Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: Why I’m ignoring top cheapie Isaiah Iongi
NRL SuperCoach is back for 2025 with a brand new rule that makes sacrificing the best cheapie in the game a viable tactic, writes TOM SANGSTER.
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NRL SuperCoach is back for 2025 with a brand new rule – the Flex position.
And while the rule is in general designed to be the SuperCoach equivalent of an 18th man, it also opens up a host of sneaky tactics for SuperCoaches to take advantage of.
See my full Flex explainer here, but one of the main new tactics is to run three instead of two gun fullbacks – the position proven over many years to be the best in SuperCoach.
A fullback line-up of James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga and Tom Trbojevic is pretty damn tasty.
But of course there are drawbacks – the main being having to sacrifice my cheapie of the year pick Isaiah Iongi, who is currently the second most popular player in SuperCoach, but also only available at fullback.
You can’t fit all fullbacks in so I’m now thinking points over prices rises.
In other words, I’ll take the big scores of Trbojevic (who has an incredible draw to start to the year) over the $300,000 or so Iongi is set to make.
Meanwhile, I’ve made eight changes since the Team Picker launched. See them all below.
HOOKER
Max Plath HOK/2RF $617,600
Instinct told me to pick Harry Grant and lock him in at least until Origin. But Grant has the bye in round 2 so I’ll start with Plath, who was a revelation last season at both lock and hooker. Doesn’t have a bye until round 13 and dual positioning is handy with Connor Watson (below).
Peter Mamouzelos HOK $302,900
Becomes the top hooker at South Sydney following the exit of Damien Cook (Dragons). Set for a significant rise in output after averaging just 31 minutes last year.
FRONT ROW FORWARD
Terrell May FRF $597,500
The former Rooster is one of the best points per minute players in SuperCoach history. He notched an incredible PPM of 1.35 last year and it was no fluke after 1.27 the year before. Now a key recruit for the Tigers, his game time should improve considerably from his average of 45 minutes last year.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui FRF/2RF $531,300
I’m torn here. Tino is no doubt a good buy given the $260,000 discount on his 2024 starting price. But should he be the most popular player in SuperCoach at 75 per cent ownership? The short answer is no given the round one bye and the fact he is coming back from an ACL injury. But he remains in Sangster’s Paradise for now until a better by emerges. I’m really hoping to take on the masses here.
Tom Amone FRF $232,600
While Canterbury’s game plan of playing small middles got them to a commendable sixth spot last season, they bowed out rather meekly in the finals. Amone joins and adds size after spending three seasons with Leigh Leopards in the Super League. The price is good but it will be a slow burn.
OUT: Jacob Halangahu 2RF $198,800
IN: Loko Pasifiki-Tonga FRF $198,800
SWITCH: Naufahu Whyte to 2RF
I’ve got a big view of Halangahu but it’s probably a year too early. Meanwhile, Loko Pasifiki-Tonga has signed a new contract and coach Shane Flanagan has backed him for an NRL debut in 2025.
SECOND ROW FORWARDS
Isaiah Papali’i 2RF $585,500
After a rough few years at cellar dwellers the Tigers, Papalii is now a star recruit at four-time premiers the Panthers. Can he return to his 2022 average of almost 80? It’s a tough ask given the Panthers have plenty of edge players including Scott Sorensen and Liam Martin. The danger is IPap plays a 2RF/FRF hybrid role, but the price still pops out.
OUT: Tom Gilbert 2RF $462,000
IN: Connor Watson HOK/2RF $583,800
While Gilbert starts at a $140,000 discount, I’m always wary of players returning from ACL injuries. Particularly given his recent, albeit minor, ankle injury in pre-season training.
Meanwhile, Watson has a big-minute hooker role – maybe even 80 minutes – at the Roosters following the ACL injury to Brandon Smith. He also has perfect dual switch flexibility with Max Plath (above).
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2RF $368,200
Finefeuiaki is moving south to the Dolphins. And with the likes of Euan Aitken and others leaving the club, plus the setback to Gilbert (above), there’s a big opportunity for a starting spot on the edge. That said, he could easily switch to a bench role. Watch this space.
*SWITCHED FROM FRF
Naufahu Whyte 2RF/FRF $367,100
Terrell May, Sitili Tupouniua and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have left the Roosters, which leaves game time open in the pack. While he’s unlikely to start, Whyte should improve on his 33 minutes from last year.
Coen Hess 2RF/FRF $327,000
Another player coming back from an ACL injury. Didn’t play last season and therefore gets decent discount of close to $100,000 on his 2023 average of 42. Plenty of predicted round one teams have him slated to start at prop, which would be a good result for SuperCoaches. Dual position is very handy.
Josh Schuster 2RF $265,100
Everyone has an opinion on Schuster and he’s no doubt burned plenty of SuperCoach players in the past. But here are some facts. He averaged 61 in 2021. He starts 2025 at close to basement price. He is now at Souths under Wayne Bennett, who is the best in the business at getting the most out of talented, yet under-performing, players. Will be a slow burn given he likely plays from the bench to start the season, but you’d be mad not to take a punt.
HALFBACK
OUT: Nathan Cleary HFB $811,500
IN: Luke Metcalf 5/8 $443,000 (see 5/8 below)
SWITCH: Dylan Brown HFB/5-8 $651,800
I was expecting Cleary to be somewhat of a POD following off-season surgery. But he’s the fourth most popular player in the game so I’m keen to take on the masses, especially given he has three touch match-ups to start the year. I’ve instead gone with the value of Luke Metcalf (analysis below), and brought Dylan Brown into the halfback slot.
