NRL SuperCoach: The ultimate Maroons team
State of Origin is months away but the most important Queensland selections have already been made. Find out who has made the 2019 Maroons SuperCoach team.
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Preseason is in full swing and that means the NRL season is not far away — so time has come to pick the Queensland SuperCoach team.
Packing guns and mid-rangers with gun potential into this squad wasn’t an issue — it was the hunt for the elusive Queensland cheapies that will get game time that continues to prove problematic. However, after much deliberation (and a few helpful injuries), I’ve managed to scrape together some players who at least have a hope of playing this season.
The self-appointed Queensland selection committee (of one) congratulates the following players on making the 2019 Maroons SuperCoach team.
FRF/HOK: The player you must have
SECOND ROW: Is this our new SuperCoach God?
HALVES: The halves to make the difference
CTW: How to navigate the CTW desert
FULLBACKS: Your guide to a guilt-free team
FLB
Kalyn Ponga (Knights) FLB|5/8 - $614,300
Who else? Forget about the annoying switch from fullback to five-eighth — this kid is an absolute freak and should rack up points no matter where he plays. He’s also picked up the goalkicking duties at the Knights, which should help to cover any shortfall from his 67PPG average last season.
Cameron Munster (Storm) FLB|5/8 - $548,500
Munster had his worst SuperCoach season in 2018 with an average of only 58.6PPG. But it’s easy to see him bouncing back into keeper territory this year now he’ll be the focal point of the Storm attack sans Billy Slater. And under $550k is a very juicy price for someone of Munster’s upside.
CTW
Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) CTW|FLB - $469,000
Good: Inglis has confirmed he has shaken off his niggling knee problem and should be fit to start the season. Bad: He will begin the year in the centres. I’m very keen on Inglis as a cheeky POD if he’s playing at fullback (where he averages 60+PPG), but according to the big man himself he won’t move back there until later in the season. But in the absence of any other standout options, I’m sticking with the Maroons captain.
Kurt Capewell (Sharks) CTW|2RF - $340,200
There are a lot of holes to fill in the Sharks second row and backline and Capewell will be first in line to take one of them, despite the presence of gun youngsters Briton Nikora and Bronson Xerri. The utility has been restricted in a bench role to this point of his career, but can knock out big scores when given the full 80 minutes, as evidenced by his 156 against the Tigers a couple of years ago.
Kurt Mann (Knights) CTW|HOK - $258,900
Ideally I’d have Mann at HOK, but we’re hamstrung by the lack of Queensland cheapies at the CTW position. Fingers crossed he beats out Danny Levi for the Knights’ no. 9 jersey, otherwise he has little value as a utility bench player.
Ben Hampton (Cowboys) CTW|FLB - $360,300
He averaged almost 55PPG whenever he played 80 minutes last season and it looks like Hampton will grab one of the Cowboys’ centre spots. Ben Barba’s early departure leaves the club short of an extra playmaker in the backfield and the former Storm player can fill that role. The fear is Hampton’s versatility could land him on the bench, which would obviously make him no-go.
Corey Allan (Rabbitohs) FLB|CTW - $168,100
The departure of Robert Jennings to the Tigers is GREAT news for Allan and SuperCoaches — the former Bronco junior is now a genuine chance to start in Round 1. As we’ve seen time and time again, Wayne Bennett has no problem thrusting talented rookies into his teams and Allan is as talented as they come.
Brendan Elliot (Sea Eagles) CTW - $233,100
Elliot wasn’t really on my radar before last weekend, but SuperCoach darling Tom Trbojevic’s injury has changed everything. The former Titan is now likely to be thrown into the Sea Eagles No. 1 jersey for long enough to get a price rise or two.
Marion Seve (Storm) CTW - $168,100
The giant winger/centre is currently outside the Storm 17 but he would seem the likely candidate to replace Suliasi Vunivalu or Will Chambers if they were to get injured. He scored 17 tries, made 144 tackle busts and averaged 154 metres a game for Easts Tigers in Intrust Super Cup last season, so he has a SuperCoach-friendly style.
5/8
Anthony Milford (Broncos) 5/8 - $511,900
He’s not playing in preseason, is nursing shoulder and hamstring problems and the Broncos have a nightmare opening stretch, but I’m happy to carry Milford here until he comes good. If Anthony Seibold can work the same magic on the Broncos as he did at Souths, then Milf could be launched straight back into keeper territory.
Michael Morgan (Cowboys) 5/8|HFB - $409,200
This really is excellent value for a borderline gun who averaged 58PPG for three straight seasons before his injury-ravaged 2018. He should make plenty of money now he’s the main man in Townsville after the retirement of Johnathan Thurston.
