By Maty Ryan
We’re just two weeks out from the first NRL action of 2024.
Socceroos captain and NRL Supercoach fanatic Maty Ryan has settled on his squad for the time being,
Let us know what you think of his team in the comment section below.
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Hookers
Jeremy Marshall-King
I must admit I haven’t watched JMK closely the last couple of seasons.
Between his shared role at the Doggies and his first year at the Dolphins, he was never really on my radar until he started punching out big numbers last season as an 80 minute man under Wayne Bennett.
Just as he became interesting last season the injuries hit and it impacted his relevance.
Based on that, with a fresh body after the off-season and another year under Bennett’s guidance, I think he can improve on what he did last season.
I’ve tended to just lock Harry Grant in the last two seasons. I think with the tough draw and him being capable of throwing up a 40, I’m hoping he drops cash early and I can then upgrade my second hooker to him a few weeks out before Origin kicks off.
The worry is he can find a 120+ score also and I hope to be on him before he knocks that out.
Brendan Hands
Rumours around suggest Arthur wants an 80 minute hooker.
If that looks like the case I will plug in Hands or Lussick if it’s him.
I’ll look closely at Brailey also and see what his minutes look like once he’s fit, but he’s now had a hamstring setback which is likely to impact his round 1 prospects.
An Eel playing an 80 minute role over Brailey’s role looks the better option regardless.
Embed from Getty ImagesFront-row
Jai Arrow
Arrow starts cheap and hopefully lands that 80 minute edge role and gets some attacking stats to boot.
Over the years I have had him a couple times and he has been a frustrating own.
He tends to pick up some injuries and is also one of the first to get rested during games and therefore minutes can be inconsistent.
But at the price and in the scarce prop position, hopefully he can punch me out some 50s and above with attacking stats and will do a job and upgrade before those niggles come around.
Terrell May
Pencilled in after his strong finish last season, May looked dynamic on the eye and it translated to some good output for Supercoach.
There’s a lot of depth in that Roosters pack, so it will be a close watch on minutes and form over the pre-season.
Xavier Willison
Pencilled in due to some promising signs last season and Tom Flegler’s departure.
Close watch during trials and could be swapped for another cheapie option if one arises.
Sam Hughes
Big wraps coming out of the Dogs which looked to be backed up in the side’s trial win over the Storm where he impressed.
There’s talk of some decent minutes, so at the price he’s pencilled in.
Embed from Getty ImagesSecond-row
Shaun Lane
As we all know he had an injury interrupted 2023 season.
He’s a shoe in for the price and based on what he did the season prior. Another beloved Eel in the brigade.
Brendan Piakura
Capewell has departed the Broncos, which should see Piakura the regular starter.
I had him last year for a period and he looked a danger close to the line.
I see value there, so it’ll be a watch to see which side he ends up on.
He had a couple of low scores but surely in a strong Broncos outfit he can get some attacking stats and be an upgrade to a gun later on?
Josh Curran
Having not been in favour so much at the Warriors leading to reduced minutes, Curran starts cheap.
He has proven to have a Supercoach friendly game in the past and even found the line a couple times last year even in reduced opportunity.
Hopefully he locks up a big minute role at the Dogs.
Embed from Getty ImagesBeau Fermor
Much like Lane, Fermor had an injury interrupted season and therefore starts cheap.
The season prior he had plenty of attacking stats and he knows where the line is.
Hopefully he’s good to go and will be a big strike weapon with Fifita injured to start the season, so ideally he lines up on the left outside Foran.
The softer draw also helps to begin the season.
Sitili Tupouniua
This was Siua Wong prior to team lists for the first week of trials.
Again, Tupouniua is one who had an interrupted season in 2023 due to injury and therefore starts cheap.
The Roosters had a down year and if he jags a big minute role on the edge I can see him getting some attacking stats and making money.
Surely the Roosters improve with all the calvary back on deck?
It’ll be a watch with their depth though on minutes and if he in fact gets the start there.
Rewind to the year before where he played some consistent footy and scored a few meaties.
Kai Pearce-Paul
There’s big wraps on the Englishman, so he’s a watch to see if he grabs the vacant edge left by Fitzgibbon.
