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SuperCoach Sunday winners and losers: Nathan Cleary goes big, Josh Curran injuries mounting

Canterbury forward Josh Curran came back on after a shoulder injury but the toll on his body is growing ahead of must-win SuperCoach rounds.

Tom SangsterTom Sangster
@TomSangsterSC
7 min read
August 4, 2024 - 8:56PM
News Sport Network
Nathan Cleary is popular as always. Picture: NRL Photos
Nathan Cleary is popular as always. Picture: NRL Photos

SuperCoach winners and losers from Sunday action:

Winners:

* Nathan Cleary (96) - Slow start but, as we have come to expect from the fittest man in the comp, came home with a wet sail when it mattered. Added 50 points in the final 11 minutes.

* Casey McLean (71) - A try and 17 runs from the most popular cheapie of the last fortnight. How good?!

* Joe Tapine (88) - Unstoppable at stages with a massive eight tackle busts.

* Stephen Crichton (70) - Crichton’s influence on the game can’t be captured in the stats. A try and try contribution in a matchwinning performance.

* Josh Curran (47) - Far from his best performance of the year but SuperCoaches will take it after Curran came off with a shoulder injury in the first half. He came back on but couldn’t produce his usual work rate. He also suffered a knee injury last week and has had several concussions this season.

Josh Curran down with a shoulder injury.
Josh Curran down with a shoulder injury.

* Greg Marzhew (53) - It was always going to be a tough match-up for attacking players from the Knights so you’ll take this. A handful all day with 18 runs and 11 tackle busts.

Losers:

* Sam Hughes (39) - The popular SuperCoach prop only played a long first stint but came back on very late.

* Ethan Strange (DNP) - Demoted to 18th man on game day by Ricky Stuart with Adam Cook preferred in the halves. Still owned by a quarter of SuperCoaches.

* Kai Pearce-Paul (39) - Played the full 80 minutes but just couldn’t bust out against the NRL’s best defence.

* Kalyn Ponga (45) - Tried hard but tough going against the Panthers. Will drop into the low $600,000s this week and plays Tigers.

FULL-TIME: BULLDOGS HANG ON TO WIN 22-18

The Raiders made a late charge through a try to Jordan Rapana but ultimately Canberra lacked the x-factor to take down the Bulldogs.

Stephen Crichton is guaranteed six Dally M points.

The shoulder injury to Josh Curran is somewhat of a worry for SuperCoaches. He managed to return but his work rate was down.

68 MINS: MORE CRICHTON MAGIC SEALS WIN FOR DOGS

Surely Stephen Crichton’s evening couldn’t have got any better?

He’d already scored two tries - both of them quite freakish - and defended like a demon.

Now he’s sealed victory for the Bulldogs with a stunning try assist.

The Canterbury captain rose to catch a bomb before offloading to Josh Addo-Carr to score.

The Bulldogs now lead 22-12 and it’s hard to see the Raiders coming back from here.

57 MINS: CURRAN BACK ON!

A quarter of SuperCoaches are breathing a sigh of relief.

After appearing gone for all money with a shoulder injury, Josh Curran has returned to the field and is ready to add to his 21 points.

52 MINS: FREAKISH CRICHTON HAS BELMORE IN RAPTURES

He’s dubbed the world’s best centre, and plenty of that moniker is based on his unbreakable defence.

But Stephen Crichton’s attack is pretty darn tasty too.

On the back of being compared to Mal Meninga for his first half try, Crichton produced this (see below) stunning grubber-and-chase to get the Bulldogs ahead 10-6.

Belmore has a new favourite son.

HALF-TIME: BULLDOGS 6 RAIDERS 6

SuperCoach winners:

* Joe Tapine (52) - Best player on the field with five tackle busts and a linebreak.

* Stephen Crichton (47) - Scored the opening try and has no missed tackles, as per usual.

* Samuel Hughes (28) - Popular auto emergency produced a strong first stint.

SuperCoach losers:

* Jacob Kiraz (21) - Usual strong workrate with nine runs but yet to bust a tackle. Well contained so far.

* Josh Curran (21) - Unlikely to return due to a shoulder injury.

33 MINS: CURRAN SUFFERS SHOULDER INJURY

SuperCoach stud Josh Curran has come the field with a shoulder injury.

Curran was taken from the field in the 23rd minute after a strong start, making 64 metres in 23 minutes.

Fox Sports sideline eye Eloise Sohier confirmed Curran suffered an injury and was being worked on in the sheds.

The Bulldogs say they are hopeful Curran will return.

25 MINS: RAIDERS DRAW LEVEL AT 6-ALL

Trey Mooney has scored just the second try of his career to silence the Belmore faithful.

Despite the fanatical home ground support, the game has been very evenly matched.

For the Raiders, Joe Tapine has been particularly impressive with 75 meters.

Josh Curran was also huge early for the Dogs with 64 metres before coming from the field with a shoulder injury.

21 MINS: CRICHTON CROSSES FOR OPENER

Stephen Crichton has put a rammed Belmore crowd into raptures.

“Get a green jersey on him and you’d mistake him for Mal Meninga” said Andrew Voss in commentary as Crichton disposed of two Canberra defenders to score in the corner.

16 MINS: BELMORE PUTS ON A SHOW

The vibe around Belmore is insane and the footy is pretty darn good too.

It’s scoreless after 12 minutes as both teams go hammer and tongs – and the locals of Belmore are definitely up for it.

The Bulldogs play only two games this season at their spiritual home and will finish the round in fifth spot if they win today.

