NRL Supercoach | Undervalued Players in 2026

When it comes to building your starting team, finding value is crucial.

At the end of the day, the Supercoach player market is a lot like the stock market, where buying low and holding while your assets mature is critical towards your chances of a successful season.

When it comes to value, often people’s mind goes towards ‘cheapies’ – the kind of bottom-dollar players who are usually rookies set for a starting role.

But realistically, there’s more to it than that.

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Starting prices are almost exclusively determined by the overall season average a player achieved in the previous year.

But often, when you interrogate that season average, it might not represent the ‘true’ average that a player is capable of.

Finding a player who is undervalued based on his ‘true’ average can lead to huge savings.

Every point ‘undervalued’ that a player might be compared to their starting price is worth ~$10,000 to your side.

So finding someone whose 10 points are undervalued is similar to saving $100,000 on their starting price.

I’ve compiled below a list of players who aren’t rookies but are entering the 2026 NRL season undervalued. 

There are typically two reasons why they’re currently undervalued – either they suffered in-game injuries that had a significant impact on their overall average, or they went through a role change that impacted their scoring.

So here are some thought starters, position by position.

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Hooker

Jake Simpkin

Season average: 43, Starts at HOK: 61.1

The Manly rake had a red-hot end to the 2025 season after starting the year with uncertainty on his job security.

With Lachlan Croker medically retired, the starting job looks like him, and you can get him almost 20 points undervalued compared to his scores as a starter.

Bailey Hayward

Season average: 35, HOK starts: 38.6

After jumping between positions and even the bench in 2025, Hayward looks set to be the starter at Canterbury.

But unfortunately, in his starts last year, he only scored marginally better than his overall season average.

He might not be the saviour you’re looking for at the position.

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Reed Mahoney

Season average: 43, Over 60 mins: 53.4

Mahoney has turned over a leaf this season with a move to the Cowboys, where he looks set for a big minute role once more.

Prior to his 43 average last year, he’d recorded scores of 55, 54 and 58 in big-minute roles at the Dogs.

There could be 10 points of value on his starting price if he is the sole hooker in the side.

ApI Koroisau

Season average: 55, Games 80 min: 70.1

Prior to the June 30 deadline, Api was splitting minutes with Tallyn da Silva.

The bench utility this year is likely to be Latu Fainu whose likely preferred at lock, meaning we should see an uptick from Api. 

Furthermore, he’s the backup goal-kicker at the Tigers and could even take the starting job from Adam Doueihi, in which case you could see him push a 70 average, which is significantly above that 55 price point.

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Front Row Forward

Stefano Utoikamanu

Season ave: 53, Under 40 mins: 42, Over 40 mins: 57.7, Post origin: 64.75, NRL Finals: 69

Big Stef finally showed why he’s so hyped after the Origin period.

In all, his season average of 53 doesn’t stand out, but when you peel back the curtain, you can see some signs of potential there for Supercoach.

In all, he averaged almost 65 after Origin, which is more or less ‘gun’ status and 10 points of value.

For Stef, it most likely comes down to minutes.

Bellamy is in the business of winning premierships, not just games, so he’s a big candidate to get rested to ensure he’s right for finals.

Keaon Koloamatangi

Season ave: 68, FRF ave: 77.5, Lock ave: 71.8

Keaon is a candidate for an improvement based on a positional change.

He split his time between the second row and prop last year.

Overall, he averaged 68, but there’s almost 10 points of value when you see that FRF average of nearly 68.

In a small sample size from 2024, he played lock and averaged nearly 72.

The question for Keaon isn’t ability, it’s minutes.

He played huge minutes last year in order to get that average, which he needed to do because of injuries in the squad.

If everyone is fit, he might play closer to 65 minutes and average under that 77 mark, but time will tell.

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Toby Couchman

Season average: 60.2, Non-injury impacted games: 66.2

One of the best young forwards in the game is ~$60k unders to start the season after a couple of injury-impacted games.

He’s minutes-dependent, but as one of the best young forwards in the game, you’d expect him to get better and return to that mid 60s mark this year.

The dual is a huge plus.

Trey Mooney

89 points in 43 mins in sole start at lock, 78 points in 55 minutes off bench in round 27, Base + Power PPM: 1.2

Trey Mooney is priced around a 44 average for this season, but smashed that mark last year in his only two significant minute appearances.

If he gets 40-50 minutes at his new club in Newcastle this season, he should easily make $100,000 on that starting price.

Jaiman Jollife 

Season average: 51, 50+ mins: 62.7

An under-the-radar Supercoach stud, Joliffe played big minutes throughout the Origin period at the Titans after starting the 2025 season injured.

When he played over 50 minutes, he averaged a solid 62.7.

He’s projected to start this year and should earn around that mark again, which could see him with the chance to beat that starting price by 10 points.

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J’maine Hopgood

Season average: 53, FRF average: 65.4

Few fit players were as disappointing as J’maine Hopgood last season.

