NRL Round 11 Supercoach Wrap: 10 Things We Learnt

Happy Rugby League!

What a weekend and what a time to be alive! Magic Round did not disappoint from the football played, the vibes around Brisbane and the Supercoach scores.

Seeing the jumpers out and about in the Brisbane sun is Nirvana for any Rugby League fan.

The only downside was if you were unfortunate enough to bump into the Spy!

He claims to have been best on ground, but only I was doing the tough carries late into the night on Sunday.

There was some big team scores to be seen which meant you likely nailed your sit v start players. Plenty would have had an David Armstrong or Blaize, Talagi on the bench like I did instead of an Isaako or DWZ.

Turbo’s Hamstrings had what looks to be another par or so weekend scoring 1280 thanks to our angry ant Dylan Edwards finally coming through as a captain for me.

My outside backs were on fire, but we’re heavily let down by the engine room. An Eli Katoa or David Fifita would look very nice if I can somehow manage to get them in.

No minute watch this week sorry crew, currently on the airport floor doing my best to stay awake.

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Here are the 10 things we learnt from Round 11 Supercoach.

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1. Nicho can do no wrong

Catch, pass, kick a 40-20 off the side of his boot, get through a captain’s run. It’s taken me 10 rounds but I’ll come to accept it.

I’m not winning Supercoach if I don’t own Nicho. So now the problem is how do I find over $1 million to get him in?

That’s a Thursday problem that future Nick can sort out.

114 points in an all-around performance all but locking down the blues number 7 spot. He doesn’t overplay his hand yet is involved in everything.

That late try assist to Tom Hazleton capped off the night for owners.

Sharks are the real deal.

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2. The Davids come to play

David Armstrong and David Fifita came to party!

Armstrong with a hat-trick including two tries in the opening 10 had owners singing from the stands.

I know, I was one of them!

Beggars can’t be choosers and the 108 did include three tries, but for a bargain basement price, he has done everything we could have asked of him.

Set to make a a motza more in cash and with Ponga six or so weeks away, you can sit him and play him on matchups.

At the other end of the price scale was Fifita who had another stereotypical Fifita performance.

Tackle busting, offloading and generally being a menace to the Knights right edge.

Another I missed out on and am paying the price, but with Origin looming it’s a wait and watch fo see what sort of impact he has coming out of the Origin arena.

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3. Munster down. Bad for everyone

I wouldn’t say it was a refreshing change that someone from QLD got injured, but it’s about time the tables turned.

Jokes aside no-one likes to see anybody go down, especially when it is one of the game’s best!

Unfortunately, for many, it was Cam Munster who went down with what looked like an aggravation of the previous groin injury he had.

That or he got shot from the stands.

Either way it’s got huge ramifications for Supercoach moving forward.

If he can’t lace up the boots for origin, you would think Tom Dearden is a lock for the number 6 jersey, which means Sammy Walker potentially lines up as 18th man.

I haven’t worked out whether the 18th man can play for their sides on the weekend, but I’m guessing it’s a no.

That’s a lot of planning gone out the window to cover the five eighth and half spot and likely more trades we have to make.

Does shake it up even more!

The winner this year is either going to be a time traveller or a leprechaun with all the luck in the world.

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4. Blaize a path to glory!

Clint Gutherson who?

You cannot leave this guy out of your 13.

For those long time readers, I know I care little for the Eels but Blaize Talagi is the outlier! What a superstar this guy could be.

He wants his hands on the footy and has sparked a little bit of attack in the Eels which they seem to have been lacking for a long time.

Give him another few games with Dylan Brown and wow!

The beauty is there’s still time to buy.

For those who held, tell as many people as you can, cause it’s a hell of a hold.

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5. Sam Walker loses the halfback battle

Did we see this coming?

Despite the Roosters putting 30 points on the board, Sam Walker was nowhere to be seen on the attacking stats front.

His 45 points included 20 points in goal kicks alone and he couldn’t muster any further attacking stats.

Was the number one pick for plenty who had to move Nathan Cleary on and has left many wondering whether holding one week might have been the play?

It wasn’t a bad play to trade him in in my opinion, as he was the best of a bad bunch and will take on the Raiders next weekend and as they say, the best ability is availability.

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6. Wingers. They hang round football teams

What has the Overlord done to DWZ and Isaako?!

2 out and put CTW guns all but a month ago that were just haves have really hit the skids!

For Jamayne Isaako, he has now registered two low scores on the trot and his 151 seems an age ago.

He will have a massive breakeven but someone you can hold through the Origin period.

Just needs to find the line.

And what are you to do DWZ?!

Ever since the Dragons scrambled their little wings off about 5 rounds ago he hasn’t looked like crossing the stripe!

One score over 61 in the last seven outings.

Will be priced at around 460k after lockout, which is dire for owners who have held.

Cannot do much with that but hold and hope he finds something in the next month or so.

That little dummy from Taine Tuaupiki summed up what it’s been like to own.

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7. Harry owns Magic Round

Harry Grant and Magic round. There’s a joke or a headline there somewhere but wasn’t it great to see the hooker finally fire for owners!

Stepped up after Cam Munster went down and bagged a double on his way to his high score of the year 112.

Still the elite choice in the hooking position, he’s one you can get in whenever you deem necessary.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about Origin because I think the sooner you get him into your 17, the better you’ll go.

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8. Has anyone mentioned Latrell?

With all the talk of out-and-out guns going down across the park, are we sleeping on a proven Supercoach stud?

Latrell Mitchell has been pretty solid on his return from suspension notching up 107 points on Saturday night.

Seemingly at ease.

The Rabbitohs left edge started to look a little better and with Alex Johnston back he’s bound to set up a try or two.

If he makes himself available, he’ll get picked for Origin, but if he doesn’t I think there’s a super pod that is a viable captain choice each week.

His combination with Cody looked as good as ever and I’m backing him in to put some good scores on the board.

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9. Bye bye Valentine

It’s a tricky call for owners but is it time we cut ties with Valentine Holmes?

Has been on a big slide in the last 5 weeks.

Unable to find any real attacking stats.

Start of the year on fire, everyone traded him in and since then has only had one score above 75.

Spacing still good, and kicking goals but with origin looming there’s some questions to be asked.

He won’t play round 13 then does play round 14 against NZ in Townsville.

I do feel like I need to remind everyone what happened last year though.

We all said he was a sell, and went on to average over 110 points in the origin period. That included a 150 against Melbourne.

He’s a luxury trade but if you can pick up a cheapy that can earn some cash and play some vital games over the next 8 weeks then maybe it is to play.

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10. Cheap CTWs. Keep them coming!

Already touched on Armstrong and Talagi but haven’t the cheapie CTW come on board!

Sua Fa’alogo and Tolutau Koula are another two that look likely to post some good scores up in the next month or 6 weeks.

Koula has locked down that fullback spot and once he works out whether he wants to run or pass, I can see some big scores coming.

It was his first hit out at fullback the other night and Brisbane shut him down well, but find a team with a shaky edge and he will do some damage.

He is currently priced at $493k and has a breakeven of 9. You could wait until after round 14 when they have played Melbourne and Penrith, or you could get him in now and hopefully get a jump on others that wait.

Fa’alogo was another that had a breakout game, setting up a try and contributing with three line break assists to post 90.

He too will have a negative breakeven and has brilliant job security, even if Ryan Papenhuyzen returns sooner than expected.

Exciting to watch and another that if he finds some tired defences, could post a monster.