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NRL SuperCoach: Panthers and Broncos secure big wins, SuperCoach winners and losers

It was a mixed night in SuperCoach from some NRL stars who were returning from injury. See who the top Saturday SuperCoach players were in our Winners and Losers.

Shane Jones
19 min read
April 28, 2024 - 12:26PM
SuperCoach NRL Podcast: Game Day Round 8

There were mixed fortunes for a host of SuperCoach and NRL stars who returned from injury as Penrith and Brisbane recorded impressive wins on Super Saturday.

The Broncos were brilliant in their 34-10 win over the Wests Tigers while the Panthers held off a fast finishing Cowboys to win 26-20.

Here are all the SuperCoach Winners and Losers, on a day a milestone man stood tall.

WINNERS

1. Brian To’o – 101 points: Game 100 was one to remember for the Penrith winger who was the only player on Super Saturday to score more than 100 points. He scored a try and also had an incredible 17 tackling busts, which got him 34 points. It was his second 100 point game this year and if he continues this form he will get more than 3.8 per cent of coaches having him in the team.

2. Adam Reynolds – 84 points: What a return by the Broncos half back. He was involved in most tries with the Broncos with his kicking and passing game. Reynolds had three try assists, which helped him to his score of 84. There was a concern with an injury late but the veteran said it wasn’t too serious after the game.

3. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – 85 points: Finefeuiaki had his best game for the Cowboys and his best ever SuperCoach score. He not only scored a try but had 13 hit ups of more than 8m. The second rower is owned by almost seven per cent of teams and they will be very happy with his performance.

4. Payne Haas – 78 points: Had his highest score of the season and his second half was a good sign he might be heading towards his best in SuperCoach. He scored 53 points in the second half. Haas might not be worth the price tag just yet but another solid week could see him become an option.

5. Jeremiah Nanai – 91 points: After some very lean scores over the past few weeks, Nanai bounced back with 91 points. This included a try and 30 tackles. He’s not a must have but more form like this will make a serious consideration.

6. Paul Alamoti – 69 points: Has averaged 70 points in his first two games of SuperCoach this year. He scored a try and was one of the best for the Panthers in the first half. The query with him is will he get another game next week after being a late inclusion?

7. Charlie Staines – 78 points: Was the best scoring Wests Tigers player in SuperCoach in what was a disappointing night for the club. His two late tries surged him up the leaderboard, which helped him to his largest total for the year.

8. Dylan Edwards – 90 points: Continues to be one of the leading players in SuperCoach. His score of 90 was his fourth on or over that mark this year. Edwards is a must have.

9. Reece Walsh – 74 points: Even with cramp in the final 20 minutes, Walsh was able to score high at fullback. He scored two tries and was one of the best for the Broncos. Can he now continue the form and become a must-have for SuperCoaches?

10. Brent Naden – 57 points: Had his best game in a year and a bit in SuperCoach. In just his second game of the year he scored more than 50 points. Probably not a consideration for many teams but Naden played well.

1. Jock Madden – 77 points: Usually 77 points and two tries would get you in the winners list but Madden’s injury puts him in the losers list. It’s a big concern for SuperCoach coaches. He injured his pec in the game and it could put him out for a couple of weeks. Will be a big wait and see over the week.

2. Nathan Cleary – 50 points: It might be his first game back but Cleary was rusty and it impacted his SuperCoach score. He lost 10 points with missed tackles, penalties and errors and didn’t excel in other areas. He’ll get better with more matches but coaches will be hoping it happens soon otherwise some tough decisions will need to be made.

3. Izack Tago – 30 points: His lowest score this year in SuperCoach. After two 100 point games earlier this year, he’s now struggling to score above 50. Might be a player traded out by more teams this week.

4. Lachlan Galvin – 42 points: He might be a cheap halves player but SuperCoaches will probably be looking to trade him during the week. He scored 42 points against Brisbane after only scoring 35 last week. His average is now down to 55. More than 40 per cent of coaches have him right now. It will be a major surprise if that many keep him this week.

