KFC SuperCoach NRL: Brandon Smith, Jason Taumalolo among 29 players to lose dual positioning
Roosters recruit Brandon Smith and Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo are among a host of KFC SuperCoach stars to lose dual position status in 2023. Here’s why.
The KFC SuperCoach NRL crew have trawled through the stats and vision to deliver player positions for 2023.
And we’re doing things a little differently this year.
With the ability to add second positions to players at stages throughout the season, the list of those that lost DPP status significantly outweighs those that gained a second position.
The main reason why we have gone in this direction is that we can only add a second position to those players who begin the season listed in just the one position.
Or to put it another way, those players that start with DPP cannot gain, lose or change a position; those that start with just one position can always add one more should it be required.
We hope this approach, and the flexibility it gives us to better mimic how NRL teams line up, will enhance the game this year.
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LOST DUAL POSITION
As noted above, a large number of players have lost their dual position status. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is reasonably extensive! Some of the key changes, and our rationale for making them, are:
Selwyn Cobbo (CTW) loses (FLB)
Broncos coach Kevin Walters has been upfront in his intention to use Reece Walsh at fullback. Cobbo may be a fullback one day but for now he’s a star winger with his most likely move, if any, being to the centres.
Ezra Mam (5/8) loses (HFB)
Adam Reynolds is the halfback of this team. Mam loses his DPP as it’s five-eighth where he’s most likely to win a starting spot.
Tevita Pangai Jr (2RF) loses (FRF)
This is a tricky one. Pangai may start off the bench and play a ‘middle’ role, but we feel his most likely starting spot is either the second-row or lock and as such he has kept his 2RF position but lost FRF.
Jordan Rapana (CTW) loses (FLB)
While Rapana did start a couple of games at fullback in 2022 it’s Xavier Savage who cemented his position there through the year. One we can always add back if selection demands.
Beau Fermor (2RF) loses (CTW)
Was tipped as a bit of a safe CTW selection thanks to starting at 2RF early in 2022 and morphed into a genuine top-17 play and starting 2RF, plundering tries on the left for the Titans. He’s no CTW now, a legit 2RF all the way.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (FRF) loses (2RF)
Another slightly tricky one as the Storm snuck NAS onto an edge at time in 2022 and to great effect too. Add to that the fact that the club has lost both 2022 starting 2RF (Bromwich and Kaufusi) to the Dolphins and you could maybe argue that NAS should retain DPP just in case. But as with Pangai the feeling is we stick with the position the player is most likely to start at and if things change we can add.
Josh King (2RF) loses (FRF)
King really made the 13 jersey his own in 2022 and so he loses his FRF eligibility in 2023.
Lachlan Croker (HOK) loses (5/8)
Croker played all bar one game in 2022 and every one of those was as the starting hooker at Manly. The departure of Kieran Foran may open a gap in the halves at Manly but it’s unlikely to be Croker who fills it.
Reuben Cotter (FRF) loses (HOK)
Another tricky one with some firmly held opinions in the office. Yes Cotter played a fair bit of lock, and yes he’s certainly capable of playing hooker too – but it is as a somewhat undersized prop with a massive motor that he really shone in 2022. So we’re starting him at FRF with the flexibility to add with HOK (should injury fell Robson) or 2RF (if Taumalolo goes down) later.
Jason Taumalolo (2RF) loses (FRF)
Yes a lot of locks do play like props, and the Cowboys have deployed JT there despite naming him at 13 in the past, but it’s lock where he’s almost certain to be named to start 2023 so it’s 2RF that he starts the year with.
Tom Dearden (5/8) loses (HFB)
The Chad made halfback his own in 2022 and Dearden was superb alongside at five-eighth. An easy one
Scott Drinkwater (FLB) loses (5/8)
Dearden’s form at 5/8 and Drinkwater’s form at fullback made this one easy too.
Val Holmes (CTW) loses (FLB)
The last in the Cowboy concatenation, Drinkwater’s form at fullback – and Holmes’ at centre to be fair – make this one easy too. Of course should injury befall any of those above all may move into other positions but let’s worry about that later.
Te Maire Martin (FLB) loses (5/8)
Martin was recruited by the Warriors to fill the shoes of the departing Walsh at fullback. He has competition for the job in Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad though so a second position may be required if he does not lock down the number one jersey, but for now FLB it is.
Marata Niukore (2RF) loses (CTW)
While capable of being a stout defender in the centres, Niukore is really a forward, and a backrower at that so no DPP CTW safety for him to start 2023.
Jazz Tevaga (2RF) loses (HOK)
A bit of a poor man’s Reuben Cotter is Jazz - except when it comes to getting under opponent’s skins with his talk because at that he is elite - and while he could fill multiple positions it’s backrow where he’s most likely/best so that’s where he’ll start.
