Round 24 NRL Supercoach Wrap: 8 Things We Learnt

Soo how many trades we running with?

Think back to all those unwarranted trades, they could come in handy right about now!

We lost Nathan Cleary for the remainder of the season, Robson and Watson mean our hooking spots are looking awfully thin, the Cowboys are on the bye, and there are some red hot CTWs we need to make room for!

Once again, the CTWs made or broke your weekend, depending on how many you had.

They are elite for a reason, and I’m still trying to work out why I have never owned Kiraz. 

Turbo’s Hamstrings were solid again, without being spectacular.

Missing out on Kiraz and Holmes didn’t help but the rest of the suckers must have done something right as I finished with 1372 which again seems to be par, as I only went up 35 spots in rankings!

Thats now 2 weeks seeing green arrows, and with last week’s 11 spot change, sees me move a massive 46 spots in 2 weeks to 6193 overall.

I do have 4 trades left… so looking to have some fun in the remaining 3 weeks.

I think overall is out of the question, unless Poasa gets picked, scores 250 and I captain him.

Anyway, here are the main things we learnt from Round 24 of NRL Supercoach.

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1. Nathan why do you hate us?

He’s no longer Cleary, he like Cher, just goes by Nathan.. And why does he hate us Supercoaches this year!

Another run of really good games, finished off by an injury!

It’s the 3^rd time this year it has happened, and for plenty of Supercoaches, will be the 5th trade used on him this season if my calcs are right!

Out in Round 4, in in Round 8, out in Round 11, in in Round 20 and back out in Round 25!

Cruel for 98.8% (seriously who is the 1.2% of top coaches who didn’t own?!) of us who now need to use another trade – one that we didn’t account for a few weeks back

And the replacements aren’t exactly screaming pick me.

Sam Walker was quiet on Friday in the wet despite laying on a couple tries. He too might get a rest so potentially one less game.

Jahrome Hughes hasn’t hit nearly the same heights since Munster came back and is at risk of a rest also.

Luai? It has merit but again.. the resting’s

Which leaves DCE as the top target.

I’ve been in camp DCE owner since about round 7 so I knew him before he was cool

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2. Wet or dry Roosters they still score points

Target the Chooks they say. They didn’t account for an absolute deluge of rain to hit Sydney right before kick-off!

In fact, I nearly reversed any trades I was going to make and thought to bring in Ariarne Titmus and Kaylee McKeown for Friday night’s fixture!

But rain, hail, shine or dew, the Chooks just score points..

Tedesco a popular captaincy choice was immense and finished with 125 which could have been so much more had he passed inside to an unmarked Luke Keary or found a way to break free from Sivo.

Time will tell if that little play comes back to haunt owners in their H2H finals.

Crichton made up most of his points in tackle busts but hasn’t been able to find any attacking stats to really propel his score.

In a round where plenty would have brought the backrower in, he now has scores 49, 75 and 57 in his last 3 outings.

Not cause for concern, but maybe an AntiPOD option? He’s not exactly flying

Young made the right corner post his own scoring 3 before getting an early rest. His 128 a blessing for those who held.

Manu… Cant believe Tim brought him in after that video.

I’ve watched enough Final Destination movies.. You shouldn’t tempt fate!  

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3. Val. Sick of writing about him

The one week of Val going low was short lived..

Back to being a one-man demolition job on any non-owners who decided to try and outthink the room!

Dragons fans rejoice.

You have a ready-made replacement for Lomax. High scoring outside back who kicks goals. Lock him in for 2025!

Tore the Raiders edge apart in a worldly performance, scoring 3 tries and kicking a swag of goals.

Despite the quiet week last week, he has a 4 round average of over 110.

Just at the right time for owners in H2H battles.

Updated to 145 killing al hopes for non-owners

He has been a godsend, but now is about where it may end. Has an awfully timed bye next week, into Melbourne for the H2H finals match.

Do you hold or move on? 

Melbourne are threatening to rest players so owners again may be kissed on the proverbial.

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4. Knights not 2023 standard

We as Supercoachers are continually guilty of looking to the past.

Trying to find trends and when we can’t, we just go all and think of the good times.

And trading in these Knights players has a lot of 2023 written about it!

Just haven’t been able to get close to what the back end of the season had in store for them last year with some small flashes of what they are capable of amongst a lot of so-so footy

I’m guilty of it, and I’m sure a lot out there are too.

