Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui buy of year

The NRL SuperCoach Team Picker is here for 2025 and the first player everyone should pick is Queensland star Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, writes TOM SANGSTER.

The NRL SuperCoach Team Picker is here for 2025 and the first player everyone should pick is Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.

Plenty of SuperCoaches will be scared off due to the bye in round 1, plus last year’s ACL injury.

But SuperCoaches need to look longer term – and specifically at the discount of $260,000 on his staring price from last season.

The dual positioning is just a bonus.

START SELECTING YOUR SIDE IN THE TEAM PICKER HERE OR SIGN UP TO SUPERCOACH PLUS FOR ACCESS!

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is the buy of the year. Picture: Zak Simmonds

HOOKER

Max Plath HOK/2RF $617,600

Instinct told me to pick Harry Grant and lock him in at least until Origin. But Grant has the bye in round 2 so I’ll start with Plath, who was a revelation last season at both lock and hooker. Doesn’t have a bye until round 13 and dual positioning is handy.

Peter Mamouzelos HOK $302,900

Becomes the top hooker at South Sydney following the exit of Damien Cook (Dragons). Set for a significant rise in output after averaging just 31 minutes last year.

FRONT ROW FORWARD

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui FRF/2RF $531,300

Expect Tino to be among the most popular players in SuperCoach 2025, possibly the most popular. While backing players returning from ACL injury is often fraught, and the round 1 bye is far from ideal, the discount of $260,000 on his 2024 starting price is hard to ignore.

Terrell May FRF $597,500

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.

Naufahu Whyte 2RF/FRF $367,100

Terrell May, Sitili Tupouniua and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have left the Roosters, which leaves game time open in the pack. While he’s unlikely to start, Whyte should improve on his 33 minutes from last year.

Tom Amone FRF $232,600

While Canterbury’s game plan of playing small middles got them to a commendable sixth spot last season, they bowed out rather meekly in the finals. Amone joins and adds size after spending three seasons with Leigh Leopards in the Super League. The price is good but it will be a slow burn.

Terrell May has joined the Tigers. Picture: Tigers Instagram

SECOND ROW FORWARDS

Isaiah Papali’i 2RF $585,500

After a rough few years at cellar dwellers the Tigers, Papalii is now a star recruit at four-time premiers the Panthers. Can he return to his 2022 average of almost 80? It’s a tough ask given the Panthers have plenty of edge players including Scott Sorensen and Liam Martin. The danger is IPap plays a 2RF/FRF hybrid role, but the price still pops out.

Tom Gilbert 2RF $462,000

Missed all of last year with an ACL injury and therefore starts at a discount of $140,000 on his 2024 starting price.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2RF $368,200

Finefeuiaki is moving south to the Dolphins, and with the likes of Euan Aitken and others leaving the club, there’s a big opportunity for him to claim a starting spot on the edge. That said, he could easily switch to a bench role given Felise Kaufusi and Tom Gilbert are floating around. Watch this space.

Coen Hess 2RF/FRF $327,000

Another player coming back from an ACL injury. Didn’t play last season and therefore gets decent discount of close to $100,000 on his 2023 average of 42. Plenty of predicted round one teams have him slated to start at prop, which would be a good result for SuperCoaches.

Josh Schuster 2RF $265,100

Everyone has an opinion on Schuster and he’s no doubt burned plenty of SuperCoach players in the past. But here are some facts. He averaged 61 in 2021. He starts 2025 at close to basement price. He is now at Souths under Wayne Bennett, who is the best in the business at getting the most out of talented, yet under-performing, players. Will be a slow burn given he likely plays from the bench to start the season, but you’d be mad not to take a punt.

Jacob Halangahu 2RF $198,800

Basement price rookie creating plenty of buzz in the Illawarra.

Top SuperCoach point scorers of 2024.

HALFBACK

Nathan Cleary HFB $811,500

The best halfback in SuperCoach history but expect him to be somewhat of a POD following off-season surgery and the draw is decent given he doesn’t have a bye until round 11 (although there are some tough match-ups in there too).

