Nick Moon
Self-proclaimed funny guy
Weekly Wrap: Highs, lows and shocks, Rd 8
Check out our Round 8 NRL SuperCoach wrap, with a huge range of scores making for big movements in the overall rankings.
Weekly Wrap
May 3, 2021
Fresh off my debut on the SC Playbook podcast I was inundated with congratulatory messages. Well two in fact, thanks to Mum and my brother, your kind words meant a lot!!
The SuperCoach scoring just seems to get better and better with every week, but somehow yours truly just always misses the boat.
Some massive performances this week from the likes of Clint Gutherson, Sam Walker, Jamayne Isaako and Brian To’o meant scores were high. If you were able to jag the right captain you should be seeing green arrows.
Hopefully you were also able to avoid the injury carnage that was Round 8. Some big names went down with some longer-term injuries, making trades even harder when you have to cover injuries you didn’t plan for. My advice, just don’t get injured. Simple!
For me, I’ll be looking to sure up my front-row, CTW, second-row and hooking positions by somehow only making 2 trades.
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Embed from Getty ImagesRaiders v Rabbitohs
The scoreboard attendants were busy on a chilly Thursday night in Canberra, but that didn’t translate to the SuperCoach world unfortunately.
The big concern out of this match was the lower leg injury to Cam Murray which is set to rule him out for the next month or so and the hand injury Adam Reynolds picked up. Both are now trades.
What that means for Cody Walker, only Wayne Bennet knows. He has linked up superbly all year with Reynolds so a lot of the attack will now be at Cody’s disposal.
Alex Johnston found the stripe again to back up last week’s 94 against the Titans with 74 and looks a hold for those owners
Jai Arrow may benefit from Murray’s absence and could be a good POD move over the next month whilst I’m after Gordon Ramsey’s number if anyone has it? I’ve got a Cook problem that doesn’t seem to be doing anything.
Minute Watch – Tapine 32, James 23, Harawira-Naera 80, Arrow 43
Embed from Getty ImagesStorm v Sharks
I’m not sure what Bellamy said at halftime on Friday night but after trying to write the wrap up after the 752 beers I had on Saturday night, I might need the same rev up.
The Melbourne boys kicked into sixth gear in the second half, putting on seven tries which had to be enough with Cam Munster leaving his goal-kicking boots behind.
Munster was quiet despite the large score line finishing the night with only 51, whilst popular trade target and what appears to be all round good guy Nicho Hynes banged out 69 to go with last week’s 98.
It remains to be seen whether he plays next week if Ryan Papenhuyzen returns, but if he is named he will make owners a stack of cash.
Harry Grant is now a must judging on him getting his first start for 2021. He will take on a fired up Rabbitohs but he will surely finish 2021 being the highest scoring hooker.
Minute Watch – Grant 68, B Smith 48, Welch 55
Embed from Getty ImagesBroncos v Titans
It seems now everyone playing SuperCoach has David Fifita, so when he puts out a performance like the one he did on Friday night we can all live with it.
He was centimetres away from scoring a couple tries so his 66 could well have been 106 but there is no doubting he was kept quiet which means his floor is around 70. Absolute gun.
Owners of Corey Thompson and Brian Kelly found out the hard way how fickle SuperCoach can be after Thompson picked up a leg injury in the 42nd minute shifting Brian Kelly to the wing. Thompson finished with 23 after two 100+ scores in the past three weeks, whilst Kelly managed 34.
TPJ looks to be settling to his role on the right edge and has benefited from a few solid 80 minute performances. Look for his ownership to skyrocket in the coming weeks.
Minute Watch – Haas 62, Lodge 46, Riki 80, TPJ 80
Embed from Getty ImagesPanthers v Sea Eagles
It was back to reality for this Sea Eagle after calling for a Panthers loss. The mountain men just keep finding ways to win and if it’s not Cleary standing up, someone else just does a job.
Speaking of the Unicorn, he couldn’t muster any more post update points as he finished the match with a season low of 69 much to the frustration of a number of Captainers. Is that a word? Is now.
Brian To’o would still be running around Carrington Park if it wasn’t for the full time siren going off. He scored 104 and had what seemed like 45 carries, he has a motor that Mount Panorama would be proud of.
