NRL Supercoach Round 19 Wrap: 8 Things We Learnt

Bye-bye, Byes!

That’s the byes done for 2025 and goodbye, good riddance, see ya next year in about Round 12!

It wasn’t the byes that were tricky, it was the team lists and restings that played with us all this weekend!

Few were forced into some trades they may not have wanted to, whilst others were simply scrambling to field a fit 17

After being slandered in the podcast and the threat of being relegated, I have resorted to the fetal position for the remainder of the year, for fear of Adam Driussi coming and usurping me from 9^th in our in-house league!

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Tell you what, it doesn’t fill you with much confidence that a bloke who runs a football club and big business, and who has such little time for Supercoach, is nipping at your heels!

Anyway, at least I’m not sending shirtless photos of myself to a large group. More on that later.

The Reapers were forced into some trades after team lists cruelled any chances of sneaking through this week.

Finished the weekend with 1246, a few more than Adam, so some breathing room.

Expecting red arrows, but will wait for the lockout to end to confirm that

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1. Halfback roulette to run us home?

Roulette might be a stretch with how low trades are, but are we seeing a resurgence of the Halfback position?

Both Hynes and Hughes had standout games on the weekend.

Hynes turned back the clock with a 2023 performance, scoring 2 and setting one up it he shadows of the siren to really kick the door down and remind us all what he is capable of.

Finished with a massive 137 and was shown he is keen to run the ball a lot more, meaning he will likely stay put till season’s end now for owners.

Has the dream run home if Friday is anything to go by, now becomes a genuine week in, week out captaincy option.

The run after the Roosters this weekend is the stuff of Supercoach wet dreams.

Souths, Cowboys, Dragons, Titans, Knights

So everyone thought, well I’ll trade Hughes out for Cleary.. But Hughes said “sure, watch this!”

It’s a pretty simple gig he has, just kick into the in-goal, and someone will catch it. If not just find Katoa!

He has backed up big scores with mediocre ones, so let’s hope with his Origin mates back, he can go do what he did last year around this time and turn one on!

So that leaves two spots locked up.

Whose game enough to trade either one of them and bring in Cleary!

His Origin form was punished by starting on the bench, but came on, tore the proverbial shit up, and left.

Scored 82 in 50-odd minutes with a try, a heap of tackle busts and 2 forced dropouts.

3 doesn’t fit into 2, unless you have a flex spot available, then that’s your answer. 

And that’s before we go for a real flyer on Sammy Walker or Tanah Boyd.

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2. Lucas’ injury forces trades we don’t have!

Well, we are into the run home, and I guess not many of us are running!

It’s more of a limp, and the closer Round 27 gets, the slower we will all get, until we fall over the finish line!

We will bemoan those expensive players who are on our bench and wonder who they could or should have become.

Dylan Lucas may be just that!

Lisfranc injury, which looks like you have a permanent rock stuck in your shoe, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.

Will get about 630k for him to move onto a 2RF or CTW now for the run home, iv you can afford the trade.

In a very stop-start season for him, his 147 will be remembered for a long time yet, as will his 9 scores over 60 in his 13 starts this year. 

Can be traded to whoever with the dual CTW/2RF, and some good options are starting to show.

I, like many others, will say goodbye for the final time, which will mean he’s been in, then out, then in again and now out. 

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3. Team lists sending us up the wall

Stressful time on Saturday before the 3pm game, trying to make heads and tails of the trades and who was in and out!

Brutal Origin and limited restings throughout the series meant some players were due, but others were slated for lesser minutes, or even coming off the bench!

The trades on Saturday were as tricky and frustrating as I can remember.

I had a boost to use, but trying to find 3 fit players, with the cash available and with a chance the coach could pull a swifty was nerve wracking to say the least!

Haas being a late withdrawal, into the bye next week meant those who sold, probably had their move justified. 

It will be a whole lot better if AFB can find some of that juicy, juicy Warriors form.

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4. Herbie Herbie Herbie

Must be tough to watch for non-owners… Hey Timmy!

Don’t get to have many over the great man, but owning Herbie when he doesn’t is one that I will take!

An unbelievable solo effort to score on Friday night, seemingly out of nothing, bouncing his way through the backfield.

The last pass back to him was questionable, but that’s what you get when you are the most in-form player in the comp!

Things just happen!

His 105 was his fifth 100+ score in the last 6 weeks, and this will blow your mind – he hasn’t had a score under 70 since Round 5!

