NRL teams Round 5: SuperCoach analysis, How to handle Josh Schuster injury

Almost 70,000 KFC SuperCoaches are scrambling following a fresh injury to popular playmaker Josh Schuster. Here’s how to survive and thrive.

Almost 70,000 KFC SuperCoaches are scrambling after Manly’s Josh Schuster was ruled out of Saturday’s clash against the Knights due to a quad injury.

For many SuperCoaches, Schuster at a bargain $241,200 was a ticket to Nicho Hynes, Payne Haas, Reuben Garrick or a keeper of your choosing.

But no longer.

Here are your options:

* BUY JACKSON FORD: Even before Schuster’s injury I’d earmarked Ford as the Cheapie of the Week ahead of Schuster, so he’s the obvious replacement if you don’t own him already. See my full spiel on Ford below but the former Dragon seems locked in for an 80 minute back row role at the Warriors.

* CHOOSE ANOTHER FORWARD CHEAPIE: Behind Ford, I have Matt Croker and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui (in order) as the next best forward cheapies this week. Both are only available at FRF so you’d need the right duals to make it work. The big difference between Croker and Baby Tino is the price. Croker costs $120,000 more which could well be a deciding factor. Again, see full analysis of both these players below, but personally I’m thinking of going a bit funky with the next guy on this list ...

Josh Schuster is out injured this week. Picture: Getty

* TAKE A PUNT ON PEZET: This trade isn’t as ridiculous as it sounds and is likely the best option for those looking for a halves replacement for Schuster. Yes, Jonah Pezet is only available at halfback but you should be able to use Isaiya Katoa as your swing man. At risk of sounding like a broken record, see my full spiel below but Pezet could easily make $150,000 in two weeks before being turned into Hynes.

* STILL BUY SCHUSTER: He should only miss one week and will likely be the most purchased player next week anyway, so why not jump the gun? Well, it’s hardly a ridiculous strategy but also a risky one given this is Schuster’s second soft tissue injury of the season. He also missed a fair chunk of last season with an ankle injury and then battled weight issues. The sight of Schuster in agony with cramps in his first game back this season is also fresh in the mind (pictured below in case you forgot/missed). In short, it’s fair to say Schuster is not the most reliable on the injury front. But there is still plenty to like, as, insert another broken record alert, explained below.

* FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY OWN SCHUSTER: There are 61,815 of you and the tactic is pretty simple – hold and stash him out of your 17 this week. Then start enjoying the price rises.

Josh Schuster down with cramp in Round 3. Picture: Getty

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Nicho Hynes - There are two types of SuperCoaches right now. Those who don’t own Hynes and those tortuously annoying people who own him and bring it up at every opportunity. Hynes produced one of the all-time great SuperCoach scores in notching 180 against the Dragons. Perhaps the most stunning part was he did it without a try, instead relying on four try assists and two try contributions.

In other words, he had a hand in SIX tries. Incredible. He’s now the most purchased player in KFC SuperCoach by a long, long way but the trade doesn’t come without risk. Specifically, Hynes has the bye next week so I’m leaning towards waiting two weeks and jumping on at exactly the same price in Round 7. Of course, that plan would involve shutting myself in a dark room while Hynes no doubt scores well in a good match-up against the Warriors in the Shire on Sunday.

Nicho Hynes is the most popular SuperCoach buy this week. Picture: NRL Photos

* Braydon Trindall - The popular cheapie missed last week with a foot issue but earns a bench spot this week with Oregon Kaufusi stood down for 11 days under the NRL’s new concussion protocols. While he won’t attract big minutes as Hynes’ understudy, Tricky merely needs to take the field to notch another $40,000 and is therefore ideally a hold. Of course, countering that is the need to move this week on Josh Schuster, Jonah Pezet and maybe even Hynes, so your approach to Trindall depends on team make-up.

* James Tedesco - Back from the bye and ready to rip in at Allianz Stadium against the Eels, who he averages 80 against over his career.

* Zac Hosking - Enormous club debut with 117 points in 83 minutes including a try, two linebreaks, five tackle busts, three offloads and 47 tackles. That’s a serious stat line and he has been rewarded by retaining a starting spot at the Panthers. That said, Hosking’s $458,800 price tag is awkward so let’s take another look this week, especially as we don’t quite know the back row pecking order with Liam Martin (hamstring) and Luke Garner (rested) both out this week.

