Positional watchlist: Centre-wing targets for 2025

The centre-wing (CTW) position has come a long way since Brett Morris confronted Tom Sangster to tell him the position needed a fairer go in the Supercoach points scoring system (I’m fairly sure this is true!).

They do indeed have a fairer go these days. In 2024, seven of the top 25 averaging players were CTWs (10 or more games played). 

CTWs make up 25% of our team and at least 22% of our on field players week-to-week, making it a crucial position.

Given CTW is largely attack dependent, scoring in the position has a high variance.

For this reason, I’m looking closely for players who have a combination of repeatable stats in the form of base (hitups and tackles) + power (offloads and tackle breaks), along with upside from attacking teams with the best draws. 

(Note: positional stats are from rugbyleagueproject.org, Supercoach statistics are from nrlsupercoachstats.com)

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Targets

Priced on a 65+ average

Jacob Kiraz – Bulldogs – $702.8k 

Reuben Garrick – Sea Eagles – $680.3k

There’s plenty of talk about Kiraz in Supercoach circles this pre-season and justifiably so. Averaging a tick under 80 when playing wing last season indicates he could be around 8 points underpriced.

Throw in a nice first three for the Dogs (Dragons away, Titans home and Eels away) and he warrants strong consideration. 

Another with a nice draw to start is perennial SC gun Reuben Garrick. The Sea Eagles have an opening four matches against the Cowboys (home), Warriors (away), Raiders (home) and Eels (home).

Removing Garrick’s injury affected games from last season reveals an average around 79. Coming in at $20k cheaper than Kiraz and with no bye until round 9 (whereas the Dogs miss round 6), I slightly prefer the Sea Eagle out of those two. 

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Priced 50-65

Greg Marzhew – Knights – $513.7k

Campbell Graham – Rabbitohs – $505k

The Knights appeared to heavily favour the right-hand side last season, which seemingly affected big Greg. This could have been due in part to Bradman Best’s injury troubles. In 2024, Marzhew averaged 58 when Best was in the side, compared to just 40 points without him. 

Priced at 52 and having averaged 77 the season before indicates the potential value Marzhew offers.

With a consistently solid base + power (runs, tackles, tackle breaks and offloads) of 43 in 2024 and 49 in 2023, there’s little downside to starting with him. The first three games for the Knights (Tigers away, Dolphins home and Titans away) look very enticing, although they do have a bye to follow. 

Campbell Graham starts at a similar price and could be the pick of this price range. NRL Physio is confident in Graham hitting the ground running returning from sternum surgery, which gives me plenty of confidence.

Graham was in career best form in 2023, averaging 69 points per game including 44 in base + power. Priced at a tick over 50 and playing in a revitalised Souths team, the only lingering question is injury, following a recent suspected broken hand. If available for round one, he’ll be hard to pass up. 

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Form watch

Priced 65+

Valentine Holmes – $784.5k

Zac Lomax – $773.8k

Herbie Farnworth – Dolphins – $728.3k

Kayal Iro – Sharks – $640.7k 

Valentine Holmes looks a clear wait and watch to start the season, having moved to a less attacking club. Nonetheless, as the top averaging CTW last season and one of the top CTWs for the last three, he warrants a place on the watchlist. Interestingly since moving to centre, he has increased his average year-on-year (2022: 69, 2023: 72, 2024: 80).

There are two main narratives on Zac Lomax this pre-season. One being that he needs to be on the wing to match last season’s output, and two being that he turned over a new leaf last season. In either case, 2024 was a career year for Lomax and he’s at a new club, with new combinations to be formed. His connection with Mitch Moses will help, but priced at just under $800k, I’d prefer to wait and see. 

Another player coming off a career best SC year is Herbie Farnworth, who averaged an incredible 56.6 in base + power in 2024, contributing significantly to an overall average of 74. Give this included four tonnes (104, 121, 133 and 176), it makes sense to be looking at when we might be able to jag high-ceiling games from Herbie. Three of his tonnes came in the final nine rounds of the season. With defences generally better at the start, he’s a close watch early. 

Kayal Iro finished 2024 on fire, averaging 80 in the final nine rounds. Patient Supercoaches were rewarded as Kayal was eventually able to add attack to his immense base + power (52.7). Second year syndrome is a concern, but the fact he got better as his first year went on is a great sign. Another close watch who could easily find himself in the top five-six CTWs this season.

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Priced 50-65

Beau Fermor – Titans – $593.1k (2RF/CTW)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – Warriors – $553.1k

Selwyn Cobbo – Broncos – $550.8k

Kotoni Staggs – Broncos – $514.2k

Izack Tago – Panthers – $501.4k

Jeral Skelton – Tigers – $499.2k

An average of 61 in a first season back from an ACL is nothing to sneeze at for Beau Fermor. This also included six games at Centre. Remove these games and his average bumps up to 64. He’s now 26 years old and coming into the prime of his career. His potential combination with a new halves insider is an unknown and he has the round one bye, so I’ve got him as a watch for now. 

RTS is an intriguing option given he looks likely to start on the wing. He averaged 72 in three games there last season, including three tries. The move could increase his run stats (and consequently tackle breaks + offloads). Hopefully it also gives him the opportunity to roam more.

Broncos duo Cobbo and Staggs are on ‘Madge watch’ to see what effect the new coach has on them. Based on Madge’s track record, an increased work rate could be on the cards. 

