NRL SuperCoach 2024: Fatima Kdouh’s team stacked with shock PODs and left-field cheapies

SuperCoach expert Fatima Kdouh has named her side for 2024 and she has her ear to the ground when it comes to best youngsters and point of difference players.

The Powerpuff Boys are back for 2024 – bigger and better, at least the coach is hoping!

Salary cap constraints have forced Fatima Kdouh to go with a POD option in the halves, but will she have the gumption to actually start the season without Dylan Brown at five-eighth?

Here’s a first look at some of the big calls Fatima is making for NRL SuperCoach 2024.

HOOKERS - Harry Grant HOK $750,000, Jayden Brailey HOK $330,000

Melbourne’s Harry Grant is arguably the best hooker in the NRL, and was the best in SuperCoach 2023 by almost nine points per game. He’s a must have to start the season.

Jayden Brailey is returning from an ACL injury and could lose minutes to the man who replaced him, Phoenix Crossland. But he can produce consistently when not impacted by injury.

Harry Grant is a cut above at hooker. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

FRONT ROW - Payne Haas FRF $750,400 Moe Fotuaika FRF $564,400 Fletcher Baker FRF $311,000 Spencer Leniu FRF $332,400

Brisbane powerhouse Payne Haas is as consistent as they come. His lowest average in the last five years is 63 points but peaked at 78 PPG in 2022. I entertained Titans forward Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and his dual position status is enticing but went with teammate Moe Fotuaika – for now.

Not sold on Spencer Leniu just yet, he’ll start off the bench in a stacked forward rotation so he might not get a huge increase in minutes in the Tricolours. On the flip side Fletcher Baker could see a bump in minutes with the Broncos losing Thomas Flegler, Kurt Capewell and Keenan Palasia.

SECOND ROW FORWARDS - Pat Carrigan 2RF $684,100 Viliame Kikau 2RF $468,500 Shaun Lane 2RF $446,200 Josh Curran 2RF $421,700 Siua Wong 2RF $462,200 Brendan Piakura 2RF $426,800

Brisbane’s Pat Carrigan feels like a bit of a splurge in a position where there is plenty of value in mid-range players. He’s a sentimental pick, so I’m sticking with him for the moment.

Speaking of value, his teammate Piakura averaged 41 PPG last year but with a starting position up for grabs, that is set to jump in 2024. When he did start last season, his average was close to 60 PPG making him great value if he snares a starting edge spot.

Viliame Kikau is another who is set to see a huge improvement in PPG – if he can stay fit and healthy after a lacklustre 2023 for the Bulldogs. Canterbury also have a number of options at lock including Max King, Ryan Sutton and even Kurt Mann but that job should go to Josh Curran in round one.

I’m expecting (hoping) Shaun Lane’s injury troubles are behind him and can resume his potent left edge combo with Dylan Brown, where he averaged almost 70 PPG in 2022.

Wong has competition against the likes of Nat Butcher and Angus Crichton for an edge spot but Trent Robinson had enough trust in him to start there in the backend of last year.

Patrick Carrigan is an important member of Fatima’s side. Photo: Grant Trouville

HALFBACK - Nathan Cleary HFB $912,500 Jayden Sullivan HFB/5-8 $391,400

Cleary should pick up where he left off when he delivered a brilliant individual performance in the grand final, despite fears the Panthers could be in for another slow start to the season. I’m betting he’ll finish the year as the best SuperCoach player, surpassing Nicho Hynes, thanks to his high ceiling. Would I like both? Yes. But as Rob Sutherland alluded to, we aren’t all privileged enough to receive Tom Sangster’s 10 percent salary cap bonus. There’s gotta be an investigation into this (said in my best Geoff Toovey impression).

By all accounts, Sullivan is training well and impressing Benji Marshall during the preseason. The big question mark is how well he’s been able to build a combination and who will take on the goal kicking duties. If it goes to his halves partner Aidan Sezer, I might move to him – he also has dual position.

FIVE-EIGHTH - Tom Dearden 5-8 $592,200 Kaeo Weekes FLB/5-8 $273,400

The one I really want here is Dylan Brown, and could still go that way, but for now I’m opting for Tom Deardan – who I feel could be a point of difference at five-eighth. The Cowboys were disappointing in 2023 but Deardan was a shining light and is primed for a huge season.

CENTRE/WING - Taylan May CTW $458,800 Sua Faalogo FLB/CTW $339,000 Ethan Strange 5-8/CTW $238,900 Kayal Iro CTW/FLB $219,900 Josh Feledy CTW $238,900 Xavier Savage CTW/FLB $350,200 Chevy Stewart CTW/FLB $204,300

One Raider here is likely to drop out, maybe two depending on which way coach Ricky Stuart decides to go. Even if Weekes is named at five-eighth, Strange is still in the running for a spot at centre with Savage and Stewart in the running for the fullback spot. Another “wait and see” scenario.

May returns for Penrith on the back of an ACL as the one most likely to replace Stephen Crichton at centre.

I haven’t gone with Paul Alamoti at this point, but purely based on gut feeling – and the fact he’s stepped into a championship system – I think he could be in for a big year. He’s unlikely to usurp any of the established outside backs immediately, but there is a school of thought he could be used in a similar way Jaeman Salmon was off the bench.

Melbourne youngster Fa’alogo is likely to get a crack at either centre or fullback – depending on Papenhuyzen being picked in round one.

FULLBACK - Kalyn Ponga FLB $892,800 AJ Brimson FLB $587,100

Ponga averaged 105 PPG after finally moving to fullback after round 13, plus he kicks goals. It feels like a no-brainer. As always, head knocks could pose an issue for him but he’s the top pick among other elite fullbacks like Tom Trbojevic, Scott Drinkwater and Reece Walsh. Brimson is all but guaranteed to start at centre this year and has, apparently, taken to the switch like a duck to water.

The move is designed to add dimension to the Titans attack. Though, I could still go down to Jayden Campbell to free-up some cash to make the Dylan Brown move happen.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2024: Fatima Kdouh’s team stacked with shock PODs and left-field cheapies