Weekly Wrap: Highs, lows and shocks, Rd 15

And Manly are in again! Ohhh stop it it’s starting to hurt! Tom Trbojevic. Tom Trbojevic!!

Hello and welcome to the SC Playbook wrap up where I have just stolen that intro from the SC Playbook podcast, but it couldn’t be more apt!!

What a weekend of footy and Supercoach we just witnessed! Some massive scores across the board with 1,500 about par. It was a weekend for the ages with 11 players breaking 100, and of those 11, I’d say six were owned by most!

It was of course headlined by the great Tom Trbojevic as he ran riot on the Gold Coast.

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He has been that good against Queensland teams it wouldn’t surprise me if Annastacia Palaszczuk banned him from entering the state from this week onwards.

With the Rep Weekend upon us it now gives us a massive five trades for next weekend where we can move on some of that deadwood hanging around our sides.

The problem is the top players are nearing a million bucks and I know I don’t have that sort of cash lying around. We all might need to do some research and find the best PODS for the next ten games.

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Broncos v Rabbitohs

Well fans got exactly what they were after in this matchup to kick off proceedings. AJ crossed for a double, Walker was in everything and Brisbane got trounced!

AJ was a popular buy for the weekend and he repaid that faith crossing for a double, finishing with 80 points.

He couldn’t break the 100 like most would have been hoping, but he was outshone by his inside man Dane Gagai who must have had his Maroons jersey on underneath.

He scored 115 points including a try, he is a massive POD play considering the dominance the Rabbitohs left edge shows.

Campbell Graham also broke 100 but is situated in what I like to call the Adelaide of the Rabbitohs side, the right edge where no one goes. Steer clear.

Matt Lodge is hands down my most consistent for the year and managed 80 in a very well beaten side. That 80 was all base stats too. Set and forget for me for 2021 and if he gets picked up by the Warriors like reported, he’ll play Round 17 and be the perfect bye player.

The only downside to the match was the suspension to Broncos backrower TPJ. He has been on his best behaviour and I’m surprised it’s taken this long for him to sit out a few weeks. Will miss at least the next three matches so is probably a sell.

Minute watch – Lodge 76, Haas 64, TC Robati 73, Murray 69, Arrow 65

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Cowboys v Sharks

All eyes were on Siosifa Talakai for this one as he was touted as a near must-have for the next six weeks. Unfortunately for those who jumped the gun on him, he only managed 35 and played only 47 minutes. His PPM is still up but if he’s not getting 60+ minutes, I’d be steering clear.

As for the rest of the match it was a pretty dour affair in the Supercoach land, with only Kyle Feldt scoring over 80. Val Holmes managed 66 which didn’t include any assists or contributions. At $680k now, he is a bit expensive but is a near must-have for the run home. Fingers crossed he drops some coin in the process.   

Ronaldo Mulitalo is another to keep an eye on. His namesake is scoring well for Portugal, hopefully he can do the same for Cronulla. The Sharks have a pretty good run and he is a try-scorer.

He found the line on Friday and finished with 71 and had a -33 BE. He’s a downgrade option for the likes of Nofo/Laurie etc.

Minute Watch – Taumalolo 58, Robson 77, Talakai 47

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Panthers v Roosters

I can’t believe I’m writing this but I’m a non-owner of Nathan Cleary! And let me tell you Friday night was a tough, tough watch. I sold the premier halfback to bolster my side thinking he will drop in price.

Well, it’s like selling your car for two pushbikes. The bikes do the job, but you know eventually you will have to buy the car back. And it makes it all the more harder when that car is close to a million dollars! I might have to buy him back on Afterpay.

Cleary was superb on Friday. He set up two, had a hand in another and scored one himself. 140 points against a top 4 side, I’m still coming to grips with being a non-owner.

Anywho, Brian To’o rolled his Origin form into the NRL, crossing for two tries. He finished the night with 106 points and I’m told was credited 25 for writing “Sheesh” on his strapping tape. If he does that for next Sunday he will become an Origin great.

For the Chooks, only Angus Crichton was able to break 55 for the night as he scored 82. He has been picked for Origin which is no surprise so owners now have to wait to see how and if he backs up.

Teddy was quiet scoring only 55. The Chooks looked awfully lost without Walker and the amount of injuries they keep picking up, I can see them slipping out of the four. Teddy can’t do it all and owning him may result in a fall in rankings.

Minute Watch – Capewell 69, JFH 57, JWH 68, SST 70

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Knights v Warriors

Saturday 3pm was a good time for this bludger of a match to be played when most are probably still out and about. The weather wasn’t all that conducive to expansive football and the scores reflected that.

Mitch Pearce in his comeback match knocked out 80 and could be a sneaky POD for the last four weeks with Ponga back. I won’t be doing it, but someone out there might have the cahoots to do it.

If you like me have held Barnett for this long, well we might as well hold for the year! He banged out 64 which was all base, and played the full 80 on the edge. If that trend continues I’ll be a happy owner.

Watson is another that seems to be hanging around a number of teams. He Just can’t find time on the field. He scored 40 which seems about par for him for the year and especially the past six weeks.

