NRL Supercoach Final Word | Round 22 trades and skippers

It has been a very rough year for the ‘biKini boys’, with injuries galore and a flurry of bad trade decisions.

Despite the struggles, we have still managed to scrape our way into the top 5%, currently sitting at 9047th.

With six trades still up my sleeve, I am hoping to make some moves up to a more respectable rank come season’s end.

Speaking of respectable ranks, before I get into my article for this week, I wanted to shout out my little brother, who is currently in 35th!!!

By his rank, you can tell he has basically nailed every move this season, so I asked him who his best POD pick for the run home is.

$638k, 2% owned, Rob Toia. Do with that information what you will.

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Trade talk

I am leaning towards holding trades this week.

With only six trades left, I only want to use them on moves I am 100% keen on, and this week there just aren’t any.

But speaking for the masses, finding a Harry Grant replacement is of top priority this week.

I have seen plenty of conjecture on who the number one replacement option is, but I think the answer is straightforward.

Blayke Brailey.

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He is the highest-averaging hooker of the season at 70.8, and if you are worried about value, he is the cheapest he has been all season-long.

The Sharks are absolutely tearing through teams, and after the Souths this week, they don’t face a single top 10 team for the rest of the year!

The flat-track bullies are going to be bullying.

Did you need even more convincing?

Brailey ended last season averaging 81 after the last major bye round, reaching a price of over $700k.

I have Oliver Pascoe as cover for Grant, but even then I am still tempted by Brailey.

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Another extremely popular trade-in this week is Simi Sasagi.

Up against Penrith this week, albeit their weaker left edge, it is far from an ideal matchup for Simi.

The draw does not get much better for the Raiders after this week, and for that reason, I am not as bullish on this trade-in.

We all know Simi is an out-and-out gun, but you don’t face the West Tigers every week.

Jacob Preston is another one who managers are flocking towards this week.

There is no denying he is undervalued at his price, and that he can produce some monster scores, but I actually have another 2RF I am even higher on.

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Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (yes, I copied and pasted that spelling across). The young Phins back rower started the season on fire, but hasn’t reached the heights some of us hoped for.

Maybe I am biased because I have held him all season, but I think he is in for a monster finish to the season, especially once Izzy Katoa returns.

His base+power is still impressive at 64.1, but more importantly, he is running the ball hard and threatening that defensive line.

Add in the Phins’ golden run home, I expect a lot of points and some big Supercoach scores.

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The final popular trade-in we will touch on is Jayden Campbell.

As an owner and Titans fan, I am driving the JC hype train. He has looked absolutely electric on the field, as his running and short-passing game only continue to improve.

Yes, the draw for the Titans is tough, but with 5 out of 6 games to finish at home, could the Gold Coast continue their ascension and play some competitive footy even against stronger sides?

I would not go as far as saying he is a must, but coming off a nuclear 140-point performance, he is hard to ignore.

Interesting fact to note: 140 points was JC’s second-highest Supercoach score of his career. His highest score of 170 came in 2024, against the Warriors at home. The Titans are playing the Warriors at home this week, just saying.

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For those looking for a POD CTW, I would be looking towards the Phins, Sharks, and Cowboys.

Three good teams with great draws to finish the season.

Selwyn Cobbo, Sione Katoa, and Braidon Burns, just to name some of the options. Any one of these guys could average 80+ for the run home, and nailing the right one could send you flying up the ranks.

If you are looking for the super-POD of all super-PODs, look no further than Enari Tuala, owned by just EIGHT people in the top 10%.

Tuala boasts an incredibly impressive base + power average of 46.6, giving an elite floor for a CTW.

I am not overly confident, but the Dogs may have turned a corner and need to come home hot to secure a top 8 spot.

If they do, attacking stats could be coming for Tuala.

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Captaincy Talk

For those like me, with Cleary and Nicho at halfback, I think captaincy choices are a straight shootout this week.

The VC armband has to go to one of Herbie or Isaako against the Dragons.

I am leaning Herbie, with his monster base + power; he is only a couple of attacking stats away from a very loopable score.

Add in that he is running at the Dragons’ weaker right edge that concedes 45% of their tries, and Herbie could be in for a field day.

Isaako is also a great shout, especially if Izzy Katoa returns on that right side for him.

If the Phins can put a number on the Dragons, Isaako’s goal-kicking could make for a huge ceiling score.

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For captaincy, it is the same debate every week. Nicho vs Cleary.

With a ludicrous 3-round average of 147.3, it is understandable that 73% of coaches have their captaincy armband on Nicho at the moment.

The Souths are no pushover, but the Sharkies come into the game in red-hot form, and either way the points should flow in a day game.

But at just 9% captained, I think Cleary captaincy could be a huge POD play.

Yes, it is extremely risky going against Hynes, and yes, the Raiders aren’t an easy game either.

But Nathan Cleary is still Nathan Cleary, and with Cogger coming into the side at 5/8, could we see Cleary’s running game go to another level?

I am hunting ranks, so as things stand I am going Cleary captaincy. Honestly, just hoping Herbie goes 150, and I can hit an easy loop.