KFC SuperCoach NRL: Round 16 best players and trade targets

The Mastermind analyses every NRL Round 16 and tells you why the most popular trade this week is the wrong move.

The trifecta of top scorers in Round 16 all come from one place and while we all expected Tom Trbojevic (144) to be go close to 200 again the less favoured Sea Eagles took flight with Reuben Garrick (169) and Jason Saab (162) topping the scoring this week as the Manly back three combined for 475 KFC SuperCoach points outscoring the entire Bulldogs 17 on 444.

Turbo’s 352 points in two weeks played out of a likely six games over the bye period is rather ridiculous and shows all the planning the world can’t counter freakish talent. While Round 17 presents an opportunity to charge up the leaderboard with plenty of numbers it’s worth considering whether those players are better in the long run. Popular trade in this week Addin Fonua-Blake will give you an extra number but will he outscore Payne Haas who costs just a touch more over the rest of the season. I doubt it.

ROUND 17 LATEST: EARLY MAIL

Let’s take a look at the highs and lows from each game and the players to add to your watchlist.

ROOSTERS 0-46 STORM

Highs: Nicho Hynes, 104, posted his fourth century of the season with a try, try assist, 7/9 goals and two linebreaks. It might have been his last big haul for the season with Ryan Papenhuyzen eyeing a return after this bye, but until Papi returns you’ve got to keep banking the points from Hynes even if he is losing a little value. Dale Finucane, 94, scored a try for the second week in a row and earns a call up for Origin 3. Brandon Smith, 90, is the best option in hooker at the moment. He scored yet another try to make it eight from his eight past games. Cameron Munster, 83, has bottomed out in price and will be almost a POD option for the run home after starting the season in a third of teams.

Lows: Daniel Fifita, -9, sin binned for the second time this year. The Roosters struggled across the board with popular young guns Sam Walker, 29, and Joseph Suaalii, 24, posting low scores. Hopefully you didn’t play them in your 17 but with the Bulldogs up next expect a massive bounce back.

Watchlist: Daniel Tupou, 49, a linebreak and a stack of work, not many wingers can post a score like that in a well-beaten team. You have to strongly consider him as a trade in this week. Sam Verrills, 42, could be cheap option at hooker if you’re chasing points hard in Round 17, but it might be a trade worth saving.

WARRIORS 18-19 DRAGONS

Highs: Eliesa Katoa, 95, had a try and 56 in base stats in 62 minutes and showed signs of returning to the devastating form of his rookie season but will miss this week with a shoulder injury. Ben Hunt, 93, scored a try and is worth a look at hooker with a five round average of 82PPG, though that does include a woeful 14 points against the Bulldogs. Paul Vaughan, 84, had 62 in base stats and a try assist for the second week in a row, nice score but hardly worth throwing a party over.

Lows: Tohu Harris, 22, one of last week’s most traded in players played just 23 minutes after failing a HIA and picking up a shoulder injury.

Watchlist: Addin Fonua-Blake, 76, played 76 minutes, which was inflated no doubt due to Tohu Harris’ injury but still had 66 in base stats, two offloads and two tackle busts. Priced at $427k, he’s worth a look as an extra number for the bye round and a solid backup prop for the run home. The Dragons squad will be stretched in coming weeks with 13 players suspended for breaching biosecurity protocols by gathering at Vaughan’s house. Vaughan copped the heaviest punishment with an eight-week suspension.

PANTHERS 13-12 EELS

Highs: Isaiah Papali’i, 122, continued his incredible season with another try on top of 64 base stats, nine tackle busts, four offloads and a linebreak. He’s averaging 18PPG clear of next best in the FRF position. Apisai Koroisau, 97, scored a try and had 69 in base points. He also scored 73 points in the last game Nathan Cleary missed making more runs in those two games than usual. Small sample but it makes Api an interesting option at hooker for the run home if Cleary’s shoulder doesn’t come good.

Lows: Matt Burton, 18, kicked the winning field goal but didn’t see much ball at centre and missed five tackles when many expected him to come into the halves to cover Cleary’s absence. Clint Gutherson, 28, put up his worst score of the season with a few tackle busts and a try contribution his only attacking output. Jarome Luai, 31, continued his dramatic price crash and now has a five-round average of 31PPG, prior to that he was scoring at 78.9PPG.

Watchlist: Nathan Brown, 77, scored in the 70s for the third week in a row with his ball-playing adding some nice attacking stats on top of the usual base. Stephen Crichton, 33, has the goalkicking duties while Cleary is out. It could be a handy 12PPG or more boost to his 52PPG average.

