SuperCoach: Top 30 Sunshine Coast NRL players ranked for 2024
Round 1 of SuperCoach is just days away and now is a great time to piece together your team. Discover which Sunshine Coast players you should include with every player from the region ranked and analysed.
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The NRL season is upon us which means it’s time to finalise your SuperCoach team for round one of the 2024 season.
The Sunshine Coast region has always been a hotbed for NRL talent and this year is no exception, with a mixture of experienced campaigners and exciting young guns who are looking to stake their claim at the highest level.
Here are the top five homegrown Sunshine Coast talents plus eight bonus picks of NRL stars that have risen through the Falcons Queensland Cup system.
TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI (TITANS, 2RF/FRF, $791,500)
The 24-year-old has continued to grow his average score of 56, 67 and 78 in the past three seasons and he could be the highest averaging player at two positions in 2024.
The Titans captain finished third behind Addin Fonua-Blake and Joe Tapine for total points in 2023 but has been priced ahead of the duo due to his superior average.
At 2RF in 2023, Tino finished sixth overall but had the second highest average behind teammate David Fifita.
He also adds plenty of value as he is one of the rare players to maintain his dual positional status with the likes of Tohu Harris and Corey Horsburgh having theirs stripped
It’s unknown how new coach Des Hasler will utilise Tino this season but there’s more than enough temptation at FRF and a very strong case could also be made at 2RF alongside a number of quality options
It would surprise nobody if the former Gympie Devils and Sunshine Coast Falcons product went to another level and finished top of the pops in 2024.
REED MAHONEY (BULLDOGS, HOK, $547,900)
Mahoney, like the rest of his Bulldogs teammates are in for a big 2024 season.
With the arrival of a number of senior players, Mahoney should develop a lot more stability in his SuperCoach scores this season.
Mahoney averaged a career high 67.8 points in 2021 but has since finished with an average of 54.6 in 2022 and 53.7 in 2023.
Despite dropping in price by 101k last season, he’s ranked as the seventh most expensive hooker option and is currently owned by just three per cent of coaches.
The 25-year-old is a busy player in the middle of the park but with the Bulldogs improving their middles, he should improve his tackle efficiency immensely and serves as a viable five to 10 pick for the hookers.
BLAKE WILSON (BULLDOGS, CTW, $530,900)
Wilson just sneaks inside the top 50 for the highest priced CTW’s after making his debut and going on to play 11 matches last season.
Across those 11 games he scored 25 or below on five occasions but bolstered big scores of 119, 109, 89 and 69 to finish with an average of 52.
He snuck under the radar last season, mostly due to the Bulldogs poor run of form but Wilson has shown plenty of promising signs, evident by his $315,800 price rise in 2023.
It’s still unknown whether or not Wilson will get the nod to start on the wing in round one but if he does there’s no reason he can’t continue to flourish in the NRL.
TRENT LOIERO (STORM, 2RF, $515,800)
Craig Bellamy has already shown in recent seasons that he’s a big fan of Loiero and the recruitment of Shawn Blore will likely see Loiero shift to a middle role, despite being listed as a 2RF.
The 22-year-old averaged 50.5 last season from his 23 matches, positioning him at number 21 for total points in 2023.
He’s currently owned by just one per cent of coaches and is a solid priced option for coaches that know what they’ll be getting every week.
TYSON SMOOTHY (BRONCOS, HOK, $243,000)
After a breakout season in the number 14 jersey for the Brisbane Broncos in 2023, Smoothy will look to continue his rise in what is a hotly contested bench spot at Red Hill.
After not featuring at all in the Broncos’ first 14 games, Smoothy played in all of Brisbane’s final 13 games including the grand final.
He averaged 23.8 points per game and with the likes of Corey Paix and rookie Blake Mozer breathing down his neck, Smoothy will have to be on his A-game if he’s to retain his spot in the side.
A decent cheap bench option but I wouldn’t go reaching by any means.
BONUS PICKS
NICHO HYNES (CRONULLA SHARKS, HFB, $970,000)
Yes he’s the most expensive player in the game, but he’s an absolute gun and in my opinion, a must have.
Hynes finished as the highest scorer from 2023 and will threaten to do it again this season.
The Cronulla halfback failed to score a try or provide at least one try assist just five times last season.
After missing the first three games due to injury, the 27-year-old notched up 90 or more points on 12 occasions last season, averaging 100.3 points when playing at home.
He’s got a solid finals draw and is unlikely to feature during Origin, making him all the more attractive for keen SuperCoach players.
SCOTT DRINKWATER (COWBOYS, FLB, $851,900)
Despite his side enduring a tough campaign last season, Drinkwater was a big source of points in SuperCoach and finished with the fourth best average.
The crafty fullback also recorded seven tons and has played 90 per cent of available games in the last three seasons.
A bye in round 25, followed by the Storm in round 26 hurts his stocks a little but the 26-year-old is a seriously good player and can go even bigger in 2024.
A cheeky added extra for Drinkwater will come if he’s needed to goal kick with the 26-year-old slotting nine from 10 conversions in 2023.
