NRL Supercoach 2026 Round 3 Wrap: 8 Things We Learnt

Well, I might be able to pinpoint the exact moment Supercoach season 2026 started slipping away from me..

Not sure whether it was before the game where I played Faeamani over Hau, or whether it was after the second bust he made, shrugging off Cook like he was closing a saloon door.

Either way, that absolutely sent me over the edge.

Sitting through that 80- minutes was bad enough, knowing you left 80-odd points on the bench was even worse.

But say it together now, “Our sides are set up really well, and I’m really happy with it all,” and repeat that as Moses Leo and Setu Tu score about 35 points between them..

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Koula than Kaeo were cruelled by that missed sit v start decision, scoring only 1183, dropping 7000 spots to 28037 overall.

With my performance review coming up, these scores aren’t great, and I’m hoping the Overlord doesn’t ask me to bring along a support person

1. Cleary the Best, but plenty to love about the 7s

He’s got this side humming!

As a non-Nathan Cleary owner, I hadn’t looked too much into this matchup and was hellbent on finding a way for Reece Walsh to get into my side.

For some reason, I didn’t even give Cleary v the Eels a second thought!

His 117 came after having a hand in 4 tries and amassing 32 points in goal kicks.

Watching on from the pub with one eye, I was so scared to check the scores at full time, knowing what a monster score he could have put on.

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Incredibly, with his 4 Tas, he only grabbed one LB assist, so when he finished with under 120, I think we all got away with it.

Still, he shapes as a captaincy option most weeks, and the way this Panthers side has started, you will need to get him in before he becomes unreachable.

Storm next week, into the Bulldogs, we as non-owners can probably sit on our hands, but then Dolphins, Knights, Eagles, and Raiders could be the difference on where you are ranked heading into the Origin period.

For non-owners, though, he hasn’t exactly kicked clear of his other number 7 opponents, with Nicho Hynes only 6 points behind him after 4 games played.

He too has 2 100+ point games whilst Adam Doueihi continues to boast the best running game for a number 7, scoring 112 against the Wahs in NZ.

Boyd posted 84 for plenty of new owners, and Boyd to Cleary will be an easy jump in about 3 weeks time.

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2. Centres of Excellence

Tick tock.. Tick tock.. Where’s the boom?!

Val Holmes and Herbie Farnworth are blueballing all owners, just waiting for that breakout game!

IN the 4 rounds played so far, both have scored over 300 points, both averaging over 75, and neither has cracked 100 points yet!

The dearth of attacking opportunities coming their way must end soon, as both are due for a 130+ game!

Herbie has been monstrous from a base stat point of view, notching up over 40-points on Friday night in base alone.

Might only have the 1 attacking stat, but you can look that up.

Hasn’t scored a try yet, and the Dolphins have plenty in them. Takes on a Seibold less Manly this weekend, and if I said I didn’t want him to go big, I’d probably be lying.

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Val has had a strange start. In a winless Dragons, he has been busy without being spectacular.

Keeps putting up solid scores, but in 2 weeks of owning him, it’s been a frustrating ride.

Scored 77 on Sunday night in a tough watch for a Rugby League fan. AJ did a great job keeping him quiet.

The run of the Cowboys, Manly & Souths in the coming 3 weeks will keep me interested, but if the scoring continues the way it has, he won’t last long after that.

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3. Mahoney 

When someone (Tim) says they are happy with their side and the way it’s set up, but they have Reed Mahoney in their side, they have to be lying!

Downright dreadful start for the Cowboys hooker in 2026.

Seen as someone who could play 80, make a heap of tackles, and at a pinch, grab some attacking stats.

None of that has eventuated, and his Round 4 performance against the Storm was the stuff of Supercoach nightmares.

Got through 62 minutes of work and 28 tackles, but didn’t register a single run in that time with 4 missed tackles and only scored 20 points. 

Likely not being played in many 17s, but the issue remains, he has lost 36k, and a move to Smith might be the only saving grace.

It is, though, a pretty dour trade, and Smith’s output isn’t clear.

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4. Pezet does enough, but 5/8 spot still a ring of fire

Instead of being thrown overboard and swallowed by a whale like his biblical namesake, Jonah was more like the second coming, saving many coaches from some five-eight blushes over the weekend!

