168,100)

IN: Briton Nikora, Reuben Garrick, Bailey Simonsson, Mikaele Ravalawa and Bronson Xerri.

Nikora is named to start at second row for the Sharks and therefore is a gift you would be crazy to ignore. Garrick is the other one of my cheapies I am starting, he’s big bodied and more than capable of holding on to a spot in a pretty weak backline. Xerri is not name din Cronulla’s starting 17 but he will be before long I reckon so he’s the one NPR I’m carrying in my 25.

FULLBACK

James Tedesco ($689,000)

The injury to Tom Trbojevic made this one a pretty easy call in the end. Over the past four seasons Teddy has averaged 74, 70, 68 and 74 PPG. After a quiet (by his standards) start to 2018 Tedesco clicked with his new Roosters playmakers and averaged 96PPG from rounds 19-26. With a full off-season to further polish his combinations with Luke Keary and Cooper Cronk I’m tipping Tedesco to finish 2019 averaging 80+.

IN: Matt Moylan ($483,500)

OUT: Scott Drinkwater ($219,400)

Poor old Scott Drinkwater eh? The Storm youngster looked like he may have nosed Jahrome Hughes for the starting fullback role and then he tore his pectoral muscle in the trials. With the aforementioned injury to Tom Trbojevic in mind I wanted to replace Drinkwater with a player who had potential to score well, increase in price and become a bridge to the deadly Teddy/Turbo one-two punch later in the year. Welcome Matt Moylan. While he’s been a bit of SuperCoach liability in the past, the move to fullback as a permanent move should see Moylan return to near enough 60PPG average and he’s priced well below that.

My watchlist (aka players I wish I could have but couldn’t get due to injury/cash constraints or in IPap’s case being a naughty boy):

HKR

Josh Hodgson - bye eligibility and big upside with attacking prowess. That said he’s priced to his best I reckon.

Andrew McCullough - Mr consistent has been in and out of my squad all pre-season. Good price.

FRF

Junior Paulo - if the big bopper gets back to his 2017 minutes then I predict a top-eight finish at FRF

Moeaki Fotuaika - don’t go too big too early big Moe!

2RF

Angus Crichton - I’ll have Angus in there soon enough, now that I don’t to start I’m hoping for a slightly slow start to the season.

Isaiah Papali’i - expecting a big year from IPap, now hoping he gets off to a slower start then I can get on him later.

Five-Eighth/FLB

Kalyn Ponga - see above FOMO

Anthony Milford - if he can stay injury free a big year and is a juicy price.

CTW

Zac Lomax - talent to burn, just not in defence as yet.