Spy Talk: Answering the big questions, Rd 22

• SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Team insights and SuperCoach analysis, Rd 22
• CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE: Who to skipper in Round 22?

G’day Gang,

It’s been a busy week on the home front but the weather is improving, the days are moving fast and that means it’s almost time for Thursday night footy! YES!

I’m going to hit a variety of hot topics and issues below to try and get everyone the best prepared for this round of Supercoach. Let’s go..

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James Tedesco (With a word on Ponga)

Last week I broke down my best FB options and I now have more of an idea after watching closely and have made my decision.

Firstly, Kalyn Ponga scored 71 despite not doing a whole lot and Brisbane giving the Knights seemingly unlimited ball in the red zone. 

It could have been anything for KP and I think moving forward he has it in him but we will have to see if the ultra big scores are going to come this season. 

My gut last week told me maybe not, but he is obviously capable. 

A combination of Newcastle seemingly not being able to get him consistent quality ball on his prime position on the left edge and a possible sternum injury lingering and no goal-kicking means there is a slight question mark where there normally isn’t. Despite that he remains a top option!

For me it’s all about James Tedesco this week. I was super keen to get my boy Papenhuyzen but unless he starts it’s Teddy time. 

A quick note on Papi before we talk Teddy is that he has played exactly 80 minutes off the bench across the last two games and managed to score 85 points without a LB, LBA, try or try-assist. Goodness once he gets going again… 

For Teddy let’s look at recent form. Firstly he looks sharp again. There are periods at times where he can look a shade heavy/tired whatever you want to call it. 

He is still a star when this is the case but he looks to be peaking nicely post Origin! 

I am happy to exclude the back-to-back games recently against Penrith and Melbourne because the run home doesn’t see those two teams as opposition. 

Doing that his last six games have been 92, 68, 146, 105, 97 and 131. That’s an average of 106.5. Lovely! Hopefully The Chooks and his combination with Sam Walker and Drew Hutchinson continues to improve and they can put some points on late in the season.

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Daniel Tupou

In short I think he is due for a game with more than one try. Hopefully it’s this week but if he can base 40-50 and then grab two tries that gets him to 100+ and a hat-trick would see him pushing 130 odd…

Joey Manu is in the same boat if he can stay on the wing, but he has currently been named at centre. It’s such a big difference to when he is stuck in the centres, but in saying that he has been given a licence to roam of late and it may continue… Ideally he switches to a wing before kickoff and you can lock him in!

Euan Aitken 

Two games in the back-row and he has gone bang in each. Scores of 128 and 89 is brilliant, the Warriors have a great run home and he now has a great base. Just pray he stays healthy and keeps that role as an edge forward. As a key note he has based around 50 without including tacklebusts.

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Super POD

My Super POD of the week is Enari Tuala. Myself and Tim have long been fans of him and he suddenly finds himself on the left wing for Newcastle outside KP with a top run home. 

He doesn’t have a great base which is the only concern so be aware he has a 20-25 in him but he also could go back-to-back tons. 

In two games playing here with Ponga in the side he has scored 110 and 59 with four LBs and four tries. $399K!

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Punting Play

I wasn’t on the podcast this week to drop my punting play, so here’s my boosted four leg multi:

• Broncos v Roosters: Roosters -14.5 line @$1.92
• Rabbitohs v Titans: Rabbitohs -16.5 line @$1.92
• Tigers v Cowboys: Tigers -4 line @$1.92
• Panthers v Dragons: Panthers -18.5 line @$1.92

= $13.59

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The Spy’s Squad

For my own side this weekend I’m currently locked into Gutho to Teddy (barring Papi starting) and To’o to Aitken. 

That will leave me with two trades, it solidifies the key fullback position and frees up some cash to allow me to target SJ-DCE potentially for the last three weeks. 

I actually have 16 players as it stands so both trades are needed and I’m not keeping Gutho any longer giving the Eels run home.

Vice-captain at this stage will be Sammy Walker or Tupou into Turbo skipper. Essentially I think there is real merit in straight captaining Tedesco but I know come Saturday at 7:30pm when I have a whiskey in hand I don’t want to be death riding Turbo. That being the case lock him in. 

All the best troops!!