Queenslanders Only: Best props and hookers in SuperCoach

In the race to squeeze in the likes of the Trbojevics, Tedesco and Ponga into their teams, Supercoaches have been overlooking one bona fide gun for years. Let’s hope it stays that way.

IN THE race to squeeze in the likes of the Trbojevics, Tedesco and Ponga into their teams, Supercoaches have been overlooking one bona fide gun for years.

Let’s hope it stays that way.

Luckily for Queenslanders, maybe the very best POD in the game wears Maroons, so just keep this secret to yourselves.

Each week, I look at the Queenslanders who can help you towards SuperCoach glory — all with a guilt-free conscious. This week I look at the FRF and HOK positions.

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

PROPS

GUNS

Everyone should definitely pick Sam Burgess. (Wink) Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Josh Papalii (Raiders) 2RF|FRF — $595,900

*WHISPERS*

Josh Papalii is very good. He’s averaged 63, 66 and 62 over the past three seasons. His PPM improved last season. He will play as many minutes as he can handle for the Raiders. He’s the POD God: currently only owned by 8 per cent of SuperCoaches. Plus he’s got dual position flexibility.

*NORMAL VOICE*

So everyone is picking Sam Burgess, yeah?

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MID-RANGERS

Josh McGuire (Cowboys) 2RF|FRF $473,600

Will a change of scenery be just what McGuire needs? He has never been a true keeper but his 50.6PPG last season was his lowest output since 2011. With Taumalolo the incumbent at lock, it will be interesting to see where Moose lines up, but he will get plenty of run in a very strong Cowboys pack. If he can have a bounce-back season, this represents good value.

Joe Ofahengaue (Broncos) 2RF|FRF — $481,300

Joe might not ever reach true Gun status in a loaded Broncos pack but he should get close to the 58PPG in 55 minutes he averaged over the final 15 games of last season, which is a good return for this price.

CHEAPIES

Josh Kerr (Dragons) FRF|2RF — $168,100

Probably not in the Dragons 17 as things stand, Kerr could be the lone beneficiary if Jack de Belin is stood down over rape allegations. The Redcliffe youngster looked great in the All-Stars game, playing some powerful footy and scoring a try.

No, it’s not THAT pic of Dylan Napa. Picture: Tim Hunter

Dylan Napa (Bulldogs) FRF — $288,100

Someone who has the opposite problem to Kerr, Napa could be rubbed out for a few games over his sex tape scandal. But whenever he does get on the paddock, “Big Papi” is an excellent buy-low candidate and potential cash cow. In a Bulldogs pack now without David Klemmer, he can expect a lot more than the 42 minutes a game he was getting with the Roosters last season.

George Fai (Broncos) FRF — $181,100; Patrick Mago (Broncos) FRF — $196,900; Francis Molo (Cowboys) FRF — $196,900; Lachlan Timm (Dragons) FRF — $168,100; Eddie Blacker (Dragons) FRF — $168,100; Lloyd Perrett (Sea Eagles) FRF — $229,600; Patrick Kaufusi (Storm) FRF — $196,900; Keegan Hipgrave (Titans) FRF|2RF — $239,300

AVOID

Jarrod Wallace (Titans) FRF — $478,600

A tremendous cash cow player in his first season with the Titans, Wallace has maxed out his value with averages in the low 50s, which is clearly not what you want in your SuperCoach team.

THE REST

Scott Bolton (Cowboys) FRF -$397,300; Matt Scott (Cowboys) FRF — $374,300; Corey Jensen (Cowboys) FRF — $306,200; Korbin Sims (Dragons) FRF — $389,900; Tim Glasby (Knights) FRF — $364,900; Luke Bateman (Raiders) 2RF|FRF — $339,000; Christian Welch (Storm) FRF — $356,300

HOOKERS

GUNS

Old Cameron Smith is still better than just about every other SuperCoach player. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Cameron Smith (Storm) HOK — $594,400

The years of being the NRL’s resident GOAT finally seemed to catch up with Smith, who got surpassed by Damien Hook as SuperCoach’s premier hooker last season. Guess what? He was still one of the best players in the game. Reports are Smith could switch to ball-playing lock and in the halves for parts of games to free up his attacking game, which with only one try and three try assists was surprisingly lacking last year. What impact this has on his SuperCoach game is yet to be seen but two things are for sure: the Storm will be reliant as ever on their captain, and he’ll be in my team.

SuperCoach NRL: The profit and loss of picking top priced players

Andrew McCullough (Broncos) HOK — $505,300

New coach Anthony Seibold talking about speeding up the Broncos’ play in the rucks should be music to the ears to potential owners. He’s never going to have the Rabbitohs No. 9’s game, but just a tiny little sprinkle of the Damien Cook dust combined with his already excellent base stat output could catapult Macca into keeper territory.

MID-RANGERS

Jake Friend (Roosters) HOK — $481,500

Friend’s average dropped dramatically to 51PPG in 2018. We know he likes to tackle — he made more than 100 tackles more than anyone else in the NRL — but it seemed to come at the expense of his attacking game. However, there are reasons to be optimistic: Friend averaged 66PPG after the bye last season as the Roosters rounded into form on their way to the title.

Jake Friend tackling. He does a lot of that. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Reed Mahoney (Eels) HOK — $374,300

The kid from Nambour is out of cheapie range (boooo!) after he went on a nice little run at the end of 2018, averaging 40PPG in 57 minutes over nine games. He looks to have snared the Eels starting hooker gig ahead of Kaysa Pritchard, but the most likely outcome is they timeshare minutes thus limiting each other’s SuperCoach value. Still, with Pritchard battling seemingly endless injuries, Mahoney could be a good option before upgrading to a gun.

Karl Lawton (Warriors) HOK|HFB — $324,200

The former Titan is battling Jazz Tevaga and Nathaniel Roach for minutes if Issac Luke’s recovery from shoulder surgery keeps him out for the opening rounds. He has little value otherwise.

CHEAPIES

Kurt Mann (Knights) CTW|HOK — $258,900

With Slade Griffin out indefinitely, former Dragons utility Mann has rocketed into contention to be the starting hooker ahead of Danny Levi. With a handy CTW dual position, he is a must have.

Billy Walters (Storm) HOK|5/8 — 168,100

Depending on what happens with the Storms’ fluid situation in the halves, Walters could get a game this season. But he’s currently behind Brodie Croft, Jahrome Hughes and possibly Cooper Johns in the race to partner Cameron Munster.

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AVOID

Less than 80 minutes Jake Granville. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Jake Granville (Cowboys) HOK — $414,100; Kurt Baptiste (Cowboys) HOK — $196,900

Granville seldom plays the full 80 and Baptiste could be the man to pick up the remaining minutes now he’s at the Cowboys. Limited minutes = limited value and that’s why I’m staying away from both.

Originally published as Queenslanders Only: Best props and hookers in SuperCoach