Clem’s Captains: Round 24 NRL SuperCoach Skippers

It’s official.

Round 24 is the toughest Captaincy Round of the year.

So, what’s a girl to do when she’s chasing redemption from last week’s Zac Lomax captaincy debacle?

You turn to AI and try to use it like it’s a modern-day Nostradamus. 

“Hey AI! I hope you’re having a lovely day! (always be polite so it remembers you were nice when it takes over the world). Could you please tell me who to Captain this week?”

Sure! Here’s some options to Captain in Round 24 of NRL SuperCoach:

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Top POD choice: Tom Trbojevic – elite form, juicy fixture, excellent ceiling.

Okay fair so far, I like it…who else please?

High-ceiling upside: Latrell Mitchell – ceiling higher than your rent…

Clearly AI, you have never rented an apartment in Sydney…

Reliable and safe: David Fifita – unmatched consistency, low-risk scoring. 

Ummm, okay, this isn’t 2021 AI…

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High-ceiling upside: Cameron Murray – has a great record of scoring against the Tigers…

At this point, I do not trust a word you say AI…I was nice to you, why would you play me like this…

Avoid: Nathan Cleary – enjoy your 58 against the Storm and start your weekend off with regret.

I give up. 

Okay, so that didn’t quite work.

But what did work last week was Teddy and the fact that he tore the SuperCoach competition apart with his bare hands, performing all sorts of miracles for his Captainers – and a lifeline for those who had the VC on him.

Which thankfully I did, except my loop was a little bittersweet as it contained an AE emergency of a Simpkins and a 26-point Reece Walsh lurking in my team. 

Still, I’ll take it.

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And last week also brought about the revelation that you do not bet against the Williams brothers.

Friday arvo called for an impromptu meeting at the Community Hall (aka the New Brighton balcony), where Captaincy and beers were on the agenda.

A vote of Captaincy choices was put to Insta, determining that 60% (88 voters) were on the Zac Lomax captaincy, with me, and 4% (around 5, including the OverLord himself, who voted for himself) were on Teddy with Timmy and Spy. 

And we all know how that went.

Anyway, let’s make a go of it this week and launch into our Captaincy choices, and we’ll start with the game AI says to avoid which throws up the big question – 

Can we VC Nathan Cleary this Round?

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Nathan Cleary

Let me start by saying there are five people out here right now who are trading Cleary out, and I would like to ask why, and if it is because their crystal ball works better than AI, can you please share your information with us?

Because while the great rains of Sydney continue, and my shoes are in a permanent state of soaked, a 3-round average of 109, including scores of 118, 106, and 104 made up of such things as 7 try-assists in 3 games (albeit against less tough teams than the Storm), does not exactly scream ‘trade me out’ to me. 

And yes, Nathan Cleary does not have the most illustrious record against the Storm, and it’s raining, but the Panthers are very much looking on, and the Storm are missing Hughes and Lil’ Papi this round.

So if you’re looking for a ‘safe’ VC to start the round off – do not disregard a VC on Cleary (just don’t straight up Captain him).

If you have a special feeling about a Storm player, who am I to say don’t VC, but unless Munster bucks the trend of the Panthers starving 5/8s of points over the last 2 months – I don’t really know who…

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Payne Haas

Safe. Safe. Safe. Safe.

Just a big ol’ safety net of safeness when the Broncos take on the Dolphins sans Herbie at home.

If you want to play it safe, he’s your man. That is all. 

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Nicho Hynes

And you may note that we have skipped over Friday night’s game that contained the Man of the Hour, Teddy, and that is because he’s playing the Bulldogs, and there’s teams playing easier teams this round.

Of course – do the VC if you have a special feeling. 

So let’s move to Saturday’s games and take another look at Nicho Hynes, who is playing an easier team in the first Saturday game in the form of the Titans, who also have a few outs. 

A 79 in the shock-loss to the Dragons, who are doing everything to keep my workmate “there’s a 0.002 chance if everybody else just loses” Nathan’s dreams of a Dragon’s GF alive, wasn’t the worst score of all time (try having a Walsh 26).

And while he’s only hit a ton three times this year, it’s impossible to discredit him as a viable VC choice at home against the Titans. 

The only thing that puts me off is the fact that it is meant to be sun with a cloud, according to my weather-girling and the absence of rain, does not delight me.

Add to that that I’ll be out in the city on Saturday arvo with the girls from the Goldie, somewhere in between a bottle of bubbles and the dancefloor, and therefore will have no chance to duck into the sheds with my trusty tub of V05. 

I’ll send an SOS and the instructions for the rain dance to the OverLord to see if he can go for me… stay tuned.

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Tom Trbojevic

And I love this! If you own.

Which I don’t because I anti-hoarded my trades too well this year, and I only have two left.

But what a POD choice to have if you own or you can bring in!

The rest of us non-owners are shivering in our boots.

A Sunday arvo game vs the Tigers, a team desperate to win, and playing Fullback. 

Is this the round Tommy T unleashes and punishes the 90% of SuperCoahers who don’t own? 

It’s giving H2H win.

It’s giving – soar like a Sea Eagle up the rankings.

It’s giving – he will either save you or emotionally devastate you.

It’s giving – take the risk and “Lock it in Eddy”. 

Terrell May

Safe. Probably. 

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Scott Drinkwater

The Great Dehydration. 

Scores of 34 and 43, do not exactly scream “Captain me!”, and that is your only option if you have an eye on Scotty D.

So while he’s still averaging 11^th highest for SuperCoach 2025, his last ton was back in Round 17. 

BUT playing Newie this week, who have had some points piled on them in their last couple of games, do you take a risk and Captain Scotty D at home and hope he’s your Sunday Saviour?

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Verdict

Do not ask AI.

Ask the Williams brothers.

Failing that, play it safe with a Cleary or a Haas VC, and then give your Captaincy to someone who has upside and easier match-ups this round, like a Nicho or a Tommy T.

If you want to take a massive risk, and you’re playing for nothing to lose, have a bit of fun with it and do something rogue like a Captaincy on AJ for when Latrell sends him over for the record.

As normal on a Thursday afternoon, I am completely undecided…

…so until next week, I hope you have a lovely weekend and your Captain scores you tons too.

Up the Wahs! (please)

Clementine xx