5. Apisai Koroisau – 36 points: Another tough day for Koroisau coaches with the hooker only scoring 36 points before he was taken off with injury for a corked back. He’s now had back-to-back scores of 36, which might see coaches trade him. The Tiger may also be out next week with his injury.

6. Patrick Carrigan – 57 points: The return of Payne Haas hurt Carrigan with the captain struggling in the second half to score. It was his second lowest score of the year. While 57 is still a good number, Carrigan coaches will be keeping an eye on how he goes in the next couple of weeks with Haas back to make sure it is just a once-off.

7. Scott Drinkwater – 40 points: Can you justify the almost $900,000 price tag if Drinkwater continues to struggle scoring points? He only got 40 in the match against Penrith, on top of just 57 last week. Almost 2000 coaches got rid of him last week. A few more might be doing the same this week. He only has one 100 point score this year.

8. Tom Chester – 18 points: The Cowboys winger went off the ground early with a hamstring injury. He might be out for a few weeks.

Relive our live SuperCoach NRL blog below.

SuperCoach final scores – North Queensland v Penrith

Full time scores – North Queensland v Penrith. Picture: Supplied.
Full time scores – North Queensland v Penrith. Picture: Supplied.

Brian To’o led all players with 101 points. He had 17 tackle busts, scored a try and was probably the player of the game for the Panthers in a vital win. Dylan Edwards was the next best with 90. For the Cowboys, forwards Jeremiah Nanai (91) and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (85) were the best with both scoring a try in the second half as North Queensland came back late. Valentine Holmes also scored a try and finished on 71. Nathan Cleary, who said himself his game was ordinary, only scored 50 in his first game back.

Full time: 26-20 Penrith

Penrith holds on for an incredible win in Townsville. North Queensland had a chance in the last minute to score, after successfully winning a penalty from a Captains Challenge. The Panthers twice held off the Cowboys on the try line to prevent North Queensland from potentially taking the game to extra time. On another night the Cowboys win the contest but the Panthers defence saved the day and gave them a vital two points.

71st minute: 26-20 Penrith

Penrith gets a penalty five metres out and Nathan Cleary and the team adds the two to make it a six-point lead. Cowboys player Reece Robson, in the same play, suffers a head clash with teammate Reuben Cotter in friendly fire and is forced off the field with blood to his face.

65th minute: 24-20 Penrith

All signs point to the Cowboys being on top but the Panthers still lead. The Cowboys have had 14 extra sets in this match and 60 per cent possession. They also have 200 more run metres than Penrith.

61st minute: 24-20 Penrith

Now Jeremiah Nanai scores and the Cowboys have reduced the margin to four points with 19 minutes to go. It’s been an absolute onslaught from North Queensland in the last 15 minutes. Penrith has had only five completed sets this half, which has gone more than 20 minutes. You just wonder if the Panthers have any energy left after defending to hold out the Cowboys. Jeremiah Nanai now leads all SuperCoach players with 78. He is tied with Brian To’o.

56th minute: 24-14 Penrith

Cowboys get reward for multiple sets and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki scores his first try of the night, barging over the line. The Cowboys have now forced Penrith to tackle 33 times inside their 20 metre line. There is still plenty of time for the Cowboys to come back and win this contest. They just need to capitalise on their possession. Finefeuiaki is now the leading Cowboy in SuperCoach with 67 points. Valentine Holmes is the next best Cowboy with 59.

50th minute: 24-10 Penrith

Boy did the Cowboys need that. Penrith concedes a penalty 10 metres out and the Cowboys form a scrum. The first play after the scrum, Valentine Holmes breaks through the Penrith defence, beating three defenders, to score a valuable try for North Queensland in the contest.

44th minute: 24-4 Penrith

This game is turning into a replica of the first clash with the class of one team prevailing. Penrith score again after a bad mistake from Semi Valemai. He drops the ball cold after a kick from the last tackle by the Panthers. Liam Martin picks up the ball and scores an easy try. Nathan Cleary adds the two, which is his 600th goal for the Panthers in his career.

SuperCoach half time scores: 18-4 Penrith

SuperCoach points at half time – North Queensland v Penrith. Picture: Supplied.
SuperCoach points at half time – North Queensland v Penrith. Picture: Supplied.

