NRL teams Round 15: Best SuperCoach replacements for Nathan Cleary

KFC SuperCoaches are dealing with a number of shocks in the round 15 teams but the biggest issue remains what to do with injured superstar Nathan Cleary.

Teams are in for round 15 and the biggest KFC SuperCoach shock is David Fifita being left out for the Titans due to delayed concussion symptoms.

Fifita is so far ahead of the pack at 2RF – 10 points per game in fact – that he’s tough to sell.

But then again, he will miss at least three of the next five weeks with two Origin back-up games thrown in where he could play reduced minutes or not at all, so selling is worth considering.

CLEARY REPLACEMENTS

Fifita was the biggest shock, but undoubtedly the biggest storyline of the SuperCoach week is the injury to Nathan Cleary (hamstring, six weeks) and his potential replacements. Here goes:

* Mitchell Moses HFB $760,800 - Moses may not be as reliable as Shaun Johnson (at least not in 2023) in terms of scores over 60 points, passing that mark in just 50 per cent of games. But the two have near identical averages thanks to Moses’ ability to go large. Covers both of the remaining byes provided he is not picked for the Blues. And there’s the rub – he just might be which would considerably dent his value. It could be worth waiting a week to see what Freddy comes up with on Monday night.

Cameron Murray and Nathan Cleary are both injured. Picture: Getty

* Shaun Johnson HFB $642,400 - The thinking person’s replacement for Cleary. SJ has wound back the clock and is in the midst of a blinder of a season for the Warriors. Boasts incredible reliability for a veteran (he’s scored 60+ in a higher percentage of games than the great Nathan Cleary) and a great ceiling having scored 75+ in five games already this year. The Warriors do NOT cover the round 16 bye, but they do cover round 19 and crucially cover both the Origin ‘hangover’ matches of round 17 and 20. Or to put it another way – if Moses is not selected for Origin then they both play five of the next six matches, if Moses is selected then SJ offers much better coverage. Oh and he’s $115K cheaper.

* Jahrome Hughes HFB $554,100 - This is the overthinking person’s pick. The uncommon wisdom appears to be that 1. Hughes will click soon, 2. He has a strong pedigree, 3. He is well priced and, 4. Like the two above, plays four of the next five games. All these things are true. As is the fact that he currently averages 15PPG less than Moses and Johnson. Pass.

* Cody Walker 5/8 $813,100 - King Cody is in superb form but Souths have a bye in round 16, so he’s only playing one of the next two games. On top of that he may be selected for Origin II (and on to Origin III).

* Matt Burton 5/8-HFB $677,500 - Tempting though Burton is with the Bulldogs’ handy bye coverage and his handier dual position eligibility, he is a pass. Burton is strongly tipped to feature in the NSW top-18 and if that happens he will play just two of the next five rounds.

Matt Burton is a pass for SuperCoach. Picture: Getty

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Tom Trbojevic FLB $666,900 - Named after the Sea Eagles successfully had his category one concussion from Origin overturned. Despite all the negative press, much of it warranted, Turbo has still averaged 77 this year, which places him seventh for players with more than two games. However, after this week he misses two of the next four games (three if he doesn’t back up from Origin).

* Jacob Kiraz CTW $486,400 - Last week’s most popular buy was a late out due to an elbow injury sustained at training. He’s back in action this week and could be a good option for next week’s bye, but definitely take a look this week.

* Dylan Brown 5/8 $815,000 - Named for the Eels despite police charges. But don’t bank on him playing just yet – the NRL has discretionary powers to stand him down so this is a situation to keep an eye on. Brown has scored the fifth most points of any player this season and most of any five-eighth.

* Jeremy Marshall-King HOK $671,300 - The popular bye-round hooker option missed last week with a shoulder injury, but has been named to return.

* Jarrod Croker CTW $425,200 - The popular cheapie was rested last week but has been named for his 300th NRL game in front of a home crowd. Expect the Raiders to lift for this game.

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Nathan Cleary HFB $857,400 - The second most popular player in SuperCoach is out for six weeks due to a hamstring injury. Sell. See above for full replacement options.

