NRL teams Round 21: Top SuperCoach cheapie Tyrone Munro not named, Matt Moylan dropped
A host of big guns are back for NRL round 21 but KFC SuperCoaches are only talking about one key out. Full analysis here
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Teams are in for round 21 and as predicted a host of big guns are back including Nathan Cleary, Latrell Mitchell and Reece Walsh.
But there’s also one key omission for KFC SuperCoaches with cheapie winger Tyrone Munro left out of the Rabbitohs squad altogether, so it’s time for a re-think.
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WINNERS FROM TEAMS
* Nathan Cleary HFB $857,400 - Back after a six-week absence with a hamstring injury and the most purchased player this week, which makes sense given his standing as the greatest SuperCoach halfback of all-time. Cleary has been off his feet for a while with a serious injury and the BE of 129 indicates waiting a week could be the safer option, especially for head-to-head players.
But he plays the lowly Bulldogs at BlueBet Stadium this week in a Sunday afternoon clash and is not just a great buy but a serious captaincy option. While he has some tough upcoming clashes, Cleary also has the Titans, Sea Eagles and above-mentioned Bulldogs in the run home.
* Latrell Mitchell FLB $813,600 - There’s no question that on his day Mitchell is a force of nature, but coming back off a lengthy injury layoff is not the game to bring him in. Take a week, see how he goes against the Broncos and then if all goes well pick him up for the round 22 game against the Wests Tigers, where he could do absolutely anything. A BE of 139 means it won’t cost you to wait.
Apart from the Tigers next week he has other outrageously good match-ups against the Dragons (24) and Knights (25), but also has a bye thrown in on SuperCoach grand final week in round 26. Latrell was setting the competition alight prior to his calf injury. Only one fit fullback has a better average this season in Scott Drinkwater, and he’s at $1.05 million now so that ship has sailed.
* Payne Haas FRF $694,800 - Back from an ankle injury and does not have bad games.
LOSERS FROM TEAMS
* Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2RF/FRF $808,400 - Tino has accepted a three week ban for a shoulder charge which is an obvious SuperCoach blow given he is neck-and-neck with Payne Haas as the best prop in the game. $808,400 is a lot to have sitting on the pine so he’s an obvious sell for overall players. But he could be a POD hold for head-to-head players given he returns on week two of the finals.
* Tyrone Munro CTW $200,800 - The most popular cheapie for a number of weeks has missed selection for the Rabbitohs with stars Campbell Graham and Mitchell back. It’s not a big issue for those who already own him given he just nuffs out, which was always a possibility/probability when we bought him. But don’t go out of your way to buy him this week (he’s currently the fifth most purchased player). Prioritise a dual position nuff like Jack Howarth who has more flexibility.
BUY
* Harry Grant HOK $645,000 - Buying back Origin stars is the flavour of the week and Grant is one of the most prized targets. The Storm hooker is eight points clear of the next best fit hooker and has finished all his byes. That said, he backed up from all three Origin games so there’s a chance he gets rested at an inopportune time in the run home. Has some great upcoming match-ups including the Knights this week, Dragons and Titans.
* Cameron Munster 5/8 $661,300 - Rinse and repeat from Grant above except for a few significant differences. Munster was rested following Origin 2 so is more likely to play out the season. He’s not quite as dominant as Grant in his position but still very handy considering top dog Kalyn Ponga is also available at fullback and second-placed Dylan Brown is suspended, essentially leaving Munster behind only Cody Walker as a five-eighth purchase.
* David Fifita 2RF $838,300 – Not much needs to be said here. Even with some injury-affected games, Fifita averages a massive 10 points more than any 2RF this season. Move heaven and earth to get him in.
* Izack Tago CTW $723,100 - The in-form Panther has snuck completely under the radar at just three per cent ownership, despite sitting in the top echelon of the CTW position with a 70.4 season average. His recent form is even better with a 3RA of 98.3 and 5RA of 87. Yes, he’s actually gone better WITHOUT Cleary in the side. There hasn’t really been a good time to jump on Tago this year due to injuries, byes etc. But now is as perfect a time as ever.
* Myles Martin 2RF/FRF $200,800 - Nuff season has well-and-truly arrived and Martin is the most popular this week. He ticks all main boxes required of a good nuff - base price, next to no chance of taking the field, dual position and plenty of late games (the Knights play on Saturday or Sunday in every one of the final seven rounds). Other popular nuffs include Howarth and Viliame Fifita.
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HOLD
* Ronaldo Mulitalo CTW $524,500 - Successive stinkers of 19 and then nine points have seen Mulitalo lose $110K which makes selling him tough as you need to burn a trade AND add significant coin to upgrade him. Personally I’m holding and hoping the man in the hot pink bike shorts can rediscover his form against the Sea Eagles this week.
* Nicho Hynes HFB $962,300 - Cronulla have had a nice run and Nicho made the most of it against the likes of the Bulldogs, Dragons and Tigers...but he also scored 72 against the Warriors in a game in which his side was comprehensively outplayed. We’re assuming all those selling Hynes are doing so in order to get Cleary while holding Shaun Johnson – but SJ has a tough(ish) game this week against the Raiders and a bye in round 22. And that bye is key – as good as the draw is after that it’s still a safe bet that a Hynes/Cleary (playing one extra game) combo scores more points from here till home than Cleary/SJ.