Penrith’s three first half try scorers are the leading SuperCoach players at the main break. Brian To’o (CTW – $652,800) in his 100th game leads with 64 points and is on track for his second 100 point score this season. Dylan Edwards (FLB – $891,300) is next on 60 with Paul Alamoti (CTW – $414,300) the surprise packet of the first half with 57. Thomas Dearden (5/8 – $541,200) is the best for the Cowboys with 46. Cowboys try scorer Semi Valamei (CTW – $671,600) is next best with 36. It’s been a disappointing return for Nathan Cleary (HFB – $883,600) with the Penrith half back only on 20 at the main break. His projection was at 104 in the contest.

Half time: 18-4 Penrith

Two tries in the last seven minutes has Penrith in control of the contest. The Panthers overcame plenty of pressure from the Cowboys and then pounced to score what could be two decisive tries. Penrith on top despite completing just 75 per cent of sets.

40th minute: 18-4 Penrith

That hurts for the Cowboys. North Queensland gets a penalty with less than a minute remaining to give them a last chance to score. Instead, a pass is intercepted by Paul Alamoti and he runs 60 metres to score. Cowboys player Scott Drinkwater tried to set up a play down the left but his pass was stolen by the Panther who only came into the game at the last minute. He’s had a fantastic half with 196 run metres. Penrith leads 18-4 and don’t deserve to lead by that many.

35th minute: 12-4 Penrith

Penrith just knows how to score when the chips are down. Against the run of play, Dylan Edwards breaks three tackles to storm over and give the Panthers some breathing space ahead of half time. He’s now scored five tries in his past seven games and is sure to continue to be talked about as a potential NSW player in State of Origin.

28th minute: 6-4 Penrith

Cowboys centre Tom Chester has done his hamstring and is off the field immediately. Jake Granville is now on for the Cowboys. Chester scored 18 points in SuperCoach before he was taken off.

26th minute: 6-4 Penrith

Penrith’s defence has kept them in the lead but the team is it’s own worst enemy right now. The team has made three knock on’s in the last five minutes to give the Cowboys glorious chances to score. North Queensland needs to pounce now and take advantage of it.

13th minute: 6-4 Penrith

After repeated sets by the North Queensland Cowboys, their pressure is finally rewarded. Cowboys player Tom Dearden is able to get into space and pass the ball perfectly to Semi Valamei who breaks a tackle and scores for North Queensland. It’s a great reward for their effort. Valentine Holmes misses the conversion to level the scores. In SuperCoach, Brian To’o leads on 35 points with Tom Dearden next on 32 after his effort to set up the first try.

4th minute: 6-0 Penrith

While the Cowboys are celebrating two milestone men, Penrith also has one with Brian To’o celebrating 100 games. And he starts the game with the first try of the game. Jarome Luai passes the ball to To’o who makes a tough catch look easy with his left hand. He then charges down the left hand side and beats the Cowboys defender to score near the touchline post. Penrith looks sharp early.

7.42pm: Game underway

The game is underway between North Queensland and Penrith on what is a big night for the Cowboys.

The team is celebrating two milestones.

The first is 200 games for winger Kyle Feldt and he is the 10th Cowboy to achieve the feat.

Cowboys half back Chad Townsend also celebrates his 250th game.

He has played for Cronulla, New Zealand and North Queensland during his career.

7.30pm: North Queensland v Penrith finalise teams

North Queensland has finalised it’s team with no late changes. The team will start as it was named on Tuesday from one to 17. Penrith, on the other hand, has made a couple of late changes. Paul Alamoti has come in late, on the wing, replacing Sunia Turuva who has been taken out of the squad. The Penrith coaches have apparently made the decision at the last minute, not giving an exact reason why. Luke Garner has also come into the team on the second row, replacing Scott Sorensen with a knee injury. Moses Leota is also out with a shoulder injury and has been replaced by Lindsay Smith who is starting at prop. Matt Eisenhuth and Mavrik Geyer replace Garner and Smith on the bench. The other important news for Penrith is Nathan Cleary is back for his first game since round 3.

