NRL SuperCoach no go zone: Think twice about these popular players for 2025

A quick look at the most popular player list for 2025 shows SuperCoaches are making some serious mistakes – especially on Latrell Mitchell and Jarome Luai.

A quick look at the most popular player list for 2025 shows SuperCoaches need to take a chill pill.

For example, while Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is no doubt underpriced, his 75 per cent ownership is crazy given he is coming back from an ACL injury and has the bye in round one.

Jarome Luai’s chances of keeping up attacking stats at the Tigers are very low, while Latrell Mitchell is actually overpriced despite an injury-interrupted season.

And that’s just the start.

There are serious arguments against almost all players on the most popular list.

Of course, it’s easy to mount a case against anything – that’s why the legal profession exists – and no doubt some of the players mentioned below will end up being great buys.

Jarome Luai is a key recruit for the Tigers.

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But one of the great joys in SuperCoach is “anti-podding”.

In other words, while many SuperCoaches obsess over bringing in a POD (point of difference), the overlooked and arguably more important factor is which popular players to leave out.

If you disagree with our assessments, leave a comment below or call a lawyer.

Jarome Luai 5/8-HFB $582,200, 33.69% ownership

I’m shocked Luai is so high in the rankings. Luai goes from the four-time premiers – the best NRL team of the modern era no less – to arguably one of the worst. It will be almost impossible for him to keep up his attacking output, even as the main man.

And let’s not forget, Luai was the main man at Penrith for much of last season while Nathan Cleary was injured and his price is based on that output, which seems impossible to reproduce at the cellar dwellers.

Latrell Mitchell FLB $866,800, 39.43% ownership

Latrell Mitchell (right) is at the highest price of his career. Picture: Instagram

Yes, the introduction of a Flex position means we can carry three gun fullbacks, who are proven over many years to be the top-scoring players in SuperCoach. And yes, Latrell is again under his old mate Wayne Bennett, who has a knack of bringing out the best in wildly talented yet underperforming players. But the stats don’t add up here.

While the general consensus was that Latrell had a poor season in actual NRL, this was mainly due to injury (he only played 11 games). But in those games he was red-hot, producing his best SuperCoach average of all-time and therefore starting at his highest price of all time.

Jack Bird CTW/2RF $379,700, 43.37% ownership

There’s plenty to love about Bird. He has left the Dragons for the Tigers and is set to play lock, which theoretically improves his output. The dual positioning is also handy. But where does the improvement come from? The Tigers are a worse attacking team than the Dragons (and that’s saying something), so don’t expect improvement there.

It seems SuperCoaches are mainly backing an improvement in work rate given the switch to the forwards. And while that makes sense on some level, he also averaged 66 minutes last year which will be hard to better as a forward. Then there’s that old chestnut that can never be ignored with Bird – injury.

Royce Hunt FRF $249,000, 38.65% ownership

Moves from the Sharks to the Tigers. In other words, he goes from a low-minute prop at one of the better sides in the competition to one of the key recruits at the cellar dwellers, who have game time open in the pack following the departures of Stefano Utoikamanu, John Bateman and Isaiah Papali’i. He’s therefore the most popular cheapie prop in SuperCoach. But can Hunt really step up the minutes?

Fellow recruit Terrell May will no doubt attract plenty of game time, while Hunt has never averaged over 29 minutes a season in his entire career. Can Hunt transform from impact bench player to long-minute starter? History says no and I’ll therefore look to take him on. That is of course provided another cheapie prop arises – and there’s no doubting prop is the hardest position for cheapies this season, as it is every season.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui FRF/2RF $531,300, 75.47% ownership

Yes, Tino should be popular given he’s a proven SuperCoach performer and priced at a $260,000 discount on his staring worth from last season. But the round one bye is a huge issue, while the struggles of players coming back from ACL injuries are well-documented. Tino isn’t even back in full training for the Titans.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui goes down with an ACL injury last season. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

So do you go with the crowd and buy from round one? Or do you anti-POD and bring him in for round 4 if he goes well? I think it’s the biggest decision of 2025 and right now I’m leaning towards anti-POD. The current 75 per cent ownership is definitely overs. I expect him to start the season at around 35 per cent.

Jaxon Purdue CTW $257,000, 25.38% ownership

Fact: There will be backline value at the Cowboys this season following the exits of Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt. Purdue is the player SuperCoaches are backing right now, and while he’s a serious contender, he’s also gunning for a spot in the halves or as bench utility.

The other great SuperCoach outcome would be for Robert Derby to get a starting backline spot - he’s currently the 31st most popular player and close to bottom dollar. In summary, don’t rule out Purdue yet, but take a strong look at all outside back contenders at the Cows.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach no go zone: Think twice about these popular players for 2025