Wacko’s Whispers reveals his KFC NRL SuperCoach side
The man with the best late mail in the rugby league, Wacko’s Whispers, gives his KFC NRL SuperCoach side a fresh look after a number of players caught his eye in the trials.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Brown Paper Bags have rearmed and are ready to make some SuperCoach noise this year.
But first we needed a bit of tinkering on my original draft. Trial form revealed quite a lot about players’ minutes and the impact they can possibly make.
Here is my final draft.
Watch the 2020 NRL Nines tournament LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
HOOKER
Damien Cook – $705,500
The best hooker in the game coming off back-to-back seasons averaging 75+, it was a mistake not starting with him last season and I won’t be making that mistake again this season. Cook is captain material come round one averaging 82 against the Sharks and coming of a 115 score at the same venue against the Sharks in 2018.
Blayke Brailey – $201,000
All eyes with be on Team-list-Tuesday come round one to see if Sharks coach John Morris runs with Cameron King on the bench for the Sharks. It won’t really have an affect on if I select Blayke or not, but will have ramifications as to if you play Brailey in your 17 or not come round one. Harry Grant could come into consideration should his move to Tigers comes to fruition
FRONT ROW
UPDATE - Andrew Fifita – $553,900 out Payne Haas - $728,200 in
Haas played 50 straight minutes in trials suggesting he will play big minutes for Broncos this season, and with injuries up the middle, it will allow him to step up and show he is the man to lead the Broncos pack for years to come
UPDATE - Tevita Pangai – $540,600 out Patrick Carrigan - $326,300 switches to FRF
My smokie for 2020 season, with main concern being as to where his minutes will come from with other middle forwards in team. I said he will probably need an injury to become Supercoach relevant in 2020, which happened with Matt Lodge ACL setback. Broncos coaching staff have got good raps on him to the point that he was promoted to the leadership group after only playing one season in NRL
UPDATE - Stefano Utoikamanu - $171,900 out to Toby Rudolf - $171,900
Straight swap to Rudolf who has had impressive pre-season with Sharks and is tipped to jag a bench spot ahead of Billy Magoulias for round one.
Zane Musgrove – $201,000
Squad filler currently, if Musgrave jags a bench for Tigers come Round 1 I will probably have him in my team. He has been very impressive this pre-season and will hope to add some mongrel to Tigers middle. Injury history a concern.
SECOND ROW
Jason Taumalolo – $723,400
The best middle forward in the game, Taumalolo averaged 77.9PPG in 2019, 70.3PPG in 2018 and 75.3PPG in 2017 making him one of the most consistent scorers in Supercoach. With the Cowboys losing both Matt Scott and Scott Bolton from their middle rotation look for Taumalolo to step up in 2020
Nathan Brown – $551,700
Eels middle forward bull whose 2019 season was interrupted due to injury, Brown has had a full pre-season and will play the most minutes out of any Parramatta middle forward, look for him to take up the option in his contract mid-season allowing him to stay at Eels in 2021. Hopefully Brown can get back to his 2017 and 2018 form where he averaged 64.6 in 2017 and 62.2 in 2018
David Fifita – $501,900
I started the 2019 season with him, which in hindsight was a season too early. Fifita should start 2020 playing 80 minutes on the right edge and averaged 70.7 in 10 games where he played 80 minutes in 2019
UPDATE - Patrick Carrigan - $326,300 to FRF with Luciano Leilua – $434,300
Has been training house down this pre-season and I am expecting a massive season from him as he tries to cement his role as starting right edge 2RF. He will form a formidable partnership on right edge with Benji, Nofoaluma and his brother Joey.
UPDATE - Billy Magoulias - $221,700 out to Coen Hess - $354,000
This selection hinges on Hess being named to start in round one. I’m not expecting him to play 80 but 40 minutes on edge, with 20 mins in middle He did pick up minor ankle injury in final trial but should be right to go and is too good to pass up. I had success with Hess in my side in 2018.
UPDATE - Tino Fa’asuamaleuai - $217,500 out to Keaon Koloamatangi - $171,900
Very keen on Keaon this season. He had good stats from Canterbury Cup in 2019 before shoulder injury ruined his season. He has been very impressive in pre-season with big things expected. He preferred to play on right edge 2RF but has size to play in middle as well.
