NRL Supercoach team reveal: Spy drops his 2025 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>Below I’ve jotted down my pre-season train on squad for 2025 along with some key notes.</p>



<p>I have actually spent a pretty substantial amount of time tinkering with combinations and squad structure and I might just be somewhat close to how it will look for round 1, but of course round 1 team lists will have there say.</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 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>Connor Watson</strong> – Looks like he will be a crucial man for the injury impacted Roosters and I like the idea of starting with him and then moving to Harry Grant when the time is right. \</p>



<p>Dual position means we can also move him around as needed and open up the hooking position without having to necessarily trade him out.</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</strong> – Lets see if his role increases at the Tigers and he can make some coin.</p>



<p>Placeholder as my 2<sup>nd</sup> bench spot.</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.</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>Samuela Fainu</strong> – I owned this kid for a large part of last year and he was sneaky productive. What I like about him is that Benji appears to trust him and I think he is a genuine talent. </p>



<p>He does have a couple of scores around 40 and one 25 score in his 80 minutes games, but he also had four scores above 82. He is not a lock for me but at a PPM of 0.75 this would equate to an average of 60 if he sticks to 80 minutes and he is on the up. The draw and lack of early byes is another tick.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p><strong>Kelma Tuilagi</strong> – Very point scoring conducive in 2024 was Kelma. He would need to nab the starting role and I want some sort of chance that he is playing 80 minutes. A PPM of .87 equates to just on 70 as an average across the whole game. In four full games in 2024 he scored 297 at 74.25. Has the upside, but does he have the role?</p>



<p>Placeholders for my 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> bench spot until we get team news. Both cheapies.</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>Sandon Smith</strong> – He is definitely in my side and I am a very big fan of his game. Stationed at bench HB for the moment. I believe it was two full games in the halves last yr for scores of 88 and 51. Dual position a huge bonus also.</p>



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



<p><strong>Lachlan Galvin</strong> – This is my most contentious position. I also like Luai, Te Maire Martin, Weekes and of course Luke Metcalf. </p>



<p>Decision to follow closer to kick off but it must be said that I was writing this article and had Luai named, but I was sitting on the couch a few hours later and it just occurred randomly to me that I need Galvin in my team. </p>



<p>He scores in so many different ways, is one of the busiest blokes on the field and he is quite simply a gun. Can he continue on an upward trajectory or will he stall a little momentarily? </p>



<p>I think I’ll have him unless someone like Metcalf screams must buy to start the year at a cheaper price. Ideally he will add consistent attack to his ridiculous base.</p>



<p><strong>Latu Fainu</strong> – The idea here is to basically have a bloke who won’t play in my side for me but if Jarome or Galvin get hurt I think he will come straight into the halves and the kid can really play! </p>



<p>Literally the only issue I have is that he probably plays off the bench which could lead to annoying auto-emergency scores, but in the early season they are likely to exist anyway and that score would hopefully drop out if I ever opt to captaincy loop. </p>



<p>Also just a personal opinion but they could slot him somewhere into the starting 13 he is that talented. </p>



<p>The 13 jersey wouldn’t totally shock me. Otherwise I’m happy with him outside the 17 in real life and ready to step into the halves when needed. If on the bench I’ll assess come team lists. For what it is worth we do have one extra player this year so can we just consider that one nuff in the side which changes nothing from previous years in terms of money making? </p>



<p>Essentially you are playing with the exact same structure as previous years with one random nuff added in. Save the money for playing options and let the&nbsp;other normal bench guys make the cash rather then trying to find yet another cheapie who may not exist. </p>



<p>Unless of course then is an obvious option sitting there at bench 5/8th. Shout out to Supercoach Krupt for this discussion.</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>Lehi Hopoate –</strong> The theme of my side is backing in talent and this youngster is a star. </p>



<p>Not only that but he would flip to FB if god forbid Turbo goes down again. He is the kind of guy that the game just comes to and good things happen. </p>



<p>With Brooks now a year into his Manly career I hope the left edge will improve again, although Brooks’ passing game to unlock a backline has never been great he can hopefully roll through Turbo out the back. </p>



<p>Really happy to start with him as a POD with Manly&#8217;s early home games. He would become Kiraz if money allowed and if absolutely necessary I can drop him down to an even cheaper option but at the moment he looks good in the ‘Cheers’ starting 13.</p>



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



<p>All dependant on Team list Tuesday but at the moment I have <strong>Purdue, Jesse Mclean </strong>and <strong>Robert Toia</strong>. I don’t really care to much until we know who is going to play.</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>Isaiah Iongi –</strong> Here is the biggest question of them all. At the moment he looks the go because it allows me balance across the squad and therefore less trades in trying to get to my near perfect 17. </p>



<p>Interestingly though if I swap him for my mega POD 1% owned <strong>Keano Kini</strong> then I just need to swap Lehi Hopoate for a basement cheapie. That’s tempting!! But I’m not getting locked in yet until I know teams because the squad balance may change and I’m staying flexible.</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>


NRL Supercoach Team reveal: Spy drops his 2025 squad

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