Final word: Strategy, skippers, trades, Round 8

If you haven’t heard already through the SC Playbook channels, Timmy has let me off the chain and given me my own solo podcast that drops Sunday evenings basically wrapping up the round that was and discussing all things Supercoach and NRL.

Check it out if you get a chance. All feedback is welcomed.

Anyway, on to the Round 8 footy!

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Strategy

I guess the big question after Team List Tuesday for all Supercoaches is do we trade in Joey Manu straight away?

I’m conflicted on this one.

The plusses are Joey Manu is a gun and given extra opportunity in the past in spine positions he has excelled as a Supercoach scorer and in real NRL.

Also many supercoaches were considering bringing in Manu anyway this week as he’s a fallen gun you are getting cheap, and now his position with the move to 5/8 is significantly stronger.

The minuses are the Roosters aren’t exactly setting the world on fire in attack, only averaging 17.5 points over the first few rounds.

Is Manu the panacea to all the Roosters problems? I wouldn’t think so.

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Roosters have a few issues, but in saying that if they get a game where they have no sin bins they could come out and blow Saints off the park.

Saints resolve will be starting to waver as they continue to lose close games, and the speculation of their current coach’s impending sacking is reaching fever pitch.

I think I’ve talked myself into it.

The clincher for me is Manu has played three games at 5/8 over the last two years with scores of 191 (v St.George Rd 6, 2022), 37 (v Penrith Rd 15, 2021) and 82 (Canberra Rd 12, 2022).

My eyes just keep going back to that 191 and I can’t afford to miss another huge score after missing Nicho earlier this year.

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Best Value Propositions

Josh Schuster – Still great value with a -11 Break even. Obviously an injury risk as he’s shown in previous weeks and not a high base player.

Jacob Host – It’s really fallen Host’s way with all the injuries to the Souths forwards. He’s a solid player but I wouldn’t think past this week he is a buy for Supercoach. Now is the time to get him ….. or forever hold your peace.

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PODs & SuperPODS

Here’s the players I’ve identified as PODs (Point of Difference players – less than 10% owned) and SuperPODS (less than 2% owned) that should be on your radar:

PODs

1. Connolly Lemuelu – has to stay in as a solid POD. If you are going to buy him, it would have to be based on the hunch that when Kenny Bromwich returns, Bennett plays Bromwich as a middle forward and Lemuelu holds that  
2. Joey Manu – as detailed above, he’s coming into my team and no doubt many of yours. Currently 3% owned but soon to be anything but a POD.
3. Briton Nikora – in career best form this bloke. Obviously relies on attacking stats but outside Nicho Hynes, you know he’s going to get them and will continue running incredible lines. Averaging 75.8 for the season but you’ll have to pay up for him.  

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SuperPODs

1. Jake Granville – Only available in HOK position but now playing almost exclusively as a middle forward. Underpriced and a solid money making option if it suits your team.  
2. Ryan Matterson – Rock solid but you’ll have to pay up for him. You’ll get what you pay for with Matto + he’s bye friendly.

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Close Watch

1. Karl Oloapu – Fair few indications this young fella is gonna be a late start for the Dogs this weekend. Could be in a lot of Supercoaches teams within the month. Future superstar of the game.  
2. Jeral Skelton – Again, there is some indication that Skelton may also win a starting spot this weekend vs the Sharks. Former Rugby Sevens convert with plenty of ability.

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Round Match-Ups

Some pretty decent match-ups for some potential big Supercoach scoring which many people would be happy about after a low scoring round last week.

Eels v Dolphins in the Darwin heat could be a shootout that could suit Walsh.

Sharks get the Dogs in a vulnerable position after two big losses and Nicho will be keen to go for the throat.

Cowboys are struggling bigtime and make no mistake, it’s a personnel issue. They are missing key edge backrowers in Heilum Luki and Luciano Leilua. Their roster looks skinny and the Knights, despite sitting 11^th on the ladder, are a different side to last year. They are tough, resilient, scrappy, and they believe. Good match-up for Ponga, Miller, Marzhew, Dom Young and Kurt Mann.

Garrick, Turbo, and DCE in a day game vs the Tigers. It doesn’t get much better in terms of match-ups.

Finally the Roosters get a deflated St. George side in the Anzac Day Clash. Expect big games from Tedesco and Manu.

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Captain

Safe Plays

Nicho Hynes – Gets the match-up against the Bulldogs who have had 50+ and 30 points put on them over the last two weeks ….. is quite simply the best and most reliable Supercoach player in the game this year in my opinion. Safe play

Reuben Garrick – Some risk with the return from injury, however he should be challenging the tryline more than once against the Tigers. If Schuster is confirmed to play then I like the Garrick Captain play

Turbo – it’s a day game against a team that is coming last in the comp and he has his gun attacking 5-8^th back that will create even more space for him. Whats not to like? If he’s fit, this has Turbo 150+ written all over it …… if he’s fit?

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Left-field options

James Tedesco – with all the focus on Joey Manu taking the 5/8^th position from Walker, maybe this is the week the real Teddy shows up and puts up one of his big SC scores. Don’t rule it out.

Joey Manu – a lot of Supercoaches believe enough to bring him straight in with a break even of 110 which seemingly defies logic. But this is Manu , the same player who racked up 191 playing at 5/8 vs the Saints last year. 

We’ve linked up with betr for the 2023 season, where we’ll deliver a weekly SC Playbook market, with the integration of NRL Fantasy (not to be confused with NRL Supercoach, slightly different point system. This week, we’ve got Nicho Hynes to score 65+ NRL Fantasy points into an anytime try from Will Kennedy at $3 Follow us here 👉 https://bit.ly/41DSGgy

Betr Bets of the Week

Please Gamble Responsibly

Newcastle Knights win @ $2.14

Philip Sami Anytime Tryscorer @ $3.10

Connolly Lemuelu Anytime Tryscorer @ $4.33

Leo Thompson Anytime Tryscorer @ $11

SGM – Ponga, Marzhew & Taulagi Anytime Tryscorers @ $13

SGM – E. Katoa & Hughes Anytime Tryscorers & Warriors+12.5 @ $26