Laurie Daley takes on Darren Lockyer in NRL SuperCoach

NEW South Wales Origin coach Laurie Daley and Maroons legend Darren Lockyer select their SuperCoach sides for the 2013 season.

NSW State of Origin coach Laurie Daley and Maroons legend Darren Lockyer select their SuperCoach sides for the start of the 2013 season.

SuperCoach: Daley All Stars

LAURIE DALEY

JARRYD Hayne's 2009 is part of rugby league legend.

As is Ben Barba's incredible 2011. But when we look back on 2013, we could remember it as the year of Greg Inglis.

The South Sydney superstar has already achieved so much in the game at a relatively young age, but his incredible pre-season form and new-found maturity show he's ready for a career-defining season.

Inglis was the first player picked in my SuperCoach team for this season, and I moved to surround him with a backbone of high-scoring guns.

Paul Gallen could be a risk given coach Shane Flanagan has hinted at him having reduced minutes. Even so, Gal produces more work in 70 minutes than any other player can produce in 80.

Johnathan Thurston is the hottest property on the open market, commanding a reported $1 million a season, so his $336,700 price tag for SuperCoach is comparatively juicy.

Feleti Mateo was another obvious choice because he ticks all statistical boxes, both in attack and work-wise, while Robbie Farah is a true leader who plays such a pivotal role in his side's success.

Trent Merrin was a bit of a left-field option, but I expect his game time to go through the roof this year after he was named at lock.

In terms of bargain buys, I picked up Sam Rapira for just $123,400.

The New Zealand star was one of the premier props in the competition a few years back, and with Jacob Lillyman relegated to the bench, new coach Matt Elliott appears to see him as a leader of the pack once again.

Like Inglis, I also think Matt Gillett and Blake Ferguson are set for breakout years. Gillett showed such good trial form that Sam Thaiday had to push into the front row, while Ferguson is set to develop into a topline player this year.

Backline trio Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Daniel Tupou (Roosters) and Mahe Fonua (Storm) will play on the end of very strong backlines and will cross for plenty of tries.

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SuperCoach: Lockyer All Stars

DARREN LOCKYER

AS a former captain, I know how important it is to have the right man leading from the front.

You need someone consistent, determined and ever-ready.

And in SuperCoach, your captain counts for double points.

So that's where I started when I began compiling my NRL SuperCoach side for 2013 - with my skipper. It was an obvious choice for me this year.

With the likes of normal SuperCoach heavyweights Paul Gallen and Corey Parker undermined by the new points system, I believe Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith is the pick of the competition.

Mr Reliable has always been third in line to Gallen and Parker in SuperCoach, but a greater emphasis this year on tries, linebreaks and runs over 8m could see Smith rocket to the number one wanted man. He never gets injured, always plays long minutes, very rarely makes mistakes and is worth every cent of his $372,100 price tag.

The next thing I looked for were players I reckon have had a good off-season.

I've gone with a lot of representative players because they only had the one Test match to end last season and will be fresh heading into this year. Greg Bird would have also had a good pre-season in my opinion after he was named co-captain of the Titans.

After I filled up on my expensive Test players, I had to find some cheapies. Bronco Lachlan Maranta ($149,800) is a good one as it looks like he'll get plenty of game time.

The smoky player for me, however, will be Titans halfback Albert Kelly. He's on my bench at the moment, but I will keep an eye on him over the coming weeks.

He has come in nice and cheap at $126,700 and after watching a couple of his trials I am cautiously confident he will carry his solid form into the season.