Updated NRL Supercoach team reveal: Spy drops his updated squad


<p>G’day everyone,</p>



<p>Welcome back to the good stuff, rugby league and good weather! </p>



<p>While there are a few contenders out there like beer and mates, sticky date and ice cream or Benji and Scotty Prince circa ’05, I don’t think I can think of a better combination myself. </p>



<p>Add Supercoach into the mix and we are absolutely cookin’.</p>



<p>After the Pre-Season Challenge, here is my updated Team Reveal. As it stands I am still debating about the best approach towards the fullback spot and Flex. You can read more on that <a href="https://scplaybook.com.au/blog/2025/02/26/spy-talk-the-fullback-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">here</a>. But with the emergence of a goal-kicking Duffy I&#8217;ve been able to make some big moves in other parts of my side. Exciting!</p>



<p>I am trying to be more flexible in 2025 and not get too invested in things, especially when I’ve found my ‘perfect side’ that could be ruined by an injury or surprising name in or out on Team list Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>I’ll just go with the flow and adapt as needed with a very good idea of who I see locked in guys and some how are more on the fringe of selection who could go either way.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Heading into this season I feel like I’m in a settled place Supercoach wise after admittedly trying a few different tactics in the last two years which didn’t always work overly well (see early FB rotation 2024) and adjusting to the new bye rules. </p>



<p>I also have a tendency at times to try and look for an extra edge and maybe go against my natural instincts and overthink something. But this year the mind is clear and I will be backing in what works while staying opened minded about ways to get better but without pushing it. </p>



<p>M first target is to dust up Tim, Dez, Maxxy, Clementine, Wals and of course Maty Ryan. </p>



<p>My second target is to settle back in the top 1000. Third target is to beat my best rank of 91 and fourth target. Well obvious that’s to win it all! Time to channel my 91<sup>st</sup> rank season but make it even better (I missed an early Turbo 195 at Brookie Oval in the midst’s of covid that season so that would be a fair head start to made sure that doesn’t repeat!)</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s get into it.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>HOOKERS</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Sandon Smith to hooker (Connor Watson out)</strong> – I like Connor, but Sandon makes more sense to my side at hooker. Despite the Chooks troubles in the Pre-Season challenge he&#8217;s a goal kicker who should make good coin. He also offers me a bail out at halfback with his dual should I ever need it.</p>



<p><strong>Peter Mamouzelos</strong> – He appears to have decent base and some attacking spark, so he will be my bench hooker pending team make up of the Bunnies for round 1. </p>



<p>Notably based 53 in his 80 minute game last year in round 6, plus a try assist for 73! Please no bench hooker…</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FRONT-ROW</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Terrell May</strong> – I&#8217;ll be locking in Terrell after the debacle of 2024 when I started him as a POD and reaped the early benefits, before selling him before his tons when everyone owned. He has immense upside and wants to play 80. Whether or not this happens his role is sure to be substantially more.</p>



<p><strong>Corey Horsburgh</strong> – I don’t love spending overly large at front row forward and I’m looking for a cheap guy who can go 40-50 at least and either drop out of my side as the lowest scorer or cover an early HIA elsewhere with a solid enough score. Hopefully Corey can do what a $500k options will but at a huge discount.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Bench&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p><strong>Royce Hunt out</strong> – I&#8217;m not expecting the world, but Hunt has a strong PPM so with a few extra minutes likely this season he should make at least some cash.</p>



<p><strong>Tui Simpkins </strong>&#8211; A non-playing reserve. I don&#8217;t like any cheaper FRFs. Simpkins is dual FRF-2RF and provides flexible to shift Tino up and down as required.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>SECOND-ROW</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Jacob Preston</strong> – He scored 3 tons last year just quietly. Unless there was word around him being a minutes risk then he is in for me. He is one of my boys. Solid base but uber attacking potential. Short balls off Mahoney close to the line, thanks for coming! A future star no doubt, injuries permitting. The only bad thing about the trial was the amount of people who saw how good he is.</p>



<p><strong>Tino Fa&#8217;asuamaleaui</strong> – Yes I have him in the second-row, but essentially this doesn’t mean anything because Horsburgh could be here instead and would still be in my 17 on the bench. </p>



<p>I just like the look of it better with him here psychologically and obviously I can flip him up to the front-row if needed. </p>



<p>It all depends on how the boys are performing in the pack and who I want to bring in next. I have no hesitation in starting Tino and hopefully the injury + round 1 bye can scare a few off and he crashes over for a trademark 4 pointer in the opening fortnight. Otherwise if he can punch out a 55 average early and then start to move into the 60s and 70s that will be ok.</p>



<p><strong>Eli Katoa (Samuela Fainu out)</strong> – Extra cash has meant an extra gun in my side and big Eli it is. By all reports has been a standout in pre-season at the Storm which was all the encouragement I needed.</p>



<p><strong>Bench</strong></p>



<p><strong>Alex Seyfarth (Kelma Tualagi out)</strong> – Seyfarth outperformed Kelma in the recent trial and at a similar price I prefer the Tiger. Eight missed tackles from Kelma wasn&#8217;t ideal &#8211; he&#8217;s cheap enough that if he does well he won&#8217;t be out of reach come round 3 or 4.</p>



