KFC SuperCoach NRL 2023: Draft expert Wilson Smith’s Classic team revealed
With the Pre-season Challenge done and dusted, our resident Draft expert, Wilson Smith, has completely overhauled his Classic team ahead of Round 1. Check out all the changes.
Footy is back, and with the Pre-season Challenge done and dusted, I have completely overhauled my team in anticipation of the first official Team List Tuesday of 2023.
With the introduction of byes, and a massive reduction in dual position players, SuperCoach is going to be a bit of a minefield this year!
There’s arguably more planning required for 2023 than any season in the last few years.
Because of all this, the game is going to be a bit more difficult in 2023, so balance is key. You don’t want too many players from the same teams, and you don’t want to load up on too many players with a bunch of early byes.
With all that in mind, I’ve tried to get a decent mix of guns in key positions, mid-rangers and cheapies, while also trying to fill my forward pack with some of the few guys that retained or gained a dual position.
HOOKER
IN: Harry Grant (HOK) $816,500 & Tanah Boyd (HOK/HFB) $384,600
OUT: Brandon Smith (HOK) $478,200 & Josh Hodgson (HOK) $385,600
While I do think Brandon Smith is in for a big year for KFC SuperCoach, some other changes I’ve made in my team meant I had to chose between the new Roosters No. 9 and Harry Grant. Ultimately I have decided to go with the best hooker in the game and have forgone the cash to upgrade at other positions. Josh Hodgson on the other hand looked pretty uninspiring in the pre-season and has made way for Tanah Boyd, who looked solid against the Dolphins and should make some solid cash. That being said, if I do find cash to go with Harry Grant and Brandon Smith, I will be punting Boyd.
FRONT ROW
IN: Christian Welch (FRF) $464k, Stefano Utoikamanu (FRF) $319,200, Sean Keppie (FRF/2RF) $274,800 & Davvy Moale (FRF) $234,800
OUT: Luke Thompson (FRF/2RF) $512,400, Daniel Saifiti (FRF) $484,000 & Jack Hetherington (FRF/2RF) $266,600, Tom Gilbert (FRF/2RF) $494,100
Another complete overhaul at this position, with four in and four out. While I would still love to find a way to get Tom Gilbert into my team, the others I am happy to part ways with. I’m not convinced Luke Thompson will get the minutes he needs to score enough, I didn’t like what I saw from the Saifiti brothers in the pre-season, and Jack Hetherington is too big a suspension risk.
Christian Welch is coming back from a serious Achilles injury, but I’m confident that after a lengthy lay off he can get back to his impressive 2021 output, where he averaged 59 points in 52 minutes a game. With the significant losses to the Melbourne forward pack, I’m pretty sure his minutes will likely improve, and at the worst stay around the same. Stefano Utoikamanu had a stellar pre-season and at this stage seems like a must have. Sean Keppie hasn’t ever really been SuperCoach relevant but is set to start at lock for Manly and see an increase in minutes so might be worth the risk. Davvy Moale is just a placeholder until Round 1 teams drop, but could be a decent cheapie.
BACK ROW
IN: Cameron Murray (2RF) $749,200, Teig Wilton (2RF) $493,600, Matt Doorey (2RF) $234,800, Siua Wong (2RF) $200,800
OUT: Adam Elliott (2RF) $564,500, Luke Garner (2RF) $435,100, Eliesa Katoa (2RF) $411,100
NO CHANGE: Tohu Harris (FRF/2RF) $640,500, J’maine Hopgood (2RF) $298,800
MOVED POSITIONS: Josh Schuster (2RF & 5/8) $241,200
After stacking my team with mid-rangers in my initial team reveal, I have changed this around slightly to fit in Cameron Murray, who looked outstanding in the Charity Shield. Tohu Harris was my first player picked when making my team and barring injury, won’t be going anywhere. I’m backing Teig Wilton to takeover from Wade Graham fulltime and while he still is unlikely to play 80 minutes, think he will be really good bang for your buck this season. He comes at a bit of a discount given his inconsistent minutes in 2022, but in games where he played 60+ minutes he averaged 60.91.