Ponga the POD hasn’t really gotten close to what he managed late last year but there’s a bit of a hoarder in me owning him.

I don’t want to give him up in case I need him down the track.

Marzhew will see the bench of plenty of teams that still have the outside back.

Despite scoring a try on Sunday, he is on a downward trajectory from his previous years.

And KPP found the line!

Taken all of 23 rounds and most wouldn’t haven’t bothered to play him but nice to know the Englishman will keep his pants on at Mad Monday.

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5. Hooker taking down owners

It was boom or bust for the Hookers this weekend.

Connor Watson found the hard side of Wiremu Greig’s shoulder and missed most of the clash on Friday night with a Connor-cussion.

He is also set to miss next week, meaning owners may have to use a trade – yeah right, or turn to their back up hooker.

If their backup hooker rhymes with Banny Teevi, pack her up.

Reed Mahoney has gone backwards, whilst his Dogs side march forward.

Despite a really strong Origin period, has only 1 score over 62 in his last 9 outings and Robson was on, but left the field after 55 minutes with ice on his hamstring.  

Harry Grant scored 57 in a tough assignment way back on Thursday but I wouldn’t be confident he plays the remaining 3 rounds and whilst Api and his Tigers found a way to win, he was very quiet, showing the effects of a tough 24 rounds in the black orange and white scoring only 36.

He heads into Round 25 against eventual premiers Manly, then a bye. 

But there were two shining a big red light in the hookers district

Cook with 93 pushed his 3RA up to over 81. But enough about every other hooker not named Jacob.

My buy of the year, in fact if I didn’t have a brother named Jacob, I would be seriously considering naming my next child after the Dragons number 9.

Has been near perfect for me since I picked him up in Round 6 and has now relegated Robson to a backup hooker.

Tore through the middle of the Titans defences to set up Couchman and ended up with 93, his second highest score of the season.

I’m only spruiking because if you have any trades and a Watson or Robson sized holed in your side, join me in owning a hooker who plays 80 minutes, makes 137 tackles, averages over 60 and hasn’t had a score under 50 since Round 10.

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6. Edwards back in the frame

If you like me have a couple sneaky trades and feel like being bold..

There’s a fresh Dylan Edwards back at fullback for one of the top teams and he just lost the only player that seems to quash his scoring.

To quote Maxy – How Dudes Go With Other Dudes

When Cleary went down, my immediate thoughts were how can I get Edwards into my team.

It means trading out a Ponga or Tedesco (obviously, see ya Ponga) but this is a guy who averages over 100 when Cleary isn’t on the field.

Dyl will take on the goal kicking and Penrith’s run home are against 3 sides that all could concede 40+.

Might just win you a H2H prelim and beyond.

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7. Galvin takes the upper hand over Brown

Been watching this one pretty closely. I made the call to trade out D Bags in Round 21 over Galvin and after 4 Rounds, the youngster has the lead!

Brown has scored 249 points in that period whilst Galvin 285.

Brown was kept well under wraps on Friday night – must not like wet socks – and only scored 36 whilst Galvin just keeps on performing.

He was immense for the Tigers, showing that whilst he would still get asked for ID to buy a box of beer, he is one of the more experienced on the park.

Linking up very well with Laulilii, the pair could be a top target when sides open for 2025.

Just one to keep an eye on for the run home as many would have been in this position and I like being right.

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8. Minute Watch

Panthers v Storm
Henry 31, Yeo 80, Laurie 69, Grant 80, Ekat 80, Wishart 31, NAS 41 (Sin Bin)

Sea Eagles v Warriors
Ola 80, Talau 61, Paseka 46, Burbo 80, AFB 69, Barnett 60

Roosters v Eels
Crichton 80, Watson 14 (HIA), May 34, Young 71, Lane 61, Joe O 59, Hands 49

Bulldogs v Dolphins
Hughes 27, Curran 52, Kiks 80, Presto 80, TPJ 45, Plath 70, Lemuelu 65

Cowboys v Raiders
Cotter 42, Robson 55, Luki 80, Taps 44, Starling 61, Sasagi 64

Tigers v Rabbitohs
Api 70, Fainu 80, Keaon 80, Murray 80, Cook 80

Dragons v Titans
Su’A 80, Liddle 80, JDB 55, Fifita 80 Randall 66, AJ Brimson 12

Sharks v Knights
Talakai 85, Nikora 85, Brailey 85, KPP 85, Brailey 85