DALY CHERRY-EVANS (MANLY SEA EAGLES, HFB, $792,900)
The Manly and Queensland captain is the competition’s fourth most expensive halfback after another consistent NRL season.
He’s in the tier below Hynes and Cleary but comes into the 2024 season at just 2% ownership despite averaging just one point less than Shaun Johnson (6% ownership) during his ‘comeback’ season last year.
With the arrival of Luke Brooks expected to alleviate some of the responsibility off his shoulders, having Tom Trbojevic back on deck and the rising young players on his right-edge continuously improving, the 2024 season could mean even more try and line break assists for the veteran.
To add extra value, the 34-year-old is the club’s back-up goalkicker, converting 77% of his 26 conversion attempts last season and has a lifetime conversion rate of 73%.
At a position with low depth, DCE is a rock solid option and has a great finals draw.
HARRY GRANT (STORM, HOK, $750,000)
After finishing with the greatest average and total 2023 points, Grant is the most expensive hooker option this season sitting $86,800 ahead of Damien Cook.
Since his first official full season in 2020, Grant has averaged scores of 71.5, 73.5, 77.6 and 73.5, creating a consistent and effective four year period.
The new Storm captain currently sits at 29% ownership among all teams.
The hooker position is quite weak for SuperCoach players this season and with Grant outscoring his opponents by 10 to 25 points per week, he’s a great addition to any side.
JAHROME HUGHES (STORM, HFB, $722,400)
Hughes ranked as the fifth best SuperCoach halfback last season, sitting behind the big dogs of Hynes and Cleary, plus Shaun Johnson and Daly Cherry-Evans.
In a position that’s quite slim this season, missing out on those above players could prove very costly.
In 2023 Hughes started slowly (like the Storm) but lifted from the Origin period and ended the year with three tonnes, including a whopping 156 against the Eels in round 22.
The 29-year-old has been a proven option in past seasons and sitting in behind an improved Storm forward pack in 2024 he can only improve.
CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD (WARRIORS, FLB, $692,500)
The Warriors fullback endured a breakout season in 2023, averaging 66.8 points and finishing just inside the top 10 for his positional rankings.
Following the injury news, CNK is currently owned by just 1% of coaches as he’s set to miss the opening three rounds due to a hamstring issue.
In saying that, there’s no reason why he can’t average at least 60 points again this season and if he can rediscover his immense try scoring and assists capabilities, he can prove as a major difference maker in 2024.
RYAN PAPENHUYZEN (STORM, FLB, $645,600)
After an injury plagued couple of years, Papenhuyzen is the 12th most expensive fullback this season but is already owned by 22% of SuperCoach players.
That may seem like a fair chunk of coaches that are willing to gamble on his injury cloud but with average season scores of 90, 79 and 71 in the three years prior to 2023, he’s a great option at the back.
He could easily break into the top 10 overall players this season, especially if he’s goal kicking.
BRANDON SMITH (ROOSTERS, HOK, $471,300)
The Hectic Cheese, along with the entire Roosters squad, failed to fire last season after many had them as premiership contenders at the beginning of the year.
The 27-year-old missed five games through injury, went off early in two others and was also named on the bench at times in 2023.
After earning a licence to run at the Storm, his hit-up numbers halved as he finished on an average of 46.2 points and ranked as the competition’s 14th best SuperCoach hooker.
This season he’s priced just outside the top ten but with a stacked Roosters pack in front of him, he should be on the front foot a lot more, giving him more and better opportunities to run the ball.
When he played 50 minutes or more in 2023, he averaged 53 points per game, suggesting there’s good value there.
If the attack flows a 60 plus PPG season wouldn’t surprise anyone and Smith could prove as a key underrated pick for your side.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA (STORM, FRF/2RF, $516,500)
KENNY BROMWICH (DOLPHINS, 2RF/FRF, $493,600)
MARK NICHOLLS (DOLPHINS, FRF, $479,900)
TUI KAMIKAMICA (STORM, FRF, $443,000)
JUSTIN OLAM (TIGERS, CTW, $423,400)
KURT MANN (BULLDOGS, 2RF, $415,400)
TOM EISENHUTH (DRAGONS, 2RF/CTW, $356,000)
JOE STIMSON (TITANS, 2RF, $344,900)
SUA FA’ALOGO (STORM, FLB/CTW, $339,000)
AARON PENE (STORM, FRF, $296,100)
JAKE TURPIN (BULLDOGS, HOK, $293,400)
CHRIS LEWIS (STORM, 2RF, $293,000)
TEPAI MOEROA (STORM, 2RF/FRF, $264,900)
TYRAN WISHART (STORM, 5/8/HFC, $239,900)
JACK HOWARTH (STORM, 2RF, $238,900)
DANIEL ATKINSON (SHARKS, FLB/HFB, $219,900)
LAZARUS VAALEPU (STORM, FRF, $204,300)
Originally published as SuperCoach: Top 30 Sunshine Coast NRL players ranked for 2024
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