NRL SuperCoach wrap round 4: Winners, losers, predicted top purchases and sells

Round 4 is in the books and there was plenty to be learned for SuperCoaches. Check out all of our winners and losers — plus predicted top purchases and sells.

Jack Wighton raised the bat with a century in SuperCoach as the Rabbitohs took their first win. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

In a weekend where the fullbacks reminded us just why that position is so stacked with raw talent, the centre-wingers made us realise we’re all in trouble.

There will be some backline weapons ready for the scrap heap this week, but the re-emergence of a former SuperCoach gun at a new club might ease that pain.

Jack Wighton bounced back with a huge performance on Good Friday, and will be one of the leading targets of the week.

Meanwhile, SuperCoaches have copped a blow with popular cheapie Lachlan Galvin facing a two-game ban for a hip drop.

PREDICTED TOP PURCHASES ROUND 5

Jack Wighton (CTW): 103 points - The Rabbitohs marquee recruit took a week to get the engine roaring but he looked brilliant against the Bulldogs. The Rabbitohs left edge has taken time to click into gear, but the signs are there for Wighton to be a SuperCoach gun.

Blaize Talagi (CTW): 42 points - Put up another strong showing and will only continue to make money after impressing in his first outing at five-eighth. He is the perfect slaughter target for those who reckon Ethan Strange or Ben Trbojevic have finished making money.

Tom Flegler (FRF): 80 points - The Dolphins forwards had all the running over a tired-looking Titans pack. Flegler was at the heart of everything they did right with 80 points including 45 in base stats. At $475,600, he provides an interesting opportunity for SuperCoaches.

Clint Gutherson (FLB): 107 points - He just keeps getting the job done. After a slow round two and three King Gutho responded with a century. It comes right after a price drop and he could be an appealing option to bring in with Tom Trbojevic still looking for a huge score.

Jamayne Isaako (CTW): 106 points - Isaako is a big money prospect, but he delivers in a big way and with others starting to make some cash, the Dolphins winger looks a good luxury to bring in.

Tom Flegler had a cracking return to form for the Dolphins.

PREDICTED TOP SELLS ROUND 5

Taylan May (CTW): 22 points - Frustrated owners, and there are plenty of us out there, must be questioning what is going on. He started the season with a blaze, scored 60 in a scoreless team in Round 1, and since then has gone missing.

Luke Metcalf (5/8): 11 points - The dynamic Warriors five-eighth will appears to have broken a bone in his leg off a cracking tackle from Tyson Frizell. Owned by more than 10 per cent of SuperCoaches, who will need to find a replacement ASAP. Luckily there are some kids who look the goods.

Samuel Hughes (FRF): 13 points - The cheapie contender seems to be on the outer in Cameron Ciraldo’s middles rotation. His lack of minutes is being reflected in his scores. It’s time to cut your losses after he actually lost money.

Zac Laybutt (CTW): 26 points - Chewing up too much of the salary cap for SuperCoaches and can be traded for a number of potential money makers. Now is the right time to hop off if you haven’t already.

Dylan Brown (5/8): 46 points - Could be somewhat controversial as he has been many people’s first choice in the position. But with Cameron Munster coming back and some genuine quality cheaper options around, now could be the time to use his $700,000+ money in other positions.

Is Taylan May destined for the scrap heap this week?

ROUND 4 WINNERS

Kalyn Ponga (FLB): 113 points - Was involved in everything good that the Knights did, and he asked plenty of questions in a brilliant first half. He just lacks any help in a side devoid of creative spark.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (FLB/CTW): 114 points - One of the unsung captaincy calls of the weekend with the Dolphins fullback turning it on against a tired Titans defence. His first half wasn’t much to watch, but he was incredible in the second half, finishing with a two and two try assists.

The Hammer was flying this weekend.

Dylan Edwards (FLB): 112 points - The Panthers fullback was tipped to step up in Cleary’s absence and he did in a big way. Huge workrate as always, and his solo try was a thing of beauty. It’s criminal how stacked the fullback position is for talent.

Jamayne Isaako (CTW): 106 points - The number one winger in SuperCoach last season, Isaako has been out of favour early this year (only 9.5 per cent ownership) mainly because of a high price tag at $783,200. But he tonned up without scoring a try, to deliver a timely reminder about his potential.

Kayal Iro (CTW): 91 points - The Sharks centre had an afternoon out with a try and try-assist, but it was his desire to get in and do the hard yards that will make him must-pick for Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon next week. He is a cheapie on the rise.

Kevin Iro presents son Kayal with his first NRL jersey in 2022. Credit: NRL Images.

Jackson Ford (2RF): 107 points - He is the perfect foil for Shaun Johnson, a hard-running edge forward. Ford’s workrate was incredible, and he added to it with a try and two brilliant line breaks.

Adam Reynolds (HFB): 83 points - The Broncos halfback booted the Cowboys into submission with a torrent of bombs in tough conditions. With several top SuperCoach halfbacks in the casualty ward, he is a solid option to get you through.

Nicho Hynes (HFB): 90 points - This spot belonged to Cam McInnes until the final minute of the game when Hynes set up the Sharks final try of the game. Nothing like Nicho scoring some late junk points. Expect him to fare well in the updates.

Max King (FRF): 70 points - Canterbury’s best forward by a long way. King was a workhorse in a side that struggled for ascendancy. King punched out an incredible 64 points in straight base, with 40 tackles and not one miss.

