NRL Supercoach 2026 Round 1 Wrap: 9 Things We Learnt

We are so back! Round 1 is done and dusted for another year, and if it feels like this new scoring system is the way forward – especially if you like working in the middle and making 60 tackles.

Not sure how the bean counters are going behind the scenes, but that’s their problem

Cheapies shone bright, big guns proceeded to fall flat, the interchanges were hard to get a read on, like every other week in existence, we were questioning one of Cleary’s ty assists!

Forgetting all that has happened, I am thrilled to be back on board for season 2026 with Timmy and the SC Playbook crew.

My 7^th year running and, according to the Fair Work Act, I may be able to take Long Service Leave. Google AI even says “Seven years of service often leads to higher seniority, resulting in better salary, more established workplace flexibility, and access to company-specific perks like wellness programs or corporate discounts”.

Timmy.. Over to you for my discounts, perks, and seniority

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With so much to digest following the 8 games, it feels like a reset button might be the best way forward.

At least we know how the scoring system works – well, sort of.

Don’t be too disheartened after 1 week. Will take a few weeks to mesh it all out, and whilst you feel you might have missed out on a few, remember the ones you did get!

My side, Koula Than Kaeo missed some Rabbits guns and a couple of sit v starts didn’t go the way I planned, but managed to finish with 1267.

Ranked 46000 odd with room to improve..

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1. New scoring system

The Reserve Bank spent most of the last 6 months talking inflation inflation inflation, and the Supercoach honchos thought they too should get in on the action!

The new scoring system landed, and post-Vegas, we were looking at some huge scores, especially for those middle forwards!

A 40 here, a 55 there, and a Trey Mooney catch off a kick for a LB, and about 30 points more than he should have got, we all were left wondering what it meant for the rest of the games!

Thursday was hard to get a read on as Parra were left to rue the pre-season decision to not do any defence work as Melbourne ran riot.

Friday rolled around, and this is where we all decided to double down.

According to every podcast I listened to from January till Wednesday, Payne Haas was to be awarded 70 points even for turning up.

He, along with the rest of the Broncs, failed to fire, and in a game riddled with errors, couldn’t crack 65. 

Remains to be seen who the real beneficiaries are when it all settles down, but safe to say that making tackles is good, dropping the ball is bad.

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2. Cheapies – Sometimes maybe good, sometime maybe cheap

When too much of a good thing is never enough!

Turns out we could have loaded all the cheapies into our sides, and it would have panned out pretty good!

Round 1 saw too many cheapies run out, and working out who were the gun guns, and who were set to trap us all. 

The half cheapies were a bit like picking from the favourites in the dark.

Not really a bad one to begin with, but as the lights came on, only those with a Crunchie (Sanders) were happy, whilst those left with a Turkish delight (Pezet) were asking for a do-over.

Noah Martin won’t be allowed back on the Manly ferry again after demolishing our left edge, scoring a massive 116 points.

He barged over for a double and set one up with a neat little kick, all whilst sporting a haircut that the Oxford Dictionary can only describe as “Rugby League”.

He will be in my side before I have even wiped the sleep out of my eyes on Monday. 

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The storm duo of Leo and Lisati were enormous for both owners and Craig Bellamy.

Leo tormented the Eels’ right edge all night, whilst Lisati made the left edge spot his own.

Blore looms, though his 65+ in base stats will keep him in sides for a while longer yet

For the Titans, Arama Hau managed 80 minutes on an edge, grabbing over 40 points in base, whilst his winger mate Faeamani crossed for a try despite the limited opportunities his side afforded him.

Both managed 57 and 54.

Laban was the odd forward out who struggled, replaced early by Leka, who can’t be on a bench for too much longer.

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3. Few old Flames light up Round 1

New rules, more points, same old faces going big!

We had all the stats telling us Player X was underpriced, or Player Y was going to average 10 points more.. Blah Blah Blah.

How about the old tried and true method of picking Turbo, Nicho, and Cooky! 

I know I spent far too long trying to outthink the room, and whilst my fullbacks (Kini and Su’a) didn’t go too badly, it was a sight to behold, Turbo crashing over in the opening 5 minutes.

He continued with 2 more assists to finish with a game.

Picked in only 7% of teams, when Manly entrench themselves in the top 8, he will be 800k in no time.

And was it really that hard in the halfback spot?

Nicho, Saturday afternoon, under the radar Sharks side up against the Titans?

He came out with a point to prove, scoring a huge 131 to really kick off the year for owners.

Anyone out there with a Nicho & Trindall combo is likely mad, but a lot higher up the rankings than me!

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Kiraz probably falls foul of Vegas being so long ago and a bye in Round 2, but when Round 3 rolls around and he scores another 100+, we will all be trying to find 700k to get the Bulldogs winger in.

And Cody just rolled his trial form into Round 1 to his first 100+ score since Round 14, 2024.

And who said you don’t read these articles for the stats!

He is priced at under 400k, and might be a clean swap (With some cash added) for Pezet. 

It just must be a Cody cutout to AJ to break the record

Cook played like it was 2018, and if Jacob Liddle wasn’t a week-by-week proposition, he would immediately be in about 50% of teams moving forward!

Massive 105 points to get owners on the front foot

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4. Hooker headaches continue into 2026

Brandon Smith going down really put a spanner in the ointment to begin the season.

He was supposed to partner Grant/Brailey, and we could reassess from there in about 6 weeks’ time

So with the Cheese going rancid, we were left to look elsewhere. 