He played a lot of games, but failed to have much impact throughout the first half of the season.

A switch to prop ignited a form reversal, and he finished the season with a healthy 65 average in games in the front row, 12 points over his season average.

What his role is this year, we don’t know… and he’s going to be minutes-dependent.

But if he starts in the front row, keep an eye on Hopgood, as there could be some money to be made.

Taniela Paseka

Season average: 48

Paseka gets the ‘injury discount’ this season after an achilles injury last year.

He’s priced at just $328k and should easily outperform that.

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Second Row

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Season average: 70.3, True average: ~77

He’s expensive, but Tino could be unders thanks to the cartilage injury he picked up midseason, which saw his minutes managed.

Prior to the injury, he was averaging over 77 before finishing with a 70.

This was also his first year back post ACL injury, so his performance could peak!

A great 2RF1 to anchor your side.

Tallis Duncan 

Season average 61, Average at second row: 70.7

From bench player and middle to one of the form edges in the comp, Tallis Duncan had a remarkable 2025 season and should firmly be on the radar of coaches.

In games starting in the second row, he averaged an incredible 70 points per game, with a great mix of base + power and try scoring upside.

It’s actually a crime he didn’t earn dual this year as well, having played plenty of games at centre too at the end of the season.

Now we could see him shifted to the right edge this year, which could hurt him, but if he is named on the left, he could be a steal.

David Fifita

Season average: 50, 2024 average: 77

Not much more needs to be said.

He’s cheap and a gun of the past.

Huge value option.

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Leka Halasima

Season average: 51, 63+ minutes: 59.8

The Warriors wrecking ball is still so young.

We don’t know if he will start, and we don’t know his minutes.

But we do know that when he got good minutes, Leka made them count and could be at least 10 points under based on his starting price – and that’s before you just consider he’s young and could get better.

Siua Wong

Season ave: 54, Over 68 mins: 59.9

One of the ‘fast starters’ from last year, Wong played a variety of roles after getting injured while a starter.

Several games off the bench saw that overall average as modest, and in games over 68 minutes, that average goes up nearly 6 points.

If he starts next to DCE this year, sign me up.

Jermaine McEwen 

Season ave: 42, Starting ave: 58.2

Expected to get the job on the right edge at the Knights.

He started on the left after Dylan Lucas got hurt last year and averaged 16 points higher than his overall starting price – a fairly decent effort given he was playing for the wooden spooners.

Accordingly, he looks like a good player to start with.

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Samuela Fainu

Season ave: 52, without Galvin: 56, with Luai at 6: 61.5

He arguably didn’t live up to expectations after a strong rookie campaign in 2024, but when you dig into it, Samuela Fainu’s season can be divided into a few different periods.

Essentially pre- and post-Lachie Galvin.

A season-long average of 52 is ok, but that jumped 4 points to 56 without Galvin, and even higher to 61.5 when Luai played in the six (which is how we expect the Tigers to lineup this year).

Jesse Colquhon

Season ave: 34, NRL finals average: 43

An injury to Cam McInnes could open minutes at lock for the Sharks, and Colquhon could step into the void.

There are roughly 9 points of value if he can replicate what he did in the NRL Finals Supercoach in the same role.

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Halfback

Daniel Atkinson

Season average: 21, Starter average in 2024: 45.5

One of the best ‘cheapie’ prospects this season looks like Atkinson, who crosses from the Sharks to the Dragons.

A season off the bench has made him nice and cheap, and over 20 points undervalued from what we saw from him in games starting at halfback in 2024.

Adam Doueihi 

Season average: 57, Scores in halves 2025: 73.5, Career average in halves = 70.4

It sounds like Adam Doueihi might’ve found a home at halfback at the Tigers, which is great for his Supercoach output.

Not only did he score a very respectable 73.5 points per game at halfback through four matches, but his career average in games in the halves is 70 as well.

That’s 13 points above his starting price after a 57-point average in 2025.

He accordingly looks like a great POD play at halfback for those brave enough to give AD a chance.

Jahrome Hughes:

Season average: 65, Removing injury games: 73.94

The quintessential example of why we look at Supercoach this way.

Hughes had three injury-impacted games in 2025, which saw his overall average drop to 65.

When you remove those games, the average jumps up nearly 9 whole points.

Now Hughes, without Eli Katoa this year, is a bit of an unknown prospect, but since 2022 when he averaged 69, he’s been in the upper echelon of Supercoach halfbacks, so you’ve got to think there’s some value to be had.

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Dylan Brown:

Season average: 54.7, 2024 average: 67, Halfback career average: 71.27 (10 games)

A down year for many reasons in 2025, but we know Dylbags is a quality Supercoach prospect due to his running game and work rate.

In 2024 alone, he averaged 13 points better than his starting price, and when you look at a 10-game sample size of his matches at halfback from his Parra days, the average jumps again to 71.

