NRL Supercoach 2026 Round 25 Wrap: 7 Things We Learnt

Another week and the hits keep coming!

If not for Herbie, Haas, and a Sammy Walker special, we would all be wondering why all the points have dried up!

There were some big scores for the weekend, and by some highly owned players, it fell away steeply after that. Which was an Achillies blow for those in their H2H knockout finals!

I lost 2 of mine by a combined 159 points, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it!

Despite my H2H losses, Koula than Kaeo is storming up the rankings after a Sammy Walker captaincy play, finishing with 1483, rising 1883 spots to 30156 overall…That top 30k is so close I can smell it!

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1. Sammy Walks it in

Pay the big bucks and get the big points! 

Sammy Walker did more than enough in his matchup against the Tigers on Sunday for many a new owner who were looking at this match at about halftime in the Cowboys fixture 3 weeks ago 

His price tag was too big for those to go straight from Tedesco, who was another no-show, but don’t get me started on that.

But for those who could afford it, he set up two tries and was the beneficiary of a Marky Mark special to finish the afternoon with 135 points.

He was captained by 4% of players, which was a blessing for those who missed out on Herbie’s 155. 

Despite the Chooks going down, he still seemed to find points wherever he went, managing at least 60 at half-time, which is a good sign for the next 2 weeks up against the Dolphins and Rabbits.

Especially if Robbo gets into the Merlot during the week and gives the boys a rev up, I’m expecting two big games from the Roosters and Walker will be at the forefront of that. 

He might even have Tedesco there at fullback, but we won’t know that until an hour out from kick-off. 

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2. Marky Mark lifts for final hit-out

There are only two weeks left to own Mark Nawaqanitawase, and if Sunday is anything to go by, it’s going to be an absolute roller coaster!

Pegged by many as a must-have for this matchup, he was relatively quiet until a last-minute burst where he set up a Sammy Walker for a typical Marky Mark try, brushing off three Tigers defenders after laying on the ground halfway through the passage of play. 

He had a try disallowed which would have been 100+, so owners can’t be too disheartened with the 83 he finished with.

The matchup next week with the Dolphins is fascinating, and if we’re all there at the American Express bar cheering him on, anything is possible! 

I feel like he has one more highlight reel left in him before he trades the red, blue, and white for whichever French rugby team is paying him the most. So enjoy his last couple of games before he gets Wallabied!

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3. Herbie takes us to H2H finals

I keep saying, but I think we are overthinking this Supercoach business. Start the year with Herbie, vice-Captain him each week, and that will hold you in pretty good stead for the year! 

Top three player in the comp, full stop, and I don’t think there’s an exaggeration there.

Has been bubbling away for the last couple of weeks, which included a low of 47, but he responded beautifully against the downtrodden Eels with 155 points, including a double.

It was more than enough for those who put the VC on him to take the loop, although the tricky part came in working out who to drop. 

Those with Tedesco at fullback probably had the easiest decision, but the loop likely paid off for many, with Nicho only scoring 80 as the most popular choice.

Has a huge matchup next week up against Robert Toia, with the winner of that likely winning the match.  

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4. Ponga on to slide

From the highs of Herbie and Sammy, we get to the low of Ponga and his Saturday afternoon troubles.

He’s not the only bloke to come up against a rampant Fozball Eagles and fail, but on their Old Boys day, the sun shining and a Knights who were red-hot favourites, a score of 34 is an awful outing.

It’s been a season of what could have been for Ponga, with the Knights firing this last month, but Ponga only contributing minimally to the cause, which has not been good for his Supercoach output.

His last 4 weeks, he has a high of 86 and a low of 74, which hasn’t been bad, but it’s blue balling a lot of owners, myself included.

Owning Ponga is a ticket to a 160-plus score; I just don’t think he knows he has the keys to take us there. 

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5. Simi the Magnificent 

I will look back fondly on the 2026 NRL Supercoach season and think of one man and one man only: Simi Sasagi!

It has been an incredible year for the Raiders back-rower come centre, and if Friday night was the last time we see him this year. Thank you, Simi, from everyone. 

Has had a shoulder complaint but suited up on Friday night because he wanted to be part of big Josh Papalii’s final game. 

He also knew there were plenty of Supercoaches out there who needed him to front up for their knockout semi-finals. And boy did he do them proud!

113 points, setting up Kaeo Weekes for a double in what could only be described as a carbon copy of each try.

Let me tell you, I was at the pub and was awfully confused as to why they kept showing the same try. 

I was a reluctant seller last week for the simple reason that I thought he would play two of the next four games. It’s unfortunate he has the bye in the Grand Final week for many head-to-head finals, but if you find yourself in the final, it’s likely because he’s taken you there throughout the year…

Rest up now, mate; your work this year is done. 

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6. Air Jenkins grounded

There will be a lot of owners out there starting to second-guess playing Tom Jenkins of late.

The tries have certainly dried up, only scoring three in his last six outings, and he has failed to score 100 since Round 18 against the Rabbitohs.

It’s awfully tough on him because of the expectations owners have on him, and at this time of year, when head-to-head finals are on the line, owners need to find him finding said line! 

Scored 41 last week against the Roosters and couldn’t find the line again this week against the Storm, finishing the night with 49. 

AJ has now pipped him for most tries this season, so I think there’ll be a push for him from the rest of the Panthers to see if he can get the top gong.

Two promising matchups await him with the Bulldogs and the Tigers, but if this weekend’s results are anything to go by, Penrith will be 0-2 as they head into the finals! 

Will be up against Jacob Kiraz, who has reportedly been playing with a torn calf muscle. If Jenkins can’t out-jump him this weekend, he should have to sit out the Tigers match. 

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7. Minute Watch

Storm v Panthers

Grant 80, Keeley 56, Stefano 44, IPap 57

Raiders v Broncos

Simi 80, Taps 73, Hosking 63, Pattie 66, Haas 66, Willison 64

Dolphins v Eels

JMK 60, Kuli 80, Williams 80, Pryke 50

Knights v Sea Eagles

Mooney 62, Crossland 70, Ola 80, Burbo 80

Rabbitohs v Warriors

Fifita 80, Keaon 62, Smith 5, Clark 38, Laban 80, Egan 51

Dragons v Bulldogs

Stewart 80, RCouch 54, TCouch 57, Liddle 30, Thompson 37, Kiks 63, Presto 80

Titans v Sharks

Tino 71, Pascoe 54, Bai 31, AFB 47, Nikora 80, Wilton 80, Brailey 80

Roosters v Tigers

Robson 80, Watson 27, Radley 56, May 69, Twal 1