The Final Word | Round 14 NRL Supercoach Trades plans and strategy

Another solid round score of 1317 saw Turbo Irvo move into 2411^th overall, marking the sixth week in a row of green arrows and pulling me within striking distance of the top 1k. 

I mentioned it briefly on the podcast this week, but this seems like a great week to hold off on trades unless you’re really struggling to get together enough numbers for the second major bye round next week.

At a glance, it seems like I’ll have around ten players pre-trades, and with plans to pull the trigger on three trades next week, I should have no dramas fielding the full 13.

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Round 14 NRL Supercoach Strategy

Many Supercoaches, myself included, will be sweating on whether Keaon Koloamatangi will be selected for the Blues or not.

I can see why he’s the most traded in player this week after two hundreds in a row, but I can also see him being marched straight into that NSW side with no questions asked.

Why risk it?

Another player who has two hundreds in a row and has no looming origin selection is Lehi Hopoate, who again gets the fullback gig with Turbo sidelined for another week.

Even when Turbo returns, I think Lehi remains a CTW keeper due to his insanely high work rate and ability to create line breaks from his own half, something we really haven’t seen too often this season. 

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With news that Greg Marzhew will be a late inclusion for the Knights, he quickly comes onto my radar as someone to target for fantastic bye coverage with very high upside, which we’ve already seen this season when he went 138 against the Sharks in round 7.

The price tag of $639k is cheap for a CTW keeper and, for the hordes of people selling Robert Toia this week, Marzhew provides the perfect option to jump straight to for the small price of $39k.

For those supercoaches with a bit of money in the war chest who might be willing to pay an even higher price for a CTW keeper, I present to you the return of potential CTW goat Jacob Kiraz.

Priced at a tick under $800k, Kiraz has a high breakeven which will put many off jumping straight back on the train, however for those daring to risk it he could easily pump out a huge ton against Parramatta and leave the rest of us scratching our heads as to why we didn’t just pay the premium price for him. 

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Nathan Lawson is without a doubt the cheapie of the week after taking the Dragons’ right wing spot off Sloan.

At bottom dollar price, he becomes a fantastic downgrade option in the CTW for those looking to spend big this week or next on some gun bye players. 

Also from the Dragons, Toby Couchman is a man who must start coming into the equation after being moved to the edge to cover for the injured Jaydn Su’a.

Couchman has an insane work rate and for 550k with dual 2RF/FRF status, he comes into serious consideration for those needing bye coverage in the forward positions as he will comfortably maintain a 70 average in my opinion.  

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Round 14 NRL Supercoach Captains

Captaincy this week is looking similar to last week, with Papenhuyzen primed for a VC due to a juicy AAMI Park matchup against the Cowboys, who showed how quickly they can leak points last week in the final 20 minutes against the Tigers.

The other standout game looks to be the Panthers vs Tigers afternoon clash at CommBank Stadium, where Nathan Cleary could run absolute riot.

Cleary knocked out 87 with ease last week without a single try assist, when they come, and they will make no mistake – he’s in for a huge 150+ sort of score.

The other option is just the safe and sound Terrell May angle where he knocks out 75-125 every week without fail, and has been the option I’ve personally been taking lately to ensure my ranking rise continues. 

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Dez’s Trade and Captaincy Plans

Trades: 

Toia -> Lawson (50/50)

Captains:

VC: Papenhuyzen

C: Cleary