NRL Supercoach 2026: Round 1 must-haves and monitors

With the NRL draw released this week and the NRL Supercoach team picker incoming in December, the excitement has started to build for the 2026 season.



To deal with said excitement, I’ve cast an eye ahead to my round 1 Supercoach team and the players that’ll highly likely be in my squad, or hot on the radar throughout the pre-season.



Whether it’s through injury, change in minutes, change in role or change in club, there’s stacks of players that will be ripe for picking at bargain value to start the year.



There are players such as David Fifita and Keano Kini who loom as potential certainties, while there’s others with a few more question marks leading into the season.



I’ve taken a look at the players that I see as potential value to start the NRL Supercoach season with, including their projected starting price which is an approximate figure.



<a id='xfH3qos4QDNisns89lrzow' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2167134402' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'xfH3qos4QDNisns89lrzow',sig:'Qqk02VzxCUGMbaIkzKzePDgZe6DkoOv_li7xzqSotrs=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2167134402',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">LOOMING MUST-HAVES</h2>



DAVID FIFITA $500k



Fifita shifts to the Rabbitohs after falling out of favour with the Titans.



He’ll be under master coach Wayne Bennett who I believe will return Fifita to Origin football this season.



He averaged 50 points last season in just 48 minutes per game, down from 77 and 85 point averages in the year’s prior.



If he starts in round 1 he’ll be an absolute must, while I’d probably still pick him off the bench provided he has a decent pre-season…



CAMERON MURRAY $480k



Having played just one game of 21 minutes last season it’s very hard to gauge how the Overlords at Supercoach HQ will price Murray next season.



Regardless, he’ll be significantly discounted on his potential output and will have an entire pre-season under his belt.



He’ll be very hard to ignore at the price provided he’s starting lock in round 1 which you’d assume he will barring any setbacks.



<a id='qu7YVZviRx5BPpeg99daKQ' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2206346560' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'qu7YVZviRx5BPpeg99daKQ',sig:'65HFoJJdKSORnuRz6ZcL7Cp2dvL6QwBVZsipPaKdz_0=',w:'396px',h:'594px',items:'2206346560',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



KEANO KINI $440k



Kini is another who could be priced anywhere pending the discretion of the Overloads.



With six games under his belt he’s easier to predict than Murray, however he could be priced a little above his 45 point average given he’s the Kiwi fullback.



Kini averaged 72 points per game in the 2024 season.



With his potential output you’d near lock him in at anything sub $600k, while sub $500k would see him owned by almost 100% for round 1.



<a id='hXO1nByoSpJWBbnA3S6HVA' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2234104482' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'hXO1nByoSpJWBbnA3S6HVA',sig:'HHZImOcgFU1LS3xll7FPKIke_mmqMlzu1-592K-Z6ws=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2234104482',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">STRONG BUYS</h2>



MITCHELL MOSES $560k



With Zac Lomax departing the Eels it’ll see Moses regain the goal-kicking duties in a huge boost to his scoring.



He averaged just 56 points last season in an injury interrupted season, down on averages of 64, 68 and 70 in season’s prior.



With no Dylan Brown by his side he’ll be even more dominant next to a rookie in Jonah Pezet.



Granted he’s missed some action of late, Moses looks as though he’s coming into the prime of his NRL career.



The Eels appear a club on the up, and with Nathan Cleary and Penrith facing arguably the hardest draw to begin the season, Moses could be a nice stepping stone to the Panthers No.7.



LATRELL MITCHELL $630k



As always, Latrell will be a big pre-season watch on fitness levels.



While injury is always a concern, $630k for a player of his ability and Supercoach upside looks a steal to me.



Latrell averaged just 64 last season in another injury interrupted season that also saw him spend time at centre.



In year’s prior he averaged 89, 77, 85 and 82 points per game.



Provided he is indeed at fullback in round 1, he’ll be a serious buy hopefully with a fully fit squad around him for a change.



<a id='jigKqnnSSJ9Zv9FRNjtqnw' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2239331840' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'jigKqnnSSJ9Zv9FRNjtqnw',sig:'un7dIgt9S86utA7xzDfGTn1KxF6Vbge357WQ0rn3Gwg=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2239331840',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



BRENDAN PIAKURA $300k



I feel like we have the Piakura chat every pre-season, and typically it ends in disappointment.



Mixed form and injury saw the Broncos back-rower average just 31 points last season.



The reality is though if you can get a premiership winning forward, playing 80 minutes on the edge with attacking upside at $300k, it’s a pretty strong case to ignore.



CODY WALKER $410k



People will scoff at this suggestion after his injury riddled campaign in 2025, but Cody Walker could be a steal for round 1 at around $400k.



Pending the cheapie scene, the Bunnies playmaker could even sit in the reserve 5/8 spot early on.



While age is an issue, we saw in his limited stints last season that there’s still plenty of ability in Walker.



While it’s a big if, if he gets through the pre-season injury free and looks slick it’s a gamble I’ll be very willing to take.



ETHAN SANDERS &amp; JONAH PEZET $240k



Both young playmakers will likely start for their respective clubs and will start at near bottom dollar in Supercoach.



Dual position would be a bonus, but there’s every chance most Supercoaches will start with one if not both of the young halves in bench spots.



<a id='dveJsNPuTQFz9IOQJipgSA' class='gie-single' href='https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2170640862' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;' rel="noopener">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'dveJsNPuTQFz9IOQJipgSA',sig:'Vi3E15hugAsNenXSPxF4kNNVCHh6OVdq3Esvjztga0Y=',w:'594px',h:'398px',items:'2170640862',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">ROLE WATCH</h2>



HEILUM LUKI $400k



Luki will likely be more of a later season buy once he gets some miles in the legs on return from injury.



If he were to thrive in the pre-season and start on the edge in round 1 I’d strongly consider.



TALLYN DA SILVA $250k



Da Silva is likely to share hooking duties with Ryley Smith this season making him an avoid, but if he were to win the sole role he’d be a steal.



BAILEY HAYWARD $300k



Hayward earnt the big minute hooking role late in 2025 as the likely successor to the outgoing Reed Mahoney.



Provided he starts in round 1 as the sole hooker, he looks a quality reserve HOK to begin the season.



There are numerous variables which could impact this, but he could be a nice cheap plug.



JACOB HALANGAHU $380k



Price will be a big watch for Halangahu, as will role and bench make-up, but if he starts on the edge for the Dragons in round 1 he’s a buy with huge upside.



LATU FAINU $390k



Fainu would have to play well enough in pre-season to force Adam Doueihi into a role shift, which may be unlikely, but if he starts in the halves he’ll be a value buy.



SUA FA’ALOGO $560k



With Ryan Papenhuyzen leaving the Storm it opens the door for electrifying fullback Sua Fa’alogo to start the season in the No.1 jumper.



Probably more vital than his starting price is his positioning.



If he gets dual CTW-FLB I’d near certainly start him in round 1 in my CTW slot, if he’s listed as FLB only though he’ll be a close watch on pre-season form.

NRL Supercoach 2026: Round 1 must-haves and monitors

Discussion (0)

NRL Draw 2026: Supercoach winners and losers

BBL Supercoach squad preview | Perth Scorchers

Supercoach BBL team reveal: Tim Williams drops his Big Bash squad

BBL Supercoach squad preview | Melbourne Stars