NRL Supercoach 2026 Round 2 Wrap: 9 Things We Learnt

What happens in Round 1 of NRL Supercoach, stays in Round one of Supercoach!

Well, everything we thought we knew 4 days ago is gone, and now we try to reset again for whatever Round 3 has in store!

It was all about AJ on the weekend, crossing for try number 213, with thousands swarming the field in scenes that will be replayed for many years to come!

Unbelievable achievement, with only Tupou in his rear vision mirror.

Well done to AJ, and all the fans who played nicely and allowed the game to restart so quickly.

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Back on Supercoach, it’s going to be a tricky week to trade with SOO many cheap guns firing, whilst some underpriced superstars are close to being must-haves.

The biggest challenge will be finding space, like whether to drop a Pezet or a Walker in favour of Sharpe.

Or moving on a proven gun backrower like Yeo or Murray to make room for a Lisati.

Crazy times, but makes it all the more enjoyable.

Koula than Kaeo had a similar week to last, scoring 1279 thanks largely to a Sua explosion, moving up 6000 odd spots to sit 40155 overall.

There will be some rage trades, and a certain young GI can start to book an Uber.

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1. Different week

Different gravy! What a difference 7 days makes in Supercoach 2026.

We thought we had it all sorted last week, but alas, another week of drama and here we are on Monday, scratching ourselves, wondering where to from here!?

Heroes last week, fish and chip shop wrapping paper the next.

Braydon Trindall owners will be keeping the receipt and asking for a refund after he punched out a lowly 22..

His half partner Nicho was Penrithed, seeing limited attacking opportunities for his 41 whilst another of last week’s heroes, Cody Walker, had a few nice touches, but couldn’t crack the Chooks defence as they were all over him like every man, woman, and child was over AJ.

Cody finished with only 34 and probably lost a few to penalties.

The flip side of that was Nathan Cleary, who scored 65 last week, but nearly doubled that in a rout of the Sharks, scoring 109.

Said he’s only at 70%, so if my maths is correct, he will be averaging around 124 when he is at 100%

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Haas bounced back for patient captainers and vice captainers with 103, including a try, and Reece Walsh shrugged off his 34 to pick up a double on his way to 99.

He didn’t look great, but enough for owners to old firm.

A trip down to Melbourne won’t help, but games against the Dolphins, Titans, and Cowboys following that might pay back some patient owners.

Tolutau Koula couldn’t find the spark that kept Manly in the game last weekend as his 10-game try-scoring record at Brookie ended.

He finished with only 23 after last week’s 108.

2. Ryan? Billy? Never heard of them.. Sua though

Melbourne can find a number 1!

Sua Fa’alogo announced himself to the Supercoach world .. again on Saturday afternoon, tearing a hole the size of Port Kembla in the Dragons’ defence.

In 15 minutes he laid on 3 tries and sent owners into raptures, finishing the afternoon with 155 points.

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His footwork close to the line is unmatched, and with tired defences late in games, he has probably the highest ceiling in the game. There I said it!

There could be a game where he lays on 2 or 3 tries and bags 4 himself.

No limit to what can be done, especially the way some of the games are playing out!

He will likely have a bludger at some point, and many other owners and I will shrug our shoulders and accept it.

But that’s a risk we must take on the Fa’alogo express!

Non-owners are now scrambling and will be making a trade-in as soon as lockout lifts on Monday morning.

Thankfully, there are some underperforming and or injured fullbacks that need moving on.

Drinky/Ponga to Sua might be as popular as anyone to Martin last week.

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3. Tigers Roar

Saw about 3 people in downtown Cooma yesterday with Tigers jerseys on.. Must mean they had a pretty good win!

Pretty good is probably an understatement, and it would be wise of Timmy not to invite Maxy on this week’s podcast.. Otherwise, it might not end till Thursday morning!

But to be fair, they have some serious Supercoach pedigree!

Those owners who were willing to wait the week on the bye were duly rewarded, with 6 players scoring 94 and above!

Maksina was in 64% of sides, and whilst he didn’t crack 50, he looks to have cemented a spot in the backline.

Doueihi owners can afford to walk around with a pipe in their mouths, wording, “I told ya so” after the Tigers’ half put in a sublime performance, scoring 115.

His combo with Luai looks to have solidified over the offseason, and his running game, plus the goal kicking, means he has a high floor.

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The back row duo of KPP and Fainu were enormous, with KPP bagging double whilst Fainu and Luai toyed with the right edge of the Cowboys.

KPP looks like a different player to the one he was at Newcastle.

He might have grown a foot, shaved his legs, and gotten rid of his sideburns because he is looking like a must-have!

We will get another look at him before a price rise, but the signs are good.

Terrell May got through 54 minutes in the sun before he was spelled.

A lazy 78 in that time. Not sure where we will fit him in, but he has to be there somewhere.

Wasn’t all good news, with brother Taylan picking up a shoulder injury. Trade

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4. Time for a new Sofa

When looking to buy a new lounge – or Couch, things you should look for are reliability, softness and comfort, usability, and PPM!

Ryan Couchman. He is no man.. But a god!

Another out-of-this-world performance, racking up 69 points in 57 minutes!

He has become a PPM beast, and there are no signs of slowing down.

