Clem’s Captains: Round 21 NRL SuperCoach Skippers

Leka Halasima.

That is all.

Except I have about a thousand more words to write, so let’s also talk about Dylan Edwards and his ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THREE POINTS. 

Congratulations to everyone who brought him in, and double congratulations to those who Captained him.

And commiserations for the rest of us who didn’t do either and instead watched our SuperCoach rankings come tumbling down over a bottle of whiskey from behind the couch.

Going straight to that from a Teddy captaincy last Friday night was a special kind of torture.

Absolute scenes.

But as we say in this article, it is what it is, and onwards and upwards, so let’s go again this week.

But before we do, I would like to present the most hopeful man in the universe – Nathan, my workmate, aka the biggest Dragons supporter ever:

“We still have a chance to come second,” he optimistically offered me across my desk yesterday.

“All we need is for every other team beating us to lose from now until the end of the regular season, and we’re in second place! It’s a mathematical probability!”

Optimism is catching, because I have now worked out it’s a mathematical probability that I can still beat Spy – I’m only 987 points behind him – so all I need is for him to captain his lowest scoring player between now and Round 27, and for my Captain to go 150+ over the next six rounds, and I’m laughing…

…there’s still a chance, friends. There is still a chance.

And on that note, let’s go find a 150+ Captain, and we may as well start with one of this week’s most popular Captains:

Embed from Getty Images

Dylan Edwards

What is there to say except he scored 173 points last Friday night, including a double, and he single-handedly turned the SuperCoach competition on its head, rewarding owners and captainers with a huge soar up the rankings.

Whilst punishing those like me who “will trade Papi to him next week lalalalala” with a drop in the rankings and an extra $115k to find to bring him in.

So if you’re like me and can’t bring him in due to trades/running your SuperCoach bank account into the red, etc., etc.

All we can do is hope and pray he doesn’t have the kicking now Nath is back and assume the position behind the couch.

I have never manifested a player to go sub-50 points more in my entire life.

Embed from Getty Images

Nathan Cleary

And he’s back, but does he kick?

And does it matter?

Well, not if you own the Dylan x Nathan one-two punch vs the Tigers this Saturday evening and can perform a quick Captaincy switch just before kick-off, if kicking duties decide it for you. 

But I don’t envy you the decision (*she lies through gritted teeth, looking at her team that is devoid of any men named Cleary or Edwards).

An 82 vs Parra in Round 19 that included a try – all in the space of 49 minutes.

Playing the Tigers.

The sub-50 point manifestation now includes Cleary too.

Maxy Bryden – I’m gunning for your Tigers to win so hard right now they’ve basically become my second team.

Embed from Getty Images

Nicho Hynes

A 137 and a 77 in his last two games, including three tries, and our Glorious Wet Locked Prince is back.

After beating the Roosters and the Dolphins in their last two games, dare we say the Sharks are back too.

Playing the injury-ravaged Bunnies on Saturday night – who were pumped 30-10 by the Panthers last Round, and who made non-Edwards owners like me cry – a captaincy on Prince Nicho could be just what a SC team hunting a 150+ score needs in this desperate time of trying to gain points to close the gap on the Spy. 

Especially when we note that the last time he played the Bunnies, he scored a 115.

I am in!

I am packing my 50 bottles of V05 Extra Wet Look Hair Gel into my car for a road trip to Gosford as we speak.

Now let’s look back to a couple of earlier games in the round, where we’ll find a VC or two. 

Embed from Getty Images

James Tedesco

The 37-point Captain from last round cannot be discounted as a legitimate VC option even on a Thursday night game vs the Storm at AAMI Park. 

I won’t be going there, especially if we look at his 3-round average, which has now dropped to 66.

BUT it is Teddy – he is still elite.

He could surprise you and whack out a ton. 

VC only.

Embed from Getty Images

Scott Drinkwater

If you go Teddy or any other Chook/Storm player VC route, you have a legitimate captain in Scotty D. 

A try and two assists vs the Dolphins last week – Scotty D now boasts four tries and eight try assists in his last five games – he is the Cowboy’s attacking maestro. 

Playing the Dragons in Townsville on Friday night, you’d like to think he’s a good chance to ton up here.

Apologies to my workmate, Nathan, I’m tipping the Cowboys to win 13+.

Embed from Getty Images

Reece Walsh

If your SuperCoach bank account is broke like mine, and you can’t afford the Lil Papi to Edwards trade anymore due to your terrible financial planning, may I present Reece Walsh to you. 

Playing the Eels at Suncorp – unless there is some sort of insane upset, the Broncos look likely to take the win.

Three tries and four try assists in his last four games – Reece Walsh looks good, is a fun rollercoaster to ride, and I am bringing him in.

Embed from Getty Images

Verdict

IF I owned Cleary or Edwards, I’d go that route for the captain.

Except I don’t because of my own bad choices, so now I’m on the struggle street of indecisiveness with a captaincy on Prince Nicho and my VC hovering between Teddy, Reece, and Scotty D. 

So while I consider my options and where to find my 150+ point Captain in my last-minute quest to beat the Spy, I will wish you a beautiful weekend, and that your captain tons up for you, and as always…

Up the Wahs! 

Clementine xx