Positional Watchlist: NRL Supercoach Round 10 Rising and Falling Player Stocks

What a Magic Round that was.

Despite the weather, the stars all came out to play with Supercoach tonnes a plenty. 

The next two rounds are optimal timing for saving trades ahead of the bye period.

If there are players you’re targeting for round 12 or 13, it often makes sense to wait.

This ensures that they play the round you want them for.

Consider each player’s matchups over the next two weeks ahead of the first bye, then make your decision. 

Note: This article was written pre-team lists. Check out Tim’s weekly teams’ article for post-team lists analysis.

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Fullbacks

The fullbacks are heating up.

If you don’t already own Ryan Papenhuyzen or Kalyn Ponga, now could be time to jump on, as both could go huge as a VC or C this week. 

Targets:

• Ryan Papenhuyzen 
• Kalyn Ponga 
• James Tedesco (wait until round 12 if possible, although BE will be lowish for the Bulldogs round 11 matchup)

Form watch:

• Scott Drinkwater (moved from targets – wait until after round 12 bye)
• Tom Trbojevic 
• Latrell Mitchell 
• Clint Gutherson
  

Removed: Isaiah Iongi

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

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CTW

Knights’ players (home vs Titans, then home vs Eels) and Herbie (away vs Eels, then home vs Warriors) are worth prioritising this week.

Fletcher Sharpe, in particular, is a VC candidate, so would be a scary non-own vs the Titans. 

Targets:

• Greg Marzhew 
• Dylan Lucas 
• Herbie Farnworth 
• Jacob Kiraz (could wait a week or two with BE around 40 and Raiders + Roosters matchups coming up)
• Reuben Garrick 
• Fletcher Sharpe (CTW/FLB) 
• Mark Nawaqanitawase (moved from form watch – wait until round 12 if possible, after Bulldogs’ matchup)
• Robert Toia (added – round 11 cash grab option)

Removed: Robert Derby 

Form watch:

• KL Iro (BE 101 – wait another week or two)
• Valentine Holmes (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• Jaxon Purdue
• Jamayne Isaako 
• Connor Tracey (CTW/FLB)
• Adam Douehi (CTW/5-8)
• Blaize Talagi (CTW/5-8)
• Campbell Graham (added – cheap and could improve significantly once Rabbitohs get troops back on deck)
• Selwyn Cobbo 
• Paul Alamoti (added – already averaging over 60 this season, could do even better if Panthers’ form turns around)
• Izack Tago (added – has improved significantly since a one week stint on the bench. Currently available at sub $500k)
• Savelio Tamale (added – going from strength-to-strength, consistently high base + power in recent weeks, looks a good bye coverage hold)
• Josh Addo-Carr (averaging 66 and Eels’ left wing has traditionally been a hotspot, as noted by Maxy in the early mail podcast)
• Jaylan De Groot 

Job watch:

• Beau Fermor (2RF/CTW) (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• Tom Jenkins (added – has negative BE but could be pushed out when To’o returns)
• Kane Bradley(2RF/CTW)

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5/8

Dylan Brown is averaging 63 this season despite being out of form.

This could be turning around, and he has upcoming matchups against the Dolphins (home) and Knights (away).

He also plays the rounds 12 and 13 bye rounds.

If you need a 5/8 or extra player this week, he’s a good option. 

King-Tongia could be a key player for many Supercoaches on the eve of the bye period. The option to free up a stack of cash in a relatively low scoring SC position is very tempting. 

Cameron Munster has the Sharks next week, so a move from him to King-Tongia could be on the cards.

Note that Jayden Campbell could be back this week or next, so no longer looks like a trade out if you’re still holding. 

Targets:

• Cameron Munster 
• Dylan Brown (HFB-5/8 – moved from form watch)

Form watch:

• Jarome Luai (HFB-5/8) 
• Cody Walker (HFB-5/8) (pending return from injury)
• Luke Metcalf (HFB-5/8) (wait at least another week – round 9 score will drop out of rolling average by round 12)
• Blaize Talagi (5/8-CTW)
• Adam Douehi (5/8-CTW)
• Kaeo Weekes (5/8-FLB) (added – heating up in recent weeks including big score vs Storm. Watch against the Dogs this week)

Job watch:

• Jayden Campbell (FLB-5/8) (added – could be back this week or next)
• Matt Burton 
• Lachlan Galvin 
• Tyran Wishart 
• Jayden Sullivan (HFB-5/8) 
• Lyhkan King-Togia 

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Halfbacks

Not much interest here.