* Tohu Harris - A shock inclusion for the Warriors despite failing to finish due to a knee injury last week. While the injury is only minor, there’s a huge watch on Late Mail this week for 18 per cent of KFC SuperCoaches. Unfortunately the Warriors play the second last game of the round so we may not know if Tohu will take the field until very late. One thing is for sure, $636,000 is a lot to have sitting on your bench at this time of year.

Jack Bostock scores a try during the trials. Picture: NRL Imagery

* Jack Bostock - The towering young gun scores a wing spot at the Dolphins in the absence of Tesi Niu (knee). Niu is out for four weeks so Bostock may even have enough time to attract a decent price rise. The Dragons junior was a revelation in the pre-season, notching two tries in limited trial minutes. One to monitor.

BUY

* Josh Schuster - (UPDATE: Schuster is injured this week. But much of the below still stands). The base stats are poor (an average of just 16). But attacking stats are on tap at the Sea Eagles while Tommy Turbo stays fit so it’s hard to talk anyone out of the trade. The Schuster, Turbo, Garrick left-side combination is lethal and will combine for big numbers this season. Add in handy dual position flexibility and Schuster a close to a must-have.

* Jackson Ford - Arguably a better cheapie than Schuster this week (UPDATE: Especially so now Schuster is injured). Ford appears locked in for 80 minutes on the Warriors’ edge and has averaged 65.5 in his two full games there this year. They are borderline keeper numbers but he still sits at cheapie price after his second minute KO in Round 2.

* Payne Haas - The star Bronco and joint Dally M leader is averaging almost 10 points more per game than the next best prop, despite not notching any big attacking stats. Those attacking stats could come in the next three weeks against the Tigers, Raiders and Titans. Equally though, the easy match-ups could lead to less minutes for Haas but that shouldn’t be enough to turn you off the trade.

Payne Haas is a near-must. Picture: Getty

* Jonah Pezet - This trade isn’t as ridiculous as it sounds. Yes, Pezet will only play one more game before Jahrome Hughes returns from suspension and he therefore scores just the one price rise. But even with a very conservative predicted score of 40 this week, SuperCoach Plus forecasts the Storm young gun will rise by $105,200. He may even attract more rises if he scores a bench spot for the next round and could therefore be a $150,000, two-week stepping stone to Nicho Hynes in Round 7. The star NSW junior has averaged 71 in his two NRL games and looked completely at home in the top grade.

* Reece Walsh - First things first, the week to get on was last week before the initial price rise. So is he still worth a buy at an extra $101,200? With an almost non-existent base of 19, I’m saying no. But plenty of KFC SuperCoaches think differently with Walsh the sixth most purchased player. The upcoming run of games is certainly appealing against the Tigers, Raiders and Titans.

* Eliesa Katoa - Extremely popular buy this week but let’s face it, the time to get on was two weeks ago when he was $165,800 cheaper. The break even of 14 and projected rise of $32,400 hardly yell “buy me”, but I’m certainly a very happy owner and looking forward to riding the wave.

Eliesa Katoa has had a barnstorming start to the season. Picture: Getty

* Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui - Hardly the worst cheapie this week. While Ford and even Pezet are ahead for mine, the younger brother of Origin ace Tino is a definite option for those selling the likes of Tohu Harris or Reuben Cotter but don’t have the right duals to bring in one of the other three. The average of 33 points in 36 minutes is nothing to be sneezed at and the job security is good with Jaimin Jolliffe (pectoral) not due back until round 17 and Beau Fermor (ACL) out for the season. Of course the main issue here is that he has the bye this week, so you’d be jumping the gun.

* Matt Croker - Speaking of front row cheapies, Fa’asuamaleaui is the bottom dollar option but Croker could be the long-term buy. As Knights fall around him, Croker has quietly played 48 and 43 minutes the past two weeks for scores of 50 and 54 points respectively and in the process been one of the Knights’ best. Job security is also solid with Daniel Saifiti (suspension) not due back until Round 8 and Adam Elliot (groin) at least another week away.

* Connelly Lemuelu - Big SuperCoach news this week with the boom Dolphin confirmed to win 2RF positioning added for Round 6. He therefore becomes a coveted 2RF/CTW dual who plays 80 minutes in the back row (well at least until Felise Kaufusi returns in Round 8). Taking out one outlier game where he scored just nine points, Lemuelu has averaged 66 this season and is serious unders at $374,900.

Connelly Lemuelu will be available at 2RF as well as CTW from next week. Picture: Getty

HOLD

* Cameron Murray - It was somewhat of a shock to see Murray as the most sold player this week. He’s hardly set the world on fire and has dropped $82,300, but he’s also not letting any SuperCoaches down either. Then again, SuperCoaches are clearly willing to sell anyone to get the Nicho Hynes and fair enough.

