NRL Supercoach | Clem’s Captains, Round 25 Skippers

We are here!

H2H semi-finals, and only 3 weeks left to push our overall rankings as high as they can go!

And in some weird glitch-in-the-matrix moment…it’s 2021 all over again with Spy aiming for top 100 while I’m aiming for top 10…

(I’m sorry, Spy, maybe NEXT year’s your year).

And honestly, I’m just happy I’m still in the top 100, after a BIG 3-place climb up the rankings for the Friday Beers last round, which was actually quite delightful considering it was 3 places more than the week before when we achieved the almost impossible feat of zero arrows. 

And we now find ourselves in 74^th place with an eye to try and stay in the top 100 or achieve a miracle of a random pod deciding to go on a generational run of back-to-back-to-back 200s, to give us a sniff at the elusive top 10.

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Dom Young, I’m looking at you. After bringing him in as a last-minute pod-play to negate the Lehi-AE, I found myself staring at my 23 points going ‘what just happened??’

But regardless of where I end up, I’m stoked with the season and overjoyed to be still beating Spy. At the risk of going the early crow, I will release the Spy tapes that were recorded prior to the 2026 season, after the final round. 

They are some truly glorious listening after beating him all season…

And it was a bludger of a round for the popular SuperCoach picks last round, where 40s and 50s abounded, all our Captain Obviouses pretty much failed, and carnage ensued.

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But what’s that! Two shining lights in the round that was! The Warriors thumping the Broncos and the Dragons getting two wins in a row in their charge to take their rightful place as far away from the wooden spoon as possible. Stunning times.

And now we have a new round, and it’s H2H semis time, so we must assess the carnage and choose the best players to put our armbands on to beat our opponents. And it is one of those weeks where we have a bunch of mismatched matchups and a whole bunch of likely VCs who could go HUGE (some of these aren’t even the usual suspects). 

So, let’s get stuck into it in the quest to claim glory in our leagues and make our way up the overall rankings in the noble quest for a great big bucket of KFC…

Actually, do the winners still get KFC vouchers? The year I came 6^th, I left my voucher in the glovebox of my car and only discovered it a year later when it expired… 

Will 2026 be the redemption year for my unclaimed KFC!?

And all this talk of fried chicken brings me to our first notable Captaincy mentions, with a team who is definitely not fried in their charge to victory:

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The Roosters

One of the most mismatched of all the matches this round has been earmarked by SuperCoachers for months, with players burning last trades loading up on the Chooks. 

Teddy and Walker and Mark and co are certified hot property.

And while a Tiger would most definitely defeat a Rooster if they got into a fight in the wild – in the confines of Allianz Stadium, this one’s expected to be a one-sided try-scoring frenzy, and the poultry is on top.

Sunday arvo, it’s all green flags and rosy.

Or is it?

Because there are some teeny tiny questions we have to ask ourselves if we’re giving Teddy or Walker or Mark the armband:

Will any of them be a last-minute resting? Will they go the whole 80 or get a nice rest? And what will you do if you’ve traded them in and the worst happens, and they don’t play?

Some serious questions we must ask ourselves, but for now, let’s dive into their Captaincy credentials:

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Teddy 

Named to play after two weeks on the sidelines, at the time of writing, Teddy is 21% captained in the top 10%. 

And rightly so. That game 3 weeks ago vs the Cowboys could’ve been anything, with Teddy cracking a ton in the first half, before those of us who didn’t own were allowed to slowly make our way out from behind the couch when he was taken off at halftime.

Two tons in his last two games and FIVE tries, Teddy was looking the goods, and you’d like to think he’ll bring that ton total up to three if he lines up on Sunday.

I’d say Captain with Confidence, but just make sure you have a backup plan and be prepared if your Captaincy crow to be culled by a mid-game resting – just some things to think about amongst the excitement of a Teddy Captaincy.

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Sammy W

At a more lowly 4.4% captained in the top 10%, can Sammy Walker put on a performance like he did against the Cowboys when they forgot to plug their controller in, and win you your H2H and send you soaring up the rankings in overall?

