Round 21 NRL Supercoach Wrap: 9 Things We Learnt

Open up the flood gates, the points are here! Its taken near 20 odd rounds, but we were treated to a buffet of points in an action packed weekend of footy.

We had 14 players raise the bat with triple figures, none bigger than the most traded in player Nathan Cleary with a season high of 175!

Broke the record set by Turbo last week by 1 point and cruelled a small few who didn’t have him and then those who decided to take the loop or captain anyone but him.

With time running out to make a move its now or never to make a bold play.

For those Head-to-head players, it’s likely the last round before finals.

So don’t go making rash trades to try and beat your opponent if you can’t make the finals.

Go and find a POD and enjoy the run home.

Turbos hamstrings found 4 of the above mentioned 100+ players, and with the C on Cleary was all smiles on Sunday night as I racked up 1467 to move me only 840 spots up to 5073 overall.

Boosted my way to a Haas, Cleary and Gussy Crichton trio which felt like I was cheating the system somehow.

Still have a sneaky boost in my pocket which may come in handy in a few weeks as I look to get rid of some middling players who will only take up room on my bench.

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1. Cleary in 7^th Heaven

He’s that guy.

He’d probably help you move house or pick you up from the airport.

Had the weight of the Supercoach world on his shoulders in Round 21 with a near 40000 new owners and he took them to the bank and then some!

An out of this world performance, scoring 3 tries, setting another 3 up, banging over 5 goals he ended the day with a season high score of 175.

His highest score since Round 11 2021.

See, I do some research of my own.

He has broken open Supercoach with only 7 rounds to go.

Those who owned have left those non owners behind and let’s not go into what the captainers have done to the rest of the field!

He alone has catapulted owners up the rankings and left those who ANTI-podded him scrambling.

He was by all means a popular choice with the C, but with the Teddy and AFB scoring big early on, it had a few Loopers pulling the trigger.

Those same loopers came to rue their decision by about 2.50pm on Sunday when he was on 124 at half time.

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2. Looping Loonies

Well. How did that pan out for you?

Its easy to sit here typing this out after the demo job from Cleary, but chalk Round 21 up as another week where the loop took another victim!

We all know how it works, and after Teddy went 126 on Saturday, plenty had the VC on him and were looking to bank a score and be done with it.

Some even with AFB.

But those who have been burnt before were well within their right to be wary.. I was one of them! 

It all came down to who you were to drop, but in my case, I wasn’t ready to forgo Isaako and in the end, trusted Cleary to do a job on the Dragons. Within 10 minutes that decision was justified.

If you did only have the 17, I can definitely see the merit and those who decided a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush probably slept quite well on Saturday. 

But never back against Cleary!

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3. Turbo, Teddy wants his Crown back

Yeah.. So. 

Last week I declared Turbo the rightful king to the FLB crown.

The crown hadn’t even had the chance to mould to Turbo’s head before Tedesco came and pinched it back!

Superb performance in the opening stanza, he was on around 100 at half time before Manly fought their way back into the contest.

But the damage had already been done with a try and 2 assists.

He ended the night with 2 more try contributions, 2 LBs and 2 LBAs and finished on 126 his 7^th 100+ score of the season.

He put his quiet performance last week against Melbourne behind him and was straight back into the good books of owners.

I don’t think there is a world where you could get rid of him, even if he is close to $1 million

Turbo, for all his attacking nous, was kept VERY quiet by a stout Roosters defence.

If Angus Crichton didn’t play, maybe it would have been Turbo with the 130. He was like a rash!

There was plenty of talk during the week about Turbo and whether to trade him in.

For those who did, he now heads into Round 21 with a bye, meaning those 45 points need to be spread over 2 weeks.

For those who waited, you’ve (we’ve) won this round, but the draw opens up after his bye so might be behind the lounge watching him play if you chose to hang off.

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4. Elite FRFs stand above the rest

We’ve spent most of the year with Josh Curran doing a job, or Fainu plugging away and for most of us, Terrell May being God’s gift to the FRF spot, but it’s time for the big boys to stand up and do a job!

And didn’t they rise to the occasion in Round 21!

Payne Haas was another popular target and he produced a typical performance, despite his Broncos side being thoroughly beaten. 

He played 70 minutes and finished with 80 even, and not a singe attacking stat!

Which is not something we expect from the front rower, but pleasing to see the number of runs, TB and offloads. 

Only minor concern is that Brisbane’s season appears over.

Let’s hope he still turns up week in week out 

And as for AFB, some say he was in the departure lounge waiting for that flight to Cronulla but his stats say otherwise; 20 runs, 222m run metres, 86m post contact, 7 tackle breaks a try and 7 tackle busts!

I’m sure every time he goes over for a try and shrugs his shoulders, non-owners do the same!

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5. Head knocks continue to cruel owners

They seem to go away for a week or 2, we forget about their impact then bang!

We get a weekend like we just had where there were some big names who all succumbed to a HIA and missed large parts of the game.