* Isaiya Katoa - The Dolphins’ young gun has plenty of price rises left (BE 6) and his job security is now impeccable following the injury to Sean O’Sullivan (pectoral) who is out until Round 17. Ideally he’s a hold to squeeze out all that cash, but selling may be a necessity given the great buys available in the halves this week.

* Alofiana Khan-Pereira – The Titans young gun has been an attacking revelation this season in scoring five tries in four games and he now sits with a juicy BE of -70. Everything is coming up roses, right? Wrong. His brilliant attack has masked a massive 10 errors and he’s therefore facing the axe at the Titans, with new recruit Ken Maumalo waiting in the wings. What’s more, we won’t know if AKP keeps his spot until next week given the Titans have the bye. It would take a brave SuperCoaches to sell this week given the huge negative BE, so let’s hold and hope the coach has a change of heart.

SELL

* Adam Doueihi and Tanah Boyd - Doueihi has averaged 41 since word broke he is carrying a foot injury, while Boyd has actually lost money despite high pre-season hopes. Hynes, Schuster, Pezet and even Cameron Munster are calling so selling is an easy decision.

Adam Doueihi is battling a foot injury. Picture: Getty

NRL ROUND 5 TEAMS

ROOSTERS v EELS

Thursday, 8pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Drew Hutchison 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Jake Turpin 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Corey Allen 17. Fletcher Baker

Reserves: 18. Ben Thomas 19. Junior Pauga 20. Sandon Smith 21. Siua Wong 22. Elle Ez-Zakham

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10.Wiremu Greig 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Ryan Matterson 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Matt Doorey 15. Brendan Hands 16. Jack Murchie 17. Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Jirah Momoisea 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Toni Mataele 22. Haze Dunster

Zac Hosking retains a back row spot at the Panthers.

RAIDERS v PANTHERS

Friday, 6pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Corey Horsburgh

Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider 19. James Schiller 20. Peter Hola 21. Trey Mooney 22. Jarrod Croker

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. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 18. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Jack Cogger 20. Chris Smith 21. Kurt Falls 22. Tom Jenkins

RABBITOHS v STORM

Friday, 8pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Davvy Moale 17. Hame Sele

Reserves: 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Ben Lovett 21. Taane Milne 22. Tallis Duncan

Storm

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tariq Sims 17. Tom Eisenhuth

Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Tyran Wishart 20. Jordan Grant 21. George Jennings 22. Jack Howarth

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SEA EAGLES v KNIGHTS

Saturday, 3pm, Glen Willow Park, Mudgee

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai

Bench: 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie

Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns 20. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 21. Karl Lawton 22. Sam Fainu

Knights

1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Jack Johns

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Mathew Croker 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Dominic Young 21. Simi Sasagi 22. Thomas Cant

DRAGONS v DOLPHINS

Saturday, 5.30pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird

Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Michael Molo 19. Tautau Moga 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Jack de Belin

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jack Bostock 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Anthony Milford 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Herman Ese’ese 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert

Bench: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Mason Teague

Reserves: 18. Poasa Faamausili 19. Kurt Donoghoe 20. JJ Collins 21. Kodi Nikorima 22. Robert Jennings

BRONCOS v TIGERS

Saturday, 7.35pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Kobe Hetherington 21. Jock Madden 22. Brendan Frei

Tigers

1. Adam Doueihi 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

Bench: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Twal 16. Justin Matamua 17. Starford To’a

Reserves: 18. Shawn Blore 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Tukimihia Simpkins 21. Daine Laurie 22. Alex Seyfarth

SHARKS v WARRIORS

Sunday, 4.05pm, Pointsbet Stadium, Cronulla

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Williams 17. Braydon Trindall

Reserves: 18. Connor Tracey 19. Thomas Hazelton 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Ronald Volkman 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. Bayley Sironen 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale

Reserves: 18. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Rocco Berry 23. Demitric Sifakula

BULLDOGS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 6.15pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Bench: 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Corey Waddell 16. Franklin Pele 17. Jayden Okunbor

Reserves: 19. Jackson Topine 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Karl Oloapu 22. Braidon Burns 23. Jayden Tanner

Cowboys

1. Tomas Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Brendan Elliot 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Coen Hess 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Riley Price

Reserves: 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Taniela Sadrugu 20. Jack Gosiewski 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Ben Hampton

BYE: TITANS