Positional Watchlist: NRL Supercoach Round 6 Rising and Falling Player Stocks

As Timmy pointed out in his team lists article and the lads discussed on this week’s podcast, it’s worth considering your focus on points vs cash during this and coming rounds. With so many cash generation opportunities on offer, it’s easy to get infatuated by squad value. 

We need to keep making moves towards our best 17, and getting in too many cheapies might actually slow that down as it requires more trades to get them out. Plan ahead if you can and keep your options open for trades in the coming rounds. 

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Fullbacks

Ponga is a tricky one for non-owners. He has a nice fixture at home this week to the Tigers, but his BE is 156. His run following this week also looks decent, although you could look to get him after next week’s game vs the Sharks. Following that he plays the Warriors (A), Bunnies (A), Titans (H) and Eels (H). 

Papenhuyzen will be highly traded in this week and rightly so. The early shower last week is a bit of a concern, but it’s going to happen from time-to-time in an elite Storm side. When it does, he will have already racked up a good score most of the time anyway. He now goes on to play Warriors H, Dolphins A, Bunnies H, Raiders H, Tigers H.

James Tedesco has likely bottomed out in price at $840k. His run looks slightly less appealing than others, although there is a nice stretch of 3 home games coming up after this week. His run is  Broncos (A), Panthers (H), Dragons (H), Dolphins (H), Bye, Bulldogs (A).

Drinkwater could be a target after the Cowboys’ round 7 bye. He then has Titans (H), Warriors (A), Panthers (H), Sea Eagles (H), before missing the round 12 bye week. He’s also now available at sub $700k ($80k discount on start price) despite having picked up the goalkicking this season. This can largely be attributed to the Cowboys tough run of fixtures to start.

Targets:

Kalyn Ponga (moved from form watch)

Ryan Papenhuyzen 

Form watch:

James Tedesco 

Clint Gutherson 
Scott Drinkwater 
Reece Walsh 
Isaiah Iongi 

Job watch:

Latrell Mitchell 

Note: Fullbacks with dual are listed elsewhere, as they’re generally best selected in their other position

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CTW

Fletcher Sharpe’s last two performances of 43 and 54 have been all in base + power. He’s still averaging 65 to start the season and could explode at any stage. There’s no rush with a BE of 99, but he’s worth keeping in your plans.

Jacob Kiraz got straight into his work on return from injury, knocking out 61 points, all in base + power. He could be a target in coming rounds, after the Bulldogs bye and looks likely to be a top four CTW again this season. 

Jamayne Isaako scored 114 on the weekend and has been a gun of season’s past. The Dolphins have Penrith (H), Storm (H), Raiders (A), so he’s probably one to reassess closer to the origin period.

Billy Smith returned for the Roosters on the weekend, registering 76 points, including 43 in base + power. At $317k he’s a potential target next week if he can score well again to enter his 3rd game with a negative BE. 

Mawene Hiroti ($289k) is another one to keep an eye on, having scored 77 points against the Raiders, with 50 in base + power. Kayal Iro is due back in round 9 though, so it would need to be a quick cash grab. 

Beau Fermor has unfortunately reprised his role as Centre cover for the Titans. This dramatically reduced his base + power on the weekend and removes his appeal as a target. I could understand owners trading him out and wouldn’t be looking at him unless the Titans’ outside backs’ depth increases (which is feasible in the future with Jojo Fifita and Khan-Pereira to return). 

Targets:

Fletcher Sharpe (CTW/FLB) 

Greg Marzhew

Thomas Jenkins 

Form watch:

Jacob Kiraz (added)

Valentine Holmes 

Zac Lomax 

Herbie Farnworth 

Reuben Garrick 

Jamayne Isaako (added)

Lehi Hopoate (CTW/FLB) 

Connor Tracey (CTW/FLB)

Selwyn Cobbo 

Jeral Skelton

Mark Nawaqanitawase 

Jack Howarth

Adam Douehi (CTW-5/8)

Jaylan De Groot (moved from job watch)

Gehamat Shibasaki (moved from targets)

Job watch:

Beau Fermor (2RF/CTW) (moved from targets)

Billy Smith (added)

Mawene Hiroti (added)

Robert Derby 

5/8

Jayden Campbell gave new owners a scare before updating to over 50 on the weekend. Nonetheless, I thoughts he looked good in a well beaten team.

Munster started the game against Manly on fire, before taking a backseat to Melbourne’s other attacking weapons. This has often been the case throughout his career and limits his ceiling somewhat. If I didn’t already own, I’d be happy to look to Campbell or Galvin as alternatives. 

Dyl Brown could have turned a corner on the weekend with 93 points, including 55 in base + power. A Munster to Brown trade could well be a play for the Origin period.

Likewise, Cody Walker could be an option over Origin, with the potential for him to bottom out at around $350k.

Targets:

Jayden Campbell (FLB-5/8) 

Cameron Munster 

Lachlan Galvin 

Form watch:

Dylan Brown (HFB-5/8)

Cody Walker (HFB-5/8)

Luke Metcalf (HFB-5/8)

Adam Douehi (CTW-5/8)

Halfbacks

Cleary returned and looked sharp as ever for 94 points in a losing Panthers team. With a Thursday night VC opportunity against the Dolphins, he should be a priority for non-owners, despite a 116 BE. 

Who to partner him with perhaps looks a little more open with Hynes not looking as dominant as the past and Hughes returning to form. I still think Nicho is the play with the goalkicking, but it likely won’t hurt to wait and see for a week or two.