LATE MAIL: RAIDERS AXE ETHAN STRANGE

The Raiders have pulled a shock by axing star rookie Ethan Strange.

Strange has been dumped to 18th man with Adam Cook to start in the halves.

Canterbury stars Stephen Crichton (neck), Josh Addo-Carr (hamstring) and Josh Curran (knee) have been cleared with the Bulldogs 1-17.

Ethan Strange has been dumped to 18th man. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images
Ethan Strange has been dumped to 18th man. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

FINAL TEAMS

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

Players cut: 20. Liam Knight 21. Blake Wilson 23. Drew Hutchison 22. Poasa Faamausili

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 18. Adam Cook 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: 6. Ethan Strange

Players cut: 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Corey Horsburgh 21. Zac Woolford 22. Emre Guler

SUPERCOACH WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM PANTHERS V KNIGHTS

SuperCoach winners:

* Nathan Cleary (96) - Slow start but, as we have come to expect from the fittest man in the comp, came home with a wet sail when it mattered. Added 50 points in the final 11 minutes.

* Casey McLean (71) - A try and 17 runs from the most popular cheapie of the last fortnight. How good?!

* Greg Marzhew (53) - It was always going to be a tough match-up for attacking players from the Knights so you’ll take this. A handful all day with 18 runs and 11 tackle busts.

SuperCoach losers:

* Kai Pearce-Paul (39) - Played the full 80 minutes but just couldn’t bust out against the NRL’s best defence.

* Kalyn Ponga (45) - Tried hard but tough going against the Panthers. Will drop into the low $600,000s this week and plays Tigers.

A chunk of SuperCoaches are expecting big results from Nathan Cleary.
A chunk of SuperCoaches are expecting big results from Nathan Cleary.

FULL-TIME: PANTHERS 22 DEFEAT KNIGHTS 14

Nathan Cleary produced three crucial plays in the dying moments to push his Penrith side to victory against a plucky Newcastle side.

Firstly, with 11 minutes to go, Cleary turned front rower and barged over for what eventually proved the matchwinning try.

Secondly, with three minutes to go, he took on the line and was caught high.

Thirdly, he nailed the resulting penalty goal.

Repeating: Cleary eats pressure for breakfast.

71 MINS: CLEARY SCORES POTENTIAL MATCHWINNER

Just when we said Nathan Cleary was having a quiet game, he’s produced the potential matchwinner.

“That was a real Andrew Johns-style of try, noticing the quick play-the-ball and just going for it,” said Cooper Cronk in commentary.

The Panthers now lead by a converted try 20-14.

It was only two weeks ago that Cleary kicked the winning field goal to get the Panthers home against the Dolphins.

Eats pressure for breakfast.

56 MINS: GET SET FOR THRILLER AS SCORES LOCKED AT 14-ALL

Tyson Frizell has put the Knights back in it, crossing for a controversial try to put the Knights level.

It’s a real dog-fight here with the 12th-placed Knights giving a serious account for themselves as they gun for a finals spot against the three-time premiers.

HALF-TIME: PANTHERS 14 KNIGHTS 6

SuperCoach winners:

* Daniel Saifiti (61) - Early try and huge work rate after his brother was ruled out.

* Casey McLean (54) - Hopefully you included in your 17. The popular cheapie is flying with a try and linebreak on top of his usual work.

* Brian To’o (44) - Popular POD assisted a try and made eight runs.

SuperCoach losers:

* Nathan Cleary (30) - Has two try contributions and kicked both goals, but hasn’t quite nailed the big attacking stats. Captainers will be worried.

* Greg Marzhew (26) - Plenty of work with nine runs and five associated tackle busts. But the Knights just don’t look like scoring against the Penrith defence.

* Kalyn Ponga (18) - Repeat from above. The Knights just don’t look like scoring against the Penrith defence – meaning Ponga can’t nab a stat.

20 MINS: SUPERCOACH STUD CROSSES EARLY

Popular SuperCoach player Casey McLean has an early try as the Panthers and Knights are locked at 6-all.

In a worry for captainers, Nathan Cleary is on just nine points.

KICK-OFF: SAIFITI RULED OUT

Former NSW Origin player Jacob Saifiti has been ruled out for the Knights with a calf injury sustained in warm-up.

18th man Thomas Cant comes onto the bench.

LATE MAIL

The Panthers have pulled a forward switch with Trent Toelau promoted to start at prop ahead of Lindsay Smith.

Brian To’o will play despite a contract dispute and virus this week.

No changes at the Knights with Phoenix Crossland named in the halves in place of Jackson Hastings.

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 14. Trent Toelau 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 10. Lindsay Smith 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer

Reserves: 18. Luron Patea

Players cut: 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 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Thomas Cant

Players cut: 15. Jacob Saifiti 19. Brodie Jones 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

SuperCoaches sweat on captain Cleary

The Knights have an incredibly tough road trip ahead when they face the Panthers at Penrith, and the Bulldogs will be out to spoil Josh Papali’i’s 300th in front of a sold-out Belmore crowd to wrap up round 22.

Nathan Cleary is far-and-away the biggest player for SuperCoaches today.

A chunk of SuperCoaches are expecting big results from Nathan Cleary.
A chunk of SuperCoaches are expecting big results from Nathan Cleary.

Originally published as SuperCoach Sunday winners and losers: Nathan Cleary goes big, Josh Curran injuries mounting

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-live-round-22-panthers-vs-knights-bulldogs-vs-raiders/news-story/91148cdf6df29ceb6cdbb265745ce41e