Tim Williams
SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'
Captain’s Challenge: Skipper and VC options to target
We run the rule over the best captain and vice-captain options to select in Round 2.
Captain's Challenge
March 19, 2020
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Captaincy selection is absolutely vital to SuperCoach success.
Across the course of the season, thousands of places can be made up simply in selecting the right man to wear the armband.
And while often there may be an obvious choice (Payne Haas….), this creates enormous opportunity to pick a POD skipper to gain ground on rivals.
Importantly, unique captaincy selection can aid head-to-head players in making up quick points if they find themselves behind in a match-up.
Here’s who we like for Round 2.
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Embed from Getty ImagesCAPTAINS
PAYNE HAAS
Haas is the obvious option each week, especially considering he looks set for an 80-minute role at this stage of the season.
Despite this, don’t forget we’d also locked in Damien Cook, Jason Taumalolo and James Tedesco as set-and-forget captains last season at different stages, but that changed all the time.
Haas knocked out 74 points last week, with 30 tackles, 19 runs and six tackle breaks… fair dinkum, animal.
He’s only scratching the surface of his SuperCoach potential and is the safest option each round.
I’m not convinced on South Sydney’s middle forwards this year, so he could do plenty of damage on Friday night at Suncorp.
DAMIEN COOK
Cook looks a great option this week for those steering away from Haas.
In two games against the Broncos last season he scored 106 and 109.
Suncorp Stadium is made for SuperCoach scoring, and the dry weather should make for an extremely fast track early in the season, bringing Cook right into the action.
The only hesitancy is that he looked fixated on organising and creating through ball-playing in Round 1, which impacted his running game, recording only three carries.
Regardless, he’s worth the risk and could go huge.
DAVID FIFITA
I honestly believe Fifita is a viable alternative to Haas each week.
It’s a riskier option, but with greater upside.
He managed 75 points last week, and yes, it included a try and linebreak, but it could well be the usual for this monster.
His base won’t come close to Haas, but his attacking output is far higher on an edge.
In friendly match-ups (not particularly South Sydney), Fifita is a great POD choice over his popular teammate.
Playing on the same edge against the Rabbitohs last week, Wade Graham jagged a try for the Sharks.
It’s advised to play safe with Haas this week, but keep Fifita seriously in mind each round.
Embed from Getty ImagesJASON TAUMALOLO
Big JT is a safe option each week, having not scored under 50 last season aside from one injury impacted game.
He’ll be fairly popular this week for anyone going against Haas, but of these four men mentioned he’s my least favoured.
Canterbury showed how resilient their defence was against Parramatta last week, following on from the back end of last season.
They’ll likely do the same to North Queensland, with a dour affair again on the cards.
JT scored 67 against them in Round 24 last year, and his scoring may be limited a touch again this week.
NO GUTS, NO GLORY
KALYN PONGA
Ponga looked sharp in the season opener, bashing out an impressive 81 points.
This included 19 runs that led to 36 base points, taking some risk away from the decision to name him captain.
The massive appeal this week is that he’ll be attacking the entirely new Tigers right edge combination of Benji Marshall, Luciano and Joey Leilua and David Nofoaluma.
All men have had serious defensive deficiencies in the past, so it looks a SuperCoach gold mine this year, or at least early on as they learn each other’s game.
That side will be Ponga’s preferred left edge to attack on, which could lead to big points.
Embed from Getty ImagesMITCHELL MOSES
Moses can’t take a trick in SuperCoach.
He had one poor week against a resilient Bulldogs outfit in Round 1, in wet conditions with a new combination on his edge, and the pitch forks are out.
In what is predicted to be dry conditions this week, he faces a Titans outfit that were horrendous against Canberra last week, with halves Jack Wighton (91) and George Williams (58) delivering the goods.
I do believe the Eels will target the left edge via Dylan Brown to attack the frailty of Ash Taylor and Bryce Cartwright, but Moses will still see his fair share of ball.
Don’t be put off by last week, Moses should come good.
It’s a massive risk, but potentially one worth taking if you’ve got the kahunas.
Embed from Getty ImagesVICE CAPTAINS
Unfortunately popular choices Haas and Cook play on Friday night at 8pm in the third game of the round, while Taumalolo is on Thursday night in the opener.
This basically leaves us the Cowboys v Bulldogs and Dragons v Panthers to choose a VC from.
If you own Nathan Cleary, lock him in. The Red V were rubbish last week, Cleary was not. He could go big…
In his past two clashes with the Dragons he scored 85 and 76 points, and that was with James Maloney taking plenty of ball off him.
Benji Marshall put 94 points on the Dragons last week.
Other options include Viliame Kikau (provided he starts), Api Koroisau and Valentine Holmes.
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