SuperCoach final scores – Brisbane v Wests Tigers

Final SuperCoach scores – Brisbane v Wests Tigers. Picture: Supplied
Final SuperCoach scores – Brisbane v Wests Tigers. Picture: Supplied

Those who had faith in Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas got their reward with both topping the SuperCoach leaderboard at the end of the game. Reynolds was the leader with 84 points with Haas scoring 53 points in the second half to finish on 78. The two late tries to Charlie Staines moved him to 78 points to be the leading Tiger. Finally, Jock Madden and Reece Walsh impressed with 77 and 74 points respectively despite spending the last few minutes of the game off the field.

FULL TIME – 34-10 Broncos

What a crazy final 15 minutes with four players going off with injury. Brisbane recorded a big win over the Wests Tigers, pouncing on errors from the opposition, despite the Tigers having more possession and territory. Adam Reynolds was also influential, being involved in plenty of tries with his passing and kicking game. There will be concerns for the Broncos with Jock Madden, Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh all coming off with injury and cramp. Kotoni Staggs was also put on report late in the contest with a late hit on Tigers debutant Solomon Alaimalo.

77th minute – 34-10 Broncos

Adam Reynolds has now been taken off and is suffering from cramp as well. But before he goes off he made a wonderful intercept, stealing the pass from Tigers player Justin Olam as he was hobbling around the field. He then passes the ball and immediately falls to the ground. It was an incredible moment from a player in pain.

75th minute – 34-10 Broncos

Reece Walsh has finally been taken off by the Broncos coaching staff. He’s had severe cramp and is struggling to walk.

73rd minute – 34-10 Broncos

Charlie Staines has a double after a wicked bounce, from a Tigers kick, lands in his lap and he’s able to score again. His second try in four minutes. Meanwhile, Broncos player Adam Reynolds is now limping after trying to tackle Staines while he scored.

69th minute – 34-4 Broncos

The Wests Tigers are on the board in the contest. Lachlan Galvin passes to Charlie Staines who is not able to catch the ball on the run. So he kicks the ball ahead of him, gathers and beats a Broncos defender to score. It’s brilliant thinking to get the Tigers on the board. Aidan Sezer misses the attempted conversion.

68th minutes – 34-0 Broncos

Injuries are starting to play a part in this game with both teams impacted. Apisai Koroisau’s injury is a cork to his back and he will not return in the game. Broncos player Jock Madden has also injured his pec and will not return. Meanwhile, Reece Walsh is still on but is struggling with what looks to be a leg injury. He’s had treatment but remained on the field.

65th minute – 34-0 Broncos

Payne Haas now gets involved in the action, scoring a try on his return. He bulldozes through the Wests Tigers defence, beating three players, and is able to stretch his arm over the line to score. This has been an impressive performance from the Broncos.

58th minute – 28-0 Broncos

This is turning into a horror night for the Wests Tigers. Apisai Koroisau heads off the ground with an injury. He puts his hand up straight away, on the field, to tell the team something is not right. He’s unlikely to be back on the ground tonight and scored 36 SuperCoach points before he went off.

55th minute – 28-0 Broncos

This is turning into a big win for Brisbane. Wests Tigers have been their own worst enemy in the second half, making mistakes in most of their sets. Brisbane’s Reece Walsh then compounds the mistakes with a brilliant try. He gets the ball from Adam Reynolds 15 metres out and zips through the Tigers players to score his second for the night. Boy is he a talent. 28-0 Broncos with still 25 minutes to go.

44th minute – 22-0 Broncos

And that could be the game wrapped up for Brisbane. The Broncos on the last tackle opens up the Tigers defence with Adam Reynolds and Brendan Piakura making wonderful passes to put Jock Madden into space. The five-eighth runs over the try line to score his second for the night. Reynolds makes it 22-0 with a successful conversion.

SuperCoach wrap – Half time

Jock Madden (5/8 – $425,700) and Deine Mariner (CTW – $524,200) are level at half time with 44 SuperCoach points each to have the most in the contest. Despite Payne Haas coming back for the Broncos, Patrick Carrigan (2RF – $688,900) continues his red-hot form with 38 in the first half. He has scored 70 or more points in four of his last five matches. Adam Reynolds (HFB – $632,500), in his first game back, has started well with 37. Apisai Koroisau (HOK – $592,100) is the best Tigers player with 35 and could have had more if the try, which was taken away from him by the bunker, was given to him. Payne Haas (FRF – $750,400) in his first game back is only on 25. Well short of his projected total of 77.