* Cameron Murray 2RF $502,500 - Like Cleary and South Sydney teammate Jai Arrow, Murray joined the list of players injured while backing up from Origin. He is currently the third most sold player behind Cleary and Brown.

* Latrell Mitchell FLB $813,600 - Not named for Souths due to a calf injury and also in doubt for Origin.

* David Fifita 2RF $897,100 - Out with concussion. Played from the bench post Origin, scoring only 16 points in 33 minutes.

* Jack De Belin 2RF/FRF $624,000 - The popular bye purchase is out this week due to a category one concussion and misses next week due to the bye. He’s a sell, but you may have more important players to offload this week given all the carnage.

* Tom Gilbert FRF/2RF $546,900 - The Dolphins and Origin forward is out for the season with a shoulder injury sustained in Origin. This improves the job security of CTW keeper Connelly Lemuelu. He has the bye next week but is a serious option for round 17.

* Reuben Garrick CTW/FLB $701,800 – SuperCoach blow with Garrick named at centre, where he has a far reduced statistical record than on the wing. And he could be there for a while with Brad Parker (elbow) out until round 18.

* Valentine Holmes CTW $708,300 - The Cowboys are on the bye and Holmes also misses next week due to Origin. Tricky decision on whether to sell given his brilliant 150 on the weekend.

Valentine Holmes is on the bye this week. Picture: Getty

CHEAPIES TO MONITOR

* Junior Pauga CTW $265,400 - Retains his wing spot even with Daniel Tupou back from injury, with the suspension of Joseph Suaalii potentially helping here. Although having said that, Pauga appears to have won his spot on NSW Cup form and the job security is therefore pretty good for a cheapie. Scored 53 on season debut with a try and solid workrate (17 runs and five tackle busts). He offers great bye coverage and will likely be the most purchased player next week.

* Richie Kennar CTW $259,000 – Notched 49 on season debut including a try. His work rate is OK at best (12 runs) but he’s a winger in one of the best teams in the comp so has definite appeal. Kennar has the bye next week but is a definite round 17 cheapie option.

BUY

* See Cleary replacements above.

* John Bateman 2RF $642,300 - Plenty to like after cracking the ton last week. Covers the next two big byes (although he also has an awkward one on an Origin back up week in round 17) and is averaging 65, which ranks him in touching distance of the best 2RFs in the game. After a slowish start back in the NRL, he’s played 80 minutes every game for his last six matches and has a pure base of 47, making him a safe selection with attacking upside.

* Keaon Koloamatangi 2RF $613,800 - Back from a long-term injury last week and promptly scored a ton. Take out the one injury affected game and he’s in the top five 2RFs this season. Drawbacks include next week’s bye and another awkward one in round 20, while he’s also an outside chance for Origin. Watch list.

HOLD

* Billy Smith CTW $386,400 - The popular cheapie has hit the skids after a solid start and now sits with a BE of 60. That usually suggests sell – and plenty of SuperCoaches are – but he’s a crucial extra number for next week’s bye. Smith to Kennar in round 17 will be very popular.

* Tyrone Peachey 2RF/CTW $452,300 - Has done a brilliant job as a cheapie in making $163,000 and being a top 17 players for much of that time. But he lost his spot last week to Izack Tago, who returned from a pectoral injury, and is therefore a popular sell. But with Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o chances to miss round 16 through Origin, Peachey could provide crucial bye coverage. Hold and hope.

Tyrone Peachey could cover next week’s bye. Picture: Getty

BROWN NAMED FOR EELS DESPITE CHARGES

—Brent Read

Parramatta five-eighth Dylan Brown has been named in the Eels team for Monday’s game against Canterbury but his ability to play against the Bulldogs will still hinge on the club getting the green light from the NRL.

Brown is facing five charges of sexual touching after an incident at a pub in Sydney’s eastern suburbs at the weekend. Full story here

LATRELL, FIFITA OUTS CREATE ORIGIN HEADACHES

South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell has been left out of the Rabbitohs side for Saturday night’s game against St George Illawarra and his availability for State of Origin is likely to hinge on a fitness test later this week.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou confirmed Mitchell and captain Cameron Murray would both miss the Dragons game as they deal with calf and groin issues respectively.

While Murray would seem more likely to be fit for Origin II at Suncorp Stadium in a fortnight, Mitchell is far from a certainty.

