Weekly Wrap: Round 19 highs, lows and shocks

How did we all fare after that debacle of a round?

A number of outs even before a ball was kicked had owners scrambling to cover spots.

It didn’t get much easier come kick off with even more withdrawing from games.

And as it was Round 19, I’d say most of you reading this weren’t flush with trades!

So if you managed a somewhat decent score or even won your head-to-head match I say well done.

DISCOUNT! Prices have dropped to just $10 for our NRL SuperCoach subscription package. Help support the future of the site by signing up to SC Playbook for extra weekly content and access to our subscriber special podcast.

Embed from Getty Images

I’m sure Tom Trbojevic won’t be on too many of your Christmas card lists as the Manly fullback was awful in his comeback.

It was near comical how bad it was by the end of it with most signing off SuperCoach 2020 when he left the field with a shoulder injury.

I was a keen watcher of the Overlord’s side this week, as he continues his meteoric rise in the rankings.

When your luck’s in it’s in! Playing Jaxson Palo and watching him score a try that shouldn’t have been awarded just about sums up his year.

If you are a subscriber and haven’t had much luck go your way this year I know exactly where it’s gone!

As we are approaching Round 20, I’d be very surprised if anyone has any trades left so the spuds you have at the moment are the ones you will finish with!

So a quick shout out to Fanitesi Niu for your two weeks of a 50 and 19. Fuimaono from the Dragons for one week of 75 then nothing of value since and Josh Schuster who provided me with one score of 30 and was the sole reason I don’t have Jarome Luai anymore!

Embed from Getty Images

Rabbitohs v Bulldogs

It was supposed to be a Thursday night carve up for the Rabbitohs but the Bulldogs turned up with other ideas. The Rabbits were very flat to begin with a good shout saying that it was all Bennet’s doing to ensure the Broncos finished last!

Despite the loss, Walker, Murray and Cook were all good with the three scoring in excess of 70. Murray would have scored 180 had Josh Jackson not decided to be a tackling behemoth on the night, bringing Murray down short of the line on two occasions.

Jaxson Paulo finished the night on 69 for those who may have held the Rabbitohs winger and were forced to play due to the number of outs this weekend.

Thankfully he was wearing white boots and the touch judge didn’t see his foot in bay 13 as he scored a try and finished with a respectable 69.

Embed from Getty Images

Cowboys v Panthers 

A mouth-watering match up for the minor premiers taking on the Cowboys who’ve all but checked out of the 2020 season.

Whilst the scores weren’t through the roof, the main SuperCoach offenders were doing everything.

Cleary was okay and if it wasn’t for a loose ball, he would have been lucky to crack 60. Crichton, Mansour and To’o all found the stripe to score well, but it was big Viliame Kikau who was the reason for a few sore bodies in the Cowboys sheds. He powered his way to 104.

Jarome Luai continues to score well since being dropped by me and I’d say a number of others a few weeks back. He has a five round average of around 87. Big scores at the right time of year!

James Fisher-Harris unfortunately returned to his early season form scoring 47 after some big scores previously. Taumalolo returned but without so much of a whimper, getting through 40 minutes for his 37 points.

The big concern for the Panthers and their owners will be whether Cleary decides to rest 1, 2, 12 or all 17 of his players as they’re up against the Bulldogs next week and have wrapped up top spot. Team list Tuesday is going to be a beauty!

Embed from Getty Images

Eels v Broncos

The Eels may have cemented a spot in the top 4 which is near criminal after the way they have been playing the last month or so. I’m just a salty Manly supporter who wishes the Eels nothing but failure.

However they can drop out with a loss to the Tigers if the Raiders beat the Sharks.

Pat Carrigan will be my fist picked for 2021. He is an absolute workhorse and one that you can just lock down 60-70 points week in week out.

Staggs was okay without any attacking stats. He managed to force two dropouts helping his score of 55, but he just doesn’t have that higher ceiling that other centres do at the moment, likely due to the guys around him. He could go big against the Cowboys.

Moses and Gutherson were the two picks for the Eels with Gutho hitting 114, his first triple figure score since Round 8. Moses has a pretty good matchup next week v the Tigers and could post two big scores to close out the year.

Unfortunately for David Fifita owners his short but eventful season is over with an ankle injury. His last three weeks have been underwhelming so he should be ripe for a lower price come season 2021 playing for the Titans.

Embed from Getty Images

Sea Eagles v Titans

Not much to report out of this game. Cherry-Evans was good scoring a try and finishing with 86. AJ Brimson was back to his best with two tries and two linebreaks scoring an even 100. Oh yeah, Tommy Trbojevic returned also after a 14 week layoff and scored 12, did his shoulder and went off in the 62nd minute..