First half SuperCoach points – Wests Tigers v Brisbane Broncos. Picture: Supplied.
First half SuperCoach points – Wests Tigers v Brisbane Broncos. Picture: Supplied.

HALF TIME – 16-0 Broncos

You have to feel for the Wests Tigers at half time. The team dominated possession, have had better territory and should have scored at least once but have no points to show for it. Brisbane on the other hand has punished mistakes from the Tigers and Adam Reynolds has been electric in his return, setting up all three tries with his passing and kicking. Broncos are well on their way to taking home two points.

40th minute: 16-0 Broncos

Oh that’s a hammer blow to the Tigers. The Wests Tigers dominated territory, possession and had multiple chances to score in the last 10 minutes of the half. Brisbane then gets one chance and scores right on half time. A lovely kick from Adam Reynolds finds Deane Mariner and he is joined by multiple Broncos players. Reece Walsh gets the ball and slices his way through the Tigers defence to score. That hurts for Wests.

27th minutes: 10-0 Broncos

Samuela Fainu is back on the ground and both teams have 13 players again. His sin bin has hurt his SuperCoach points with Fainu only on four after 27 minutes.

25th minute: 10-0 Broncos

Apisai Koroisau looks to have scored a try for Wests Tigers in what could have been a vital moment for them to get back into the game with one player down. The try goes to the bunker, which rules there was separation between his hand and the ball before the ball was placed on the try line. What do you think? Should the try have been given? Meanwhile, Jock Madden’s try has put him in the lead in SuperCoach with 40 points with Deane Mariner on 39.

19th minute: 10-0 Broncos

And Brisbane immediately makes the Tigers pay. A lovely kick from Adam Reynolds over the Tigers defence allows Jock Madden to run to the ball and go under the posts to score an easy try. It’s Madden’s second try for the club. Brisbane now hold a good lead and the next five minutes is huge in the context of the match.

17th minute: 4-0 Broncos

Wests Tigers have had great chances to score but Brisbane’s defence has been resolute, holding them out, to keep them scoreless. But now the team will have to defend well after Samuela Fainu is sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes after tackling Corey Oates while he was running to the 20m line after catching the ball in goal. Fainu had a massive brain fade and now his team have a massive job to do for the next ten minutes. In SuperCoach, Deane Mariner leads all players with 37 after his try. David Klemmer is the best for the Tigers with 26.

6th minute: 4-0 Broncos

‘His first attempt was dodgy but his second attempt might be magic.’ Fox NRL’s Andrew Voss with the perfect line as Deine Mariner provides the ultimate redemption. He gets the ball from a lovely play from Brisbane and runs towards the touchline and jumps over to just get the ball down to score. Broncos lead 4-0 as Adam Reynolds misses the conversion attempt after the try.

3rd minute: Brisbane blows chance to score

Brisbane had a wonderful chance to score in the opening three minutes but Deine Mariner dropped the ball just as he was about to be in the clear to score on the touchline to the right. It followed a mistake by the Tigers with Jahream Bula and Charlie Staines making a meal of the long kick by Brisbane after their first set of the game. Score is 0-0.

5.30pm: Game underway

The Wests Tigers and Brisbane Broncos match is underway after another moving Anzac Day tribute at the start of the game.

It’s a major day for the Tigers with the team celebrating 25 years since these two teams, at Campbelltown, played in the first ever match of the Wests Tigers, following the merger of Balmain and Western Suburbs.

The team is also wearing black armbands for the late Terry Hill who died this week at the age of 52.

Hill played 49 games for the club from 2000 to 2003.

5pm: Final teams locked in for Wests Tigers and Brisbane.

Both Brisbane and Wests Tigers have kept their one to 17 named earlier in the week.

So no late changes to either team.

