KFC SuperCoach NRL: Fatima Kdouh’s team for 2022

Fatima Kdouh has identified a fallen gun and a major POD as priorities in the first draft of her KFC SuperCoach NRL team.

Like in any pre-season, competition for spots is a good thing.

For the Power Puff Boys, competition for spots is fierce this year with only a handful of certain starters in my team.

Normally, at this point of pre-season I’ve had the chance to check in at training all across Sydney to get a feel for who is edging ahead in the race for a starting spot come round one.

But the surge in Omicron over the new year has meant NRL clubs have locked the gates to keep Covid reinfections at bay ... and errr … prying eyes like mine out.

For now, I’ve opted to leave Nathan Cleary out of the team but that could very easily change, which will have a domino effect on the rest of the team.

HOOKERS

Damien Cook

Chris Randall

Damien Cook’s attacking upside in 2022 makes him a desirable option. The Bunnies hooker told me that having two experienced halves to shovel the ball to made his role too easy and now with Adam Reynolds gone, he is ready to get back to the style that made him a household name.

It appears Randall will be the biggest beneficiary of the untimely Achilles injury to Jayden Brailey. It’s possible the role will be shared with utility Kurt Mann but 50-plus minutes per game for Randall should be fruitful for owners.

KFC SuperCoach expert Fatima Kdouh.

FRONT ROW FORWARDS

Payne Haas

Stefano Utoikamanu

Spencer Leniu

Tepai Moeroa

Both Haas and Utoikamanu are locked and loaded for round one. Haas comes at a discount and had an uncharacteristic down year scoring wise in 2021 due to reduced minutes. But if 68PPG was a down year then the PowerPuffBoys are ready to bank that plus anything else Haas can deliver in 2022.

Utoikamanu received a morale boost in late January when the Tigers locked him until the end of season 2025. The PPB’s are hoping that morale boost translates into a boost in points to the 66PPG average he finished the season with in 2021 when starting.

I started with Spencer Leniu last season and hoped he’d be a surprise packet. In hindsight it was probably one season too early for him to deliver on my expectations — the bump in minutes I thought he’d get didn’t come to fruition. But I’m backing him again this year, fully aware he’s likely to be a slow burn. But I’m confident he’ll get more minutes this time around with Liam Martin to start on an edge.

SECOND ROW FORWARDS

Tevita Pangai Junior

Euan Aitken

Keaon Koloamatangi

Cameron McInnes

Brendan Piakura

Jack Howarth

Tevita Pangai Jnr all but confirmed to me he’ll be part of a new left edge combination alongside Brent Naden and JAC, which is likely to see him play big minutes. Phil Gould recently tweeted his belief that edges ‘should’ be playing 80 minutes. While Gould is not the coach, there is no doubt the new Bulldogs supremo has some pull at Belmore. Fingers crossed.

Koloamatangi’s price has me second guessing this pick but there’s no doubt he’s a forward on the rise. He averaged 60.5PPG with a base of 47PPG last season and I think the young and hungry Bunny will take his game to the next level in 2022.

Aitken’s games at backrow have helped him score dual status and turned him into an interesting prospect in the forward pack. Forgetting an injury-impacted 12 points against the Titans, Aitken averaged just under 81PPG in the backrow. Coach Nathan Brown revealed he’s been running Aitken on an edge in pre-season but stopped short of confirming him as a definite round one starter.

Tevita Pangai Junior is a popular choice. Picture: Brad Fleet

HALFBACKS

Shaun Johnson

Lachlan Ilias

Johnson is a placeholder, who is literally holding this team together because if I do end up going with Nathan Cleary, and I think I will, I’ll have to pull apart the team to make it happen. Which is still the better option than not starting with him and then trying to find a way to pay for him once the season kicks off. Penrith coaching staff are quietly confident he’ll be there in round one (more on this very soon). But there is still plenty that could happen between now and then so for now Johnson is in, tentatively.

Ilias looks set to get the nod alongside Cody Walker at Redfern, though with Blake Taffee and Dean Hawkins lurking, job security could be an issue for the youngster.

FIVE-EIGHTHS

Jackson Hastings

Talatau Amone

The exiled Hastings is ready to be exalted and while he hasn’t been handed the keys to the Tigers attack, he has been given a licence to roam and to play eyes up footy.

Amone had a season average of 32PPG but when you look at the games where he played in the halves his average goes up to 53PPG. He’s not an outright cheapie but if he can start and hold onto the No. 6, he could generate some decent cash.

Cameron Munster, who is looking to make-up for indiscretions off the field and down form on it, is an option but misses round one. He is an upgrade option down the line.

Talatau Amone is set to start at the Dragons (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

CENTRE/WINGS

David Nofoaluma

Kotoni Staggs

Oliver Gildart

Izack Tago

Joseph Suaalii

Will Penisini

Taylan May

I’ve gone with both David Nofoaluma and Kotoni Staggs but realistically will only keep one and I’m leaning towards Nofa, who comes at a discount of $202,000 and has low ownership. Nofa wants to be the NRL’s top try scorer and be the winger of the year. If he can deliver that form, the upside is huge. Gildart is shaping as a starter but there is plenty of competition for spots at the Tigers in the backs so it makes me worry for his job security if he doesn’t nail it from the get go.

Penisini’s strong showing in week two of the finals against Penrith has all but guaranteed him a starting centre spot. Impressive on both sides of the ball, which is good for work rate, he’s the only lock at CTW for me at the moment.

FULLBACK

James Tedesco

Ryan Papenhuyzen

Even taking Tom Trbojevic out of the equation, I feel like there are still some pretty good options at fullback including the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Reece Walsh, Daine Laurie and Jayden Campbell for something different. But I’ve gone with the consensus here for the Tedesco and Paps combination.

The biggest worry with Papenhuyzen is that another concussion could mean more time on the sidelines. But a fit and firing Paps, and one that is turning out 80 minutes, has an average of 116PPG from those seven matches.

Tedesco’s KFC SuperCoach pedigree speaks for itself. He produced seven triple figure scores and three over 90 last year. With Luke Keary back on the paddock, there’s no reason why Teddy can’t deliver more of the same.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: Fatima Kdouh’s team for 2022