Kurt Capewell picked up a rib injury in the match. He had been on a downward spiral and now looks a sell, dependent on how long he could be out for.
As for the SC Playbook’s favourite player Tommy Turbo, 69 against a red-hot Panthers side says a lot. Lock him in for the next month and bear the fruits of some huge scores.
Minute Watch – Koroisau 60, JFH 59, Kikau 48, Capewell 41
Embed from Getty ImagesBulldogs v Eels
I’m here to come clean and apologise for my consistent bagging of both the Eels and Clint Gutherson.
It brings me joy to watch them lose, but they are absolutely flying this year and a lot of that has to do with Gutho. If you had said by Round 8 Gutherson would be the highest scoring fullback in SuperCoach I would have called you an idiot and walked away. But that’s the reality.
A three round average of 122 and you would assume he plays Round 13. The question is though, who do you trade him for? Teddy has a great run coming up, as does Turbo, whilst Papenhuyzen could be back this week.
As for Isaiah Papali’i, every time he scores or sets up a try I cry a little inside. It’s like watching the train you should have been on leave the station, it makes for tough viewing knowing I said two weeks ago he couldn’t keep up the form.
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Hats off if you are an owner though as he knocked out 125, his third 100+ score in the past four games.
Maika Sivo appears to be back in the frame as a CTW gun, scoring 99 on Saturday and backing up his monster 157 from last weekend. He has a BE of -47 so it’s still worth getting him in if interested.
Minute Watch – Thompson 56, Waddell 71, Paulo 42, Papali’i 69, Matterson 80, Cartwright 44
Knights v Roosters
Devastating scenes in the Roosters sheds with Brett Morris coming to the realisation his NRL career appears over.
As bad as it is, some part of me thinks the Roosters might have some shares in RPA knee reconstruction clinic. My god they have been cursed with ACLs of late with Lindsay Collins set to join Morris in the rehab facility.
Whilst all eyes were on Morris, the night really belonged to Sam Walker! What an absolute star! 163 points in a rout of Newcastle, I mean this kid is 18-years-old.
He can’t drive with more than one passenger after 11pm and probably gets the Lynx gift pack as a birthday present.
Forget the enormous price rises, he is a lock for the year and won’t be getting traded out anytime soon.
Ponga wasn’t great scoring 41 and now plays the Raiders, Tigers and Cowboys in the coming three weeks. Look for him and Barnett to score well.
Watson still looks a hold to me, notching up 59 in a well beaten side in 46 minutes.
Minute Watch – Watson 46, Klemmer 62, Tupouniua 73, SST 45
Embed from Getty ImagesWarriors v Cowboys
Gun cheapie Josh Curran proved his worth with a huge performance, netting him 66 whilst Warriors half Kodi Nikorima exploded scoring 112 which was his third 100+ score of the year.
Unfortunately though he backs it up with 20s and 30s so if he can show some consistency he may be a POD.
RTS was again superb and now if it wasn’t for the form of Gutherson, Turbo etc, would be a lock for the FLB position.
I might even throw him in at some stage this year just for old time’s sake, knowing he won’t be here next year.
For the Cowboys, Jason Taumalolo was quiet in his return game scoring only 39. He could be a handy 18th man in the back end of the year if you can get him cheap.
Minute Watch – Taumalolo 45, Condon 70, Curran 80, Harris 80, Tevaga 27
Embed from Getty ImagesDragons v Tigers
I’m not laying the poor form of the Dragons on any one individual, but they were four from five when Josh Maguire turned up at the club.
Zac Lomax appeared to have busted his thumb, no good for scrolling TikTok nor is it if you want to play footy. He could miss up to six weeks depending on the severity so is a now a sell for owners unfortunately.
Ben Hunt was underwhelming in his return match from injury, doing nothing for my credentials on the SC Playbook podcast where I talked him up as a good trade option.
As for the Tigers, they finally showed some grit and were rewarded with a victory. A huge performance from Daine Laurie scoring his first 100+ score of his short career with 119.
I’ll be holding until after Origin where he will be an upgrade option to a year-long keeper.
David Nofoaluma was also very quiet, with the winger unable to cross the line. He must have stolen some shoes off someone or owes some of the middle forwards some money because they just don’t want to get him involved.
Minute Watch – Utoikamanu 35, Twal 57, Simpkin 56
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