Tim Williams
SC Playbook founder, 2nd NRL 2020, 43rd BBL 21/22'
NRL Supercoach Round 14 Wrap: 8 Things We Learnt
Injuries strike at the worst possible time and a Cleary conundrum awaits, Tim Williams recaps NRL Supercoach round 14.
NRL
June 9, 2025
Just when you think it’s cruise control through the bye period, drama hits.
To this point the dreaded NRL Supercoach bye period has been relatively smooth sailing, but injuries to highly popular players has suddenly made for a potentially tricky couple of weeks to come.
Following the theme of the round, I’m stepping in for regular writer of this column Nick Moon who like his idol Daly Cherry-Evans, has been relieved of his duties this week…
Shout out to Mooney, a genuine Cooma Stallion to the core, known for his days on the wing for first grade in chilly Cooma, spending his time looking after two things: his hair, and his goal-kicking percentage, both of which were outstanding.
Come along to SC Playbook’s inaugural Day at the Footy! Subscribers get 50% off tickets (see WhatsApp or email us at supercoachplaybook@gmail.com for the link), our general community get 10% off here: https://bit.ly/3SC2WDC
He also popped his shoulder out on average every 1.4 games and played through.
Mooney is the local cricket captain where he popped his shoulder out bowling garbage legspin every 2.7 games, and is also the deputy fire chief in town.
So there’s a little insight into the man behind the keyboard!
Embed from Getty Images1. Supercoach you cruel, cruel best
It’s one thing for injuries to hit, but when they are to highly owned players it shakes up Supercoach big time.
Worse yet is when it’s to a player you just traded in.
Lehi Hopoate was the second most traded in player among top ranked teams this week and gave himself a concussion attempting to score a try very early on in Manly’s loss to Newcastle.
Rubbing salt into the wounds was that he was denied the try in the process.
Hopoate is owned by 36.3% of the top 10% ranked Supercoaches overall, and 45.2% among the top 1% overall.
He’ll now miss round 15, 16 (bye) and 19 (bye).
KL Iro (34.4%) suffered a suspected pec injury that will sideline him long-term if confirmed, while Savelio Tamale (50.6%) suffered a knee injury that is set to sideline him.
Embed from Getty Images2. When will it end?
The try-scoring spree of Herbie Farnworth and Iro continued to roll on in season 2025.
Farnworth has crossed the line in seven straight games, while Iro has scored in every game this season making it 10 tries in nine fixtures for the Sharks.
Herbie owners will continue to rejoice watching the star centre strut his stuff, non-owners probably need to put away the fear of buying Herbie and the streak inevitably ending, the dude can play!
3. Phins finding form as old gun catches fire
With coverage of the second major bye round and both minis to come, the Dolphins warrant some greater attention in coming weeks.
They belted the hapless Dragons in a 50-point drubbing, gaining Supercoach attention in the process.
Aside from Herbie, a few other players caught the eye at Suncorp.
Jamayne Isaako is a Supercoach gun of the past, averaging 77 points back in 2023.
Attacking stats eluded him for the most part this season, but they came roaring back on the weekend with two tries and 132 points.
He had eight tackle busts and eight conversions to boot.
With the Dolphins heating up, he’s a high upside pick that will cost approximately $630k after lockout.
Embed from Getty Images4. Seeing not so Cleary
78.7% of Supercoaches have a decision to make on Nathan Cleary this week after he flopped as the most popular captaincy choice of the round.
55.7% of the top 10% of coaches overall had the captain’s armband on the Penrith playmaker, while 69.2% of the top 1% overall backed him for double points.
He finished with 49 points before he found a few unicorns in updates to get to 60 points.
He misses round 15 and 18 due to Origin (and Penrith on the bye), and is very likely to be rested for round 16 for the trip to New Zealand, just three days after Origin 2 in Perth.
Round 17 he faces the high-flying Bulldogs which is a tough fixture.
Set to be priced at approximately $760k after lockout ends, that’s a lot of cash sitting on the pine on those weeks.
My gut feel says that selling is the play with an eye to buying back post Origin, but to who?
5. Mixed bag for Storm spine
Jahrome Hughes is a potential replacement after going large with 136 points against the Cowboys in a masterful display.
A week prior he battled with 32 points, it was later revealed he had Bali Belly and didn’t train all week!
The only issue with the Cleary to Hughes trade is that the Storm have the bye in round 15, so it’d have to be a round 16 move.
It still could be the play, but it does make the Cleary sell a bit less appetising a week later.
Cam Munster managed an okay 60 points in that clash, he looms as a potential sell next week also as he’ll miss similar time to Cleary including that potential round 16 rest.
Jayden Campbell looks the play, but after scoring just 27 points against the Broncos there’s now a temptation for non-owners to fade the Titans playmaker.
6. Big Papa’s day out
Regardless of which team you support, it was hard not to show some emotion for big Josh Papali’i as he became the most capped Raider of all-time.
Papa scored two late tries in front of adoring fans, then slotted a conversion with absolute style to cap it off.
Just 2 Supercoaches in the top 10% overall owned Papa as he raised the bat with 105 points against the Rabbitohs.
He’s genuinely one of the best blokes in rugby league, congrats Papa!
7. Captaincy struggles
It was an underwhelming round for skippers with none of the popular picks going large.
Cleary (60 points), Terrell May (80 points), Ryan Papenhuyzen (75 points) and Payne Haas (74 points) were the big four in round 14.
8. Minute watch
Knights v Sea Eagles
Frizell 5, Crossland 72, Hopoate 5, Tevaga 57,
Storm v Cowboys
Blore 74, Wishart 13, Grant 80, Robson 64, Cotter 67
Dolphins v Dragons
Donoghoe 70, Lemuelu 51, Marshall-King 66, Plath 21, Tuipulotu 20, Leilua 40, Cook 80, Couchman 80, Stewart 52, Pasifiki Tonga 41
Sharks v Warriors
Iro 51, Fonua-Blake 64, McInnes 58, Fisher-Harris 50, Ford 53, Halasima 80, Clark 50, Laban 50, Vaimauga 38
Broncos v Titans
Haas 66, Paix 50, Carrigan 52, Mullany 62, Fa’asuamaleaui 53
Raiders v Rabbitohs
Tamale 14, Starling 56, Tapine 50, Hosking 80, Horsburgh 56, Pattie 29, Walker 56, Koloamatangi 71, Hubner 36
Tigers v Panthers
May 75, Koroisau 80, Sukkar 51, L. Fainu 44, Smith 52, Yeo 76
Bulldogs v Eels
To come…
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