NRL Supercoach Round 20 Wrap: 8 Things We Learnt

Well, what started way back on Thursday night with a Dolphins and Cowboys tryfest, ended with the most bizarre way I’ve seen a game finish in a long, long time!

The Warriors took the two points, and as the final whistle blew, Supercoaches were left wondering at what cost the round had come?

So many injuries to key players, some ordinary performances, question marks on some highly owned guns moving forward, and one bloke just ruined the whole weekend!

Dylan Edwards took Round 20, ran with it and didn’t give anyone else another look!

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His hairline might still be playing in the 2024 Grand Final, but the rest of him just looked so far and above better than anyone else out there.

If you think the CEO of Astronomer had a bad weekend at the Coldplay Concert, spare a thought for our old mate the Spy! 

Whilst he wasn’t spotted canoodling in the crowd, he has fallen back to earth after a barnstorming month or so.

The podcast might lack some gusto this weekend, but the Spy will find the silver linings and return soon, full of delusions of grandeur.

We’re all behind you, mate! 

The Reapers had a bounce back weekend, despite not owning Edwards, was able to muster up 1,233 points, seeing 1,266 green arrows into 17,301 overall. 

And about 140 odd points in front of Adam and the “relegation zone”.

Anyway, here is what we learnt from Round 20 of NRL Supercoach…

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1. Dylan Flipping Edwards

Dylan Edwards.

Any danger of a performance like that in a Blue jersey?

I mean the Maroons’ defence was a little bit more structured than Souths on Friday night, but gee, I wish we saw some of that a few weeks ago 

An absolute golden week, and single-handedly either ruined or saved your weekend.

No ifs or buts about it

Those who were brave enough to use their already dwindling trades were well rewarded with a monster 173-point effort.

And plenty as captain, I might add!

Having little care for a game like this with no players playing, I saw the tries he scored and the one he set up and thought, that’s ok, 110 at best.

Maybe doesn’t get paid the LB.. 163 at that stage!!

I didn’t realize he made 649 tackle busts. Plus took the goal kicking off Alamoti, which just accumulated with ease.

Hindsight will win me Supercoach, so it seems such a simple decision here on a Sunday.

No Cleary or Yeo, young side around him, of course he was going to stand up – especially against an undermanned and Latrell-less Souths.

Might be up for dumbest question of 2025, but do you trade him in?

Paps likely (no certainty) to be named, Cleary will be back and coming up against a Tigers side high after a Leichhardt thriller.

The best time to plant a tree (trade in Dylan Edwards) was 3 weeks ago. The second-best time is now 

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2. Teddy nowhere to be seen

I got panned a couple of weeks ago, as one of my articles said, “Teddy flopped” after he scored 77.

I didn’t even write that he flopped..

But if he flopped for a 77, he floundered, bombed, struck out, laid an egg, whatever you want to say for his 37 back on Friday night.

Registered a solitary tackle bust and only 12 carries of the footy.

He even scored a try, which I had to go back to the tapes and confirm.

So a score of 37 with a 17-point try… Yuck

Has had a run of consistent scores in the past 6 weeks, with 77 his lowest, but nothing to hurt non-owners.

And on Friday, those anti-podding him were the ones cheering.

Still one of the top 3 FLB, that is not in question, but with Walker back, it may take a bit of warming to find their groove.

Chooks have a tough run to make the finals, so they will need all of Teddy to get there. 

If you want to trade him, it’s a bold move, but one that may pay huge dividends.

Just need to find the right player not named D Edwards.

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3. Brailey pimping out the other hookers

It’s Blayke Brailey first, daylight second, nighttime third, and then maybe Harry Grant for hookers in 2025!

Another standout performance from Brailey, as he just continues to gap the competition.

Had a hand in two of the Sharks tries and was on 86 at half time!

He finished with 109, and owners would have thought at oranges, he was set for 130 at least.

Still, there would be no complaints from the 8% of owners.

That number should climb, but who a) has trades and b) wants to use them at HOK?!

5RA of 94 and no signs of easing up.

Very Jacob Liddle at the back end of last year vibes, and those 8% of owners are going to have an enjoyable final 7 weeks!

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4. Chasing Skippers

If it wasn’t Dylan, then who?

Who was going to ride in and save those who didn’t own him and somehow restore a pitiful week?

Teddy crashed and burned, Nicho did a job but couldn’t go large like last week, and Herbie and Drinky both played Thursday, so that wasn’t going to happen.