Takes on the Cowboys, who have shown in the past they aren’t all that keen on making tough tackles.

Jump on board Timmy, he will only cost ya $900k!

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5. High hopes dashed in an instant

You know these weeks away you make your trades after a few stressful decisions and after you’ve hit submit, you look at your side and go.

Yep, I’m taking home the $2,000 this week. 

We’ve all been there, and every guy taking up a spot, has the chance to go 100+.

Good matchup, due, few solid weeks behind him, whatever it is, there is always something that says all our stars will align.

And this week I genuinely thought it was on my doorstep!

Especially after Friday when Herbie did what he usually does, into a Nicho masterclass things were looking good.

But.. As the weekend rolled on it was more of the same from my chargers.

Lots of 40s, 50s, a so-so captain, and picking the wrong sit vs start never helps.

So, back to the drawing board we go.

With H2H finals looming, good luck to all those who have forgone their chances of a top 1k, 10k, or in my case top 19k finish and will look to win some leagues. 

Hopefully, my moniker next year will go from Nick Moon – Funny man, to Nick Moon, Winner of the Nanny Goat Cup.

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6. Hookers

I may stop talking about the hooking position in Round 27.

Who did we all land on this weekend?

Grant and Watson were the hottest two options, but did JMK get a start somewhere, or did those couple of tries Wayde Egan scored way back in about Round 3 pique your interest?

Even Chris Randall is doing a job!

Grant played like he watched Origin on Wednesday, not threw his body around like the crazed man he is. 

For those on the Grant bandwagon like myself, all this talk about him getting rested, he’s barely struck a blow for Melbourne all year!

So being the captain I think he may want to play most of the games.

Saturday was only his 10^th game of the season for Melbourne.

He may not play 80 in every match, but he still looks the top option not named Blayke.

Watson managed a TC and finished with 56 in an admirable performance, moving between lock and hooker.

But it all means little to those who don’t own Blayke Brailey, who has just surged on with a running game that was obsolete 6 weeks ago. 

Scored 117, which goes with his 97 and 102 scores in the last 4 weeks.

Sharks’ run is good, and he could easily average 75+ on the run home.

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7. Selling points

In weeks like this, when players are hard to come by, and points are at a premium, gee it hurts seeing two former players absolutely tear up and turn into what was described as future immortals!

I have been panned of late for buying Laybutt..

Well, the trolls won, and I traded him out.

So, of course, he goes 92 in a defensive slugfest.

I only owned hoim for 3 weeks, but Zac, I hardly knew you.

And Billy Smith, what a performance!

I’d say, where has that come from, but it’s probably more where has that been!

The sell now looks a bit silly with Sammy Walker back scheming down that left-hand side.

Those who held him now have a genuine strike CTW option to play on matchups.

8. WhatsApp warning 

What did we learn in Supercoach this week?

Be careful when opening WhatsApp for fear of a shirtless Spy!

Dead set, it’s July, Sunday afternoon, and the man has gone shirtless for a 2pm Warriors-Tigers game.

If that doesn’t strike fear into you, nothing will!

And how about his poor mate who had to take the photo.

“Hey mate, CHT just scored, mind taking a quick pic of me for the group? Oh wait, I’ll ditch my shirt”

“How’d the photo come out?… Yeah awesome, looks good, I look great here.”

And send

I relayed my thoughts in the WhatsApp group but if the Spy has seen the inside of a gym, it would only to ask for directions to the nearest pub. 

Rest assured that me and the rest of the SC Playbook contributors WONT be going shirtless*, no matter how well we are going

*Does not apply to anything after 3am at Magic Round

Spy, never change, but put a shirt on..

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9. Minute Watch

Sharks v Dolphins
AFB 39, Nikora 80, Brailey 80, JMK 80, Finefeuiaki 80

Knights v Storm
Lucas 60, KPP 80, Grant 63, EKat 77, Blore 80

Dragons v Roosters
Cook 64, Su’a 80, Foketi 80, Crichton 80, Watson 75, 

Cowboys v Bulldogs
Robson 49, Nanai 57, Preston 80, Kiks 71, Mahoney 80

Warriors v Tigers
Egan 80, Halasima 80, Clark 58, May 63, Api 62

Eels v Panthers
Brown 35, Guymer 80, TDS 51, Williams 80,Cleary 50, Yeo 54

Titans v Broncos
Tino 48, Fifita 25, Crandell 80, Willison 58, Carrigan 70