SELL
* Mitchell Moses HFB $813,600 - If he’s your only way into Cleary then do it but you might regret it when he goes huge in round 23 against the Dragons.
AVOID
* Reece Walsh FLB $630,800 - Walsh is no doubt in the midst of a breakout season and he returns this week after a three-game suspension. But match-ups are so important at this time of year and the Broncos have arguably the toughest run of any side - they face only top eight teams from here except the Roosters next week.
* Addin Fonua-Blake FRF $653,900 - If you have ‘Big Tino’ you’re probably looking for a way out and it’s easy to see why people are jumping on after his massive 122 points against the Sharks – but this could turn into a mistake. The Sharks were very poor through the middle last week and AFB feasted there. This week’s opposition in the Raiders will prove much stauncher opposition and then he sits round 22 on a bye. Prefer the likes of Payne Haas, Joe Tapine or Corey Horsburgh.
Sharks wield axe with Moylan among mass casualties
—David Riccio
Craig Fitzgibbon has made the biggest calls of his coaching career by dropping five-eighth Matt Moylan, relegating representative centre Siosifa Talakai to the bench and picking a six-game rookie in the back row.
Co-captain Wade Graham is also out of the Sharks line-up for a crucial home clash against Manly at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday.
Graham has been ruled out with a toe injury.
The sweeping changes from Fitzgibbon include the promotion of NSW Cup playmaker Braydon Trindall into the halves for Moylan, Connor Tracey into the centres for Talakai and 21-year-old Wollongong-product Jesse Colquhoun named to make his starting debut in the back row for the injured Teig Wilton (knee).
Wilton has suffered a meniscus-related injury to his knee and will meet with specialists this week to determine his road to recovery.
Fed-up with the sixth-placed Sharks’ leaky defence, Fitzgibbon has named vitrually new left-edge with winger Ronaldo Mulitalo the only survivor of the Sharks’ 44-12 loss to the Warriors on Sunday.
It’s a brave call from Fitzgibbon to rip-up the combinations that have enabled the Sharks to become the second-best attacking side in the NRL.
In further changes, co-captain Dale Finucane returns from suspension while Royce Hunt (ankle) is also expected to be named in the extended reserves and could be a late inclusion.
DRAGONS v TIGERS
Thursday, 7:50pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Dragons
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin
Bench: 14. Moses Mbye 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Jack Bird
Reserves: 18. Zane Musgrove 19 Sione Finau 20. Ryan Couchman 21. Max Feagai 22. Jaiyden Hunt
Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Daine Laurie 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Shawn Blore
Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Fonua Pole 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Alex Twal
Interchange: 18. Aitasi James 19. Jake Simpkin 20. Will Smith 21. Asu Kepaoa 22. Justin Matamua
WARRIORS v RAIDERS
Friday, 6pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Mitchell Barnett 16. Tom Ale 17. Freddy Lussick
Interchange: 18. Bayley Sironen 20. Josh Curran 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Taine Tuaupiki 23. Viliami Vailea
Raiders
1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh
Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota
Interchange: 18. Matt Frawley 19. Nick Cotric 20. Trey Mooney 21. Hohepa Puru 22. Ethan Strange
RABBITOHS v BRONCOS
Friday, 8pm, Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray
Bench: 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Siliva Havili 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Jacob Host
Interchange: 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Tallis Duncan 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Davvy Moale 22. Dean Hawkins
Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Patrick Carrigan
Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau
Interchange: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Jock Madden 20. Xavier Willison 21. Tristan Sailor 22. Delouise Hoeter
TITANS v ROOSTERS
Saturday, 3pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Titans
1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Erin Clark
Bench: 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick
Interchange: 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Ken Maumalo 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Thomas Mikaele
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 12. Nat Butcher 13. Nathan Brown
Bench: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Siua Wong 17. Terrell May
Interchange: 18. Corey Allan 19. Dylan Napa 20. Drew Hutchison 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Fletcher Baker
KNIGHTS v STORM
Saturday, 5:30pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott
Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker
Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Brodie Jones 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Adam Clune
Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 13. Josh King
Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tariq Sims 17. Alec MacDonald
Reserves: 18. Bronson Garlick 19. Chris Lewis 20. Jayden Nikorima 21. Marion Seve 22. 23. George Jennings
COWBOYS v EELS
Saturday, 7:35pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter
Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jason Taumalolo 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Reserves: 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Ben Hampton 22. Mitchell Dunn
Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Andrew Davey 17. Ryan Matterson
Reserves: 18. Haze Dunster 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Waqa Blake 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Jack Murchie
PANTHERS v BULLDOGS
Sunday, 2pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner
Reserves: 18. Jack Cogger 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Jaeman Salmon 21. Tom Jenkins 22. Tyrone Peachey
Bulldogs
1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz, 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11. Jackson Topine 12. Jacob Preston 13. Corey Waddell
Bench: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior 17. Jayden Okunbor
Reserves: 19. Samuel Hughes, 20. Hayze Perham 21. Chris Patolo 22. Josh Addo-Carr 23. Viliame Kikau
SHARKS v SEA EAGLES
Sunday, 4:05pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Jesse Colquhoun 13. Dale Finucane
Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Jack Williams 17. Thomas Hazelton
Reserves: 18. Kayal Iro 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Royce Hunt 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Sea Eagles
1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench: 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Matthew Lodge
Reserves: 18. Ethan Bullemor 19. Jake Arthur, 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
BYE: Dolphins