Clem’s Captains: Round 15 NRL SuperCoach Skippers

You know the ‘Glow-Up Theory’? That when a couple goes through a breakup, you can kind of tell who was the dumper and who was the dumpee by stalking their Insta pages and determining which party has gone through “the glow-up”?

Well, we’ve all seen Queensland’s Origin 2 team, so using this theory we can determine that Daly Cherry-Evans is about to come out on Friday night in the Gold Coast, sporting a healthy tan, blonde hair extensions, and an aura that screams – I’ll show you Billy!

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More on that later…

And according to AI we should all be Captaining Nathan Cleary this week… and I don’t know how I feel about this, because up to about 8am this morning when I read the AI Captaincy recommendations, I was in a bubble of delightful anticipation about to enjoy an entire round of NRL without having to assume the position behind the couch for the first time in weeks…

And there is a sea of about 5000 Captaincy options to wade through this week, an absolute truckload of potential tonner uppers, and obviously AI is having a laugh at our expense – because for once, thank god, Cleary isn’t one of them.

So let’s move on to the Captains, and we’ll do this game by game because there is sadly only five of them and remember – FREE LOOP. So, if you have a feeling about a guy…DO. IT…

Connelly Lemuelu scored 108 last week…

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Sharks vs Dragons

And look, I’m not saying you shouldn’t VC anyone in this game but after Captaining Nicho last week v my Warriors in what must have been some form of Stockholm Syndrome, I am not feeling very lovely over the Sharks as VC options this week.

Obviously, they are playing the Dragons who enjoyed a 56 – 6 thumping by the Dolphins last round (I would have never called a Dolphin beating a Dragon in a fight – Dolphins are so cute); but there you go…clearly, I’m no David Attenborough. I’ll stick to maths and hair.

If you must Vice Captain a Shark, you actually might like to give Nicho a go – he does enjoy a 144 point average vs the Dragons over their last three games, I Katoa was a sniff away from a ton vs them last Friday night, the Sharks are coming off a humiliating loss at home to the Warriors, they’re playing a local derby at home this round, and there’s supposed to be a light drizzle in the air over Shark Park tonight…

And okay, I’ve almost convinced myself…the 48 of last week is forgiven…

And all I’ll say about the Dragons is my intel from the Biggest Dragons Fan Ever aka my workmate Nathan, is, and I quote – “there are exactly zero Captaincy options for the Dragons against the Sharks.”

But I’ll optimistically say – “If you have a feeling do it!” But if you’re going to do it you may as well chuck it on Lawson, and hope he does his own version of the Money Man and makes it rain tries out there on the left wing. 

Nathan has interjected here with “I speak for all Dragons fans and say “no”.

And yes, we both played him for his 19 last week…follow me for more Sit/Starts!

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Titans v Manly

An unrequited love.

A lover spurned. 

A tale of post-breakup revenge. A story of one man’s glow-up. 

And are you bringing in DCE?

Despite only two tons early in the season and some less than illustrious scores including a 35 last week vs Newy and an 11 a couple of rounds before that vs the Sharks – if you’re one of the 8,614 SuperCoachers bringing in DCE this week – you may as well take a punt on him. 

Focus on the fact he has 8 try assists in his last 6 games…and he’ll be out to show QLD what they’re missing out on. Forget about the 11…

If you’re looking for another VC option in this Friday night delight, take a look at Big Ola coming off a 115 and boasting a 3-round average of 83 – if you’re like me and don’t have him in your team… may I suggest some time behind the couch…

And now, let’s get into some Captaincy candidates:

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Newy v Roosters

And what can we say about that IMMENSE second half comeback last round that hasn’t already been said…

I have never felt so overjoyed for a group of fans – you guys are the real ones!

So, it seems we have a bit of a Captaincy option here in one, Fletcher Sharpe. Playing fullback, enjoying a 3-round average of 98, a couple of BIG tons in his last three outings including two tries vs Manly, playing at home … there’s clearly a case to Vice Captain or even risk a Captaincy on the man with the best mullet north of Melbourne…

And while I think Newy will bounce into the game at home on a high this Friday after taking out that win last week in that incredible second half effort, obviously, they are playing the Roosters, and how can we forgo Teddy. 

Off a bye, coming off a big Round 13 performance vs the Raiders, about to hit 100 tackle-busts for the season, a five-round average of 97, and the highest averaging fullback in SuperCoach – Teddy is an OG of Captaincy choices this week…

Or at least consider the VC.

Especially if you have one of these next guys…

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Cowboys vs Dolphins

And wow. I own no Dolphins, and I have never felt so naked in my life.

Because WHAT A PERFORMANCE! WHAT ATTACK!

56 – 6 vs the Dragons. A virtual drenching of points!

And if you have Isaako in your team, you MUST consider him a Captain. 132 points last round including a couple of tries, a 3-round average of 90, all those lovely kicking points, and playing the Cowboys at home at the ground he scored 151 last time he played them there…

I’m bringing him in.

Then we have King of the Try – Herbie Farnworth. Ranked number 1 for CTWs this season, a double last round to get to 105 points, a try in each of his last seven games – I might just bring him in too…

Of course, we can’t forget who they’re playing, who is Scotty D, who has tonned up FOUR times in his last 6 games, including a 105 vs the Storm last week…

I wish there was an option to VC and Captain in a single game…

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Bunnies vs Bulldogs

Let’s round things off with the final game of the round – Sunday arvo’s Bunnies vs Bulldogs. 

And here we have our new safe Captain who is Keaon Koloamatangi – a 3-round average of 111, tons in his last three games, tries in his last two games, about a thousand tackles and hitups and everything else that bases up the points – if you don’t own the big man, may I also suggest time behind the couch for you.

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Verdict

It is 1pm on a Thursday arvo and the closest I’ve got to a Captain option is to bring Isaako in and then trade him out for Herbie and then bring Isaako in again…

So, while I continue to peruse the 5000 VC and Captaincy options we are presented with this round, I will now end this Ted Talk on glow-ups and mullets – and bid adieu…

Whoever you Captain this round I hope he absolutely tons up for you and I hope you have a beautiful weekend and please take a risk on that random VC only you have thought of…

Repeat after me – Connelly Lemuelu scored 108 last week…and we have a free loop…

Clementine xx