WelcOme TO kfc
Team maDe Of POinT Of Difference Players
DO YOU trust the KFC NRL SuperCoach hivemind?
For the most part, I’d say yes, but then I see Ray Stone (29.4 per cent) and Jack Howarth (24.8 per cent) among the most owned players destined for low or no minutes and shake my head. If you want to play it safe, check the percentage ownership using SuperCoach Plus and follow the team template with big guns Nathan Cleary and James Tedesco the most popular top-dollar buys.
That’s a perfectly viable and safe strategy to stick with the pack early until we’ve got enough information to make solid calls on which teams are on the up in 2023.
I usually lean the other way and like to roll the dice on more than a few (points of difference) PODs, knowing I’m running the risk of falling behind but I’m also a chance of pushing ahead early.
Here is my POD squad for 2023, with a player in each position tracking at under 10 per cent ownership who could give you the edge.
hOOker DAMIEN COOK (3.5%)
He’s not getting the respect or ownership he deserves from KFC SuperCoaches but Cook finished just 50 points behind Harry Grant overall in 2022. Yet he is somehow being completely overlooked despite his proven point-scoring and durability over the past five seasons. The Rabbitohs’ draw is not particularly favourable but they are one of the most settled teams in the competition and don’t have a bye until round 15. I think they’ll start strong, with running man Cook in the thick of the points.
MOST OWNED
Brandon Smith (49 per cent), Ray Stone (29.4 per cent), Harry Grant (25.6 per cent), Tanah Boyd (24.1 per cent)
frOnT rOw JAKE TRBOJEVIC (4%)
Prior to Des Hasler’s return to Manly in 2019, Jake was the leading Trbojevic in KFC SuperCoach. The past four seasons saw his scores decrease dramatically, with Hasler wanting him to pass more than run. He averaged 13 hitups per game in 2018, just seven in 2022.
He is coming off a 50PPG average in 2022, his worst season since breaking through in 2015. How does Anthony Seibold plan on using him? Surely it’s more than seven hitups a game – he managed 15 hitups in his two State of Origin games last year. I see good value here and a handy dual-position status.
MOST OWNED
Stefano Utoikamanu (35.6 per cent), Franklin Pele (25.5 per cent), Joseph Tapine (22.7 per cent), Reuben Cotter (22.5 per cent), Christian Welch (21.8 per cent)
secOnD rOw JASON TAUMALOLO (7%)
Taumalolo had an injuryaffected game and two other where Todd Payten didn’t use him in the second half in 2022, pulling his average down to 57.7PPG. Looking the fittest he’s been after a horrid run of hand injuries in 2021. Taumalolo and the Cowboys have a great draw and don’t have a bye until round 15, giving you a consistent mid60PPG scorer with attacking upside.
MOST POPULAR
Josh Schuster (54.7 per cent), J’maine Hopgood (49.3 per cent), Cameron Murray (29.8 per cent), Ray Stone (29.4 per cent), Jack Howarth (24.8 per cent), David Fifita (20.3 per cent)
halfBack SAM WALKER (8%)
If you’re not reaching for both the top-shelf options in Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes, then Walker shapes as the next-best option for me. There was a bit of secondseason syndrome about his start to last year, averaging 52PPG over the first 16 rounds but he stormed home postOrigin with 73.5PPG in the last eight games. With fixtures against the Dolphins and Warriors in the first two rounds, he could well continue that form and help you burst out of the blocks.
MOST POPULAR
Nathan Cleary (52 per cent), Nicho Hynes (30 per cent), Isaiya Katoa (24.7 per cent), Tanah Boyd (24.1 per cent)
fiVe-eighTh ALEXANDER BRIMSON (2.5%)
There is serious merit in picking either Cody Walker (6.1 per cent) or Tom Dearden (2.8 per cent) because, as mentioned above, both the Rabbitohs and Cowboys are very settled, attack-minded teams that don’t hit a bye until round 15. However, the man I really like for a roll of the dice here is AJ Brimson, who slots in at fullback for the Titans. He plays the Dragons twice, and the Tigers, Broncos and Dolphins in the opening rounds, all games that scream plenty of points to me.
MOST POPULAR
Josh Schuster (54.5 per cent), Matt Burton (32.9 per cent), Isaiya Katoa (24.3 per cent), Adam Doueihi (22.9 per cent)
cenTre/winger NICK MEANEY (4.1%), CAMPBELL GRAHAM (2%), ISAIAH TASS (0.5%)
CTW is the position you can take a real swing with PODs. Most teams will load in a stack of cheapies here with room for maybe one top player or two mid options at most. With Ryan Papenhuyzen confirming he’s even further off than expected, Nick Meaney will have the Storm fullback spot and goalkicking duties with a sweet draw until at least round 9. It’s a gamble worth taking if you don’t have Melbourne coverage elsewhere in your team. If you’re looking for a more reliable option, Rabbitohs centres Isaiah Tass (33 base a game) and Campbell Graham (37 base a game) were among the top CTW options for base stats in 2022. The upside is there for both, with their try strike-rates easy to improve on – Tass had two tries in 13 games while Graham had five tries in 17 games in 2022.
MOST POPULAR
Paul Alamoti (47.5 per cent), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (44.5 per cent), Charnze NicollKlokstad (37.6 per cent), Valentine Holmes (30.3 per cent), Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (30.2 per cent), Jack Howarth (24.8 per cent)
fullBack LACHLAN MILLER (7.1%)
This isn’t a position I’d be mucking about with too much. James Tedesco is highly owned for good reason as the most consistent KFC SuperCoach performer. Tom Trbojevic has the highest ceiling of any player. You can trust the crowd here. If Tedesco’s early bye or Turbo’s injury history turn you off, look at Latrell Mitchell (15.4 per cent), who hit new heights coming back from injury last year. If you really want to POD up, try Lachlan Miller at the Knights. He has only six games at NRL level with the Sharks so it’s hard to get a good read but he did bust tackles on 61 per cent of his runs. That screams KFC SuperCoach gold and the Knights have a nice opening draw. Dual-position status gives nice flexibility too.
MOST POPULAR
James Tedesco (42 per cent), Tom Trbojevic (35.5 per cent).