He’s cheap and therefore has potential value in him. Hopefully the injury he was carrying is better and is good to go come round 1.
Embed from Getty ImagesHalfback
Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary
Proven guns and for me are locked in.
Embed from Getty Images5/8
Dylan Brown
Brown possesses a rock solid Supercoach game and will be fired up to repay the club after an off-field incident interrupted his 2023 season.
With a decent early draw he’s another mighty Eel I’ll be happy to have.
A lot of cheaper options are around but I’ll sleep better at night having Brown there and not being nervous of a sub 30 score from one of these other cheaper options.
Especially now Jayden Campbell looks to be out for the first few rounds.
With some luck he can take his ceiling a little higher also.
Aidan Sezer
Sezer is in for the moment being a cheap goal-kicking option. I’m happy to plug in someone like him, Flanagan or Weekes as a non-playing juicy cash cow (hopefully).
Maybe another pops up between now and the start of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesCTW
Taylan May
May had an injury effected year in 2023 and therefore starts cheap.
We all know what he did two years back, albeit on the wing.
I think he gets plenty of ball and is capable of finding the line and busting lots of tackles in the best team in the comp.
Centres still have scored well and had attacking stats in this strong side.
We all know how well the Panthers backs get through their work in regards to carrying it out from their own end too. Could be a season-long keeper.
Tom Eisenhuth
Potential for an 80 minute edge role at the Dragons who punches out hopefully some solid scores around the 50 mark to be able to upgrade to a gun.
Handy to plug a 2RF while playing in my CTW. I bought Dan Russell last year at basement price and did a handy job, hopefully Eisenhuth can do that job to start the season for me.
Luciano Leilua will be a watch as to whether or not he signs with the Dragons as reported.
Ben Trbojevic
Rumours around have him winning a spot on the edge as Schuster is never far away from scrutiny.
He starts cheap and is a handy dual and knows where the try line is.
He has showed promise in his cameos in recent years for Manly and maybe this is the year he breaks through as a regular starter? Like his pedigree.
Embed from Getty ImagesDrew Hutchinson
Into my side on the back of being named over Sexton in the trial where he impressed for the Bulldogs.
He has a good base as a half and posted some handy scores for the Roosters outfit last season.
Another dual position player I’m happy to plug into my CTW and hopefully turn into a gun after a few juicy price rises.
Jacob Kiraz
Had Kiraz last year early and then brought him back in and was clearly not himself with niggles.
I see him being Marzhew like, but almost $200k cheaper. A big ceiling and a workhorse, almost worse case scenario he holds his value and can be a downgrade or sideways trade to another gun.
But with those duals I’ve got, I might be happy I’ve got enough Supercoach scoring depth in the CTW that Kiraz might have to wait until later in the season or if he brains it, then get him in before his first potential price rise (albeit as less of a POD).
Chevy Stewart, Ethan Strange, Jack Bostock, Kayal Iro and also the Broncos right edge winger are all a close look along with some others that are sure to surface.
Hopefully we get some quality cheapie options to plug in and make money on the bench.
Embed from Getty ImagesFullback
Kalyn Ponga
KP cost me $1m trying to anti-POD him last season until I bit the bullet.
So at this price to start the year he’s a bargain.
Plenty will have him with the early Knights draw and his form at FLB last season.
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Plugged in as I see him as the value and the extra cash allows me to plug in the rest of my side.
The Storm have a tough draw and the injury record is a concern, but we know his ceiling is as good as anyone’s.
He didn’t goal-kick in the trial which isn’t ideal, but he did look great.
If he stays fit, we know the Storm side will hum at some point, if I go with him I hope they start the season well.
A close watch in trials as well around Latrell, Turbo and to a lesser extent Walsh and Teddy in the lead up to the start of the season.
Fullback will be a very influential position on rankings with the combo Supercoaches choose to go with here 👀.
Best of luck crew 🫱🏼🫲🏻
Nice team atm Maty, we have extremely similar teams. Although I’m trying to have at least one of my starting FRF play in round 1 instead of both in round zero. This will allow me flexibility/change after R1 TLT.