Cobbo is moving back to the wing, where he averaged 59 points in 2023. He benefited from a high-octane Broncos attack that year, whereas there’s a chance Madge could take a more conservative approach. Nonetheless, if he increases his work rate and things click for the Broncs, this could propel him to gun status.

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Staggs has been somewhat of an enigma over the years, with his best scores often hard to catch. On the eye test he is one of the best tackle busters in the comp, and so could also benefit significantly from an increased work rate

Speaking of enigmas, what can be made of Izack Tago’s 2024? After back-to-back tonnes in rounds 2 and 3, his season hit the skids when Cleary then got injured. Averages of 43 between rounds 10-18 and 48 between rounds 19-27 were immensely frustrating periods for owners. He’s still very young (22) so last season being a blip on the radar and him returning to a 60-70 point average is certainly feasible.

There’s plenty of excitement in SC circles around Jeral Skelton as a possible Kiraz 2.0. Based on a small sample size of seven games in the last two seasons, he had a base + power PPM of 0.56, equating to 44.8 points per 80 minutes.

The likes of Greg Marzhew, Bradman Best and Matt Timoko were around this same mark last season. If Skelton can regularly cross the stripe, he’ll certainly offer value. I think the Tigers now have the attacking players to help him, depending on how often they choose to cut inside instead. A close watch in pre-season trials.

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Priced 49 and below 

Casey McLean – Panthers – $443k

Mark Nawaqanitawase – Roosters – $438.6k

Jack Howarth – Storm – $426.6k

Tyrone Munro – Rabbitohs – $397.5k

If Casey McLean jags the wing spot for the Panthers, he has plenty of upside as a young player in one of the best attacking sides in the competition. He also looks a hard worker, averaging 37 in base + power last season. How we approach Las Vegas mid-pricers is challenging. I think locking in players in this price range before we know the full range of cheapies on offer could be limiting to starting squads. Therefore, I’m likely to avoid and watch early. 

If the eye test is anything to go by, Rugby convert Nawaqanitawase is going to be a tackle breaking machine. Unfortunately, the Roosters draw is less than ideal, playing the Panthers twice in the opening seven rounds. They also play the Broncos twice in that time (who I’d expect to be better defensively), along with South (similar to Broncos should be better), the Warriors and Titans (who knows!). 

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Highly touted Storm centre Howarth finally got an extended run last season. He starts this season priced at 44 average but averaged 52.8 in 80 minutes games in 2024. Throw in potential improvement in what will be his first full year of NRL, and perhaps he can go 55-60+. 

Tyrone Munro is in an interesting one, with Isaiah Tass available at $327k and Campbell Graham at $505k. To start all three seems a bit much, but then again Cody and Latrell will be feeding them so maybe not. Over the last three seasons Souths have scored 48% on the left (15% more than the right), so Munro will be of particular interest if he happens to land there (stats from statsinsider.com.au).

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Job watch 

Priced 50-65

Dylan Lucas – Knights – $616.7k (2RF/CTW)

Supercoach nostalgia here with a potential gun backrower available at CTW. This is less valuable than it was under old SC scoring systems, but having a solid option in the generally lower-scoring early season period could be very handy.

When playing edge second row last season he averaged 66.3, with a tick over 59 in base + power, across 12 games. Excellent reading indeed – if he secures a spot on the edge, he’ll be a rock solid option. 

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Priced 30-49 

Adam Douehi – Tigers – $431.7k (5-8/CTW)

Semi Valemei – Cowboys – $386.6k

Isaiah Tass – Rabbitohs – $327.9k

Fletcher Myers – Rabbitohs – $322.6k

Considering Adam Douehi was returning from his third ACL tear, averaging 49 without the goalkicking in 2024 is impressive. Priced at 44, if he does get the goalkicking he’ll be hard to pass up. Even without it we might need him for a shallow 5/8 position. 

Semi Valemei excited with an average of 66 from nine games in 2023, before coming back to earth with an average of 40 in his four games last season. He has a good chance of landing on the right wing where Kyle Feldt averaged 66 points last season. Drinkwater loves this side, which could see Semi explode again at some stage.

Whilst still only 25 years old, Isaiah Tass is a proven NRL player with solid Supercoach pedigree. Across both 2022 and 2023 he had a PPM of 0.71, equating to 57 points per 80 minutes. This was playing at centre, whereas he’s now being touted to play wing. How this affects his SC output remains to be seen, but I like the idea of him having more opportunities to run, especially off Cody and Latrell.

Fletcher Myers is another cheap player who’s a chance of landing an outside back position at the Rabbitohs. We haven’t seen much of him, but if he jags a starting spot he’ll need to be considered at the price.

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Priced 30 and below

Jaxon Purdue – Cowboys – $257k

Savelio Tamale – Raiders – $232.6k

Moses Leo – Storm – $214k

Robert Derby – Cowboys – $214k

Robert Toia – Roosters – $198.8k

I won’t go into great detail on these, as they’re all very much team list dependent. However, it’s worth noting that Timmy Williams has Purdue in his predicted Cowboys team pending how the club are approaching Zac Laybutt’s return from injury.

Tamale is also firming for a spot in the Vegas team with Albert Hopoate unavailable for round one. If named, I think I’ll be happy to punt on Tamale, as he looks an absolute weapon. Most notably, he averaged a whopping 8.3 tackle breaks per game in NSW cup last season.