Final Word: Rd 11, key trade + tactical advice

• CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE: Who to skipper in Round 11?
• STAT ANALYSIS: Vital numbers to beat the best

What a Magic Round for Cleary owners it was! 

Expect some big Supercoach scores with the new rule interpretations. 

I know it’s maybe not popular opinion, but I actually do believe in what the NRL are doing with the crackdown to contact to the head. 

With two boys around the teenage years playing rugby league I think it’s a great thing they are trying to make the game safer. 

It’s a great game and as much as a a lot of people love some brutality and violence, I think the game can thrive without it. 

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It is still going to be tough to play at the highest level, just hopefully less dangerous to a player’s long term health than in past years. 

Anyway, back to Supercoach and I was a happy Cleary captainer! I also had Nicho Hynes and have ridden his meteoric price rises so I’ve rocketed up the leaderboard into the 3000s. Within striking distance in a season like this. 

Listening to Timmy Williams talk about the number of trades he’s using and saving over the bye periods which are upcoming really got me thinking that a lot of players are probably going to exhaust their trades and be found wanting at the back end of the Supercoach year. 

I’m not sure if I’m back in the race for overall or still focussing on a couple of head-to-head comps. Doing both will be hard and saving trades might actually be critical for both styles of competition. 

With the record send-offs and sin-bins last weekend we have some juicy match ups against decimated teams. 

Some SC players refuse to trade back in players after they’ve traded them out. I’ve never really had an issue with it if the circumstances suit and that’s what I’m considering for both Teddy and Brandon Smith this weekend. 

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PODs & Super PODS 

After ten rounds here’s the players I’ve identified as PODs (Point of Difference players – less than 10% owned) and Super PODS (less than 2% owned) that should be on your radar. 

I’ve listed them in ranking order of who I believe is the best to take the risk on: 

PODs (My top 5 ranked) 

1. Nicho Hynes – Has made over $311k for owners who picked him up at $271k and is set for more huge rises. Munster and Papi injury concerns means he’s set for 80 minutes in at least two out of the next three games. You’ve got to go with the hot hand surely?

2. Jahrome Hughes – Absolutely unlucky to be knocked off the perch as best POD with a five round average of 100. But his teammate Hynes is on fire! I’m not sure Sam Walker is a sell yet, but maybe the time is coming soon and Hughes looms as the obvious choice to replace him. 

3. Jason Taumololo – Only a 53 on the weekend, but the 67 minutes was the most exciting part. We know the attacking stats will come if Lolo keeps getting the big minutes from Payton. He doesn’t play the first bye, but he’s a good number for Round 17 and a keeper for the year.  

4. Kodi Nikorima – At the start of the year I thought Kodi Nikorima was in for a career Supercoach season and so far he has had one. No doubt it’s been helped by the fact that he is goal-kicking, however Kodi looks good and currently has the second most Supercoach points of any 5/8^th  in the comp. The Warriors have a good draw for the next 4-6 weeks and traditionally the Origin period is when the side makes up ground on the competition. 

5. Daly Cherry-Evans – I understand Origin commitments will put many people off DCE, but he must be considered seriously. DCE has scored 2 x 100+ games in the last month and the Manly upcoming draw is insanely soft once the Sea Eagles get past the Eels this weekend. 

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Super PODs (My top 5 ranked)

1. Adam Doueihi – Forget about 5/8^th, the lad is a centre and a good one at that. You have to pay outrageous money for him but there is no doubt he has the hot hand at the moment. 

2. Matt Ikuvalu – Noone is challenging Ikavalu’s position anytime soon and he gets a spot on the right wing for a Roosters side with Teddy and Sam Walker. Get on!

3. Cade Cust – He has some Supercoach pedigree in the past and gets a crack at the vacant Manly 5/8^th position after Foran broke his hand. Many thought Schuster would be a walk up start, but Hasler has gone with the energetic Cust and he may just prove a masterstroke Super POD for Supercoaches. 

4. Haumole Olakau’atu – Passes the eye test big time and as mentioned previously, Manly have a soft upcoming draw. Be wary Curtis Sironen is due back sometime soon and may push out Haumole or Josh Schuster. 

5. Phoenix Crossland – I spruiked him last week and despite the Knights getting a touch up from the Tigers he delivered for Supercoaches and left Tyson Gamble in the shade. Surely he keeps his spot and gets a good run at the halfback position? 

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CLOSE WATCH

New segment listing the players to keep a close watch on over the next month for their Supercoach prospects:

1. Chanel Harris-Tavita – Has been very impressive in his two games upon return and the Warriors were really good late after getting ambushed early by a hot Parramatta side. The Tigers are a good match up for the Warriors and CHT is definitely one to watch. Close watch also on whether he can regain goal-kicking duties.  

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ROUND 11 MATCH-UPS 

The Friday night Warriors vs Tigers game shapes as a pivotal one for both teams and there looks certain to be plenty of attack and Supercoach points to go round. 

The Gold Coast Titans get a good match up against the demoralised Bulldogs side and Brian Kelly and big Tino should score well. 

The Roosters match up against the hapless Broncos looks a great one for Tedesco, Sam Walker, Tupou, Ikuvalu and Radley. 

The Storm take on a depleted Raiders outfit albeit in Canberra, but it shapes as a good Supercoach scoring outing for Nicho Hynes, Hughes and all the Storm outside backs. 

CAPTAIN

James Tedesco and Sam Walker are pretty tempting and I expect Nathan Cleary will be a popular choice after breaking the record last weekend. Souths do normally get up for big games though. I like one of the Roosters, probably Teddy. Other options include Nicho Hynes and Hughes.

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TOPSPORT BETs of the WEEK

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• 2021 Results based on $10 per bet. $440 bet. $456.10 return. 

= $16.10 profit. 

Round 10 Punting Recap 

Just a real tale of what could have been with the Round 10 Bets of the week. 

Three out of four legs of the multi with the Warriors failing to get within the 7.5 start. 

The Panthers won by 36 points after clocking off early against 12 men and we missed our bet at $6 and $29 for them to win by 38+ and 51+ respectively. 

Three out of four try-scorers went over with Bailey Simonsson failing to secure the cash for the multi. 

Round 11 Best Bets (Odds courtesy of TopSport) 

To score a try multi – RTS/G Jennings/J Tedesco/V Kikau @ $18

Multi – Storm -16.5/Roosters -20.5 @ $3.70

Gamble responsibly.

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