Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: Trials reveal new must-have in Luke Metcalf

Week one of the NRL trials taught SuperCoaches plenty and TOM SANGSTER says a new must-have has emerged.

The first week of the NRL trials taught me one thing – Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf is a must-have for SuperCoach 2025.

While his 38 points don’t really stand out on the stats page, Metcalf took complete control of the Warriors and most importantly kicked goals.

Meanwhile, the new Flex position means I’ll be sacrificing the best cheapie in SuperCoach this year Isaiah Iongi for a rotation of three gun fullbacks.

HOOKER

Sandon Smith HFB/HOK $237,600

Sandon Smith is a must-have somewhere and hooker is the best spot given Cleary and Hynes have such good draws to start the year at halfback. Smith only averaged 24 points in 33 minutes last year after playing 10 of 15 games off bench. He therefore starts just above bottom dollar. But in the five games he started last season, Smith averaged 54.8. That equates to a price rise of over $300,000 if he repeats the effort. That average is also very serviceable as a hooker starter until Harry Grant becomes a genuine option in round five or so (Grant has a tough early draw including a bye and Panthers match-up).

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. As Mastermind points out, on the occasions he’s played 60 minutes or more since 2021 he’s averaged 54.3PPG.

Tom Trbojevic has a great draw to start the year. Picture: NRL Photos

FRONT ROW FORWARD

Terrell May FRF $597,500

Buy of the year. 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.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui FRF/2RF $531,300

I’m torn here. Tino is no doubt a good buy given the $260,000 discount on his 2024 starting price. But should he be so popular? The short answer is no given the round one bye and the fact he is coming back from an ACL injury. But he remains in Sangster’s Paradise for now until a better by emerges. I’m really hoping to take on the masses here.

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.

Loko Pasifiki-Tonga FRF $198,800

Placeholder. I definitely don’t want to spend big at FRF so the Dragons’ young gun gets the nod for now. That said, this buy looked far better before the Dragons signed Emre Guler, but even so Shane Flanagan has backed LPT for an NRL debut in 2025.

Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is coming back from an ACL injury. Picture: NRL Photos

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.

Connor Watson HOK/2RF $583,800

Watson has a big-minute hooker role – maybe even 80 minutes – at the Roosters following the ACL injury to Brandon Smith. He can also be plugged straight into hooker if my dual cheapie strategy falls over.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2RF $368,200

Finefeuiaki is moving south to the Dolphins. And with the likes of Euan Aitken and others leaving the club, plus a setback to Tom Gilbert, there’s a big opportunity for a starting spot on the edge. That said, he could easily switch to a bench role so I’m not very confident on this pick.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has moved from the Cowboys to the Dolphins. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

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.

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.

Demitric Vaimauga 2RF $232,600

I refer to people far smarter and connected to me but it sounds like Demitric Vaimauga will be a cheapie at some stage this year. I quote: “Ask any of the Warriors’ coaching staff to nominate their most promising rookie and they all simply answer: ‘Demitric.”’ Full analysis here.

Most points in SuperCoach last season.

HALFBACK

Nathan Cleary HFB $811,500 and Nicho Hynes HFB $735,500

Yes, both have their injury issues, but analysis of the NRL schedule shows these two are set for the fastest starts of any SuperCoach guns so I simply have to own them.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Dylan Brown HFB/5-8 $651,800

Looms as a season-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. Further, I’m even more interested in Brown following news he is playing for a new contract, which generally brings the best out in players.

Luke Metcalf 5/8 $443,000

Shaun Johnson’s retirement at the Warriors creates a huge SuperCoach opportunity for Luke Metcalf. The former Shark starts around $130,000 underpriced due to an injury-affected game where he copped a serious leg injury, while he also received a discount for playing limited matches. I’m especially interested given he kicked goals in the Warriors’ first trial.

Luke Metcalf will be hard to leave out. Picture: NRL Imagery

CENTRE/WING

Reuben Garrick CTW $680,300

Take out the concussions and Garrick would be around $100,000 more expensive. The Tommy Turbo effect is real and Garrick has the added bonus of kicking goals. Great draw to start the season.

Billy Smith CTW $317,200

Backline roles are open at the Roosters following the exits of Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Joseph Manu and Michael Jennings. 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.

Robert Toia CTW $198,800

Also in the running for a backline spot at the Roosters, but also injury-prone.

Savelio Tamale CTW $232,600

Albert Hopoate is out of round one due to the birth of his child and Tamale is the frontrunner for the spot. Job security isn’t great but reports from the nation’s capital are strong.

Isaiah Tass CTW $327,900

Has been training in 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. Purdue is in contention after some nice cameos last season. Four games off the bench mean he’s also underpriced. Robert Derby is also a great option here.

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.

Reece Walsh is underpriced to start 2025. Picture: Patrick Woods

FULLBACK

Reece Walsh FLB $738,400

I originally had James Tedesco here but buying the most expensive/best player from last season gives me some distress. As Rob Sutherland points out, Walsh is around $60K underpriced.

Kalyn Ponga FLB $790,300

I was initially keen on Latrell Mitchell under Wayne Bennett but now feel he’s overpriced. 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. Kalyn Ponga therefore comes in given he has a very soft draw to start the year against the Tigers, Dolphins and Titans. Although he’ll likely need to be sold for the round 4 bye.

FLEX

Tom Trbojevic FLB $875,600

Yes, Isaiah Iongi may well end up being the cheapie of the year. But the introduction of a Flex position for 2025 makes the option of running three gun fullbacks a serious option.

In short, I’m willing to sacrifice the cash generation of Iongi for the points of Turbo, who has a dream draw to start the year against the Cowboys, Warriors, Raiders and Eels – with three of those four games at his favourite Brookvale Oval.

Originally published as Tom Sangster’s NRL SuperCoach team 2025: Trials reveal new must-have in Luke Metcalf