NRL SuperCoach: The honorary Queensland team
The ultimate Queensland SuperCoach has some obvious holes in it, which is why we’re sending an SOS to one of the state’s greatest foes — Andrew Fifita — and feeling good about it.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
OK, I admit it.
My ultimate Queensland SuperCoach team can’t win the comp. And I’m in it to win it.
When Fatty Vautin sent the 1995 Origin team out in Game 1, do you think he cared about anything but winning?
But unlike those 2-0 legends, I need to score some points, so I’m bending the eligibility rules like any good Queensland selector would.
I mean a kid from NSW’s mid-north coast has played 32 Games for Queensland and gone on to captain the state, so anything is possible. (The latitude of Kempsey will now be referred to as the Inglis Line.)
Here’s 17 very tenuous Queenslanders who I’d consider for the Sad Stracs.
FLB: Jahrome Hughes (Storm) — $479,800
A former Queensland Residents rep and twice named in the Intrust Super Cup fullback of the year, Hughes went to school on the Gold Coast and has played for three of the four Queensland NRL teams (Cowboys, Titans and Storm). With Scott Drinkwater on the injury list, the Kiwi should have the Storm fullback spot all to his own for the foreseeable future, and he’s very capable of big scores.
CTW: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Raiders) — $265,500
The Cook Islands international finished his rugby league education in Queensland’s southern capital, Melbourne. He looked very handy whenever he got a run for the Warriors two seasons ago and has obvious upside if he secures the Raiders fullback spot.
CTW: John Bateman (Raiders) — $400,000
The Englishman will regularly get confused with fellow Raiders forward and Queenslander Luke Bateman. Good enough for me. May miss the start of the season as he recovers from injury, but he’ll start at lock when he does get on the park. If he can transfer his Super League stats to the NRL, he’ll be a steal.
CTW: Jordan Rapana (Raiders) — $491,900
He might be a Kiwi but Rapana spent a good chunk of his childhood growing up on the Gold Coast. He’s out until the middle of the season after shoulder surgery, though he’s rumoured to be recovering well ahead of schedule. If he can return to top form, this price is a bargain for someone who averaged 71PPG just a season ago.
CTW: Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles) — $168,100
All I’ll say is the cheapie will wear Maroon this season while starting on the wing for Manly.
5/8: Cody Walker (Rabbitohs) — $569,200
Raised north of the Inglis Line, Walker really launched his career with Easts Tigers when he was named Intrust Super Cup player of the year in 2013 — the same year he played for Queensland (Residents). Averaged 60PPG last season — can he do the same under new coach Wayne Bennett?
HFB: Dylan Brown (Eels) — $168,100
Like all Kiwis, Brown dreams of living on the Gold Coast. I heard he’s already bought a QueeNZlander sticker for his Commodore. He’ll start at five-eighth for the Eels, which makes him a no-brainer selection for every SuperCoach team.
HOK: Josh Hodgson (Raiders) — $592,100
The English Cameron Smith. And a year removed from a major knee injury, he should pump out Smith-like scores.
FRF: Andrew Fifita (Sharks) — $634,300
I can hear you already: How can you pick one of the most despised Blues of recent times for a Queensland SuperCoach team? Let me finish. Fifita is a beast in this game. He’ll rack up points aplenty through hit ups, tackle busts and offloads. The NSW selectors won’t be able to resist picking him. Then watch him disappear at Origin time. Again. My conscience is clear.
FRF: Ryan James (Titans) — $585,800
Born and raised above the Inglis line, just a stone’s throw from the actual border at Tweed Heads. NSW refuse to pick him for Origin, but I’ll welcome him to my SuperCoach team with open arms. He averaged 70PPG during the second half of last season, when he rediscovered his try scoring form of 2016.
2RF: Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) — $657,400
NSW is full of sooks. Jason’s as Queensland as you get. He went to school in Townsville and loved the place so much he signed a 10-year deal with the Cowboys. He just had the misfortune of being born in — and playing eight Tests for — New Zealand. Will move to an edge role this season, where he could be even more damaging.
2RF: Viliame Kikau (Panthers)- $570,400
Kikau starred with the Cowboys’ under-20s team before joining the Panthers and is from a northeastern part of Queensland called Fiji. He averaged 61PPG in his first full NRL season and will be a key player for Penrith once he returns from injury.
2RF: Isaiah Papalii (Warriors) — $462,400
He’s Josh’s younger brother, right? With the retirement of club and SuperCoach legend Simon Mannering, Papalii should get the minutes he needs for a breakout year in the Warriors second row.
RESERVES
Adam Keighran (Warriors) — $168,100
Hated being in NSW so much he decided to leave the country. Will start in the halves for the Warriors and has already made his way into 30 per cent of SuperCoach teams desperate for cheapies.
Briton Nikora (Sharks) — $168,100
After spending a whole season with Fifita and day in, day out, the young gun Kiwi will wish he was in Queensland. Nikora has been earmarked as a starter in a new-look Sharks backrow. With CTW dual position flexibility, he’s a must have.
Payne Haas (Broncos) — $181,100
The boom teenager was raised north of the Inglis Line. Everyone knows the Northern Rivers is basically part of Queensland anyway. He misses the first four weeks through suspension but plenty of SuperCoaches won’t care.
Kotoni Staggs (Broncos) — $258,500
Grew up dreaming of playing for the Broncos and idolised Darren Lockyer. Do these sound like the actions of a man who was born and bred in NSW? A bench role will limit his SuperCoach value, but he’s shown he can score well when he gets game time.
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: The honorary Queensland team
NRL SuperCoach Draft: Expert consensus rankings revealed
To help you pick the right players on draft night, our experts have ranked their top players to come up with the 2025 consensus SuperCoach Draft rankings.
NRL predicted teams: Souths lose stars, Raiders boosted
South Sydney have lost Cameron Murray to a long-term injury while a star Canberra forward has made the plane for Vegas. See every predicted round one line-up.