Resident SuperCoach expert The Mastermind reveals his 2019 team changes before Round 1
Resident NRL SuperCoach expert The Mastermind has stumbled out of the wreckage of Team List Tuesday with eight changes to his original team. Check out his new squad here.
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PODFATHER ONE: The point of difference forwards
PODFATHER TWO: The point of difference backs
The Mastermind has stumbled out of the wreckage of Team List Tuesday and into the emergency room ready for some surgery.
Thankfully we’re better off than most teams and there’s no problems with our spine.
Nothing from team list Tuesday (TLT) swayed my original thinking on the key positions of hooker, halves and fullback.
Damien Cook and Jake Friend are locked in for 80 minutes. Not a reserve hooker or utility to be seen on either the Rabbitohs or Roosters bench.
The attention we need is in the second row and centre/wing positions where a batch of cheapies emerged and a of course there was a player suspended for some off-field behaviour.
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Picking the right money makers is vital to getting out of the blocks. Players need to play three games to see a price rise and a decent run in the team after that to make the $100,000 to make trading them out worthwhile.
Are your cheapies guaranteed a good run in the team? Are they just filling in for someone injured or suspended? Have they had a good off-season and the coach is rewarding them for that effort.
Here’s my Round 1 team along with the eight changes I’ve made.
HOOKER
DAMIEN COOK: $726,000 (18% owned)
The best SuperCoach player in the competition last year with an average of 77.6PPG, 14.1PPG better than the next best hooker Cameron Smith. In no other position is the gap from the best to the rest so big. He’s the most expensive player in the game and will be hard to get in your team if you start without him.
JAKE FRIEND: $481,500 (5% owned)
I’m not confident in any of the rookie options in this position. So I’m going to spend a little more money here than I’d like. Friend has hovered around the 60PPG average most of his career. Last year he averaged 51.5PPG after playing reduced minutes until origin was over. Once he strung 80 minute performances together he averaged 68.5PPG in the seven games post-origin.
FRONT ROW
ANDREW FIFITA: $634,400 (31%)
The best SuperCoach prop in the game and the offload king. He averaged 67.8PPG last year and added 232 points from effective offloads. This is his forward pack now. Paul Gallen is on the wane, Luke Lewis has retired, Wade Graham will miss a good chunk of the season.
DYLAN NAPA: $288,100 (15% owned)
He had an abysmal 2018 averaging 30.8PPG. He was sin binned a league topping three times. He’s priced just 100k more than most cheapies in this position, but his minutes are guaranteed to be 40-plus and he should make you money at a similar rate. He was a 52.4PPG player in 2016 and a 39.9 in 2017. Expect he’ll return to somewhere in between there at a mid 40 average.
IN: JUNIOR TATOLA: $224,200 (9% owned)
OUT: PAYNE HAAS: $181,100 (26% owned)
The Rabbitohs prop scores a starting position and has it until George Burgess returns from suspension in round 4. Even then he should still get good minutes off the bench. He’ll be a safe money maker after averaging 24PPG in 26mins at 0.9PPM. I considered holding Payne Haas and saving the trade here, but the fact he’s not back until round 5 means you’ll get two looks at him and how he fits into the Broncos pack before his price rises after a third game in round 7. That’s also four rounds of potential price rises you’re missing out on from another player. Banking that money early can be the difference from waiting a week on a real gun.
IN: THOMAS FLEGLER: $168,100, (18% owned)
OUT: TOM AMONE: $181,400 (2% owned)
We had this spot pencilled in for a rookie and the Broncos have delivered with Flegler scoring a bench spot. He’s earned plenty of praise from senior teammates for his trial form. At bottom price and with dual position 2RF flexibility looks like a good pick-up that’s earned a spot. We’ll wait and see how the return of Haas impacts him.
