NRL Supercoach Final Word | Round 12 trades and skippers

It’s finally that time of the year where we say goodbye to our perfectly crafted team of 18 players and have to make do with a jangly mid-strength team. 

Optimal numbers for each bye round are essentially the biggest unknown of the period; some years you need quantity over quality, and some years you need vice versa. 

Getting the balance right is not an exact science; however, adapting your trades based on how each individual round progresses is definitely an art form that can be sharpened over years and years of SuperCoach. 

Turbo Irvo knocked out 1417 last week, which has me sitting 2194th overall and only about 100 points off the top 1000. 

It’s definitely not the worst spot I’ve been heading into this period, and I will categorically be staying aggressive on trades.

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I have 13 players healthy for the round as of time of writing (RIP Herbie) and will be aiming to get to a comfortable cushion of 15 players – most of whom are 60-70 average quality. 

Oliver Pascoe is a man who must be talked about immediately. Not only am I bringing him in, but he looks like a genuine final 18 player.

Pascoe’s PPM feels like some of the highest we have seen out of a hooker in a long time, and his attacking prowess in identifying and stealing space is on par with Harry Grant. 

He plays this week, misses next, and then goes on to play a month straight against a few teams who may be in line to rest a few Origin players. 

I don’t want to continue harping on about a stat the SuperCoach Spy dug up; however, 15 tries in 21 games for Ipswich Jets last season is just absurd. Get him in and enjoy the running game. 

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If you aren’t looking for a brand new hooker, but instead need to beef up your front row, then look no further than Joseph Tapine. A bye-round prodigy of years gone by, Taps just gets it done over this period. 

Minutes go up, PPM goes up, offloads and tackle busts start appearing out of seemingly nowhere, and you can scoop up what should be a 70 average player for just $610k.

If you have another $230k in the piggy bank, then I would lean towards forking it out for Jackson Ford instead. Averaging near enough 90 for the season with 6 tons, the numbers are absolutely staggering. 

With Barnett in origin camp, we can expect his minutes to go back up to near the 70-80 mark over this period, which should yield a continuing average of 85-90 at his PPM. 

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If you’re short in 2RF, then both Couchman brothers should be at the top of your buy list if you don’t already own them. If you do, then perhaps the likes of Jacob Preston might do you well to own. 

The Bulldogs are on struggle street, yet Presto is still knocking out a 70 average with a few trademark hole running tries. Both Dolphins back-rowers are obvious pickups as well. 

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki missing origin selection was the most absurd thing I read all week, but an absolute blessing as an owner, and the stuff of nightmares for non-owners who will now surely feel extremely compelled to bring him in. 

Connelly Lemuelu is probably the less risky buy, no chance of a game 2 call up into the QLD squad, however he is much less explosive and less capable of knocking out those big 100+ scores. 

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In the halves, Te Maire Martin has put his hand up as a cheap, potentially gun HFB/5/8 dual for those looking to move on a Jonah Pezet type player. 235k and comes up against the Dragons, it’s hard to see it going wrong for at least this week. Buyers Beware: Penrith next round.

The final game of the round is Cowboys vs Souths up in Townsville, and I expect it to provide an absolute SuperCoach feast. If you don’t have the likes of Purdue and Chester, this might be the time to get them. 

And like me, if you’re terrified of Scott Drinkwater dropping 150 on your head, then simply bring him in. 

He scares me the most out of any player to not own this round, so I’ll be grabbing him and slapping the Captaincy on him.

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Trades

Brandon Smith —> Oliver Pascoe 

James Tedesco —> Scott Drinkwater 

Captains

VC: Sua Fa’alogo 

C: Scott Drinkwater