NRL SuperCoach teams analysis round 22: Why Kalyn Ponga buy makes no sense

Kalyn Ponga is one of the most purchased SuperCoach players of the week but the move makes no sense. ROB SUTHERLAND analyses round 22 teams

What to do with Terrell May (peaked), Ronaldo Mulitalo (injured) and Reuben Garrick (bye/HIA) are the three biggest issues faced by SuperCoaches this week.

With ready-made replacements available for all, the solution is simple – trade them out. The issue of course is many of us are low on trades so the question then is – do we have to?

Re-live Rob Sutherland’s teams blog below

Lachlan Galvin: Fourth most popular sell after failing to finish last week due to injury. But Galvin trained today and was named by the Tigers. Do you reverse? Yes. The only way you’d sell Galvin is to get to Nathan Cleary, who is a mast-have.

Terrell May: Bought by many as bye round coverage, May excelled in the role. When given 50+ minutes he is an out and out gun (average 84PPG) but when under 50 minutes he averages in the low 40s. While Jared Wearea-Hargreaves is suspended until round 25, the Roosters still have plenty of middles pushing for minutes and I have May as a sell.

Ronaldo Mulitalo: Out for up to a month after injuring his MCL and so has to go. Cruel luck as he’d just rediscovered his try-scoring form.

Lachlan Galvin is set to play despite failing to finish last week. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Reuben Garrick: The second-most sold player of the round (behind May) and I think this is a mistake. A category one concussion ended his night prematurely against the Roosters last week and he misses this week due to the bye (and would have been ruled out anyway due to the concussion). However, from round 23 Manly have a juicy schedule which runs Raiders/Warriors/Wests Tigers. I expect the Sea Eagles to run up decent scores against those teams and when Manly score plenty of points Garrick usually scores well in SuperCoach.

Reuben Cotter: Another Cat 1 HIA victim, Cotter is unavailable this week and should be moved on to the likes of Haas/AFB at prop or Angus Crichton/Eli Katoa at 2RF.

Jahrome Hughes: With some pretty attractive games on the horizon (Dragons, Rabbitohs and Dolphins are three of the next four match-ups for Melbourne) there’s a strong case to hold Hughes. However, if selling to get Cleary then I approve of that move too.

Tom Trbojevic: This one makes no sense to me. Yes Turbo Tom was well held by the Roosters (45 points) last week and has a bye this week, but as per Garrick above from round 23 Manly have some very soft games and Trbojevic would have to be odds on to score 85+ (and potentially double that) in each of those games.

Tom Trbojevic should be held not sold. Picture: Getty Images

Nathan Cleary: Scored a lazy 175 points last week as the Panthers carved up St George Illawarra and is an automatic captaincy option for five of his remaining six games. Must buy.

Payne Haas: Super reliable prop and easily the best target for those selling May or Cotter.

Jacob Kiraz: My pick of the CTW buys this week. Kiraz has a great draw and a great floor (thanks to his workload and offload/tackle bust game). Buy.

Val Holmes: He still has a bye to go (Rd 25) and a tough final two rounds (Storm into Bulldogs) but it’s hard to ignore the appeal of his next three games (Tigers, Broncos, Raiders). I prefer Kiraz but will certainly be playing Holmes in my 17 for the next three weeks.

Casey McLean: 54 points with a try/linebreak is not great but to be fair to the young winger he played the majority of the game with a bench forward (Mav Geyer) inside him last week and so the ball did not get out to him a lot.

As per Cleary, the Penrith draw is a soft one and I have McLean as a best-17 option in at least three of the remaining weeks.

Kalyn Ponga: This move makes little sense to me. Ponga and the Knights play Penrith this week and I just can’t understand why you would buy a player ahead of that matchup. He does have the Tigers the following week which is obviously enticing but if that’s your target then just wait.

BIG RETURN FOR BRONCOS

Broncos hit-man Brendan Piakura will return from injury for Saturday’s sudden-death clash with the Titans as Brisbane lost Maroons star Selwyn Cobbo.

Piakura has been named to return from a groin injury after missing last weekend’s shocking 41-16 loss to the Bulldogs.

The Canterbury defeat put Brisbane’s season on life support and the Broncos must win their remaining five games to finish in the top eight.

That quest begins with a trip to the Gold Coast to face the improving Titans at Cbus Super Stadium.

The Titans have won four of their past five matches and beat the Broncos 36-34 in a round 12 thriller at Suncorp Stadium.

While the Broncos are hoping to welcome back Piakura, they will be without Cobbo for an indefinite period.

Brendan Piakura. Picture: NRL Photos

DESPERATE DRAGONS RECALL SLOAN

Tyrell Sloan is back in first grade with the Dragons forced to make a host of changes. Sloan – who was dumped in the lead-up to the club’s loss to Penrith – has reclaimed the fullback position given Mathew Feagai was ruled out with concussion. Sloan scored a try in NSW Cup last week.