With Cody on the bye, Pezet was called up by many coaches and up against the wall of Penrith, was still able to register a late try assist and finish with 52 points.

That’s about 35 more points than many expected. 

In a 5/8 spot that has been shaky to say the least, he has held his own and made owners 130k and counting.

Trindall is showing he can score well, but the jury is still out. 

Sharpe returned and made it through 80, but didn’t look great.

As an owner, I’m still holding, but non-owners have the luxury of a wait-and-see. 

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5. Remember (to trade out) the Titans

After a weekend of not seeing too much footy, I decided that the Titans Dragons was 80 minutes I would sit through.

Won’t be doing that again!

The Titans were popular amongst early sides, but the time has come to start cutting ties with some of their better-known players.

Tino was gone from my side even before the lockout ended.

Don’t ask me how, but he’s gone and good riddance.

Been awfully disappointing, and I know I should have cut ties with him 2 weeks back. Maybe it was the eyes, I don’t know, but I’m here 2 weeks later and 130k in the red. See ya!

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Faeamani was not sighted all game, finishing with only 32 points, and Kini has promised the world and showed up a hand-drawn map.

Not through lack of trying, but with Turbo looking good, Teddy dropping in price, Sua doing Sua things, it’s time for the experiment with Kini to end. 

Least Hau looked like he cemented his right edge spot with 2 great run-away tries!

Running of Campbell has only lifted him, and his 116 points really helped owners late in the week.

If you were smart like me and didn’t play him.. well, let’s share shoulders to cry on

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6. Cheapies on the clearance rack

Faeamani was already gone by lockout, but in only 3 weeks, the cheapies that were so highly touted are now, metaphorically, in that weird end fridge at Woolies with those little yellow tickets on them.

Priced to sell!

Moses Leo had the unicorn of all unicorn tries against the Dragons, which saved him from posting scores of 20, 34, and 21.

Only made owners 82k with his 95 against the Eels in round 1, looking like years ago.

Setu Tu didn’t start against the Titans, and likely won’t be seen for a while. No word as to why he missed it, but Sloan took his spot and did a job. 

Sanders and Atkinson both are in the running to see who can get sold first, with neither showing much since their Round 1 games. 

Chester and Couchman both obviously missed this week with suspension. Hopefully, Payten brings Chester back, but Laybutt did a job with Burns outside him.

Makasini hasn’t seen much open space, but when he does, he will be Moses Leo in Round 1.

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7. Fine fine Finefeuiaki

Fine AF I’m calling him now! What a fine and what a find for owners!

Base stat beast, whatever he did in the offseason needs to be bottled and studied for years to come.

I know this because I was a FineAF owner for 25 rounds last year.

Last year, he had one solitary score over 56. And that came in Round 25, where he scored 95. 

He also registered only the 1LB last year – again in Round 25. What the flying.. I remember how much of a bummer it was to own last year, so owners are really getting all its worth this year!

Turning up this year, he is posting incredible numbers in the base stats, with another 70-odd points all in on Friday night. 

2 LB and 2 tries already this year, he will be a certain starter for Queensland, which might be the only saving grace for non-owners at this stage!

Well done to those who jumped on him, Martin, and Chan a few weeks back. Bank, bank, bank!

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8. Minute Watch

Sea Eagles v Roosters

Paseka 44, Ola 80, Crichton 80, Watson 66, Whyte 50

Warriors v Tigers

Laban 46, JFH 49, Leka 66, Ford 68 S Fainu 80, KPP 80, Twal 70, May 50

Broncos v Dolphins

Willison 44, Carrigan 80, Riki 80, FineAF 80, Gilbert 52

Bulldogs v Knights

Preston 80, Kiks 80, Hayward 71, Sharpe 80, Lucas 70, Phoenix Williams Crossland 77

Panthers v Eels

IPap 80, Yeo 45, Tuilagi 80, Walker 66, Williams 55

Cowboys v Storm

Luki 80, Mahoney 62 McIntyre 80, Clarke 43, Chan 80, Grant 80, Stefano 55

Raiders v Sharks

Sasagi 80, Young 80, Martin 80, AFB 52, Brailey 80, Colquhoun 48

Titans v Dragons

Tino 50, Hau 80, Fermor 80, Su’A 80, Cook 71, Stewart 58