Positional watchlist: Fullback targets for 2025

With 4 of the 5 top averaging players last season being fullbacks (the other player in the top 5 being Cleary), there’s a huge case for spending up in this position.

The addition of the flex position also aids this approach, as it enables the selection of 3 fullbacks in our starting squads. This allows us to vice-captain one fullback and captain another. A luxury not previously available.

This makes a minimum of 2 gun fullbacks the play in my view. A case can also be made for 3 gun fullbacks to start. However, I think this will largely depend on the cheapie crop available this season.

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Targets

Tom Trbojevic – Sea Eagles – $875.6k

Latrell Mitchell – Rabbitohs – $866.8k

Kalyn Ponga – Knights – $790.3k

Reece Walsh – Broncos – $738.4k

Isaiah Iongi – Eels – $232.6k

Turbo is currently the most owned fullback outside of Iongi, and that’s not something I want to go against. With an opening four matches against the Cowboys (home), Warriors (away), Raiders (home) and Eels (home), he is a key captaincy candidate early.

Trell could be set for his best year yet with his fitness well in check and Bennett back to mentor him. The Rabbitohs have a few difficult games early, including the Sharks (away) in round 3 and Panthers (home) in round 4, but opposition historically doesn’t matter that much for him. I’d be happy to ride these games out, especially given that he starts with matches against the Dolphins and Dragons in rounds 1 and 2.

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Both Trell and KP are close to 30% ownership. Going against KP early would be a nervous watch with matchups against the Tigers (away), Dolphins (home) and Titans (away) in the first 3 rounds. However, he then has a bye in round 4. I also have some concerns around the Knights given all the chopping and changing in the halves.

Reece Walsh could offer value at $738.4k. The Broncos are favoured to be big improvers under Madge and their star fullback could be the player to benefit most. If Adam Reynolds is unavailable at any stage, Walsh will also pick up the goalkicking and almost certainly move into elite status.

Iongi is probably the safe pick in the flex position to start. He’ll enable rotation of vice-captains and captains at fullback for looping, while making a stack of cash and churning out decent scores in the meantime.

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Job watch

Scott Drinkwater – Cowboys – $770.1k

Ryan Papenhuyzen – Storm – $616.7k

Liam Ison – Sharks – $293.7k

Kade Dykes – Sharks – $198.8k

Drinkwater could break this position wide open if he claims the goalkicking for the Cowboys.

Their early draw isn’t the best, with games against the Sharks (home), Panthers (away) and Rabbitohs (away) in the first 6 rounds before a bye in round 7. 

However, the addition of 10-12 points to Drinky’s current Supercoach output (Ave. 78.7 in 2024) would move him into the elite category (if he’s not already there). 

Papenhuyzen is in a similar boat, although he seems unlikely to reclaim the kicking duties from Nick Meaney anytime soon. Nonetheless, he could still offer value in his second season returning from major injury.

Sharks’ cheapies Ison and Dykes could offer alternatives to Iongi, if either can claim the starting fullback spot. Coach Fitzy has proven to be very loyal to date though, so it seems likely Will Kennedy retains this spot.

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Form watch

James Tedesco – Roosters – $920.2k

Keano Kini – Titans – $707.9k

As last season’s top Supercoach scorer, Teddy is priced as such and so is difficult to start with. However, if his form from last year continues he’ll be a regular captaincy candidate, so is worth keeping an eye on, especially if we can pick him up at a discount after the first few rounds.

The Supercoach Spy’s boy Kini could be the next big thing in Supercoach at fullback. Whilst priced at 72 points per game, he averaged 82.1 points once he returned to the side in round 10 and held the hotly contested Titans’ no. 1 jersey from then.

Kini is a base (hit-ups and tackles) + power (offloads and tackle breaks) monster, going at 0.63 B+P points per minute, which equates to over 50 points per 80 minutes. I wouldn’t talk anyone out of starting with him, but the safe play is to wait and watch at least until after the Titans’ round 1 bye.

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