The Final Word | Round 17 NRL Supercoach Trades plans and strategy

This week was meant to be somewhat normal for us coaches, but alas, the SC Gods have other plans.

With the Samsung Sydney City Roosters already on the bye (shout out to 1997), some decent ownership within their ranks and a recent spate of injuries, some squads will have some headaches.

Hold on for dear life if that’s you!

It’ll get better soon.

NRL Supercoach Strategy

Overall Players

For me, I am now looking at the next 3 weeks as a mini period of its own (Rounds 17, 18 & 19).

A reminder that round 18 is the top 13 players only for scoring purposes.

Aim to navigate through this with bye coverage numbers who are ideally keepers as well, so you don’t have to waste trades to get rid of them after the Origin period.

Also, check trades remaining and who you see as must-haves to bring back after Origin, as this will tell you how much room you have to play with. 

There are also guys like Kikau who may fall into keeper territory, but if not, he could still be uber valuable over this 3-week period before dropping back to a 19^th or 20^th man who you can play if needed or in good matchups for the run home.

Just because he might not be in your top 17 or 18 players, this doesn’t mean you have to trade him out afterwards, given that he can be a key depth piece. 

Avoid mid-rangers who might only be mediocre over the byes and then become a headache later on.

The way I see it, you aim for one of the below options when trading:

• Season keeper who doesn’t cover the byes (Lomax or similar) 

This is a player you want long term and to chase a big score on this weekend before ownership soars.

Coaches who can cover the byes comfortably can chase these types of options more than coaches who desperately need numbers for rounds 18 and 19.

• Season keeper and bye coverage option – This is gold. Think Jacob Kiraz
• Potential for season keeper, but otherwise a high-quality bye number – This is where Kikau lands.
• Cheap option to free up money who also plays the byes with potential to score well – Karipani is the perfect example here.
• A dual position nuff to add money and positional flexibility to your ranks! See Kane Bradley.

Outside of the above, I’m not sure I would want any other kind of player.

Have I forgotten anyone?

Round 17 Trade Plans

• Olakau’atu > Hopoate
• Sharpe > Kiraz

This leaves me just under $300k spare for about the 12^th week in a row, which is genuinely unreal.

In Kiraz & Lehi Hopoate, we have one season keeper who is highly owned and just happens to be in my top 3 favourite players, and Hopoate, who is set to lose a bunch of cash but lines up at fullback and plays the next two rounds and as a result he is in POD territory.

The risk here is that he misses the tricky Round 19, so I may need to reassess and make a final call here because I also like Kikau and need to find an additional player next weekend, so I’ll check how my squad looks in regards to who can be traded out.

NRL SuperCoach PODs and SuperPODs

Figures drawn from the Top 10% of coaches

Jaxon Purdue – 10.4%

Back in the centres in the preferred role (in terms of Supercoach scoring, where he averaged 65ppg before his move to 5/8 – and this included a slow Cowboys start).

He could end the year on a high and he does play every game until round 27.

Certainly a hold if you own, in my opinion!

Possibly a buy, but plenty of other options also and does the role stick. 5-8 dual very soon!

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Jacob Preston – 8.4%

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love J Preston.

He is a true gun, but his role on the right edge takes away some gloss.

They simply feed less ball to him than Kikau, but he is good enough to score well regardless.

You have to consider him at the very least.

Blayke Brailey – 6.6%

There are signs that his running game has taken a leap in recent weeks.

Will it continue? I truly can’t answer that but if you need a hooker and want one now you could take a punt on him.

Latu Fainu – 4.9%

This kid is a genuine star from what I have seen and appears to have a reasonably friendly SC game.

He can find an injury, but is the perfect downgrade at backup 5/8 if that suits your team makeup.

Plays the major bye also.

Tallis Duncan – 2.2

I spoke about him recently, and he did well again last week.

An option for those looking to plug someone in at a decent price, who can sit at 4^th or 5^th 2FR for the run home.

Does miss rounds 19 and 26, but plays the major bye next weekend.

Reece Walsh – 2.0%

Copy and paste from last week!

He has been a tougher own this year and could play Origin 3 potentially.

But I tell you what, Walsh, at this ownership, is interesting and covers rounds 18 and 19 if he misses Origin.

One to go against for non-Drinkwater owners perhaps? 

Super POD and scores better with Mam than without.

If I had a slot, I’d get him next week.

My Captains

The Fullback double this week given Terrell May plays early, and I can’t use him as a fallback option.

Papenhuyzen VC into Drinkwater Skipper with the backline rejig to suit him.