We aren’t entirely sure how the Knights’ spine will line up yet, and yes, he’s in a whole new team and system, but if he’s at halfback, he could present some value.

Sammy Walker 

Season average: 70, True average: 79.3 

In a short sample size, Sam Walker was unbelievable in Supercoach last year.

When you take out his HIA-impacted game, the average jumps 9 points.

We don’t know what to expect from the Roosters with the inclusion of DCE.

Sammy Walker is still very attack-reliant, but he’s worth monitoring for sure.

Jayden Campbell

Season average: 72, Non-injury games: 76.2

Four points of value in JC when you take out his injury game.

Not a lot of extra value, but a reminder that he is truly elite and one of the next great Supercoach players of our generation.

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Five-Eighth

Jonah Pezet

Season average: 19, 1 start last year: 82

Pezet is offering great value after a modest 19-point average last season.

In one start for the Storm in the 2025 finals, he showed his class with an 82.

No brainer.

⁠Jarome Luai

Season ave: 48, w/out Galvin: 60.27

This one is right in the “how dudes go with other dudes” wheelhouse.

Jarome Luai had an underwhelming start to his time at the Tigers, playing well but not scoring well for Supercoach.

Most of that was due to his leadership in deferring to Lachie Galvin.

Once Galvin left, he lifted his average to 48 for the season off the back of a 60 average.

If he can keep that going, alongside a flourishing connection with Samuela Fainu and Taylan May outside of him, there’s some money to be made.

Cody Walker

Season average: 40, Non-bench games: 46

He’s popular in classic because he’s cheap, and we know what he can do.

Thanks to some bench and injury games last season, his price is six points under what we know he can do.

If you think Souths will score well this year, he could improve that by 15-ish points, you’d imagine.

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CTW

Nick Meaney:

Season average: 61, 4 games at fullback: 87 (including 165), 2023 FLB average: 68

This one’s a pretty simple one – Meaney is expected to gain the goal-kicking back this season with the departure of Ryan Papenhuyzen.

He’s also the likely backup fullback should injury strike, which is a position he has scored well in historically.

A season average of 61 includes ~8 points in goal kicking per game.

The Storm take a lot of kicks at goal, so you can expect another 4-ish points throughout the season on top of that.

Phillip Sami

Season average: 64, Average at left wing: 71.4

Listeners know how much I rate this player.

And if he is named at left wing, he could be pushing towards the Supercoach elite scoring levels.

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Savelio Tamale

Season average: 55.9, True average minus injury game: 59.5

Felt it was worth including Tamale as he was a revelation in his first season in First Grade.

When you throw in an injury-impacted game and a slow return in the final two matches of the year, there’s a little bit of value.

Not a lot of value, but enough that when you factor in he’s still young and improving, it could present a little bit of value.

Jaxon Purdue 

Season average: 57, Average at centre: 62

Not a huge change in this scoring, but worth noting that Jaxon Purdue’s average changed a lot between his shift from the centres in the halves.

His centre when playing purely at left centre was a healthy 62, so if he locks down that spot, there’s a bit of juice to be squeezed from his starting price.

That’s a good thing with a soft draw to start the year.

Left wing at Phins

Dolphins’ left wing season average: 55

I’ve included this one because a lot of people will have fond memories of some huge scores from the left edge of the Dolphins throughout the season.

In all, four different left wingers averaged 55 at the position across their 24 matches.

That’s just two points above the expected left winger in Selwyn Cobbo’s starting price of 53.

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Fullback

Keano Kini 

Season ave: 45, Starting ave: 71

Don’t overthink this one – Kini is heavily discounted after some bench games.

There’s tons of money to be made.

He should be 100% owned.

Reece Walsh 

Season average: 85, Post Origin average: 112, NRL Finals average: 122

Could the third most expensive player in Supercoach be undervalued?

That’s the question to ask yourself when making your starting team this season.

In all, Walsh finished with an impressive 85-point season average, but when you hone in on just the period after State of Origin, that lifted to a barely believable 112.

And what’s more, when the chips were down in the finals, he pushed a 122 average!

There were some factors at play, including injuries to Adam Reynolds, and some goal-kicking as well.

But we know that at his best, he can outdo an 85 with ease.

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Sua Fa’alogo

Season average: 58, 2024 FLB average: 64

Expected to play fullback, Sua should be able to add at least six points of value onto his efforts from 2024 at the position when he last played there.

We know the Storm don’t use their fullback as a huge work rate type with off-the-charts base and power, but that’s ok.

He’s the cherry on top, and at the Storm, there’s a lot of cakes being baked.

⁠Jye Gray

Season average: 57, FLB average: 65

A handful of games off the bench saw Gray finish with a 57 average, which is 8 points below what he scored when playing purely at fullback.

If you also expect Souths to be an improved football club, which they’d have to be given the amount of returning cattle, that could go even higher.