<p><strong>Charlie Guymer</strong> <strong>&#8211; </strong>Named on a friendly bench make-up for the Eels, it may take time but he should gradually make some decent money. He passes the eye test.</p>



<p><strong>Lachlan Hubner &#8211;</strong> Named at 13 for the Rabbitohs, thank you Mr. Bennett.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>HALFBACK</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Nathan Cleary</strong> – The HB gun. Can often start the first two weeks average from a SC perspective but is invariably close to a monster score or two. </p>



<p>He could easily do this again in 2025 but he will want to show off in Vegas where I’d expect an open free flowing game of footy. He&#8217;s returning from injury so I’ll need to listen to NRL Physio to gauge if this may impact him early, but the fact he now has a junior halves partner only makes him more enticing. </p>



<p>With luck he actually plays both sides of the ruck this season more often, although Penrith tend to keep the evolved version of their game in the kit bag until closer to finals. Will the loss of Luai force there hand earlier? Hope so!</p>



<p><strong>Tom Duffy</strong> <strong>(Sandon up to HOK)</strong> – the goal kicking was the sealer. Should make good coin and I have more faith in some of the gun fullbacks than I currently do in Hynes. It could all change but for now the kid is in!</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FIVE-EIGHTH</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Luke Metcalf</strong> (<strong>Lachie Galvin out)</strong>: I&#8217;ve never been against Metcalf, I just liked having Galvin as a proper gun in the slot which has been a little tricky. The price and role of Metcalf is a bit too good to ignore however so I&#8217;ve brought him in. (Update, bad start&#8230;)</p>



<p><strong>Chanel Harris-Tavita</strong> <strong>(Latu Fainu out)</strong>:<strong> </strong>At only $330k I&#8217;m happy to get CHT into the side for now. He can score well in 80 minutes and the four forward bench at the Wahs tells me he will get good game time. Hopefully it&#8217;s a quick $100-150k.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>CENTRE-WING – Stacked</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Reuben Garrick –</strong> If he can stop landing himself in the failed HIA department (3 last year) he would have averaged 78ppg. </p>



<p>Goal-kicking for an attacking side led by T Turbo and just a top footballer who stays in the game and has a big work rate. With Manly&#8217;s early home games I like him and I bloody hated not owning him for lots of last year so he has overtaken Kiraz for me initially. I might end up with both.</p>



<p><strong>Dylan Lucas –</strong> A star of the future. Decent work rate, try-scoring back-rower who is available in the centres. Yes please!</p>



<p><strong>Greg Marzhew –</strong> The way I see it his worst possible average barring injuries is what he did last year which means his worst case ‘should be’ holding value and scoring ok given his base and workrate. 77PPG in 2023 went down to 52PPG. Somewhere in the middle will absolutely do and 77 again would be legendary. Reassess come the round 4 bye.</p>



<p><strong>Gehamat Shibasaki (Sione Finau / Lehi Hopoate out) –</strong> Shibasaki wins the starting centre role of the injured Kotoni Staggs and enters what should hopefully be a red-hot Broncos backline at $232k.</p>



<p><strong>Bench</strong></p>



<p><strong>Jack Howarth, Jaxon Purdue,</strong> <strong>Robert Toia</strong>. &#8211; Two cheapies plus Howarth who I like for the Storm. The Howarth spot is the final one in my sides I&#8217;m tossing and turning over as I&#8217;ve found myself with some extra cash to spend in my squad.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FULLBACK</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Kalyn Ponga – </strong>It will be an interesting period in life if I am not starting with KP. Could well be heading into the prime of his career and pending health he could do anything. </p>



<p>He killed it last year despite the Knights coming within 7 points of the Tigers as the worst attack in the competition. Locked in and assess at the round 4 bye.</p>



<p><strong>Tom Trbojevic –</strong> The man, the legend. As per KP I will always start with him. Averaged 89PPG last year in what seems a little quiet albeit solid season. Post injury where he missed 6 or so games he came back and went 45, 119, 174, 45, 121, 105, 158 &amp; 65. Captain round 1 if VC Ponga doesn’t bang out a beauty. Stay healthy legend.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FLEX</strong></h2>



<p><strong>Reece Walsh (Isaiah Iongi out)</strong> – The Broncos excite me this year under Madge and I&#8217;m pumped to own a piece of their backline.</p>



<p>He’s priced on a 75 point average, minus his injury impacted game last season (one point in 4 minutes) he averaged 81.15 points.</p>



<p>He also averaged 80 points per game in 2023 in a sign of potential bigger things to come.</p>



<p>Interestingly though if I swap him for my mega POD 1% owned <strong>Keano Kini</strong> but with Kini not due a price rise until Round 4, I&#8217;ve got a bit of time to watch and assess which of the three fullbacks I can trade to him if I want him. I won&#8217;t be shy about trading one of these three guns either should Iongi or anyone else emerge as a &#8216;must&#8217; after the first two rounds. The beauty of the flex is I can get any player at any position too.</p>



<p>That’s me for this week troops. Best of luck with the pre season sand hills and gym sessions. </p>



<p>Don’t forgot to take the boys for a beer or two to unwind and form that crucial bond that could win you a title. I’ll be back soon for more footy chat!</p>


Updated NRL Supercoach team reveal: Spy drops his updated squad

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