Demetriou confirmed Souths medical staff were in talks with their NSW counterparts and a call was likely to be made by the end of the week - the Blues are due to name their side on Monday.

“He is in fair doubt (for Origin),” Demetriou said.

“He hasn’t been able to run yet so we won’t know more until later in the week. Origin is another two weeks away. It doesn’t rule him out of Origin. It is just high-risk to play, as it was last week.”

Meanwhile, David Fifita is out for the Titans due to delayed concussion symptoms, putting his Queensland selection for game two in doubt.

Latrell Mitchell and David Fifita are both out this week.

TITANS v TIGERS

Thursday, 7:50pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Klese Haas 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu

Bench: 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Erin Clark 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui

Reserves: 18. Jojo Fifita 19. Keano Kini 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Joe Vuna 22. Ken Maumalo

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

Bench: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Alex Twal 17. Asu Kepaoa

Reserves: 18.Daine Laurie 19. Shawn Blore 20. Aitasi James 21 Justin Matamua 22. Tallyn Da Silva

RAIDERS v WARRIORS

Friday, 6pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Nick Cotric 17. Pasami Saulo

Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley 19. Danny Levi 20. Ata Mariota 21 Xavier Savage 22. Peter Hola

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Bayley Sironen 15 Josh Curran 16. Mitchell Barnett 17 Tom Ale

Reserves: 18 Ronald Volkman 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21 Freddy Lussick 22 Brayden Williame 23. Zyon Maiu’u

SEA EAGLES v DOLPHINS

Friday, 8pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Sean Keppie

Bench: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Condon

Reserves: 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 20. Jake Arthur 21. Dean Matterson 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Tesi Niu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Poasa Faamausili 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone

Bench: 14. Herman Ese’ese 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Kurt Donoghoe 17. Valynce Te Whare

Reserves: 18. Max Plath 19. Jack Bostock 20 JJ Collins 21 Robert Jennings 22 Oliver Gildart

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DRAGONS v RABBITOHS

Saturday, 3pm, Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Michael Molo 11. Billy Burns 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Bench: 14. Moses Mbye 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Josh Kerr 17. Zane Musgrove

Reserves: 18. Talatau Amone 19. Toby Couchman 20. Tautau Moga 21. Jack Bird 22. Blake Lawrie

Rabbitohs

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Richard Kennar 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Shaq Mitchell

Bench: 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Siliva Havili 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Reserves: 18. Taane Milne 19. Tallis Duncan 20. Ben Lovett 21. Liam Knight 22. Dean Hawkins

BRONCOS v KNIGHTS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Cory Paix 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Corey Jensen 20. Keenan Palasia 21. Deine Mariner 22. Tyson Smoothy

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Jack Johns 21. Lachlan Miller 22. Brodie Jones

ROOSTERS v PANTHERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Corey Allan 4. Billy Smith 5. Junior Pauga 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Sitili Tupouniua

Bench: 14. Sandon Smith 15. Nathan Brown 16. Angus Crichton 17. Matthew Lodge

Reserves: 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Zach Dockar-Clay 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Naufahu Whyte

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Liam Martin 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 18. Tyrone Peachey 19. Luke Garner 20. Thomas Jenkins 21. Matt Eisenhuth 22. Soni Luke

STORM v SHARKS

Sunday, 4:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims

Reserves: 18. Sualauvi Faalogo 19. Marion Seve 20. Kane Bradley 21. Tyran Wishart 22. Tom Eisenhuth

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Wade Graham 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Connor Tracey 20. Thomas Hazelton 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Jesse Colquhoun

BULLDOGS v EELS

Monday, 4pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Karl Oloapu 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jayden Okunbor 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards

Bench: 14. Khaled Rajab 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Chris Patolo 17. Corey Waddell

Reserves: 19. Kyle Flanagan 20. Jackson Topine 21. Braidon Burns 22. Blake Wilson 23. Franklin Pele

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Ofahiki Ogden 15. Brendan Hands 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves: 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Jack Murchie 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Haze Dunster 22. Luca Moretti

Originally published as NRL teams Round 15: Best SuperCoach replacements for Nathan Cleary