Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: 11 changes as Isaiah Iongi and Tom Duffy create mass cash

So after a loooong pre-season I've decided to backflip on the two things I swore I'd never backflip on - and it's led to 11 changes all up, writes TOM SANGSTER.  

So after a loooong pre-season I've decided to backflip on the two things I swore I'd never backflip on.

I've been very vocal about two tactics in SuperCoach this season - the first being the need to run three gun fullbacks and the second being the need to run both Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes at halfback due to their great schedules.

But that plan has been blown out of the water by two irresistible cheapies, with Isaiah Iongi a must at fullback and Tom Duffy almost impossible to leave out at halfback.

On the plus side, those buying those cheapies has freed up a heap of unexpected cash to spend at 2RF and CTW.  

HOOKER

Peter Mamouzelos HOK $302,900

Becomes the top hooker at South Sydney following the exit of Damien Cook (Dragons) and set for a significant rise in output after averaging just 31 minutes last year. As Mastermind points out, on the occasions he’s played 60 minutes or more since 2021 he’s averaged 54.3PPG. Notched 76 points in the final trial including 36 tackles. Mamouzelous’s main competition for game time, Jamie Humphreys, is unlikely to be a factor for round one because he will play halfback in place of the suspended Lewis Dodd.   

Sandon Smith HFB/HOK $237,600

While he didn't trial particularly well and the Roosters appear set for a serious regression in 2025, Smith remains a must-have on job security alone. Hooker is the best spot to buy him given the emergence of cheapie Tom Duffy at halfback. Smith is priced on an average of 24 points in 33 minutes after playing 10 of 15 games off bench. 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. That average is very serviceable until Harry Grant becomes a genuine option in round five or so (Grant has a tough early draw including a bye and Panthers match-up).

FRONT ROW FORWARD

Terrell May FRF $597,500

Buy of the year. 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. Strong in the final trial with 15 hit-ups, 111 metres, 18 tackles and one offload for 55 SuperCoach points.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui FRF/2RF $531,300

I've been sceptical all pre-season due to the round two bye and the fact he is coming back from an ACL injury. But even in limited minutes in the final trial, Tino smashed the eye test and showed enough to prove he will be a beast yet again. Priced at a $260,000 discount on his 2024 starting price due to last year's ACL injury.    

IN Corey Horsburgh FRF/2RF $355,500, OUT Tom Amone FRF $232,600

While still a very popular pick, Tom Amone played reserve grade in the final trial and won't play round one. Meanwhile, Horse is a must after being named to start at prop for the Raiders.    

IN Ben Te Kura FRF $232,600, OUT Loko Pasifiki-Tonga FRF $198,800

Cheapie props are few and far between with minutes a huge worry for all options. But Te Kura's edge over other more popular buys, like Tom Amone and Royce Hunt, is his huge attacking upside. He scored 67 points in the first trial with a try and five tackle busts, then backed it up with in the final trial with a try and four tackle busts for 64 points. He needs to make the Brisbane 17 first though, which is far from locked in. 

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is coming back from an ACL injury. Picture: NRL Photos

SECOND ROW FORWARDS

IN Haumole Olakau'atu 2RF $665,700 OUT Isaiah Papali’i 2RF $585,500

Papali'i is out after being bench at new club the Panthers. The cash saved with Duffy and Iongi means I can beef up other positions and Olokau'atu has the attacking upside I'm looking for. 

Connor Watson HOK/2RF $583,800

Watson has a big-minute hooker role – maybe even 80 minutes – at the Roosters following the ACL injury to Brandon Smith. He can also be plugged straight into hooker if my dual cheapie strategy falls over. The Roosters were horrid in the trials but I'm sticking to the "makes sense on paper" rule.   

IN Keaon Koloamatangi 2RF $619,200 OUT Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2RF $368,200

I've got cash to splash and loved the look of Koloamatangi in the final trial, where he scored 79 points. The injury to Cameron Murray creates even more opportunity.    

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has moved on from Tom Sangster's team. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Naufahu Whyte 2RF/FRF $367,100

Will start for the Roosters with Terrell May, Sitili Tupouniua and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves having left and Spencer Leniu suspended. Will almost certainly improve on his 33 minutes from last year. Strong in the final trial with 47 points off the bench, including 13 runs for 11 metres.    