SECOND ROW
JASON TAUMALOLO: $657,400 (31% owned)
Mastermind’s personal favourite and first player picked the past two years averaged 70.3PPG in 2018. My favourite Taumalolo stat is the number of defenders he leaves behind on his wrecking ball runs. Paul Green experimented with shifting him to the right edge for part of the last trial and that doesn’t bother me at all. He and Coen Hess taking turns running off Michael Morgan on that edge will give defenders nightmares.
JAI ARROW: $598,000 (20% owned)
The Titans workhorse scored at a rate of 1.2PPM for an average of 63.9PPG last year. He showed he can post big numbers too cracking triple figures twice with scores of 138 and 105. Niggling injuries saw him play more than 50 minutes just once in the last 7 games of 2018. He’s promised to take better care of his body and that’s music to the ears of SuperCoaches.
SHAUN LANE: $508,000 (8% owned)
At his 4th club in five years. Lane comes to the Parramatta off the back of a breakout SuperCoach season. He scored 9 tries for Manly last year averaging 54.3PPG. When he played the full 80 he averaged 62.8PPG. He should have an 80 min role on the edge at the Eels. Also is a dual 2RF/FRF.
IN: JOHN BATEMAN: $400,000 (12% owned)
OUT: TEVITA PANGAI JR: $495,000 (25% owned)
The Englishman is starting lock for the Raiders as was predicted. We haven’t seen him play any trials but the Super League stats suggest he’s undervalued. He’s played 15 games for his country and I’ll trust the Raiders’ judgement on UK players - Elliott Whitehead, and Josh Hodgson have been great additions to the NRL.
He’s a dual position CTW and could end the season as a keeper. Make sure you double check your Batemans if you’re selecting him. Luke Bateman is a 2RF at the Raiders too, you don’t want to waste a trade having the wrong one in your team.
Tevita Pangai Jr is the man making way for him. Plenty of concern about his hamstrings again and I don’t want any unnecessary injury risk in the first few weeks.
IN: CAMERON MURRAY: $458,900, (31% owned)
OUT: ISAIAH PAPALI’I: $462,400 (5% owned)
Murray’s in and Isaiah Papali’i is out. The Warriors backrower looked like picking up Simon Mannering’s workload, but he’s also picked up a suspension for drink driving. I’m just not prepared to leave his $462,400 on the bench to start the season. Murray is a much more popular and safer option. He averaged 49PPG in 48mins last year at 1PPM. If he gets 60 minutes or more he’ll be the perfect stepping stone to a top gun if he doesn’t become one himself.
IN: LUKE GARNER: $265,100, (10% owned)
OUT: LACHLAN BURR: $196,900 (2% owned)
Garner’s scored the Wests Tigers left edge position with Chris Lawrence set for at least a couple months out with a broken jaw. That should be more than enough time for Garner to crack the $400k mark and be upgraded. He played 6 games last year with an average of 28.3PPG in 36mins at 0.8PPM. Michael Chee Kam looks like the only edge player on the Tigers bench so he should be good for at least 50mins. Lachlan Burr is the unlucky player I’m dropping for Garner. He’s scored the Warriors 13 jersey for round 1 but doesn’t have the long-term job security.
HALFBACK
MICHAEL MORGAN: $409,200 (20% owned)
Forget about the injury riddled 2018 average of 43.7PPG and remember that Morgan averaged 65 PPG driving the Cowboys to the finals in 2017 without Johnathan Thurston. He’s playing behind close to the best forward pack in the competition.
ADAM KEIGHRAN: $168,100 (31% owned)
A rookie half with goalkicking duties. Should be some easy money made here as long as he has a decent run in the Warriors team.
FIVE-EIGHTH
GARETH WIDDOP: $553,400 (10% owned)
The Dragons are usually strong out of the blocks and Widdop has been in the thick of the action early. In the first game of 2018 he had 106 points then a round three of 176. His first game of 2017 delivered 126 points. Last season he reverted close to his usual career average with 59.1PPG. That 2017 season featuring 5 centuries at an average of 73PPG was something special. I’m banking on the switch to fullback helping him unlock more of that attacking ability. Also has dual position fullback status.