Brown looms as a season-long hold given he doesn’t play Origin and doesn’t have a bye until round 8. He’s also underpriced after having to play halfback for much of last season following the injury to Mitchell Moses. Further, I’m even more interested in Brown following news he is playing for a new contract, which generally brings the best out in players.
OUT: Lewis Dodd HFB $336,000
IN: Sandon Smith HFB/HOK $237,600
Super League star-come-Rabbitoh Lewis Dodd is a solid pick at the price but I just can’t ignore Sandon Smith, who has claims on being cheapie of the year. Smith only averaged 24 points in 33 minutes last year after playing 10 of 15 games off bench. He therefore starts just above bottom dollar. But in the five games he started last season, Smith averaged 54.8. That equates to a price rise of over $300,000 if he repeats the effort.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Cody Walker HFB/5-8 $559,800
I originally wanted Cameron Munster, who starts cheap after an injury-interrupted season. But the Storm are basically untouchable to start the year given the bye in round 2, which also rules out Jahrome Hughes (most points at halfback), Harry Grant (top average at hooker) and Eliesa Katoa (second most points in back row). Meanwhile, Walker is dual position, underpriced after a lacklustre season, now under the coach who brought the best out of him and doesn’t have a bye until round 12.
IN: Luke Metcalf 5/8 $443,000, via Nathan Cleary
Shaun Johnson’s retirement at the Warriors creates a huge SuperCoach opportunity for Luke Metcalf. The former Shark starts around $130,000 underpriced due to an injury-affected game where he copped a serious leg injury, while he also received a discount for playing limited matches.
CENTRE/WING
Campbell Graham CTW $505,600
Graham averaged almost 70 in 2023 and was a must-have. He peaked in price at $801,000 that year (albeit in a far better South Sydney side). But he starts a fair way under that in 2025 due to a serious sternum injury that saw him play no games last year.
Mark Nawaqanitawase CTW $438,600
The exits of Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Joseph Manu and Michael Jennings leave huge gaps in the Roosters’ backline and the former Wallaby is set to benefit. ‘Marky Mark’ scored 64 in his only game last year so appears significant undoers at such a good club.
Billy Smith CTW $317,200
As above with Nawaqanitawase, backline spots are open at the Roosters and Smith is very close, if not locked in, for a spot... that’s if he stays fit, and it’s a big if. While clearly talented and a favourite of coach Trent Robinson, he has managed just 15 games in the last five years.
OUT: Jack Bird CTW/2RF $379,700
IN: Robert Toia CTW $198,800
While Bird may improve at lock in 2025 at the Tigers, the fact he played 66 minutes last year at the Dragons is a turn off. And his injury history cannot be ignored.
I’ve instead gone for Toia, who like the two guys above, is also in the running for backline spots at the Roosters. Yes, running with three Roosters all gunning for the same roles is unsustainable but I need to save cash for my triple fullback onslaught.
Isaiah Tass CTW $327,900
Placeholder for now but I’m hoping he snags the wing spot of Alex Johnston (Achilles). Very limited output last season due to an ankle injury and therefore starts cheap.
Jaxon Purdue CTW $257,000
Backline spots are open at the Cowboys following the exits of Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt. And while not a frontrunner, Purdue is in contention after some nice cameos last season. Four games off the bench mean he’s also underpriced.
Jesse McLean CTW $234,900
Sunia Turuva is off to the Tigers, which leaves a wing spot open at the attacking juggernaut that is four-time premiers the Panthers. Jesse McLean was a serious chance of an NRL spot last season before injury struck. That said, McLean’s biggest hurdle may be from his own family in bother Casey, who starred in seven games last year.
FULLBACK
James Tedesco FLB $920,200
Buying the most expensive/best player from last season usually gives me some distress, but I feel confident on Teddy this year. Dylan Edwards’ ascension for the Blues and Kangaroos means Tedesco is unlikely for higher honours and he doesn’t have a bye until round 10. Genuine full-season hold and he also has 2024 cellar dwellers the Broncos (twice), Warriors, Titans and Rabbitohs in the opening six rounds (with a tough match-up against the Panthers in there too).
OUT: Latrell Mitchell FLB $866,800
IN: Kalyn Ponga FLB $790,300
I was initially keen on Latrell Mitchell under Wayne Bennett but now feel he’s overpriced. While the general consensus was that Latrell had a poor season in actual NRL, this was mainly due to injury (he only played 11 games).
But in those games he was red-hot, producing his best SuperCoach average of all-time and therefore starting at his highest price of all-time. Kalyn Ponga therefore comes in given he has a very soft draw to start the year against the Tigers, Dolphins and Titans. Although he’ll likely need to be sold for the round 4 bye.
FLEX
OUT: Isaiah Iongi FLB $232,600
IN: Tom Trbojevic FLB $875,600
Yes, Iongi may well end up being the cheapie of the year. But the introduction of a Flex position for 2025 makes the option of running three gun fullbacks a serious option.
In short, I’m willing to sacrifice the cash generation of Iongi for the points of Turbo, who has a dream draw to start the year against the Cowboys, Warriors, Raiders and Eels – with three of those four games at his favourite Brookvale Oval.
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