For Brisbane it means Adam Reynolds (HFB – $632,500) and Payne Haas (FRF – $750,400) return from their injuries with Deine Mariner and Brendan Piakura also back. With no changes to the Tigers it means that Solomon Alaimolo (CTW – $238,900) gets his debut on the ground on the wing, which will be pleasing for SuperCoach coaches who have him. 0.4 per cent of coaches have taken the risk on the former rugby union player.

EARLIER: Key players to watch are:

Wests Tigers vs. Broncos

Reece Walsh: The Brisbane fullback can be a rocks or diamonds proposition so the almost 30,000 SuperCoaches who have welcomed Reece Lightning to their teams this week will be hoping to see a glittering performance from the enigmatic star. Walsh boasts a career average of 80PPG against the Tigers, but Benji Marshall’s men have been defending fullbacks well this year conceding just 55PPG to the position so far this season.

Payne Haas: The best prop in SuperCoach, Haas returns after a lengthy lay-off due to a knee injury. Unlikely to be near peak fitness, those who do not own the big man will be hoping he is eased back into the game and will be thus available at a price discount in a fortnight.

Payne Haas is back for the Broncos. Picture: Steve Pohlner
Payne Haas is back for the Broncos. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Patrick Carrigan: The luxuriously locked Brisbane star has been playing big minutes so far this season playing 70+ minutes in six of the seven games played so far. His 23,527 owners will be hoping that Haas’s return is not a catalyst for the Broncos being able to lighten Carrigan’s load.

Api Koroisau: The Panthers put a stranglehold on Koroisau last week limiting the livewire hooker to just 36 points. Despite that poor outing, Api is still averaging a healthy 65.2PPG and he has good form against the boys from Brisbane boasting a career average of 65.8PPG against the Broncos.

Lachlan Galvin: Speaking of popular Tigers, young Lachie Galvin is the king of Concord in SuperCoach terms currently in over 62,000 or 40% of teams. After a scintillating start to his career (he averaged 62.3PPG over his first three games), Galvin was handed a dose of reality by the Panthers last week with the premiers limiting the rookie to 35 points.

Samuela Fainu: The NSW U19s captain has been superb off the bench for the Tigers so far this season and he gets his first start this week. Fainu has been playing a middle role off the bench and will start on an edge Saturday so it will be interesting to see how his workrate goes when wider on the field. A solid outing will see his ownership rate soar heading into round nine.

Nathan Cleary is back for the Panthers. Picture: Getty Images
Nathan Cleary is back for the Panthers. Picture: Getty Images

Cowboys vs. Panthers

Nathan Cleary: The SuperCoach GOAT is set to make his return from a hamstring injury and over 15,000 SuperCoaches have brought him straight into their teams. The Cowboys are a leaky ship right now conceding over 90 points over their past three matches, and while better at home, you’d have to back the reigning premiers to score plenty in Townsville. With a BE of 80 you don’t need to snap Cleary up this week, but anything other than a sub-50 point flop will make him hard to resist the week after.

Val Holmes: The Sharks restricted Holmes to just 54 points last week which leaves the star centre with a BE of 121 and a matchup against the best defence in the competition. With a career average of 56.6PPG against Penrith I think calls to bench or even sell Holmes are far fetched – but I certainly would not be captaining him like 2.8% of coaches are at this stage.

Taylan May: Penrith rested May for ‘personal reasons’ last week but he returns for this match. After a solid start to the season May’s output has been poor and he is averaging just 32PPG over his past three matches. Yet to record a try or try assist the pressure must be mounting on May to deliver something soon.

Liam Henry: Facing a high BE thanks to his score of -1 in round five (he played just seven minutes and most of those were spent dazed after a headknock) plenty of SuperCoaches have sold Henry this week. North Queensland have been particularly poor defending FRF opponents so far this year so those that have held will be hoping Henry can cash in.

Scott Drinkwater: He has the second-most points of any fullback, covers the round 13 bye and has the Titans, Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers as three of his next five opponents. Despite all that owners are ditching Drinky after scores of 61 and 57 in his past two games. While he has a BE of 156 and a tough matchup ahead it feels a premature exit.

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Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: Panthers and Broncos secure big wins, SuperCoach winners and losers

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