The thing with Sammy W is he can go really, really high, but he can go really, really low and everything in between too. RIP the SuperCoachers who copped the -1.

The good news about this game is it should be a Chooks attack-fest, and it’s the attack that gets the SuperCoach points (unless you’re a Couchman and then you just basically make 100 tackles). And Sammy W should be racking up points left, right, centre, and over the goal posts.

Definitely an excellent option for the armband if your opponent doesn’t have him. 

Notable mentions go to Mark Nawaqanitawase and Billy Smith – when there’s a try frenzy on offer, you best believe those two are getting amongst it. Pod Captaincy plays.

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Nicho Hynes

Playing the first Sunday game, Nicho Hynes remains the most popular Captain in the top 10%, with just over half going with the third times a charm mantra.

The tricky bit is – unless you have a loop option by the time Sunday rolls around, he’s going to be hard to VC. Therefore, you need to go all in on a Nicho redemption round and forgo a Captain in The Bloodbath at Allianz.

But playing the Titans, who have let the last 4 halfbacks run up a tidy average of 79 points vs them, you’d like to think Nicho could get back to his ton-scoring ways.

9 tons this season, and an average score of 99.8 says it all – third time lucky, but we’ll do a rain dance Sunday just to cover all bases.

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Kalyn Ponga

A bit of a pod armband option appears in the form of Kalyn Ponga this week, who makes a very enticing VC.

Playing the Saturday arvo game at home against Manly, who have lost a bit of lustre of late, Ponga could be the one that got away this week for non-owners watching behind the couch.

Not having the kicking does hurt his scoring, with a bunch of 70s and 80s in his last 4 games, but if the Knights attack gets humming, Ponga’s SuperCoach scoring should too.

If you are a lucky owner of Fletcher Sharpe this week – I would absolutely consider him a VC too, especially as his mullet looks quite glorious when he makes a break up the field to score a try.

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Herbie Farnworth

Can we really have a Captaincy article without entertaining the idea of a Herbie armband?

A Friday night game vs Parra makes him a VC, but there should be points a plenty in this game, and really, any of the Dolphins’ backs could make a decent VC this week.

While he’s gone a little bit lower of late, he still has a ton in him, and his Base+Power is still averaging 62.

You could also look at a VC on Isaako in this game with the kicking and a potential try-scoring frenzy out there on the right, or go a super pod pick of Cobbo and hope he crosses for a try or three.

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A Giant Pod

With the amount of points on offer this week, and the games we have on offer, there’s going to be some random pods that only 2 people have captained who are going to go really, really big.

And if you’re looking for a Hail Mary or just a winger who COULD go massive – give these games a look:

Friday night’s Raiders v Broncos clash, and the Raiders are playing for redemption and Josh Papali’i in his final home game… plus they still have a mathematical chance at the finals.

The Broncos are… ummm…..playing… and also their troops are seriously depleted.

Is this one of those games where those who have the faith in a VC on Keao Weekes or Simi Sasagi are going to be seriously rewarded with a huge ton?

Or is it Dom Young Redemption Round?

Okay, this could be serious wishful thinking by me, but if I put out into the universe that he scores 3 tries against the weaker Manly edge… maybe it could happen?

Or does Mr Rocks and Diamonds himself, the great Mulitalo, pull out one of his try-scoring frenzies where he goes HUGE diamonds and we all wish we’d brought him in?

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Verdict

With points aplenty around the grounds, and H2Hs to win and overall rankings to make up – this is not the week to go timid on your VC.

Choose a player who you think could go massive, and then back yourself up with your Captain if it doesn’t pull through.

At 3pm on a Thursday, I’m still undecided (which is regular programming for me), but I’m looking at a VC on Ponga and a Captaincy on Nicho or Teddy…

And on that note, I must run; the Dom Young statue has just been delivered to the Community Hall, and I have to let them in so they can install it before Saturday morning’s manifestation circle…

I hope you win all your H2Hs and your Captain scores you a double ton,

Clementine xxx