NRL SuperCoach Buy, Hold, Sell round 18: Top targets for final bye

The final big bye is here and with it a host of issues, including the shock Origin selections of Jacob Kiraz and Gehamat Shibasaki, while Tino Fa’asuamaleaui’s form is plummetting.

The final big bye is here and with it a host of issues for SuperCoaches to deal with.

In particular, Jacob Kiraz’s call-up to the NSW Origin side as 18th man and Gehamat Shibasaki’s selection for the Maroons creates a scramble for numbers.

SuperCoaches also have a big call on whether to part ways with Origin gun Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who is carrying a sternum injury and has averaged under 50 in his last four NRL games.

BUY

* Jed Stuart - Two tries in two games and at bottom dollar, the son of coach Ricky is the cheapie of the week. Yes, even with a bye next round.

* Mark Nawaqanitawase - Coming off the bye, has no byes left, scoring like a keeper and should see some big rises after 136 in his last match.

* Storm guns - Regular readers may feel this is repetition given the Storm finished their byes a number of weeks ago. But getting on Melbourne players has taken on new significance with Jahrome Hughes (114) and Eliesa Katoa (106) cracking tons over the weekend.

* Scott Drinkwater - If you don’t yet own Drinkwater, now is the time. The big SuperCoach decision of the week was who to captain out of Ryan Papenhuyzen (30%) and Drinkwater (33%). Drinkwater came out well on top with 131 and he doesn’t have a bye until round 27.

* James Tedesco - It’s never too late to own the top averaging player in SuperCoach this season, even with the hefty price tag. No byes left.

* Jacob Preston - Has averaged 75 this season, is coming off 90 and has finished all his byes. Yet he is only owned by six per cent. POD alert.

* Josiah Karapani - Almost 20,000 SuperCoaches got on last week as a cheapie. The horse has bolted but he’ll be popular again after averaging over 80 in his first three games.

Scott Drinkwater went massive to close out a big round of #SuperCoach.

How did you go?

➡️Sunday wrap: https://t.co/1Azs70wwWnpic.twitter.com/NVEwbF8Ggx

— SuperCoach NRL (@SuperCoachNRL) June 29, 2025

HOLD

* Jacob Kiraz - Named 18th man for the Blues and therefore won’t play this big bye week. However, Kiraz is averaging over 80 so selling will just mean buying back.

* Keaon Koloamatangi - Has been playing close to 80 minutes for the Rabbitohs but dropped back to 60 on the weekend. Carrying a facial fracture, but impossible to sell on a week where he’s an extra number.

* Payne Haas and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui - Selling these two Origin stars is tempting given both are carrying ongoing injuries. Tino now has a four-round average under 50. But with Origin almost over, they are both holds if you’ve held this long

* Herbie Farnworth, Addin Fonua-Blake, Nicho Hynes, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary - Among a host of big guns out due to the bye or Origin this week.

Jacob Kiraz has made the NSW side as 18th man. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

SELL

* Gehamat Shibasaki - Has done plenty of good work for SuperCoaches but it’s time to cut the cord after his Origin selection.

* Nathan Lawson - His weekend started well after Christian Tuipulotu was ruled out prior to kick-off, bringing the popular cheapie into the team. He went on to notch two tries, but injured his shoulder and left the ground in a brace.

* Toby Couchman - Had been going well as a POD but is set to miss the remainder of the season with a dislocated shoulder.

* Luke Metcalf - The Warriors fear their key playmaker has suffered an ACL injury.

* Kalyn Ponga - Missed out for the Maroons and faces a lengthy stint due to foot injury.

* Sua Fa’alogo - Was on track for a great score for the Storm before a hamstring injury cut him down on the way to the tryline.

* Fletcher Sharpe (lacerated kidney, ruptured spleen), Haumole Olakau’atu (shoulder), Jack Bostock (ACL) - Last week’s news but plenty of SuperCoaches will only get around to selling this week.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Buy, Hold, Sell round 18: Top targets for final bye