So yeah not too much bearing on my week. Just a score of 12 as a captain in the preliminary finals, nothing to be worried about. Oh and he’s not going to play next week. Cool. Cool, cool, cool.

Being a staunch Manly fan I was always bringing him in regardless. I just feel for those out there that did it looking for points! There will be some money sitting on the bench next week for owners!

Embed from Getty Images

Storm v Tigers

Unsurprisingly the points continued on Saturday arvo when Melbourne put the Tigers through the ringer.

If it wasn’t for Harry Grant in the middle Melbourne would have piled on 80. He’s only 22, but with the way he plays it might be sensible to tee up a sponsorship with Elastoplast. The boy has some strapping!

The frustrating thing about this game was although Melbourne scored 50 points, Cam Munster might as well have paid for a general admission ticket and watched the whole thing because he did slot of watching as he only scored 44.

The SuperCoach stars of the night were Jarome Hughes, Nicho Hynes and Cameron Smith with the trio piling on the SuperCoach points.

Hughes was super scoring 108 pre updates whilst Smith did his thing and finished with 80.

After Smith touched down for his 49th try, Craig Bellamy did what all New South Wales fans have thought of doing by looking Cameron Smith square in the eye and gving him the bird. You love to see it! 

After copping Turbo’s 12 I was eagerly anticipating a safe 60 odd from the man who has provided all year.

David Nofoaluma. David had other ideas and was barley sighted in the first 40 minutes. Or 80 for that matter and finished with a miserable 25 and what appeared to be a lower leg injury.

So thanks for a hell of a ride for 2020 David! I’d be surprised to see him named next week.

Embed from Getty Images

Roosters v Sharks

Like a brave young toddler, the Roosters without their teddy were still very, very good. Although it didn’t really come across in SuperCoach scoring.

Joey Manu was a star in the one jersey and would be a fullback at most teams. He updated nicely to 102 and that included a sin-bin.

Angus Crichton and Luke Keary scored well finishing with 53 and 65, but you can just see the Chooks getting through their work and are set to peak for the finals.

For the Sharks it was disaster as poor SJ went down with a snapped Achilles ruling him out for up to eight months.

It’s a real dagger in the Sharks’ slim finals hopes and as an owner for most of the year, he has been a star and has got many out of head-to-head battles this year so thank you.

I’m not sure the weekly wrap on the SC Playbook website would be high on your readings whilst in hospital, but if you see this get well soon!  

With SJ out the Sharks become very SuperCoach irrelevant. They’re an ugly side both in football terms and looks. Some of the heads running around wouldn’t look out of place at a Halloween costume party.

Embed from Getty Images

Raiders v Warriors

If I’m a coach of a good side and am going to play the Raiders soon I’ll be taking a leaf out of the Warriors books and ruffling some feathers.

The Raiders look mightily out of sorts and if it wasn’t for a couple of opportunistic tries, they would have found themselves in a bit of trouble.

Josh Papalii was somewhat underwhelming in decent minutes.

In a FRF position that has been so unpredictable, Papalii just hasn’t churned out the consistent scores owners need.

As was Bateman who tried all game but failed to come up with any attacking stats. He got his arm caught awkwardly in a tackle and from initial reports, it looked like amputation was the only option.

He powered through though and declared himself fit for next week in a grade 2 carry on.

Jazz Tevaga needs to stop putting his head where it shouldn’t be, only amassing 38 points with a HIA for about the third week in a row, adding to the frustration of owners.

RTS’s season appears over, succumbing to a hamstring injury which is unfortunate, not only for SuperCoach owners, but for the general public.

He finished the year with the most runs and most meters of any player.

It would have been great to see him cap off 2020 with a win in the final round.. Oh hang on, they’re up against Manly.. Try again next year fellas!

Embed from Getty Images

Knights v Dragons

Thankfully the fans got their way and got McGregor sacked. It’s made heaps of difference to the Dragons in both attack and defence. They are such a different team now he is gone.. Not!

For the Knights, K Ponga bounced back after missing last week due to being a cat and not wanting to play the Roosters.

He finished with 82 points with a try and two try-assists, but he was outshone by another of last week’s cats in Zac Lomax who went huge, scoring 126.

Lomax bagged a double, including a super effort to shrug off about four Knights players.

CTWs like him are hard to come by so you have to ride the highs and lows. He will finish the year with an average of around 66 so he has done his job for us all.