IN Kobe Hetherington 2RF $338,800, OUT Josh Schuster 2RF $265,100

Josh Schuster won't play round one and may not take the field this season. Meanwhile, Hetherington has become an instant favourite of new Broncos coach Michael Maguire and is set to start at lock, with Pat Carrigan switching to prop.    

Demitric Vaimauga 2RF $232,600

“Ask any of the Warriors’ coaching staff to nominate their most promising rookie and they all simply answer: ‘Demitric.”’ That was enough to get him in my initial side and he stays after being named on the bench for Vegas. He’s a point per minute beast and has talent to burn, so the bench spot isn’t a worry in this case, although it will likely be a slow burn.   

Most points in SuperCoach last season.

HALFBACK

Nathan Cleary HFB $811,500 

As our analysis of the NRL schedule shows, Cleary is set for the fastest start of any SuperCoach player this season. 

IN Tom Duffy HFB $198,800, OUT Nicho Hynes HFB $735,500

Duffy is set to score the halfback spot at the Cowboys and kick goals. If that eventuates, he's cheapie of the year material and Hynes is the reluctant casualty. 

FIVE-EIGHTH

Dylan Brown HFB/5-8 $651,800

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.

Luke Metcalf 5/8 $443,000

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, will kick goals and was very strong in both trials.   

Luke Metcalf is impossible to leave out. Picture: NRL Imagery

CENTRE/WING

IN Dylan Lucas CTW 2RF $616,700, OUT Reuben Garrick CTW $680,300

Garrick only scored five points in the final trial, which has me scared. I've instead gone old school with Dylan Lucas, who is available at CTW but should play 80 minutes in the back row. Base, base, baby.     

IN Ali Leiataua CTW $513,900 OUT Billy Smith CTW $317,200

Billy Smith has succumbed to yet another injury, this time to his hip. Leiataua has forced his way into my side on trial form alone, he was unstoppable in the trials and busts tackles for fun. 

Robert Toia CTW $198,800

Has locked in the right centre spot at the Roosters in place of the departed Joey Manu. Impressive in the first trial with 49 points in 59 minutes without a single big attacking stat. A bit more subdued in the final trial as the Roosters copped a battering but still notched 24 with no attacking stats.

IN Greg Marzhew CTW $513,700 OUT Savelio Tamale CTW $232,600

Tamale will play on the wing for round one but likely loses his spot in round two when Albert Hopoate (birth of child) returns. Marzhew is an old SuperCoach favourite due to a crazy workrate and I'm backing him to score far more than his seven tries from last year.

Isaiah Tass CTW $327,900

The Rabbitohs are short on outside backs – Campbell Graham (hand, round 4), Alex Johnston (Achilles, round 4), Latrell Mitchell (hamstring, round 7) and Euan Aitken (pectoral, TBC). Tass could be the big SuperCoach beneficiary and he even kicked goals in the final trial.

Jaxon Purdue CTW $257,000

Backline spots are open at the Cowboys following the exits of Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt, with Purdue seemingly locking in a centre role. Scored 91 SuperCoach points in the final trial.   

IN Sione Finau CTW $279,000, OUT Jesse McLean CTW $234,900

McLean missed a round one spot even with the injury to Brian To'o so has to go. Finau scored 104 SuperCoach points in just 30 minutes in the Charity Shield and is very close to locking in a wing spot for round one. 

Reece Walsh is underpriced to start 2025. Picture: Patrick Woods

FULLBACK

Tom Trbojevic FLB $875,600

Turbo 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.

Kalyn Ponga FLB $790,300

Ponga 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

IN Isaiah Iongi FLB $232,600, OUT Reece Walsh FLB $738,400

I avoided Iongi for most of the pre-season for a rotation of three gun fullbacks, but the Parramatta young gun was simply too good in the final trial with 77 points. Iongi will win the fullback spot of Clint Gutherson at the Eels.   

Originally published as Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: 11 changes as Isaiah Iongi and Tom Duffy create mass cash