Luke Garner (2RF) loses (CTW)
Moving to the Panthers and with a genuine shot at filling the lucrative left edge vacated by Billy Kikau, Garner is a genuine SuperCoach option in 2023. But you won’t be able to slot him in at CTW because Tommy Sangster said so.
Izack Tago (CTW) loses (2RF)
Actually, Garner not keeping CTW eligibility has nothing to do with Mr Sangster, who is elbow deep in nappies as I type, it’s all Izack’s fault. Young Mr Tago excelled at centre in 2022 and so he loses his 2RF eligibility and denies Garner CTW eligibility too.
Cameron McInnes (2RF) loses (HOK)
There’s no doubting McInnes is a very fine hooker, and should something happen to Blayke Brailey then he’ll likely spend some time there, but for the man with the gap-toothed grin is a backrower and that’s the only position you can pick him in to start the season.
Matt Moylan (5/8) loses (FLB)
Moylan doesn’t have the hamstrings to play fullback and even if he did the Sharks are much better with him at five-eighth so he loses FLB.
Siosifa Talakai (CTW) loses (2RF)
The keg with legs may look like a 2RF but it’s centre where he excels and is set to play in 2023.
Jai Arrow (2RF) loses (FRF)
Arrow moved to the backrow full-time in 2022 and so loses his DPP status, and as such probably any reason to pick him.
Alex Johnston (CTW) loses (FLB)
AJ may want to be a fullback but the Rabbitohs don’t want him to be one. CTW only for 2023.
Joseph Manu (CTW) loses (FLB)
Joey Manu is, in my unbiased opinion, the best centre in the world. He also just might be the best five-eighth at the club, and - this is borderline blasphemy so apologies in advance Saint Teddy - has some claims to be the best fullback at the Roosters too. That said, Luke Keary at five-eighth and James Tedesco at fullback with Manu at centre is the best combination for the Roosters come round one 2023 so it’s centre alone for Joey with room to move if he does.
Brandon Smith (HOK) loses (2RF)
The Roosters let Sam Verrills leave after recruiting Cheese to play hooker in 2023, they didn’t go to all the trouble to get a backup for Radley at lock.
Joseph Suaalii (CTW) loses (FLB)
There’s a big future for you at the Chooks Joseph, don’t you go signing with the Wallabies! But the future is on the wing or at centre for now, not fullback just yet.
Sam Walker (HFB) loses (5/8)|Luke Keary (5/8) loses (HFB)
Hopefully we, looking at your Mr Robertson, can just accept that Keary is a great six and Walker a very good seven, Oui? Then they lose DPP.
Luke Brooks (HFB) loses (5/8)|Adam Doueihi (5/8) loses (CTW)
The Tigers let Jackson Hastings leave which indicates Luke Brooks is locked into the seven jersey and Doueihi the six. For now.
Isaiah Papali’i (2RF) loses (FRF)
The Tigers could play Ice at front row but it would be a waste of arguably the best right-edge backrower in the game. Add to that the recruitment of Dave Klemmer to bulk up the front row and even if John Bateman joins the club I expect IPap to stay at 2RF. So he’ll start there for us.
That’s the DPP losses, now to our problem children.
POSITIONAL CHANGES
Jake Averillo now (FLB), was (HFB|5/8)
Having started 2022 as a utility capable of covering halves and centre, Averillo moved to fullback in round 14 and did pretty well. While he has competition for the spot in 2023 it looks like he’ll get first crack at retaining his position so we’ve amended his position accordingly.
Kurt Mann now (2RF), was (CTW|5/8)
One of the hardest players to assign a position to, Mann can play lock, hooker centre, halves and fullback. In 2022 it was lock where he spent his time so we have listed him as a 2RF leaving one slot free for the, almost inevitable, DPP addition.
Of course, it’s not all doom and gloom - there are a couple of SC relevant new DPP players, and one who might be DPP before round one.
KEY NEW DUAL POSITION PLAYERS
Kalyn Ponga - not yet!
This one is tricky. The pre-season talk from the Knights is that Ponga is to be moved into the halves, specifically to five-eighth where he’ll partner new signing Jackson Hastings. But fellow new signing Tyson Gamble is a five-eighth and Ponga is easily the best fullback option the club has. For now we’re keeping our powder dry but I’m tipping Ponga to gain five-eighth as a DPP before the season starts.
Tohu Harris (FRF/2RF)
What a wonder is Tohu, a man who when selected on an edge does loads of work in the middle, and when named to start in the middle plays the minutes of an edge. Harris started at prop in the final eight games of 2022 and it’s likely he will start there in 2023. There’s an argument he should be FRF only I suppose, but every year I like to give just a little (I used to try to give a lot but Tom is still giving me a hard time for making Isaah Yeo 2RF/CTW back in 2020) while I take back plenty (see below) and this year a DPP Tohu is my gift to you all.
Jack de Belin (FRF/2RF)
JDB started at both positions throughout 2022 and lock seems his most likely destination in 2023, but who can say with Hook?
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