The Dragons will also be without bench forward Ben Murdoch-Masila for the rest of the season because of a Lisfranc injury.

Blake Lawrie returns to the squad to play Melbourne after being overlooked. Toby Couchman’s two game ban will see twin brother Ryan return to the squad.

GALVIN SET TO PLAY

Thousands of SuperCoaches should be reaching for the reverse trade button on Lachlan Galvin.

The Tigers young gun is currently the fourth most sold player amongst teams in the top 10 per cent, according to SuperCoach Plus.

The mass exodus is no doubt due to Galvin failing to finish last weekend, with coach Benji Marshall unable to provide details on the injury.

But Galvin trained with the Tigers on Tuesday and appears to be in no doubt.

Along with Galvin, the Tigers are also set to welcome back centre Justin Olam and winger Solomon Alaimoalo.

The pair trained and are set to take the Tigers’ left edge, with Charlie Staines and Solomona Faataape retaining the right side.

Adam Doueihi was not spotted training after sitting last week out due to load management.

Lachlan Galvin is training today with the Tigers. Looks to be in no doubt for Thursday

— Martin Gabor (@MartinJGabor) July 30, 2024

ROUND 22 TEAMS

WESTS TIGERS v COWBOYS

Thursday, 7:50pm, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Solomon Alaimalo 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Justin Olam 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Latu Fainu 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i

Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Sione Fainu 17. Alex Twal

Interchange: 18. Heath Mason 19. Justin Matamua 20. Josh Feledy 21. Declan Casey 22. Tim Johannssen

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Thomas Mikaele

Bench: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Jake Granville 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame Interchange: 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Jamal Shibasaki 20. Jake Clifford 21. Tomas Chester 22. Thomas Duffy

WARRIORS v EELS

Friday, 6pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Moala Graham-Taufa 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker

Bench: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima

Interchange: 18. Demitric Sifakula 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Te Maire Martin 22. Edward Kosi 23. Bunty Afoa

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson

Bench: 14. Joey Lussick 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Luca Moretti 17. Dan Keir

Interchange: 18. Ethan Sanders 19. Matthew Arthur 20. Matt Doorey 21. Morgan Harper 22. Makahesi Makatoa

DOLPHINS v ROOSTERS

Friday, 8pm, HBF Park, Perth

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Sean O’Sullivan

Interchange: 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Tesi Niu 20. Anthony Milford 21. Mason Teague 22. Trai Fuller

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Connor Watson

Bench: 14. Sitili Tupouniua 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May

Interchange: 18. Sandon Smith 19. Siua Wong 20. Ethan King 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Robert Toia

TITANS v BRONCOS

Saturday, 3pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall

Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Klese Haas 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves: 18. Jaimin Jolliffe 19. AJ Brimson 20. Joe Stimson 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Tony Francis

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Josiah Karapani 19. Joshua Rogers 20. Tyson Smoothy 21. Vaa Semu 22. Tristan Sailor

STORM v DRAGONS

Saturday, 5:30pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Lazarus Vaalepu 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 18. Tristan Powell 19. Chris Lewis 20. Sualauvi Faalogo 21. Reimis Smith 22. Tepai Moeroa

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14. Hame Sele 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Ryan Couchman 17. Blake Lawrie

Reserves: 18. Lyhkan King-Togia 19. Michael Molo 20. Jack Bird 21. Mikaele Ravalawa 22. Connor Muhleisen

SHARKS v RABBITOHS

Saturday, 7:35pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Royce Hunt 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Jack Williams 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Billy Burns 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Liam Ison

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Fletcher Myers 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Jack Wighton 7. Cody Walker 8. Davvy Moale 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Cameron Murray 12. Jacob Host 13. Keaon Koloamatangi

Interchange: 14. Michael Chee Kam 15. Siliva Havili 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Tallis Duncan

Reserves: 18. Dion Teaupa 19. Peter Mamouzelos 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Liam Le Blanc 22. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson

PANTHERS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 2pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Panthers

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Trent Toelau 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer

Reserves: 18. Luron Patea 19. Jack Cole 20. Brad Schneider 21. Asu Kepaoa 22. Luke Sommerton

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Jack Cogger 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Brodie Jones 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

BULLDOGS v RAIDERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Josh Curran 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Lipoi Hopoi 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Harry Hayes

Reserves: 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Liam Knight 21. Blake Wilson 22. Poasa Faamausili 23. Drew Hutchison

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Danny Levi 15. Trey Mooney 16. Ata Mariota 17. Zac Hosking

Reserves: 18. Adam Cook 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Corey Horsburgh 21. Zac Woolford 22. Emre Guler

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach teams analysis round 22: Why Kalyn Ponga buy makes no sense