HFB
Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles) HFB - $577,400
Despite my lingering fears about the return of noted SuperCoach killer Des Hasler to the Sea Eagles, I’m backing DCE to pick up where he left off. He’s owned by only 7 per cent of punters despite being the top scoring halfback last year. Now he’ll be expected to power the entire Manly offence with Tommy Turbo out for the opening rounds.
Thomas Dearden (Broncos) HFB — 168,100
Potential doesn’t get SuperCoach points and realistically Dearden is a season or two away from getting a look-in at the Broncos. But the 17-year-old (he turns 18 the day before the season starts) has been ripping it up in Brisbane’s trial games and at training. Makes it on the basis he’s the latest player to be dubbed “the next Johnathan Thurston”.
2RF
Rhyse Martin (Bulldogs) 2RF - $634,300
Well that escalated quickly. Martin went from cheapie to rolled gold gun in a matter of weeks last year, his excellent forward play and goalkicking (36 from 38 attempts) earning him the moniker ‘God 2.0’. He should be the first name on the team sheet but he could lose minutes or even his starting spot in a congested Bulldogs backrow row rotation. Give the people what they want, Dean Pay.
Jai Arrow (Titans) 2RF - $598,000
An absolute no-brainer selection and 21 per cent of SuperCoaches agree. Arrow would have likely finished among the top three 2RF options in 2018 if not for an injury-affected score of 17 in Round 9 and restricted minutes over the final few games of the season.
Felise Kaufusi (Storm) 2RF - $565,100
This was a toss-up between Kaufusi and Coen Hess and I’ve plumped for the Melbourne man based on his slightly higher average (60PPG to 58) and the fact he normally plays the full 80 minutes. Both are excellent POD selections with ownership of just 3 per cent.
Matt Gillett (Broncos) 2RF - $432,900
I’m taking a gamble here. Gillett was one of the comp’s premier second rowers and a borderline SuperCoach keeper before he went down with his neck injury. Everything depends on how Seibold plans to use him and if he can get close to 80 minutes with the likes of Jaydn Su’a and David Fifita around. He averaged 65PPG in 2017, so if he can return close to that form he’s a great value pick.
Corey Horsburgh (Raiders) 2RF - $168,100
The big red nut has bolted into contention for the Raiders after an impressing in preseason. The former Cowboy has been compared to Corey Parker with his high workrate and penchant for an offload. So needless to say, his game seems suited to SuperCoach. He’ll play NRL at some point this season.
Tino Fa’asuamaleuai (Storm) 2RF - $168,100
The 197cm Gympie teenager is a Queensland and Australia under-20s rep and looks like a prototypical Storm forward prospect — big, powerful and skilled. Tino was in the mix to make his Melbourne debut last season, so expect him to go one step further in 2019.
FRF
Josh Papalii (Raiders) 2RF|FRF - $595,900
With an ownership of just 8 per cent, Papalii is one of the rare PODs who also pumps out keeper-like scores. He was the third best FRF option behind Andrew Fifita and Marty Taupau last year, who are both owned by 27 per cent of SuperCoaches. Don’t expect anything to change in 2019. Just keep this pick to yourselves.
Dylan Napa (Bulldogs) FRF - $288,100
“Big Papi” is never going to set the SuperCoach world alight, but I’m gambling on him as a value play in a Bulldogs team that needs to replace the departed David Klemmer. If he can play even just 50 minutes per game (he averaged 42 in his final season with the Roosters) he could prove to be a handy cash cow before being moved on.
Patrick Carrigan (Broncos) 2RF|FRF - $168,100
Payne Haas has been rubbed out for the opening four weeks and Tevita Pangai Jr’s dodgy hammies continue to give him trouble, so the highly rated Carrigan and Tom Flegler could get their shot in the middle for the Broncos. There’s probably only one spot up for grabs but with Flegler only eligible in the 2RF position, Carrigan makes it in.
Josh Kerr (Dragons) 2RF|FRF - $168,100
With Jack de Belin’s future unclear because of the serious allegations against him and Korbin Sims suspended for the opening two rounds, Kerr could find himself making his NRL debut. The former Redcliffe man has scored two tries and generally passed the eye test so far in preseason, so he looks ready to take his chance.
HOK
Cameron Smith (Storm) HOK - $594,400
Do I really need to explain this? Sure, he might be in decline but an ageing Cameron Smith is still in the top echelon of SuperCoach players. Surprisingly it was Smith’s attacking stats that were lacking in 2018, but with Billy Slater gone he’ll be more important to the Storm than ever this season.
Reed Mahoney (Eels) HOK - $374,300
Mahoney’s run in the team at the end of 2018 took him out of cheapie range but he’s regarded as the Eels long-term no.9. With injury-hit Kaysa Pritchard stepping away from the game to assess his future, the kid from Nambour is now certain to start in Round 1 and potentially play 80 minutes. Let’s just hope those Issac Luke rumours go away.
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: The ultimate Maroons team
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