BULLDOGS 0-66 SEA EAGLES

Highs: The Manly back three had an absolute field day with Reuben Garrick, 169, leading the way with two tries, five linebreaks, seven tackle busts and 11/11 goals. Garrick’s ownership more than doubled last week and his value has done the same. Jason Saab, 162, has an average of 65 with Tom Trbojevic in the team. He took some time to find his feet in the NRL and realise just how much faster he is than the rest. His teammates sure know and early ball to Saab was a simple recipe that delivered big results. Saab had three tries, three try assists, four linebreaks and six tackle busts. Tom Trbojevic, 144, had three tries of his own, two try assists and 10 linebreak assists. 352 points in two covers the output of most others in five weeks. Daly Cherry Evans, 119, again responded with a big KFC SuperCoach score after an Origin defeat.

Lows: Ben Trbojevic, 1, is making the VC loophole unusable for the 23% of teams owning him. But he should fall off the bench in coming weeks as players return from injury. Will Hopoate, 14, was sin binned and missed five tackles. Corey Allan, 6, had eight missed tackles.

Watchlist: Lachlan Croker, 82, is finding his way into the attacking stats for Manly and given their draw and form you could consider him.

RAIDERS 6-44 TITANS

Highs: Jamal Fogarty, 104, had his second century in three weeks picking up a try, two try assists and 6/8 goals. AJ Brimson, 93, is yet to crack a century with this his fourth 90 of the season. Ditch his injury affected score and he’s got a five-round average of 80. Mo Fotuaika, 91, had 50 in base stats, eight tackle busts, a try and linebreak. He’s quietly crept up to fifth best scoring FRF overall and has the second best five-round average with 74PPG. Phil Sami, 86, had a try and three linebreaks.

Lows: Bailey Simonsson, 28, injured his ankle and likely misses the bye round for those who’ve held him this long. Tyrone Peachey, 4, played just 25 minutes.

Watchlist: David Fifita, 82, scored a try, had two linebreaks, 12 tackle busts and was sin binned in just 49 minutes and is as cheap as he’ll be for the rest of the season. Get your cash ready for a Round 18 or 19 trade if you don’t have him already. Josh Papalii, 72, is one of the few Raiders showing good form this year worth a look after Origin.

KNIGHTS 38-0 COWBOYS

Highs: Connor Watson, 107, was a popular trade out last week then produced two tries as the Knights finally finding some attacking spark. Kalyn Ponga, 96, was key to that, returning from injury with two tries, two try assists, four tackle busts and a linebreak. He has to be a consideration after Origin with the Knights having one the best runs home, especially if he resumes goalkicking duties too. Cheapie Dominic Young, 88, playing on the left wing was on the end of Ponga’s best work with two tries, a try assists and 32 in base stats.

Lows: Daniel Saifiti, 29, picked up a rib injury and will miss Origin 3. Valentine Holmes, 35, should see some nice price reductions towards $500k in time for a Round 20 trade in.

Watchlist: Jason Taumalolo, 60, played 60 minutes and is the cheapest he’s been in years but he probably hasn’t shown enough to suggest he’s worth a trade or a spot in your top 17 even though he covers the bye.

BRONCOS 26-18 STORM

Highs: Tesi Niu, 104, scored his first KFC SuperCoach century with two tries, a try assist, five tackle busts and two linebreaks. Payne Haas, 90, produced his best score of the season and played 65 minutes with 60 in base stats, along with a try assists, two offloads, two tackle busts and two linebreak assists. With Matt Lodge gone to the Warriors, Haas looks like an absolute steal of a trade for Round 18 at under $500k. Aidan Tolman, 83, scored a try on top of his usual base stats.

Lows: Siosifa Talakai, 27, was a popular purchase a couple weeks ago when named in the starting team. Those who watched patiently have dodged a wasted trade.

Watchlist: Kotoni Staggs, 64, played 60 minutes in his first game of the season back from injury and had a try assist, two linebreaks and six tackle busts. He’s a serious CTW POD option for anyone brave enough to back a Broncos revival in the final eight rounds.

TIGERS 22-38 RABBITOHS

Highs: Alex Johnston, 107, scored two more tries to make it 10 in his past four games and the Rabbitohs nice run of fixtures has the Cowboys and Bulldogs up next. Campbell Graham, 102, scored a century for the second week with two tries yet again. Overlooked by most because he plays on the right side of the field, but the ball has been making it’s way there more often in recent weeks. Cody Walker, 99, had a try, three try assists and eight linebreak assists to move to top overall scorer of five-eighths. Adam Doueihi, 97, scored a double and could be a nice POD backup to Walker with the Tigers draw looking friendly from Round 18 onwards.

Lows: Damien Cook, 42, much like Taumalolo, it’s probably time to draw a line through his name for this season, despite his amazing feats of previous years.

Watchlist: Cameron Murray, 86, should be on your radar after Origin too. His injury affected scores are pulling his average down but he’s going better than you think with 91 last week and 105 and 86 before his injury in Round 8. Taane Milne, 66, scored a try this week and is still relatively cheap and has dual position CTW/2RF, which could come in handy.