The Mastermind: Ultimate PODs for run home

We are just a week out from NRL SuperCoach head-to-head finals, while the overall finish looks a tight battle. The Mastermind looks at the best PODs for the run home.

SuperCoaches are hitting the final straight with just five weeks to go in the season.

Where did those 20 rounds of footy and all those trades go?

The race is far from over and more hurdles will come in the form of injuries, suspensions and players to be rested ahead of the finals.

Hopefully you’ve saved a few trades up your sleeve to break free from the pack and make a finals charge.

Whether you’re looking to climb the overall rankings or just gearing up for head-to-head finals, here are the point of difference players (PODs) that could give you the edge in every position.

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Cameron McInnes is a good alternative to Cameron Smith. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

EARLY MAIL: Predicted team changes

CHEAPIE ALERT: Freak youngster emerges

REVIEW: 10 things we learned from last week

HOOKER

Everybody’s got: Damien Cook (47%), Cameron Smith (42.5%)

Pick of the PODs: Cameron McInnes (7%).

Cameron McInnes has been just a level below Cook and Smith all year but plays the Titans twice on the run home, which in theory should help close that gap. McInnes has a five-round average of 76.2PPG and scores well whatever the type of game with a massive workrate and enough attacking instincts. Trading Camerons is pretty tempting. The Storm are three wins clear at the top and Craig Bellamy was pretty happy to give Smith an early rest against the Broncos last week. Will Cameron Smith play meaningless games against the Titans in Round 23 and Cowboys in Round 25 with the minor premiership all but sewn up? Cook and the Rabbitohs will be locked in a battle for a top four spot and the Round 25 game with rivals the Roosters all but guarantees he’ll be there for every game.

Or take a gamble on:

Josh Hodgson (4.3%) had just four try assists and averaged 42.6PPG in his first 11 games. The Englishman has returned from injury with a bang with seven try assists and 18 line break assists in a five-round average of 76.2 including two centuries.

Jazz Tevaga (6%) has a five-round average of 69.8PPG and has hardly registered an attacking stat beyond a couple of tackle busts and offloads. If Jazz can jag a try he’ll score a century.

Robbie Farah (5.9%) started the season on fire with two centuries and an average of 70 after 10 rounds. Then Farah started sharing game time with Jacob Liddle and his output dropped to about 30PPG over six rounds. Farah’s now put together three 80-minute games at 73.7PPG and helped put the Tigers in the mix for the finals. Watch out for Liddle though.

FRONT ROW

Everybody’s got... Payne Haas 52%, Martin Taupau 37%, Andrew Fifita 34%

Pick of the PODs : Matthew Lodge (3%)

Lodge has had a remarkably consistent season with just one score below 50. He’s got a five-round average of 75PPG including a season high 90 with a try against the Titans. His one- two hit-up punch with Haas is a recipe for tackle busts. Haas has 21 tackle busts in the last five weeks and Lodge has had 27. Let that ease your mind about having two players from the one team in the one position. With Fifita coming off the bench for the Sharks and Des Hasler resting Taupau when Manly are in front, minutes are a big concern for owners of these two popular props. James Fisher-Harris and David Klemmer are proving more popular trade ins because of their second-row dual position flexibility but Lodge is worth a look.

Or take a gamble on:

Josh Papalii (7.7%) has a five-round average of 72.4PPG including two tries and three line breaks. He’s getting through a good amount of work in less minutes than most others but is benefiting from Josh Hodgson’s return to form. He also is a dual position 2RF.

Addin-Fonua-Blake (7.1%) has been one of the top props all year with an average of 65.5PPG. He’s shown he can go big with two centuries and has a better average than popular teammates Jake Trbojevic and Taupau.

Paul Vaughan (7.3%) has a season average of 59.7PPG. Only the eleventh best prop for the season so far. You’d be taking a gamble that he adds the attacking stats he’s been capable of in the past against a woeful Titans side he’ll face twice in the run home.

Jai Arrow looks a good option in the back-row. Picture: Dave Hunt

SECOND ROW

Everybody’s got... Jason Taumalolo 49%, Jake Trbojevic 46%, Cameron Murray 42%, Ryan Matterson 30%

Pick of the PODs : Jai Arrow (7.8%)

Arrow was averaging 67PPG over the first 10 rounds before the injury worries started for him. He played limited minutes between the Origin fixtures and finally returns this week to the Titans who are sitting two games clear at the bottom of the table. If the Titans want to avoid the wooden spoon Arrow will have to play big minutes. Speaking of minutes... Trbojevic has had reduced game time in four of his last six outings for Manly and his attacking stats have dried up this season apart from a sprinkling of try contributions. Matterson’s move to the middle instead of left edge for the Tigers has seen him play 60 minutes the past two weeks for scores in the mid-50s.

Or take a gamble on:

Wade Graham (1.7%) showed what he can do when he’s fit with 98 points last week against the Bunnies in only his fourth game of the year. He won’t get through a heap of work but he’s capable of posting monster scores when everything clicks like his 154 against the Raiders two years ago. The Sharks have three games in a row at Shark Park.

Nathan Brown (2.6%) was injured just 18 minutes into the first round. His minutes have gradually increased since his return in Round 13 and he’s averaged 65.7PPG since returning from injury and has a three-round average of 75PPG. The Eels have three home games and the Titans and Broncos away so there could be some nice attacking stats ahead on top of that work rate.