Tohu scored 91 and will come into about 78% of non-Tohu owning teams this week. He joins my ever growing list of about 27 must haves but he is a must have. He plays Round 17 and should keep the scoring up.

Minute Watch – Barnett 80, D Saifiti 59, Watson 48, Curran 64, AFB 57

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Dragons v Raiders

Two sides here that sure know how to lose a game of footy! In this case it was the men in green as they squandered yet another halftime lead.

Ben Hunt propelled himself back into the Origin side with a scintillating performance.

He tore the Raiders apart and finished with a season high 132. I’m starting to warm to the idea of owning him in the hooker position. If the Dragons are any chance of making the 8, he’ll be the one they look to.

CHN has been another that since starting has come on in leaps and bounds. He scored two tries in the past two weeks and will be a handy number come Round 17. He finished the night with 79 and now has a three round average of 75.

Jack Bird’s move into the backrow has started to pay dividends for owners (me) with 69 on Saturday to go with the past two weeks of 96 and 53. I’ll be going into a St George Bank this week to see if the move to the backrow can be a permanent one. Oh and to renew a bank card.

Minute Watch – Bird 80, JDB 58, CHN 80, Papali’i 46

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Melbourne v Tigers

At 42 – 0, I didn’t know who had made the better start, India in the WTC Final or Melbourne. At one point I think Melbourne were outscoring the Indians!

My God the Tigers were ordinary to start this match. Imagine waiting all week to watch your side and tuning into that. That’s the same side that beat Penrith.

Despite the massive scoreline, only Jahrome Hughes scored over 100! Hughes managed his second highest score of the year with 123 points which makes not owning Cleary that little bit better.

Hynes was another that with the scoreline should have at least 150 to his name but again, they just rolled through the forwards with ease and the edge players weren’t needed!

Hynes managed to finish with 84 which included about 40 points in goals. Not enough if you decided to throw the captaincy armband on him. He is set to drop a stack of cash but with Papenhuyzen still no certainty to return next game, he is a hold for now pending Papy’s return.

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Grant and Smith were both as busy as the tee boy in this one but both seem to have picked up some injuries. Brandon scored for what seems like the 11^th week in a row and finished with 79 in only 34 minutes.

Grant scored 59 but has been ruled out of Origin due to a slight hamstring strain. I sure hope it’s slight because I am running a rehab facility in my hooking positions with Grant and Mahoney.

Even post Origin I don’t know if I would be rushing to get Munster into my side. All Melbourne’s attack seems to run through Hughes currently and he does appear to be only playing at 80% fitness.

For the Tigers, they will want to put that one behind them and quickly. Along with the other shellackings they have received this year. Laurie still continues to score well and was able to finish with 61 despite the scoreline, whilst Nofoaluma scored 42 despite barely seeing the footy.

Minute Watch – B Smith – 34 (Injury), Welch 57, Grant 45, Twal 60, Leilua 74

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Eels v Bulldogs

In another wet and miserable match, the Eels were just too good in the end for a downtrodden Bulldogs side.

The self-appointed King set two tries up late to save himself from any blushes. He finished with 93 and will take on a red-hot Panthers side backing up from Origin duties – something Clint won’t have to worry about for the rest of his career whilst Tommy Bruh is running around.

Being an Isaiah Papali’i owner is as good as it gets! What a Supercoach player he is.

He scored 89 to go with last week’s 85. If you don’t have him by now good luck. The dual position he offers at this time of year is priceless.

The form of Ryan Matterson is also a concern for owners. He has only scored above 57 once in the past six weeks. It’s a tough decision for those who have him as he doesn’t play Round 17 and is losing money fast.

For the Bulldogs, Luke Thompson has been mentioned a bit as a good option for Round 17 coverage. He only scored 42 on the weekend which included a sin-bin. I wouldn’t be rushing out to pick him up. His floor to ceiling is about 14 points difference.

Minute Watch – Matterson 59, Paulo, 39, RCG 45, Thompson 46 (sin-bin)

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Titans v Sea Eagles

We are witnessing greatness. I’m not one to jump the gun early but if that Tom Trbojevic doesn’t get given immortal status by Round 20, I’ll be up in arms!

What a Sunday the great man had! 208 points, the second highest Supercoach score ever. And a popular captaincy choice to go with it. I do know for a fact there were some out there that sold the great man. If that was you please come forward.

He has an average of 127 for the season with only two scores under 100 in his eight games. It will take some epic performances to catch Cleary but he will finish the season as the season’s highest scoring fullback.

Reuben Garrick managed a massive 156 which included five misses at goal. Between him and Jamal Fogarty, the linesman’s flags got a fair workout. Thankfully for him he scored four tries which meant we all forgot about how bad his boot was.

He comes in now at over $720k for the run home. If you don’t have him now it’s going to be very difficult to bring him in at that price.

For the Titans, David Fifita was back to his best, albeit for the first half anyway. He was on about 60 odd at the break and then finished with only 83. A lot have sold the Titans big man and he is also at $700k, so it makes it that bit harder to get him back.

Minute Watch – Tino 68, Peachy 58, Lawton 75