Made a thousand tackles in the middle before shifting to an edge, it seems his Round 1 heroics in Vegas were not lady luck, but an insight into what he is going to do week in week out.

Priced at only $235K, there isn’t a world where you cannot bring him in.

He, along with his brother, look like locks in the Dragons’ side, and it won’t be long before he is looking at 60, 65 minutes each and every week.

Toby’s minutes were down, but the game was gone late into the second half, and in close-run games, you can expect a bigger output and minutes.

Won’t be long before Flanagan sees the correlation between points conceded and Couchman’s off-the-field!

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5. Half measures and five to eight worries

Well, which side of the tide were you on for this cheap halfback game of Russian roulette we all play?!

Ethan Sanders had Leka Halasima to contend with all night, plus the Auckland weather, as he only posted 39.

Had a hand in an early try, and didn’t stop looking all night, but the points and attack just couldn’t find him.

Takes on the Bulldogs next Thursday night in another tough assignment.

Daniel Atkinson threw one of the great cutouts to Val as he showed he has what it takes to hold a spot down.

Wouldn’t be rushing to pull the trigger either way.

He will be a slow burn and will only benefit from not running at the Bulldogs and Storm as the weeks roll on.

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And Jonah. Boy, did I get that one wrong! 4072 Supercoaches traded him out.. And I was among them!

Sacked after 1 bad performance… Luckily, my wife doesn’t use the same philosophy!

Looked like he took control of the Eels side and was instrumental in guiding them to a surprising victory.

3 Try assists and one to himself landed him a cool 82 points.

Has an up and down month, but if there is something to take out of it, he plays 6 of the next 7 at Commbank Stadium. 

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6. Knights needing new armour

Look out Phoenix Crossland. In only 120 minutes of football, injuries have taken down 3 of the Newcastle spine, with Ponga only playing 25 minutes on Sunday afternoon and Brown in the first half.

Are they still sponsored by NIB? If not, it might be worth a phone call..

Both have picked up injuries that look like they will be weeks on the sidelines.

Lucky they didn’t play the next 40, otherwise Seibold might have to sign up to Supercoach – might be the only way he gets to coach a side..

Feel for all those Ponga owners out there. An enormous last week in Vegas backs up with 54 and a try before limping off the field.

One of the less enjoyable trades to make.

Brown looks like a few weeks out with a knee, what that does to the Knights’ attack remains to be seen.

Sandon Smith stonks rising whilst all reports are that Sharpe will be back next week. 

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7. Penrith doing Penrith things 

Looks like we can revert to the previous 5 years whenever the Panthers are playing. Clinical, defensive, and Supercoach killers!

They are just over $5 to in the comp, which means if you put $20 on them, you will likely win $100.

Early days, but my word, they are looking the goods!

Complete shutout of Brisbane before conceding only the one try to Cronulla at Bathurst, which looked like they could use a few more floodlights.

Roosters take on the envious task of playing them next week, which isn’t good news for owners of Crichton or Walker.

Then it’s the Eels, Storm, and Dogs. I’d be looking to avoid anyone playing them.

Cleary banged out 109 as mentioned earlier, and there isn’t a world where he can’t average 85+ before Origin

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8. Gut feels

Listening to your gut.. 

2 weeks into proceedings, and we are a bit wiser to our choices and seeing where they went right and where they didn’t.

What I have learnt is my gut knows Supercoach better than I realise!

Was keen on Simi Sasagi to start, but unsure about minutes, yada yada yada, the guy is a Supercoach gun!

Timoko back, might see some time on the bench, but he just oozes Supercoach appeal.

Same with Leka. What a beast! Supercoach is supposed to be fun, and it wouldn’t be much more fun than owning Leka if he is playing 80.

I was 12 months early on Finefeuiaki as he hung around my side last year for 25 rounds.

Running off Katoa in a Dolphins side that score points for fun, he looks like a great POD.

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And my gut was a bit unsure about Young GI. Eye test, good side, and proved gun last year, I thought I would take a punt, but I didn’t feel good about it.

Went him over Latrell, which hasn’t turned out too bad.. Only cost me 151 points!!

He can take the last train to Clarkesville, and I won’t be meeting him at the station

9. Minute Watch

Broncos v Eels

Haas 57, Carrigan 66, Willison 58, Tuilagi 80, Williams 52

Warriors v Raiders

JFH 59, Laban 65, Leka 80, Clark 50, Martin 80, Taps 54, Young 80

Roosters v Rabbitohs

Whyte 59, Crichton 77, Ioelu 24, Fifita 80, Murray 69, Keaon 71

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Tigers v Cowboys

Fainu 80, May 53, KPP 80, Api 73, Luki 80, Mahoney 56

Dragons v Storm

T Couch 42, R Couch 57, Stewart 48, Cook 71, Lisati 80, Grant 80, Chan 71, Stefano 60

Panthers v Sharks

IPap 80, Yeo 72, Going 11, Colquoun 53, AFB 54, Brailey 80, 

Sea Eagles v Knights

Ola 80, Burbo 80, Simpkin 51, Mooney 50, Lucas 80, Brown 40, Ponga 28

Dolphins v Titans

Flegler 22, Lemuelu 80, Finefeuiaki 80, Plath 42, Hau 80, Tino 46, Randall 53