Kenneath Bromwich (6.1%) is having his best ever season locking down a spot in the Storm’s lethal left edge and scored a personal best 124 SuperCoach points last week. He’s had four tries, six try assists and five line breaks this season, but without those attacking stats he’s had nine scores under 50. One to use on good match-ups, like this week. He’s running at that same edge Graham and the Sharkies tore apart last week.

Daly Cherry-Evans has been strong all season. Picture: Jason McCawley

HALFBACK

Everybody’s got: Dylan Brown 28%, Shaun Johnson 24% Mitchell Moses 23%

Pick of the PODs : Daly Cherry-Evans 11.1%

Cherry-Evans may have lost the goalkicking duties he had in the opening seven rounds which bumped his average up to 71.9PPG but he’s still ticking along at 65.8PPG without it. That puts him better than this year’s top scoring halfback Moses who’s averaging 64.6PPG. Moses and Johnson both have favourable draws ahead so maybe it’s time to cash out Dylan Brown who’s risen to $352,200.

Or take a gamble on:

Ben Hunt (2.5%) has had a rough run post Origin with a three-game average of just 38PPG. But Hunt is a real flat-track bully and I’d expect him to get among the points on the run home. He scored 134 and 101 this year against early season easybeats the Bulldogs. In his last two games against the Titans he’s scored 106 and 135. He plays them this week and in the final round.

Luke Brooks (2.9%) Has a three-round average of 71.7PPG including 88 against the Cowboys last week. The Tigers have games at Campbelltown and Leichardt to come and face the lowly Bulldogs and Dragons away. The points are every chance to keep flowing for Brooks.

Cody Walker could fire on the run home. Picture: Brett Costello

FIVE-EIGHTH

Everybody’s got... Kalyn Ponga 50%, Cameron Munster 33%

Pick of the PODs : Cody Walker 9.5%

As mentioned above, don’t be surprised to see Cameron Munster get a rest against either the Titans or the Cowboys. The Rabbitohs don’t have the same luxury of resting players in the jostle for a top four position. Walker was the form player of the opening 10 rounds with an average of 80.3PPG, his next five games delivered only 38PPG. The flimsy defence of the Dragons helped him back into form with a score of 108 and he put 70 on the Sharks last week. When Walker’s on, you’ve got to get on and he’s just $486,900 compared to his season peak of $752,000.

Or take a gamble on:

Anthony Milford (3.7%) has a five-round average of 53.8PPG since switching to fullback. He was averaging 63.2PPG prior to his 16 points in the Storm demolition last week. He’s got the frail Cowboys defence this week followed by three home games then the Bulldogs away.

Jack Wighton (2.9%) averaged just 36.3PPG as he struggled to settle in at five-eighth in the opening six weeks of the season. Since then he’s been ticking along at an impressive 65PPG.

Gareth Widdop (2%) has scored 173 and 116 in his last two games for the Dragons against the Titans. You’d be brave to pick him after last week’s 6 points in 80 minutes against the Eels.

CENTRE/WING

Everybody’s got... Latrell Mitchell 55%, Briton Nikora 54%, John Bateman 45%

Pick of the PODs : Will Hopoate (2.6%)

Hopoate would be in a lot more SuperCoach teams if he where playing for another NRL team. He’s posted some massive scores over his past six games at 79PPG but the Bulldogs early season form and some of Dean Pay’s team selections have steered SuperCoaches away from him as well as teammate Corey Harawira-Naera. The Bulldogs have three games at ANZ stadium, a grudge match with the Eels and only travel out of town to take on the Cowboys in the run home. If Coen Hess is still in the centres for the injury riddled Cowboys Hopoate will have a field day.

Or take a gamble on:

David Nofoaluma (1%) gets a chance to run at the leakiest edge in the comp this round against the Bulldogs. He’s got a five-round average of 64PPG thanks largely to his 126 point game against the Eels, where he had 10 tackle busts and two tries. The Tigers have four match ups on the run home where I’d back him to score well.

Joseph Leilua (1%) might be returning from a back injury but if you take a risk with him there’s potential for huge reward. He’s cracked the SuperCoach century mark 10 times before.

Titans and Dragons backs: The points should flow when these two meet this week and in Round 25. Brian Kelly (1.3%) has been the Titans best in this position this year and has posted five 80+ scores this year. A cheaper route in is with Dragons rookie Jason Saab (5.1%) who scored two tries on debut against the Rabbitohs or Tim Lafai (1.3%) who’s been ordinary all year apart from a century against the Rabbitohs in round 2. He’s been capable of those big scores throughout his career including 119 in his last game against the Titans.

FULLBACK

Everybody’s got... James Tedesco 44%, Tom Trbojevic 26%, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 26%

Pick of the PODs: Nobody.

Unless injury strikes all three of them there’s no discussion to be had here.

Turbo averages 92PPG, Teddy 80.5PPG and RTS 72.4PPG play them in that order.

Kalyn Ponga and Cameron Munster should be at 5/8.

The next best options in Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 58PPG and Clint Gutherson 57PPG would still fall short of these guys even with a massive surge in form.

Originally published as The Mastermind: Ultimate PODs for run home