SuperCoach NRL: The Mastermind, aka Ian Maybanks, reveals his 2024 team

The Mastermind is coming off some incredibly high finishes and is always willing to punt on a POD – and this year that player is Tom Trbojevic.

In the spirit of the NRL opening the season in Las Vegas I’m seriously tempted to roll the dice with a big gamble in my first team draft for NRL SuperCoach 2024 and cut Nathan Cleary.

But then I remember the sage SuperCoach advice from Wesley Snipes in 90s action flick Passenger 57: “Always bet on black”.

Bet on Panthers players to score big and suffocate opposing stars to low scores.

There’s a case against Cleary. I’ve had him in and out of my team at stages. He has tougher fixtures than halfback rival Nicho Hynes and I’m not sure I’d captain him until Round 7 against the Tigers but the whole team feels much safer with both gun halfbacks in the line-up and there isn’t a cheaper option in the position I’m confident in.

In the other key position of fullback I’ve locked in two of the top dollar options in Kalyn Ponga and Tom Trbojevic. As expensive as they are, they both loom as value picks. If injury hits it’s sure easier to step down from either in one move to the plethora of fullback options than trying to reach up.

It’s a pretty mid-heavy value-based setup at the moment, but if more than a couple genuine cheapies emerge some of those mid-price options will be chopped by $200k and others topped up. I’m happy with this for a first draft and the team structure has multiple price points that make it easier to move to the big guns come upgrade time.

Nathan Cleary is in for The Mastermind.

HOOKER

Reece Robson $561,100 middie

While Robson played his way into a NSW Origin jersey in 2023 it was also his worst attacking output season since establishing himself as the Cowboys hooker. He had two tries and just three try assists last season compared to seven tries in 2022, six in 2021 and five in 2020 (only Brandon Smith topped Robson’s 18 tries in that period). So naturally his average dipped by almost 10PPG last year. I’m betting on a bounce back – with a nice opening draw he’s a chance of some attacking numbers. The Cowboys don’t have a bye until round 15 so he can do a long-term job with a safe floor as one of the few 80-minute hookers.

Jayden Brailey $330,000 cheapie

His injury history is not great so naturally his price is low. Brailey managed just five games last season, eight in 2022 and two games in 2020. In 2021 he was fit for 21 games and averaged 59.2PPG as an 80-minute player. If he stays fit, he’ll make money. I like the Knights’ draw in the first half of the season and can see them putting some points on teams. If he’s playing 80-minutes and in the thick of that he can be a playable option. If he’s sharing minutes with Phoenix Crossland he may be more of a slow burn. Brailey is an easy pick for now at least until the Eels’ first choice option clears up.

FRONT ROW

FRF mid

Reuben Cotter $542,700

Has an insatiable workrate, all he needs is the minutes to tick over the points. He showed he can do it on the biggest stage in State of Origin last year as the 2023 Wally Lewis medal winner for player of the series. He was a popular pick to start last year but didn’t quite kick on. He’s now cheaper and has dual-positioning, a favourable draw and no byes through to Origin.

FRF cheapie

Liam Knight $332,800

There are minutes up for grabs in the Bulldogs’ pack with a stack of middle forwards departing. If he gets the job there is potential for him to hit about 45PPG for a nice price rise, while the dual positioning is handy. One of his rivals for minutes Ryan Sutton has just had knee surgery which only enhances Knights chances to earn a starting spot.

FRF cheapies

Sam Hughes $238,900

Another Bulldogs middle forward. I’m pencilling in cheapie Hughes for now since he’s been given some raps by Phil Gould in pre-season.

Viliame Fifita $204,300

More of a placeholder for now but expect new coach Flanagan to mix things up at the Dragons. Should be a chance for a bench spot. The dual positioning is handy.

SECOND ROW

2RF premium

Cameron Murray $639,300

Murray is priced about 10 points under where he usually is priced. He finished the season with an average of 62PPG compared to 71 and 70 the two seasons before. His scores really dropped off in the middle of 2023 before he bounced back in the run home. He and the Rabbitohs missed the finals for the first time since 2017 they should both do better. A nice price for a top quality player and potential keeper.

2RF mids

Viliame Kikau $468,500

I’m not totally convinced on Kikau and four Bulldogs is probably one too many. The price is good for what he’s done in the past at the Panthers. The thing in his favour among the sea of mid-price options is the guarantee of playing time as one of the Dogs’ star recruits. He’s also the most expensive of the mid-price options so I can adjust down if need be. I could easily swap him out for Beau Fermor at the Titans, Shawn Blore at the Storm or a Roosters option like Angus Crichton or Siua Wong if we get clarity on roles for those options. But it’s Kiks for now knowing he’s got the minutes.

Shaun Lane $446,200

Can’t go wrong here. Lane is great value with incredible upside. At worst he returns to the mid 50s average he’s had most of his career. If things go well he returns closer to the 68.8PPG from 2022 as the Eels left edge sizzled on a run to the grand final.