J’maine Hopgood had arguably the best pre-season of all the top cheapie prospects and seems destined for a big season. Matt Doorey will likely start the season well and hopefully is a quick cash upgrade, given the Eels’ backrow injury dramas, but isn’t locked into my team just yet. Siua Wong is a placeholder for now, and is unlikely to start the season, but I’m sure we’ll see him at some stage in 2023.
Adam Elliott seems likely to play off the bench to start 2023 so I’ve faded on him heavily, while I didn’t like what I saw from Garner in the pre-season.
HALFBACK
NO CHANGES
Nathan Cleary (HFB) $841,100 & Nicho Hynes (HFB— $902,600
I’m not playing any silly buggers with the halfback spot in 2023 and have decided this is the position I’ll be spending big at this year. And why not just lock in the two best halves in the game. They may cost a pretty penny but I think they’re worth it.
5/8
IN: Adam Doueihi (5/8) $624,600 & Josh Schuster (5/8, 2RF)
OUT: Matt Burton (5/8) $594,500, Isaiya Katoa (HFB, 5/8) $216,100
While I do like Matt Burton, I’m still not 100% sold on the Bulldogs revival in 2023 and while I think they’ll do better I still have some concerns. Adam Doueihi on the other hand has already proved he can be a SuperCoach asset even while playing for a bad team, and the Tigers look like another team on the improve in 2023. I have high hopes for him.
Isaiya Katoa was always just a placeholder, and with a tonne of cheapie options at 2RF, I have moved Josh Schuster down to the halves. Schuster will miss the opening two rounds through injury (Round 1) and the bye (Round 2) but I’m happy to stash him and save a trade.
CTW
IN: Brian To’o (CTW) $623,300, Reimis Smith (CTW) $316,800, Tommy Talau (CTW) $301,600, Sunia Turuva (CTW, FLB) $275,00, Paul Alamoti (CTW) $200,800
OUT: Murray Taulagi (CTW) $578,700, Izaac Thompson (CTW) $336,700, Hayze Perham (CTW) $370,900, Haze Dunster (CTW) $234,800, Valynce Te Whare (CTW) $200,800
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NO CHANGE: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (CTW & FLB) $327,100 & Alofiana Khan-Pereira (CTW) $200,800
I’ve wanted to have at least one gun CTW in my team to start the season, and while that was Murray Taulagi for a while, it is now Brian To’o (I also played around with Valentine Holmes for a while). The injury to Taylan May means To’o should shift back to the Panthers left edge, which in my opinion means he is underpriced. The May injury also means the right wing spot is up for grabs, with Turuva the man set to win, so lock him in for now.
I still think Izaac Thompson is a decent purchase, but i’m not 100% convinced he will keep his spot when Taane Milne returns from suspension. Tommy Talau looks to be back to his best after missing all of 2022 and is good value. Paul Alamoti has had a very promising pre-season and the Dogs would be crazy to rob him of a starting spot in 2023.
Hayze Perham seemed like an obvious purchase after winning the starting fullback spot, but had a poor pre-season and I’ve moved on.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will start at fullback for the Warriors and hopefully can get back to his best after struggling with injury for the past few years, while Alofiana Khan-Pereira had an extremely impressive pre-season and seems like a must-have.
FULLBACK
NO CHANGES
James Tedesco (FLB) $836,300
Similar to halfback, I am spending big at fullback this year, starting the season with Teddy and Turbo. Teddy is the most consistent fullback in SuperCoach and worth starting with. Many avoid him early on in the year over a perception that he is a slow starter, but despite a round one score of 32 last year, his five round average at the start of last year was actually 59.2. He does have a round four bye this year, so keep that in mind.
Tom Trbojevic (FLB) $577,700
Turbo is once again a risky starting option, he does come at an incredible price if he manages to stay fit. Latrell Mitchell was incredible on his return from the USA last year, and maybe Turbo can get back to his best in 2023. Here’s hoping … my poor Sea Eagles need him!
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