Dylan Brown is better selected at 5/8.

If Jahrome Hughes looks like making bulk cash over the bye period at some stage, he could be worth a look – wait and see for now though. 

Targets:

• Nathan Cleary 
• Nicho Hynes 
• Dylan Brown (HFB-5/8)

Removed: Hugo Savala (ship has sailed despite low BE)

Form watch: 

• Jahrome Hughes 
• Jarome Luai (HFB-5/8) 
• Cody Walker (HFB/5-8) (pending return from injury)
• Luke Metcalf (HFB/5-8) (wait at least another week – round 9 score will drop out of rolling average by round 12)
• Sandon Smith (HK/Half) (moved from targets)

Job watch:

• Jayden Sullivan (HFB-5/8)

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2RF

Briton Nikora has now bottomed out at $535k with a BE of 67.

As shown by the epic ‘out-in’ line for his try, attacking stats can almost be expected from Briton.

His ceiling is excellent for a backrower, demonstrated by a 137-point performance against Manly last season. 

There is a legitimate concern about Nikora’s base being down from last season by around 6 points.

However, this is almost all in tackles, so it could be relatively random.

Even with the reduced base, there’s still $100k+ upside in him, so he looks a great bye period option, playing rounds 12 and 15 (but missing 13). 

Targets:

• Dylan Lucas (2RF/CTW)
• Briton Nikora (moved from form watch) 
• Erin Clark (FRF/2RF) (BE still low at 29 – option if you need a forward, just be mindful JFH is back soon)
• Dylan Egan (added – still just $460k and averaging a tick under 70 when starting in the backrow this season)

Removed: Hugo Savala (ship has sailed despite low BE)

Job watch 

• Haumole Olakau’atu (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• Hudson Young (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• Jacob Preston (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• Beau Fermor (2RF/CTW) (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• David Fifita 
• Mitch Barnett (FRF/2RF)
• Corey Horsburgh (FRF/2RF) (Origin candidate – would only consider for H2H)
• Tallis Duncan (added – played 80 on the weekend)
• Leka Halasima (added – played 80 on the weekend)
• Brendan Piakura (played 80 on the weekend – currently available for around $250k)

Form watch – Priced 650k+

• Eliesa Katoa 
• Isaah Yeo 
• Siua Wong 
• Toby Couchman (FRF/2RF) 
• Matty Nicholson
• J’maine Hopgood 
• Keaon Koloamatangi 
• Kai Pearce Paul (added – strong base + power – POD option)

Looping options:

• Myles Martin (FRF/2RF) 
• Ethan Roberts (FRF/2RF) 
• Tukimihia Simpkins (FRF/2RF) 

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Hooker 

Oh boy, the cupboard is bare here.

Ryley Smith had his best game of the season last round with 50 points from 72 minutes, all in base + power.

The young Eels’ hookers has just ticked over $300k with a BE of 12.

We could certainly do worse given how much the hooker position is struggling.  

If you’re without a hooker this week, taking the AE is a legitimate option, especially with many teams short on numbers from the Roosters’ bye.

Wait as long as possible to make this call if you can, so you know your VC and AE scores.

Unfortunately, this might not be possible for teams with Plath at hooker, as the Dolphins’ play the first game of the round. 

Targets:

• Sandon Smith (HK/HFB) (post round 10 bye)
• Ryley Smith 

Job watch

• Wayde Egan (moved from targets, Sam Healey came into the final team last week, which impacted Egan’s minutes)
• Harry Grant (added – could be back this week, but difficulty to justify a trade-in when returning from injury with Origin on the horizon)
• Cameron McInnes (HK/2RF) (added – rock solid option, hasn’t scored less than 50 all season. Origin candidate though so would wait)