Brendan Piakura $426,800

Should slot in as the left edge second rower at the Broncos with Kurt Capewell off to the Warriors. In four 80 minute games in 2023 Piakura averaged 62.5PPG. Small sample size obviously but I don’t doubt he can at least match the 53.8PPG Capewell had last season in this potent Broncos’ attack.

Josh Curran $421,700

A SuperCoach favourite whose best season was 66.9PPG in 2021. He fell down the pecking order at the Warriors playing 30 minutes or under eight times last season so has a big price cut. If he gets the minutes he’ll get the points and that should happen at the Bulldogs.

2RF cheapie

Keenan Palasia $365,200

In the mix for the starting role at the Titans after making the move from the Broncos. He averaged 45PPG in the second half of 2023 with Brisbane when he played 45 minutes or more in the final nine games. Not flashy but is value and has dual FRF positioning to rotate with Knight.

Keenan Palasia has left the Broncos for the Titans. Picture: Liam Kidston

HALFBACK

HFB premiums

Nicho Hynes $970,000

Hynes has been the top overall scorer for two years running since joining the Sharks. His running game has been pivotal to that with more hit-ups than any other half last year. Off the back of those numbers he’s top three for tackle busts and offloads. The threat of his running game in turn creates space out wide where he can feast on linebreak assists. He had 38 last season for 304 SC points, well clear of the next best Luke Keary. Run, pass or kick, Hynes ticks over points with ease.

Nathan Cleary $912,500

I’ve done drafts with him in and out of my team but in the end I couldn’t leave him out. When I’m tempted to over think this one I just need to remember the 2023 grand final. He’s the best player in the best team.

FIVE-EIGHTH

5/8 mid

Jayden Campbell $456,200

AJ Brimson has been confirmed to move to the centres so Campbell should get a good run at fullback for the Titans while they have a nice run of fixtures early. He played nine 80-minute games at fullback in 2023, only three of those consecutively as he was shuffled between the bench and five-eighth. He scored 60PPG in his nine 80 minute games at fullback with three of those in the 90s and a low of 29. Has dual fullback positioning as well, which will only get used in case of emergency, but it’s nice to have it. The round 2 bye is not ideal but I’m happy with the cover for that week as Weekes and the Raiders are home to the Tigers.

5/8 cheapie

Kaeo Weekes $273,400

Jack Wighton leaves some big shoes to fill at the Raiders and whichever cheapie Ricky Stuart slots in there will be my backup five-eighth.

CENTRE/WING

CTW mids

Dylan Lucas $502,300

Lachlan Fitzgibbon has left the Knights and the man who plugged that gap at the end of 2023 was Lucas. In five starts for the Knights he averaged 62.4PPG. If Lucas gets that role again I’ll be snapping him up. He showed great work rate ticking over 50 base points in four of those games and put up some handy attacking numbers too. If you need any more convincing he has dual 2RF status. He should get first crack at an edge spot with Tyson Frizell but Super League signing Kai Pearce-Paul is waiting in the wings.

Taylan May $458,800

Missed all of last season through injury but at his best in 2022 he averaged 64.2PPG and scored 16 tries in 20 games on the wing. Whether he lands back on the wing or centre it’s a very nice price for a piece of the potent Panthers’ backline.

Jesse Arthars $376,000

Arthars is the frontrunner for the right wing spot with Selwyn Cobbo moving to left centre. With Reece Walsh and Adam Reynolds feeding that side in attack he’s in the perfect position for a bag of tries to lift his scoring. Last season he had eight tries playing mostly on the left wing with a top score of 66, while Cobbo scored 19 tries in 21 games on the right side.

CTW cheapies

Jack Bostock $314,500; Kayal Iro $219,900; Ethan Strange $238,900; Chevy Stewart $204,300;

Bostock is a frontrunner for the Dolphins left wing spot which had five different players in 2023. In his four games Bostock averaged 38.5PPG with a high of 87 in the final round but three scores under 30. Iro probably needs an injury to break into the Sharks backline but I’llpencil him in as a placeholder. There’s plenty more opportunity in the Raiders backline – Ethan Strange could take Jarrod Croker’s centre spot while Chevy Stewart is another young player with a lot of hype who could slot in at fullback.

Tom Trbojevic has scored 150+ 13 times in his career. Picture: Jeremy Piper

FULLBACK

FLB premiums

Kalyn Ponga $892,800

Can the 2023 Dally M medal winner maintain the form from the second half of last year? Well, the draw is good and Ponga comes into the season fresh without any injury troubles and the goalkicking. He played six games at five-eighth to start the season at 50PPG. From Round 13 to the end of the season he averaged 105.2 at fullback. From Round 18 he picked up the goalkicking and averaged 119PPG. So there is probably some value in Ponga despite the price off an 87.4PPG average.

Tom Trbojevic $833,500

Has SuperCoach scores of 150+ 13 times in his career. Tedesco has done it nine times, Cleary seven times and Hynes six times. Consider how little football Turbo has played and the numbers are astonishing. He had four hundreds including a 165 against the Raiders in his 11 games in 2023. The first seven rounds are all day or early kick-offs so nice dry tracks for plenty of points. If he’s fit, he’s in my team every time.