Seemed whoever we turned to just couldn’t go big 

Campbell set a couple up in the loss to the Tigers, but only managed 56, Kiraz was a popular choice and crossed early to ease any tensions, but couldn’t get much more clean ball finishing with 74.

Terrell May, though, did find triple figures to help those who waited it out.

He bounced back big time with his brother also taking up a jersey.

The Mayday call was heard! 

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5. Second Rowers are few and far between

Don’t know when the next second rowers meeting is, but there may be a few empty chairs!

They’re dropping like CEO’s on a kiss cam.

Disastrous week for the men in the 2RF, with some highly owned players succumbing to injuries, some seeing tweety bird and, others not reaching the prices set for them

And none of them could have done what Halasima did!

Tino and Keaon both failed to finish their games with a knee and a syndesmosis, respectively.

Keaon is out for 4 weeks possibly, but that takes us into Round 24/25, so he’ll only get maybe two more games out of him, if Souths decide to bring him back.

It’s getting full in their rehab room, so he might find some better company there.

Tino picked up a PCL/MCL/TCL (TV Brand), so it remains whether he will be back for another run in 2025.

Happened early, so owners copped his low score, which may have not dropped out.

Nikora failed a HIA and was deemed Cat 1, so will miss next week’s clash against the Rabbitohs.

Big blow for Nikora owners.

But one man stood above them all. Saturday afternoon in the sun, scores a try.. Take a bow… Zac Hos Charlie Guymer!

Yes, Zac scored a try too and managed 100, but where is the love for Charlie G?!

Plenty would have moved him on weeks ago, some may still have him out of necessity, whilst there are some out there like me (And shout out to Jamie, coach of the Skim Dogs) who brought him in this week!

Starting to get the hang of this Supercoach thing. 

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6. CTW giving us more questions than answers

And while we focused on the top half of our side, it would be remiss of me not to mention our friends in the CTW and FLB spots!

Some massive injury blows that meant some were looking for a quick fix or a flyer to take a spot

Paps was ruled out – Again – on Tuesday when he wasn’t named.

Came out later to say he has some calf tightness, which is what Cricket Australia describe as Calf awareness.

Maybe he is back, but if he is, what does that look like?

Remembering he has a 5RA of roughly 60 and may not get the tee back off Meaney.

He may become a POD if plenty sell, but it’s a risky hold, knowing that he could sit out another week or come back and score 37.

Val Holmes picked up a shoulder injury in last week’s loss. Bad enough to rule him out of the Kangaroos tour. 

And Billy Smith. The Supercoach Gods giveth and then they Taketh. 77, 105 and now 8.

That ill stunt any considerable cash growth that owners could have moved onto a more highly fancied CTW gun.

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7. Gee I like the look of that Gagai

Finally we have found a Newcastle Knights player that wears the number 1 and has a crack!

Dane Gagai usurped Ponga as Newcastle’s favourite number 1, and plenty of Supercoaches feel the same!

Been huge in back to back weeks since taking on the number 1 jersey (I brought in Hunt last week thinking he was FLB – Dumb Dumb) and has lifted like he once did albeit in a Maroons jersey.

Playing for his future, has banged out scores of 104 and 93. Massive POD option owned by only 3.2% of teams currently.

Raiders and Panther in the next 2 seem tough, but his B&P is good, and he can sniff out a try, just like he did on Sunday being Johnny on the spot.

You could do worse that plug him into your CTW.

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8. Minute Watch

Dolphins v Cowboys
Lemuelu 80, JMK 60, Nanai 80

Sharks v Roosters
Nikora 12, McInnes 80, AFB 46, Brailey 80, Watson 73, Crichton 80, Whyte 67

Panthers v Rabbitohs
IPap 58, Sorensen 76, Hubner 49, Keaon 53

Raiders v Eels
Hosking 68, Taps 47, Young 80, Horse 43, Starling 47, Guymer 80, Williams 70

Bulldogs v Dragons
Preston 80, Kiks 80, Su’a 80, Cook 59

Storm v Sea Eagles
EKat 80, Grant 80, SST 54, Tevaga 74

Tigers v Titans
Terrell May 80, Api 60, Tino 24, Fifita 18, Crandell 71, Fermor 80

Knights v Warriors
KPP 80, Egan 80, Clark 60, Halasima 67