Terrell May (FRF): 78 points - You little beauty. He was the worst kept secret in the lead up to the season, and the Roosters tearaway has rewarded the 62,681 owners who put faith in him. His minutes look sound with Spencer Leniu still a month away and Lindsay Collins racing the clock for next week.

A career-first double for Jack Bostock saw a healthy return of points. Picture: NRL Photos

Jack Bostock (CTW): 87 points - The young winger was under attack from the Titans early, but showed impressive resiliency to not only stay in the fight but take control with two strong tries to reward brave owners who played him in their 17-man side.

Damien Cook (HOK): 82 points - The Rabbitohs veteran is getting back to his best football, and showed he still has that pace (did you know he was a beach sprinter?). 56 points in base stats, but it will be the 14 points in tackle breaks and a clean line break that is exciting for owners.

Tyson Frizell (2RF): 78 points - The Knights veteran was excellent on the right side. He scored a good try off a grubber, and nearly had a second off a kick late in the first half. He added 37 tackles and 19 points in hit-ups in a great 80 minute effort.

Clint Gutherson (FLB): 107 points - The ‘King’ may have missed the penalty shot to win the game for the Eels, but he was in everything up to that point. Always involved and that was reflected in his bumper score.

Aidan Sezer (5/8/HLF): 51 points - Sezer has locked down the halfback jersey for the immediate future and the dual-position makes him an exciting prospect to bring in for round five.

ROUND 4 LOSERS

Zac Laybutt (CTW): 26 points - The problems at the CTW slot are becoming endemic. Laybutt missed last week, and then put together shocking effort in conditions that didn’t lend themselves to scoring. Will be on the scrap heap for many this week.

Zac Hosking (2RF): 25 points - The Raiders backrower started the game, but struggled to make an impact before he was ruled out early in the second half with a Category 1 HIA. He will not play next weekend.

Luke Brooks (HFB/5/8): 29 points - He was one of the big movers during the week, with 10 per cent of SuperCoaches bringing him in among an injury crisis in the halves. He let down every single one of them. He will lose cash.

Holding Cleary & not buying Brooks. One of the very few things I’ve done right this season. 😮‍💨 #NRLSupercoachpic.twitter.com/QQb4RJwqTu

— SuperCoach Brain (@SC_Brain) March 30, 2024

Dom Young (CTW): 30 points - The Roosters winger was brought in by more than 10 per cent of SuperCoaches and he certainly did not live up to the hype. He might be on leave, but Tom Sangster still has to answer for that, surely.

Liam Martin (2RF): 23 points - He might have made it back on the field briefly in the second half, but a potential AC injury will have new Blues coach Madge McGuire a touch nervous.

Sifa Talakai (CTW): 17 points - His single-handed destruction of Manly two years ago lives on as a fond memory for owners. But if you still have the Beast from the Shire, it’s time to let him go. Moving closer to the ball did not help his scoring.

Selwyn Cobbo (CTW): 26 points - The Broncos winger struggled to make an impact in the wet weather despite the Brisbane side playing all over their rivals. Cobbo came within millimetres of scoring a cracking try which might have changed it all.

TOM DEARDEN WITH AN UNBELIEVEABLE CHASE 🔥

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Tom Trbojevic (FLB): 55 points - The most-captained man in SuperCoach this week was expected to run roughshod over a Dragons side that had conceded 38 points to the Cowboys the week prior. He did not.

Dean Hawkins (HFB): 22 points - The Rabbitohs halfback was a fine foil for Cody and Latrell, but that is really all he will ever be. His involvement with the ball is just too little to make an impact SuperCoach wise.

Jack Cogger (HFB): 19 points - While he isn’t overly SuperCoach relevant, this is more an indictment on the Knights halves stocks. Hastings was dropped two weeks ago, but his replacement is hardly setting the world on fire.

Will Kennedy (FLB) 29 points - The Sharks fullback has been out of sorts this season, struggling to keep pace with his teammates in attack. He was exposed in defence as well, and could find himself in NSW Cup soon if he is not careful.

Will Kennedy has struggled for form this season.

Jacob Kiraz (CTW): 34 points - On a week where most sides struggled in the CTW department, the Bulldogs centre didn’t make it any easier. He had a desired match-up against Souths left edge, but didn’t see a lot of good ball. Tough outing but can bounce back.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira (CTW): 12 points - Chalk this up as another, what’s happening with our wingers. The Titans winger is yet to score over 30 points this season. For a direct comparison, the Dolphins wingers scored a combined 193 points.

Izack Tago (CTW): 48 points - The high-flying Panthers centre was brought crashing back to Earth after a fantastic start to the season. The ball kept bypassing him on the right, but you know that he won’t be long out of the points with the Panthers killing it down that edge.

Dylan Brown (5/8): 46 points - Had the keys to the team with Mitch Moses on the sidelines but didn’t take full advantage, and it looked like Clint Gutherson took more of a leading role over the closing stages.

Asu Kepaoa (CTW): 0 points - Was included on the bench for the Tigers but didn’t see any game time, along with Bud Sullivan. The only difference is Sullivan is a likely inclusion next week with Lachlan Galvin facing suspension.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach wrap round 4: Winners, losers, predicted top purchases and sells