None bigger than probably Garrick but as he is owned by so many of us, we were all in the same boat.

Thankfully though he has a bye in Round 22 so the 11-day stand-down period won’t be a factor, but it is concerning as this was his 3 failed HIA in the last 2 months or so. 

Cotter too succumbed to a mighty head clash with Ramien and his night was over early.

His head looked bigger than it usually does, so only time or the NRL Physio will tell whether he is going to miss any football.

Saab another who found his way into the clutches of the team doctor and for those who were bold, Daine Laurie looked absolutely superb on a fast WIN Stadium track and any score was possible.

Which is why it was a cruel blow as he found the shoulder of Feagai and his afternoon was cut short after only 20 minutes.

He had already racked up 50 points by then, so I’m guessing owners will have a sorer head than Daine.

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6. Trade dilemmas

There were plenty with some hot fingers ready to go on that trade button before the round kicked off.

With some big name like Cleary, Turbo and Haas in the sights of many, the big conundrum came with who to trade out for them?

Those Walker and Hughes owners were given a choice of a near full strength Melbourne side v the Eels or a scorned Roosters side against Manly.

11 times out of 10 I would have traded out Walker and kept Hughes, but it was Walker who led the way with 111 setting 2 tries up and kicking 5 goals whereas Hughes could only manage 60.

Jahrome has had a quiet 2 games now coming off last week’s 25 and with Munster back, will be interesting to see what impact he has on Hughes’ scoring potential.

Similar scenario with Galvin and Brown.

Galvin actually didn’t finish the match on his way to only 41 whilst Brown set an early try up and was in everything, which was a good sign for those who held but in typical Brown fashion, only scored 69. 

Noting worse at this time of year than making a trade that should have been the other bloke! 

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7. Bye Planning. Thought we were done with it?

I threw this one in as something a learnt this weekend, and it revolves around the remaining teams with a bye.

Those are Sea Eagles, Roosters, Broncos, Cowboys, Tigers and Warriors

I traded in Haas for May, knowing May has a bye incoming and he can partner AFB.

What I didn’t realise was that the pair still have a bye to come, meaning I will be forced into making a trade, or playing Samuel Hughes!

Last thing I or anyone else needs in the run home is a 27 from Hughes. 

Just one to keep in mind, and you may only be in this position in the FLB, HOK, FRF, HLF or 5/8 spots.

Just ensure your back up can cover a player on the bye.

Especially next weekend when the Chooks have a spell. 

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8. ANTIPod time..

Is it time to start to move on some highly owned players that haven’t quite hit some lofty heights?

Isaako is one that springs to mind.

He only managed 43 on Sunday arvo and hasn’t really had a breakout game since his 151 v the Cowboys.

His list of scores shows a very big fall from grace from last year where he was untouchable as a CTW.

Losing cash fast, it’s now or never to move him on.

Holmes is another I’ve been keeping a close eye on.

I traded him out a few weeks back and have been relatively happy with the decision, but his 100 on the weekend showed glimpses of his ceiling.

Crashes over for a try there and it’s looking like a 140 game.

Still, he is another CTW that plenty would have held based purely on ceiling and potential.

But his numbers suggest he is a bit of a Mulitalo with the goalkicking

Nikora and Robson are another that you could throw into the mix.

HOK has been awful for the year, so if you can hold and have a backup hooker that’s outperforming him fine, otherwise it might be a trade you need to make, not necessarily one you want to make.

Give Nikora a look at the Bunnies edge, but if you already have 3 gun 2RFs might be a good one to move on.

I’ll give you one to ponder. Dom Young?

Brave move but if the Chooks have a quiet game he is generally the one who misses out.

And some of his defensive decisions are straight out of the Newcastle handbook. Robbo won’t look too kindly at that.

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9. Minute Watch

Warriors v Tigers
AFB 62, Egan 57, Barnett 59, Fainu 80, Koroisau 80, Da Silva 37, Porter 80

Eels v Storm
Lane 80, Carty 80, Matto 59, Grant 74, Faalogo 10, Wishart 70, Munster 50

Broncos v Bulldogs
Haas 71, Carrigan 62, Kikau 80, Preston 80, Hughes 25, Curran 53, 

Cowboys v Sharks
Cotter 19 (HIA), Finefeuiaki 80, Robson 80, Nikora 80, Talakai 32, Brailey 70 (Sin bin)

Roosters v Sea Eagles
Crichton 80, Watson 55, May 32, Whyte 21, Paseka 50, Lawton 80, Garrick 28 (HIA)

Dragons v Panthers
JDB 42, Su’A 80, Laurie 20, Sorensen 80, Yeo 80

Dolphins v Titans
Lemuelu 80, TPJ 34, Plath 80, Fifita 80, Fermor 80, Randall 73

Raiders v Rabbitohs
Young 80, Smithies 52, Levi 20 Starling 70, Taps 62, Moale 41, Keaon 80, Cook 80