The Final Word | Round 3 NRL Supercoach Targets & Tactics

Alright legends,

It round 3 which means the first week or price changes for most players (anyone on their 3^rd game).

So let’s just cut straight to the chase and have a look at the most traded in players and what I think of them.

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Round 3 NRL Supecoach Key Targets

Payne Haas has always been a supercoach gun but it has often been tricky to get him in due to the fact he costs a lot of money and his upside was limited.

Guys who can scores 130-150+ on any given day took priority.

However in 2025 Payne not only looks as fit and healthy as he has in years he has started to offload and tackle bust at will!

This is due to a tinker to his role which is seeing him running at times wider off the ruck and isolating him against smaller men rather than straight into the teeth of the middles.

This means a few things including more offloads, more tackle busts and what should be more tries and try assists.

It’s also easier work to run into smaller men so probably tires him out less which keeps him even fresher in attack!

At a break even of 9 and costing under $700,000 (based off an average of 68 last season) I see no reason he can’t average 80+ with ease if he can stay healthy. Lock him in!

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Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was straight back to doing what he does best and that is banging out big Supercoach points.

For me, he is an absolute must at his price and dual position flexibility.

I really want him this week but with Haas about to make huge coin and a plethora of very very good cheapie options available I think I may have to pass him up until next week given the Titans bye meant he won’t move in price until then. 

Jesse Arthars is someone who has traditionally struggled with base and not someone I would want in my side long term BUT the next 2 weeks he runs into a struggling Cowboys side followed by the Dolphins both at Suncorp.

The left edge is humming with Ben Hunt back in the fold and his combination with Reece Walsh hasn’t even taken off yet.

I’m backing some more tries and line breaks in the coming weeks before moving him on for a more genuine keeper option!

He also doesn’t mind a sneaky try assist.

In terms of price projections, a 2 week average of 70 will net him $190,000, a 2 week average of 40 will net $125,000 whilst a poor 2 week average of 20 will still net him $80,000.

And look if he get 90+ again we can hold for longer and the growth will be bigger making it hard to ignore this outlook!

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Tom Starling is another who has jumped into cheapie contention due to back to back big scores notably in big minutes.

The emergence of Owen Pattie hasn’t deterred him and he looks a good option to plug in short term, make dollars and also be a playable option.

He also offers an exit plan from Duffy if you currently have Sandon Smith at hooker.

Starlings Points per minutes in previous years have been, 0.8PPM, 0.94PPM, 0.89PPM & 0.81PPM.

This was in lesser minutes but he is a fit little bugger so if we consider 0.8PPM as a guide across his first 2 game average of 69 mins that equates to 55 Points per game.

Yes please! We just need to pray the minutes don’t reduce out of nowhere but with the Raiders going well it’s a good chance to remains as is for now.

In terms of price projections, a 2-week average of 70 will net him $180,000, a 2 week average of 40 will net $115,000.

As with Arthurs if he gets 90+ again we can hold for longer and the growth will be bigger. 

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Jamie Humphreys. The man who appears to have made the Souths 7 jersey his own.

Supercoach wise it presents a direct battle with Starling for those who can move Sandon Smith around.

On the podcast, I mentioned that Latrell may be close and is likely to take the goal kicking off him (however not guaranteed).

Jamie is averaging 51PPG without the boot so is going very well and makes a lot of tackles.

Souths draw does get harder so there is a question mark there.

Given Starling has a 103 in his rolling average for the next 2 price rises this is helping me go with him, but I can’t knock anyone choosing Humphreys instead if you are backing him in I think he could potentially stagnate quicker in terms of cash growth.

But that’s not a guarantee at all.

In terms of price projections, a 2 week average of 70 will net him $142,000, a 2 week average of 40 will net $77,000, whilst a 2 week average of 30 will net him $55,000.

As above bigger scores mean we can look to hold for longer.

Targets for coming weeks 

While I am here I will list my other targets/players to watch that have personally drawn my attention for the coming couple of weeks –

1. Eli Katoa 
2. Munster/Galvin/Jayden
3. Angus Crichton
4. Watson if he plays 80 again and big minutes at lock
5. Tuipulotu
6. Iongi
7. Herbie/Kiraz
8. Howarth

Let’s see what happens to that list across this weekend. No doubt some get added whilst others may be cut. It’s a ruthless time of year!

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Round 3 Supercoach Strategy

In terms of tactics the decision this week for most is how much cash growth can we make. 3x cheapies could be a great option but given how many good cheapies many of us have started with maybe just the 2 or even 1 cheapie is enough and you can then bring in quality players like Haas or Tino right now and maximise point scoring whilst also still making money!

Regardless though it’s definitely a boost week for 95% of coaches out there and is likely to be the same next week as we look to get our sides really well set up early in the season.

Turbo late out? Plan ahead….

Just a note to have a plan ready in case you have Tom Trbojevic and he is a late out for the last game of the round.

Personally, I will keep either Starling or Tamale on my bench and ensure Turbo is in my bench FB position.

This means an easy change to one of the two Raiders if he doesn’t play.

Consensus 

For me I need to go back to the drawing board a little with news that Dylan Lucas may have a hamstring issue at training. Do I sell or hold? I’m not sure yet but given the bye next week maybe it’s worth a short term sell.

Prior to this, I was going to move on Garrick who I like but someone at a higher price needs to go now that I’m a little off a preplanned gun fullback down to Iongi move.

Also leaving the squad are Hopgood and Duffy.

In come Haas, Arthars and Starling which leaves me $250k or so for an assault next week!

Cheers all and good luck