DYLAN BROWN: $168,100 (51% owned)
Rookie Eels half has impressed in trials and should easily make SuperCoaches a quick $200k or more.
CENTRES/WINGERS
IN: KURT CAPEWELL: $340,200, (16% owned)
OUT: COREY HARAWIRA-NAERA: $401,100 (6% owned)
Capewell has averaged 50PPG when he’s played 80mins but is priced at a mid 30s average. He’s been in and out of this Sharks line-up for a couple years and has finally nailed a starting role. If he’s running off Shaun Johnson he’ll certainly add more attacking points to his game. He could be a set and forget in this position for safe points all year.
I had my eye on Corey Harawira-Naera from the Bulldogs initially but he’s missed out on a starting role and Capewell comes in $60k cheaper too.
JACK BIRD: $320,900 (15% owned)
Was woeful last year, averaging 25.8PPG but his three previous seasons suggest he should be a 50PPG player. If new Broncos coach Anthony Seibold gets the left edge working the way he did at the Rabbitohs Bird could benefit big time.
JORDAN KAHU: $278,700 (18% owned)
I’m not expecting massive things from Kahu. He averaged 29.8PPG last year. His highest average season ever was 44.7PPG. He’ll have goalkicking duties, added runs and attacking involvement at fullback. He should make some money and then be an easy upgrade to a better option.
BRENTON NIKORA: $168,100 (26% owned)
Seems to be a frontrunner for a Sharks backrow spot. Can’t say no at the bargain basement price. If more centre cheapies emerge he can always switch into the backrow as a dual position player.
IN: CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: $265,500 (29% owned)
OUT: COREY ALLEN: $168,100, (41% owned)
He averaged 47.3PPG on the wing for the Warriors in seven games in 2017 and if he goes close to matching that as Raiders fullback he’s well undervalued. Only question mark is will Jack Wighton switch back to fullback from five-eighth if that experiment fails early?
Rabbitohs rookie Corey Allan is the man to miss out. Just what is Wayne Bennett doing naming a winger/fullback on the bench? It’s a strange move and no good for SuperCoaches.
IN: MIKAELE RAVALAWA: $168,100 (29% owned)
OUT: ZAC LOMAX: $196,900, (52% owned)
We were expecting a cheap Dragons winger, just not this one. Comes in at the expense of Zac Lomax who was in more than half of teams last week. Expect Lomax to get a run at some stage but for now it’s Ravalawa’s spot to lose. Here’s hoping for a try feast for the Fijian flyer.
REUBEN GARRICK: $168,100, Manly, (12% owned)
Not super confident of his long-term prospects with Tom Trbojevic looking like he’ll make an early return from injury possibly next week. That could force Brendan Elliott onto the wing and Garrick out of the team. I’ll keep a close eye on what happens with Corey Allan at the Rabbitohs.
FULLBACK
JAMES TEDESCO: $689,000 (39% owned)
With Tom Trbojevic injured, there’s no going past Teddy. He averaged 73.6PPG last year. He took a little while to warm up at the Roosters last year but finished the last 8 rounds with an incredible average of 96, notching three centuries and a 180-point haul against Parramatta as the Roosters found form running into the finals.
MATT MOYLAN: $483,500 (12% owned)
This is a risky one, he’s coming off his worst ever SuperCoach season with an average of 51.7PPG but look back at the three years before that and he’s hovered around the 60PPG mark. He scored just two tries playing at five-eighth, he’s clearly undervalued as he moves into the Sharks fullback spot jersey vacated by Valentine Holmes. He notched 3 centuries in the last 4 games of 2016 and then there was that 2017 five game streak of 101, 103, 87, 100, 96. When he’s hot he’s hot and getting on early could make your season.
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Originally published as Resident SuperCoach expert The Mastermind reveals his 2019 team changes before Round 1
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