KFC NRL SuperCoach 2022 Round 17 wrap: Highs, lows and trade targets

The KFC SuperCoach Mastermind crunches the stats to help you answer the biggest trade issues of the round. ANALYSIS FOR EVERY GAME

Bye bye byes! KFC SuperCoaches can rejoice with the toughest period of the season over and with eight rounds to go in the race for overall and head-to-head glory the game has just begun.

If you carefully planned ahead for Round 17 it probably didn’t work out as well as it could of with some of the best players for the round Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston, Ryan Matterson, and Nicho Hynes all missing through injury or illness.

This round threw up a glimpse of what’s to come with Covid chaos hitting the Queensland camp with Cameron Munster and Murray Taulagi pulling out of Origin, while Hynes missed the Sharks Round 17 fixture too. Even I’ve been wiped out for a couple weeks with Covid, (if you’ve wondered where the round wraps have been).

So if you’ve played conservatively to this point with trades and boosts you’re in a strong position to navigate the twists and turns with still a third of the season to go. With Origin and byes out of the way you’ve got your pick of the players and a clear guide on which clubs have form, fixtures and something to play for.

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This week’s top scores came from two serious POD prospects. Tesi Niu, 140, returned from injury for a depleted Broncos team and put on an impressive attacking display. If he can lock down that fullback spot he’s an option for the run home few will have. Jesse Ramien, 133, had a hat-trick and should have had four tries but dropped one over the line. The Sharks centre is in 1% of teams and has two tough games before the Sharks get a nice run home.

Cody Walker, 119, and Mitchell Moses, 115, poured on the points against weaker rivals and that’s the formula you want to land to climb the rankings. Going after the Knight and Tigers worked this week, while the Warriors and Titans are the others to attack.

Sharks 28-6 Storm

Highs: Jesse Ramien, 133, scored three tries, as many as he’d scored all season prior, and dropped another one over the line. Ronaldo Mulitalo and Sione Katoa both scored tries but it was Ramien in 1% of teams that went large. Blayke Brailey, 82, scored a try and had 40 in base stats. Cameron McInnes, 72, had 64 in base stats in just 57 minutes. The tough matches against the Cowboys and Panthers up next might not favour the Sharks attacking options but McInnes will have plenty of work to get through.

Lows: Grant Anderson, 17, went off for a HIA early then injured his elbow playing just 37 minutes. Brandon Smith, 62, was on track for a big score filling in for Harry Grant at hooker before being sin binned and now faces a possible suspension for calling the referee a cheat. Teig Wilton, 22, and Wade Graham, 18, continue sharing the minutes on the left backrow spot.

Watchlist: Ryan Papenhuyzen, 49, was the most bought player of the round and but there was no junk points extravaganza like last week. Not the initial return you want from a $931,100 investment but the points will surely come as the Storm return closer to full strength. Braydon Trindall, 65, filled in for Nicho Hynes and set up a couple tries while missing a stack of goals.

Knights 28-40 Rabbitohs

Highs: Cody Walker, 119, had two tries and three try assists in his best score of the season. Not surprisingly the return of Latrell Mitchell has sharpened the Rabbitohs attack and given opposition defences more to worry about than just rushing Walker. Mitchell, 93, had two try assists, two linebreak assists, a linebreak, five tackle busts and kicked 6/7 goals. Mitch Barnett, 97, scored a try and had 59 in base stats. Richie Kennar, 91, filling in for Alex Johnston, scored a hat-trick. Edrick Lee, 79, followed up his five-try haul from last week with another try and two try assists.

Lows: Lachlan Ilias, 0, failed a HIA after the first minute. David Klemmer, 70, sent off for a moment of madness in the last minute which wiped off a good chunk of his score.

Watchlist: If the Origin stars from these teams get through the decider unscathed they are some options worth a look for the run home. Cameron Murray and Damien Cook are high on my list and given the Rabbitohs precarious place near the bottom of the top eight I can’t see them being rested to much. Dane Gagai sits below $400k a bargain price for a player of his pedigree. He was a top five CTW last year and over the opening six weeks of this season.

Tigers 20-28 Eels

Highs: Mitchell Moses, 115, had a, try, try assist, two linebreaks, two forced dropouts, nine tackle busts and kicked 4/5 goals. Isaiah Papali’i, 90, had a try and 51 in base stats with a sprinkling of other attacking stats. Could have easily cracked a century but was given a rest with 10 minutes to go. David Nofoaluma, 81, scored two tries in the last 10 minutes. Maika Sivo, 79, had a try, try assist, two linebreaks and eight tackle busts.

Lows: Will Penisini, 22, another disappointing score in the 20s for coaches who held him this long for the bye coverage. You’d be tempted to give him one more look against the Warriors this week but a trade looks best with plenty of strong options. Adam Doueihi, 27, was a great SuperCoach option last year but while he’s stuck out at centre he’s not an option. Luke Brooks, 57, topped three of the negative point categories with six missed tackles, two penalties conceded and three errors.

Watchlist: Fonua Pole, 48, all base stats in 48 minutes. Good numbers from the cheapie forward. His price moves after this week so you could still pick him up if you need money to spend elsewhere. Fa’amanu Nu Brown, 66, scored a try and played 62 minutes at hooker. Only listed at five-eighth which makes him a tricky option but again if you need the cash.

Broncos 32-18 Dragons

Highs: Tesi Niu, 140, made an incredible return from injury with a try, two try assists, nine tackle busts, two linebreaks, four linebreak assists. If he holds the fullback in a hot Broncos team he’s worth a look with the Titans up next and home games against the Tigers and Knights on the run home. Kotoni Staggs, 103, had two tries, three linebreaks and five tackle busts in his third century of the season. The flip side to that is he’s had 10 scores under 50. Delouise Hoeter, 92, filled in for Corey Oates on the left wing for the Broncos and scored two tries. Kobe Hetherington, 79, had 64 in base stats in 70 minutes playing lock.

Lows: Tariq Sims, 27, was sin binned twice. Mikaele Ravalawa, 22, injured his hamstring playing just 57 minutes. Cory Paix, 5, failed a HIA after five minutes.

Watchlist: Ezra Mam, 69, didn’t play the last 10 minutes going off for a HIA. He’s averaged 65PPG through his first six games. Owners should seriously consider holding for those juicy fixtures. Zac Hosking, 63, 51 in base stats and five tackle busts in a nice debut for the edge backrower.