Lewis Dodd HFB $336,000

Super League star joins the Rabbitohs and is set to play halfback at a good price.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Cody Walker HFB/5-8 $559,800

I originally wanted Cameron Munster, who starts cheap after an injury-interrupted season. But the Storm are basically untouchable to start the season given the bye in round 2, which also rules out Jahrome Hughes (most points at halfback), Harry Grant (top average at hooker) and Eliesa Katoa (second most points in back row). Meanwhile, Walker is dual position, underpriced after a lacklustre season, now under the coach who brought the best out of him and doesn’t have a bye until round 12.

Dylan Brown HFB/5-8 $651,800

Looms as another 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.

CENTRE/WING

Campbell Graham CTW $505,600

Graham averaged almost 70 in 2023 and was a must-have. He peaked in price at $801,000 that year (albeit in a far better South Sydney side). But he starts a fair way under that in 2025 due to a serious sternum injury that saw him play no games last year.

Mark Nawaqanitawase CTW $438,600

The exits of Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Joseph Manu and Michael Jennings leave huge gaps in the Roosters’ backline and the former Wallaby is set to benefit. ‘Marky Mark’ scored 64 in his only game last year so appears significant unders at such a good club.

Billy Smith CTW $317,200

As above with Nawaqanitawase, backline spots are open at the Roosters and Smith is very close, if not locked in, for a spot... that’s if he stays fit, and it’s a big if. While clearly talented and a favourite of coach Trent Robinson, he has managed just 15 games in the last five years since his debut due to injuries to his elbow, ankle, hamstring and ACL to name a few.

Jack Bird CTW/2RF $379,700

Moves from Dragons to the Tigers and is set to play lock, which theoretically improves his output. Plus dual positioning is handy.

Isaiah Tass CTW $327,900

Placeholder for now but I’m hoping he snags the wing spot of Alex Johnston (Achilles). Very limited output last season due to an ankle injury and therefore starts cheap.

Jaxon Purdue CTW $257,000

Backline spots are open at the Cowboys following the exits of Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt. And while not a frontrunner, Purdue is in contention after some nice cameos last season. Four games off the bench mean he’s also underpriced.

Jesse McLean CTW $234,900

Sunia Turuva is off to the Tigers, which leaves a wing spot open at the attacking juggernaut that is four-time premiers the Panthers. Jesse McLean was a serious chance of an NRL spot last season before injury struck. That said, McLean’s biggest hurdle may be from his own family in bother Casey, who starred in seven games last year.

James Tedesco is the most expensive player in SuperCoach. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

FULLBACK

James Tedesco FLB $920,200

Buying the most expensive/best player from last season usually gives me some distress, but I feel confident on Teddy this year. Dylan Edwards’ ascension for the Blues and Kangaroos means Tedesco is unlikely for higher honours and he doesn’t have a bye until round 10. Genuine full-season hold and he also has 2024 cellar dwellers the Broncos (twice), Warriors, Titans and Rabbitohs in the opening six rounds (with a tough match-up against the Panthers in there too).

Latrell Mitchell FLB $866,800

Apologies for the 999th mention of Wayne Bennett and the Rabbitohs. But the fact is they underachieved last year and a host of players are therefore value.

FLEX

Isaiah Iongi FLB $232,600

Potential cheapie of the year. The talented young gun has made the switch from Penrith to Parramatta and is set to start at fullback in place of Clint Gutherson (Dragons). He also made 19 runs in his only NRL game last year, a stat consistent with NSW Cup, which shows he’s got the high work rate SuperCoaches desire from fullbacks. As mentioned, the Flex position offers the perfect opportunity to run three fullbacks. Ideally they’d be three top-priced fullbacks but SuperCoaches simply need to find a spot for this kid somewhere, so the Flex position suits perfectly.

Originally published as Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui buy of year