HALFBACK
Nathan Cleary – $631,500
Cleary is coming of off-season foot surgery which limited his pre-season before Christmas but he is slowly getting back into swing of it after returning to field training early in the new year. Had a limited pre-season last season as well so not a massive issue. the Panthers have a tough start to the year but Cleary is a season keeper at halfback – injury dependent – after coming of three seasons averaging 60+ points. No Maloney is a plus and Cleary will take up full-time goal kicking duties
Billy Walters – $201,000
Kevvie Walters’ son who signed for Wests Tigers from Melbourne Storm this off-season, Billy is an outside chance to be named as bench utility come round one after spending time training at hooker this pre-season, If he doesn’t nab the utility spot, Walters should get gametime during the season as he would be next in line if either Brooks or Marshall get injured.
FIVE-EIGHTH
UPDATE - Luke Keary – $569,400 out to George Williams - $333,800
New Pommie recruit who has had limited pre-season due to quad injury – ring any bells?
Jarome Luai – $257,400
Will get first crack at the vacant number six Panthers jersey after James Maloney’s departure, I’m not 100% sold on him with Matt Burton lurking in the background
CENTRE WING
UPDATE - Will Hopoate - $531,700 out to James Roberts - $392,700
The Jet is on the runway and is ready for take-off in 2020
Waqa Blake – $386,500
Has been in the rehab group the whole pre-season with shoulder injury, but if declared fit for round one, Blake will be in my team. Hoping he can back to his 2018 form where he averaged 58.8. The Eels right side of Moses, Matterson, Blake and Ferguson could be a potential force in 2020.
UPDATE - Billy Smith - $290,400 out to Zac Lomax - $324,600
Not totally convinced with Lomax selection but goalkicking fullback at centre is too hard to pass up considering issues with cheapies this season.
UPDATE - Bradman Best - $240,700 out to Gehamant Shibasaki - $286,400
New signing Shibasaki looks to have won right centre position on merit this pre-season after showing good form in trials. Not the player I would normally have in my squad, but with not many other cheap options at CTW, he gets gig.
UPDATE - Tommy Taulau - $208,200 out to Kallum Watkins - $271,800
Again not really player I want him in team but with lack of cheapies at CTW, there aren’t too many other options
UPDATE - Greg Leleisiuao - $171,900 out to Brayden Williame - $201,000
Set to start year at left centre for Dragons, which will see him in most teams, but he has been very impressive this pre-season, winning the position on merit.
UPDATE - Edene Gebbie - $171,900 out to Connelly Lemuelu - $171,900
Been keeping eye on this youngster since he days in NYC at Wests Tigers. He spent trhe season playing Canterbury Cup last year before signing NRL contract with Cowboys. It’s touch and go to see if he wins left wing position ahead of Tom Opacic, which would see Justin O’Neill moving to play left centre like they did in second half of Cowboys final trial.
FULLBACK
Tom Trbojevic – $714,800
Coming of an injury plagued season which limited him to 12 games, Trbojevic still averaged 70+ for the third consecutive season. The Sea Eagles don’t have the easiest draw to start but I will back Tom to have a breakout game in the openings rounds.
Ryan Papenhuyzen – $508,200
Had a massive breakout season in 2019 cementing the number one jersey at the Storm and should be in every Supercoach Team come round one.
PPG: Points Per Game
MPG: Minutes Per Game
PPM: Points Per Minute – a useful indication of workrate particularly relevant to forwards (as most backs play the full 80 minutes) as a player with a good PPM who is set to see an increase in MPG could see a big increase in PPG.
Base Points: Base points are those earned in hit-ups plus tackles (some statisticians subtract points lost for missed tackles when calculating this). They are valued by SuperCoaches as it is considered a reliable guide to future output unlike attacking stats which except for the truly exceptional are far less reliable.
BPPM: Base Points Per Minute
POD: Point Of Difference
CHECK OUT MORE EXPERT KFC SUPERCOACH NRL ANALYSIS