Mahoney and Hayward were clear favourites, and both did enough to please owners, albeit Mahoney looked a little clunky and might have saved his best work for the Vegas nightclub.

Hayward played the full 90, raising the bat for a half-century whilst Mahoney went 2 points better

Cook was huge in 90 minutes, but has Liddle to come back whilst Ioelu played 50 minutes before being swapped for Watson.

Avoid the Chooks pair.

Brailey shook the Unicorn on Monday morning and found about 25 more points, so as an owner, very happy about that.. And to think I was so close to picking Kalani Going.

If that was the case id be going to Mexico and not coming back 

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5. Storm Warning

How many is too many? The age-old question, and again, it’s a question we ask of the Melbourne Storm!

Only 1 week in, but they put the cleaners through the Eels, who might be demanding a meeting with V’Landys and offering him a trip to Turkey as payment for not playing the Storm in Round 1.

Clinical to extend their unbelievable Round 1 winning streak to 23 years since last tasting defeat, and when Harry Grant slipped through, that record seemed safe.

They all pulled their weight, with Grant leading the charge.

He crossed for a double and was on track for a big 125+ score, but his night was cut short due to an ankle injury.

All reports are it isn’t too bad, so hopefully back for this week’s game against the Dragons.

Leo, we have spoken about, but another that looks like he needs to be in most sides, as does Lisati, but it was the man at the back who was everywhere.

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Something about the Melbourne number 1s.. One leaves, and the next to take their place are just as good!

Sua Fa’alogo was in everything!

Not just popping up where he needed, but his awareness and tough carries are what impressed a lot of other owners and me as he crossed for a double to finish with 116.

Interesting to see what he does when he can’t find the attack, or plays a team that can tackle, either way I’m here for it and don’t want to be watching as a non-owner when some of these sides are starting to tire!

6. Old Man Wayne and his Rabbits

What is Wayne cooking up for 2026?!

His Rabbits kicked off in style, putting 40 points on the Dolphins, but more importantly for us all, was the work of popular players like Walker, Mitchell, Murray, Keaon, Graham, and Fifita!

Even he would have cracked a smile to see an empty rehab room for a change.

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That left edge is firing, and with Trell putting on a show, the sky is the limit for this side.

But with all that attention on the left, Campbell Graham slid past a couple and picked up a double.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the outside backs for the Rabbits.

Up front, they were guided by Cam Murray, who looked like he wanted to make up for all those tackles he didn’t get to make last year!

Probing through the middle, tackled everything that moved and didn’t look like he would blow a candle out at the end.

One owner’s can own without any trepidation. Any attacking stats and its 85+.

Keaon looks like he hasn’t missed a beat from last year, and those who went Tino over him (Me) are licking their wounds, missing out on those 77 points in 70 minutes.

Buy after their bye.

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7. Looking Sharpe in Vegas

25 minutes in, I was wondering how I would spend my $50k for winning Supercoach after starting the year with Fletcher Sharpe and throwing the VC on him!

2 minutes later, and a Helium Luki try through him, and I wondered if this silly game we play is all worth it!

Fellow Sharpe owners were dud out of a massive score with a knee injury, finishing any Vegas heroics.

Despite his early shower, he picked up 62 points, including a try and an assist.

Reports are he will miss a couple weeks, so the question for us is, do we hold?

I know I will be because whenever he laces his boot back up, non-owners will be watching from behind the lounge.

What he was able to do for the Knights was nothing short of Joey-like.

An injury-free run, and he could blow it all open. Rehab Gods do your work!

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8. Fullback Poker

Less Roulette this year and more Poker.. Ponga lit up Vegas to post a massive 116, and with the goalkicking, his fitness, and generally the Knights in attack, he looks like he could turn back the clock.

Would love to put the past season spent in a Nick Moon boot behind him, so will be hungry to lead the Knights to finals.

Scotty D had a night to forget, but the Cows looked clunky in attack.

That could swing very quickly. Didn’t kick, but that could have been the McRibs playing up.

Kini won’t spend every week parked under the goalposts whilst Teddy did his usual Tedesco things, scoring one, setting up another.

Takes on the Rabbits this coming week and could post a 120+ if the Chooks find some rhythm.

And Walshy. Happy not to own this week. Might not be saying the same next. 

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9. Minute Watch

Knights v Cowboys

Mooney 49, Lucas 80, Smith 54, Mahoney 80, Luki 80

Bulldogs v Dragons

Kiks 84, Preston 90, Hayward 90, Su’A 90, Stewart 57, T Couchman 66, R Couchman 56

Storm v Eels

Grant 59, Chan 80, Lisati 80, Hopgood 54, Williams 80

Warriors v Roosters

Egan 61, Ford 70, Laban 46, Leka 35, Clark 53, Crichton 80, Watson 31, Ioelu 49

Broncos v Panthers

Haas 78, Carrrigan 63, Willison 41, Yeo 64, IPap 67, Going 32, Kenny 80

Sharks v Titans

Jessie C 47, Nikora 80, AFB 53, Brailey 80, Tino 49, Hau 80, Bai 28

Sea Eagles v Raiders

Paseka 55, Ola 77, SST 14, Burbo 82, Taps 55, Hudson 82, Martin 82

Dolphins v Rabbitohs

Flegler 46, Finefuiaki 80, Keaon 71, Fifita 72, Murray 69