Targets:

Nathan Cleary 

Form watch: 

Nicho Hynes (moved from targets)

Jahrome Hughes (added)

Dylan Brown (HFB/5-8) 

Cody Walker (HFB/5-8)

Luke Metcalf (HFB/5-8)

2RF

After it was hard to find value in 2RF to start the season there is now plenty of it. 

Dylan Egan looks the safest cheapie option, with a BE of -38 and priced at $198.8k – he’s also passing the eye test, looking rock solid at every opportunity. 

The slightly more expensive Thomas Cant ($274k) has a lower BE (-66), but this is largely thanks to his first performance of 88 points, which will drop out of his rolling average next week. He’s another who looks great, racking up base and power stats at every opportunity so far to average 75 across his two games. 

The impending returns of Dylan Lucas and Adam Elliott makes Cant’s job security questionable, however. That being said, he’s playing well and on the off chance he keeps his spot long-term he could be a season long gun. It’s a risk-reward play – if you’re in a position to move him on quickly should he get dropped it will obviously help. 

Lastly, we have Kitione Kautoga ($329k, BE -22) who impressed in the Eels win over the Dragons. His workrate is much lower than that of Egan and Cant, but he certainly looks capable of an attacking stat or two. I’d find it hard to justify bringing him in though given the other options available. 

In terms of guns, Isaah Yeo has now bottomed out at a tick under $650k. There’s no reason he can’t get back to his 74 average of last season, so represents value. 

The standout so far this season though is Eli Katoa, who is averaging 84 points, priced at $750k. He offers incredible attacking upside and is on track to be the top scoring 2RF this season. 

Siua Wong had a breakout game of 119 on the weekend and is a player on the rise. During his four games starting on the edge this season, he’s averaging an incredible 69 points in base + power. He’s now $509k with a -24 breakeven. 

There is an ongoing job security risk but Lindsay Collins being out until round 12 and Nat Butcher being named in the front row this week is encouraging for Wong. Perhaps Coach Robbo is prepared to give the young guys a go this year. We could be looking at an underpriced gun and the negative breakeven is a nice insurance policy. 

Targets:

Angus Crichton 

Eliesa Katoa 

Isaah Yeo (moved from form watch)

Jacob Preston (post this week, as Bulldogs have the bye)

Siua Wong (added)

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (FRF/2RF)

Lachlan Hubner 

Thomas Cant (moved from job watch)

Dylan Egan (moved from job watch)

Job watch 

David Fifita 

Mitch Barnett (FRF/2RF)

Patrick Carrigan (FRF/2RF) 

Max Plath (HK/2RF) 

Connor Watson (HK/2RF) 

Beau Fermor (2RF/CTW) (moved from targets)

Corey Horsburgh (FRF/2RF) 

Matty Nicholson

Kitione Kautoga 

Form watch 

Priced 650k+

Haumole Olakau’atu 

Hudson Young 

Briton Nikora 

J’maine Hopgood 

Keaon Koloamatangi  

Looping options:

Myles Martin (FRF/2RF) 

Ethan Roberts (FRF/2RF) 

Tukimihia Simpkins (FRF/2RF)

FRF 

No major changes here but it’s worth noting that four-gun FRFs could be a viable strategy this year with the guns on offer. It makes sense to chase higher upside positions first, but acquiring a fourth front rower averaging around 70 could be worthwhile during / post Origin.

Daniel Saifiti is the latest FRF to put his hand up. He’s averaging 68 this season, with 60 in base + power. 

Joseph Tapine usually hits form during or post-Origin but has already registered back-to-back 90s. This included a monster base + power performance of 93 last start, including 5 offloads. If he’s freeing the arm, expect this scoring trend to continue. 

There are several other options on the job and form watchlists – AFB being the one with the most Supercoach pedigree.

Targets:

Payne Haas

Terrell May 

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (FRF/2RF)

Form watch:

Addin Fonua-Blake 

Joseph Tapine Tapine (added)

Daniel Saifiti (added)

Lindsay Smith (moved from targets)

Job Watch:

Mitch Barnett (FRF/2RF)

Patrick Carrigan (FRF/2RF) 

James Fisher-Harris 

Corey Horsburgh (FRF/2RF) 

Toby Couchman (FRF/2RF) 

Erin Clark (FRF/2RF)

Looping options 

Myles Martin – Raiders (FRF/2RF)

Ethan Roberts – Roosters (FRF/2RF)

Tukimihia Simpkins (FRF/2RF)

Hooker

As Dez pointed out on the most recent Playbook podcast, Harry Grant had 8 runs on the weekend, his most of any game this season. Harry’s been playing more of a distributor role until now but could be warming up. At $600k and with a BE of 63, he’s a fine buy this week. 

Max Plath has moved back to the middle. Watch his minutes this weekend, if he gets 60+ he’ll also likely be a target at Hooker. 

Just 66 minutes for Watson at hooker on the weekend. He probably needs 80 to be worth a trade-in.

Mamouzelos is an interesting one, averaging 57 points in 78 minutes so far this season. With the Hooker position being fairly thin, I could make a case for holding him as backup hooker. 

Targets:

Harry Grant (moved from form watch)

Job watch:

Connor Watson (HK/2RF) 

Max Plath (HK/2RF) 

Ryley Smith 

Removed: Damien Cook

Form watch

Peter Mamouzelos