NRL SuperCoach teams analysis round 6: Thomas Cant v Dylan Egan, which cheapie is best?

Teams are in for NRL round 6 and the big question must be asked: Who is the better SuperCoach cheapie between Thomas Cant and Dylan Egan?

Teams are in for round 6 and the big question must be asked: Who is the better cheapie between Thomas Cant and Dylan Egan?

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Thomas Cant – The most popular buy of the week has been named for the Knights in the starting back row. The BE of -66 and projected rise of almost $100,000 just this week make for good reading. But job security is an issue once injured players return. Jack Cogger, Jack Hetherington and Adam Elliott James Schiller are unavailable due to injury.

* Dylan Egan - The rookie Dragon rivals Cant in the cheapie of the week stakes. See Rob’s full analysis below.

* Ryan Papenhuyzen - Named for the Storm despite coming off early on the weekend with what was initially reported as hamstring tightness, later confirmed as a corked glute.

* Nathan Cleary - Has dipped to a barely-seen-before price of $688,100 – great timing given SuperCoaches are on the hunt for halfbacks following hamstring injuries to Jamie Humphreys and Adam Reynolds.

* Billy Smith - Retains a centre spot at the Roosters with Mark Nawaqanitawase named on the extended bench as he aims to return from a calf injury. Smith scored 76 on his season debut and looms as the top cheapie option for next week.

* Hugo Savala - The axing of Chad Townsend sees young gun Savala start in the halves for the Roosters. With dual position flexibility between HFB and 2RF, Savala could be a nice downgrade option in a few weeks.

* Demitric Vaimauga - Back from the bye and among seven players to earn dual position status this week (FRF added to 2RF), including fellow SuperCoach relevant players Jaylan De Groot (FLB added to CTW), Sitili Tupouniua (FRF added to 2RF) and Savala.

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Tino Fa’asuamaleaui - The fourth most popular player in SuperCoach is out for a week through suspension.

* Jamie Humphreys - Will miss five weeks with a hamstring injury and therefore the most sold player.

* Adam Reynolds - Cleared of a hamstring injury and named for the Broncos, but at long odds to play.

—Tom Sangster

Thomas Cant is the most popular buy in SuperCoach this year. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

ROB’S ROUND 6 MUSINGS AND Q&A

Just call me ‘The Captain Killer.’

Having nobbled Tom Trbojevic in rounds two and four and Kalyn Ponga in round three, I added to my streak by putting the kibosh on Payne Haas last weekend.

It was not all bad luck though. After being all gung ho about boosting to bring in Ponga (who ended up scoring 35 points) last week, my more rationale mind won out – and as a result I ‘had’ to play Isaiah Iongi (who scored 107).

Which brings me to this week.

You might think the success I enjoyed by saving a boost last week would mean I am not boosting this week.

You’d be wrong.

That boost was already spent in my mind. So using it this week makes it free.

Right?

Re-live Rob’s Q&A via the comments section below...

NRL Round Six: Team Talk.

TRADES OUT

Peter Mamouzelos: Like many a SuperCoach I have both Mamouzelos and Tom Starling at hooker. Both feel like they have peaked in price and one has to go and I’m selling the Rabbitoh. Starling’s minutes do concern me, but I love his upside. I feel he offers more in attack than Mamouzelos does and Starling’s Raiders also cover the round 12 bye and tricky round 13 too.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki: Averaging 59 minutes and just 37 in base, Finefeuiaki needs attacking stats to be relevant. No doubt those will come eventually but I’m tired of waiting.

Tom Trbojevic: The whispers have come that even before he was injured again Manly were considering resting Trbojevic from long road trips in 2025. I wish I’d heard those whispers before the injury. He’s going out, and I don’t know that he’ll come back in again if there’s any meat on those resting rumours.

TRADES IN

Addin Fonua-Blake: Fonua-Blake is punching out 55PPG in pure base, is a constant attacking threat and plays all the first two major Origin byes and Rd 16 mini-bye [EDIT I initially had AFB covering ‘all three major byes’, but Wilson Smith pointed out that I was an idiot and that he did not cover Rd 18]. Wanting a key forward I had a good look at Eli Katoa, Siua Wong and Haumole Olakau’atu (more on each below) but in the end settled on AFB.

Dylan Egan: Cant or Egan, Egan or Cant? It’s the big cheapie forward question of the week. And yes, you could have both, but I have reservations with Cant (discussed below) that I don’t have with Egan. The young Dragon is averaging 51MPG with a tremendous workrate that has him punching out 45PPG in pure base. Also, Egan is available for around $75K less than Cant, and that means both money saved at purchase and potentially more profit made in the short to medium term. To put some meat on those bones consider this; should Egan continue to average 50PPG over the next four weeks he will jump $200K. Cant needs to average 10PPG more over that span to see a similar increase.

Jahrome Hughes: I was tossing up between Clint Gutherson (discussed below) and Jahrome Hughes here and the Storm half won out. Hughes, who came back earlier than expected from a broken hand last week, looked imperious as he tore Manly apart scoring 93 points in just 69 minutes (no reocurrunce of any injury he was just rested once the game was iced). It does mean I have three Storm spine members in my team with Munster, Papenhuyzen and Hughes but Melbourne are averaging a league leading 35.5PPG and I’m happy to load up there.

Re-live Rob’s Q&A via the comments section below...

Thomas Cant has been superb for the Knights. Picture: Getty Images

OTHER POPULAR BUYS/SELLS

Thomas Cant: Has been absolutely phenomenal in his two games this year, punching out 70 in base in round three and 47 in base in round five despite spending a fair portion of the game defending at centre. I will not talk a single one of you out of buying Cant as his ‘eye test’ has been as impressive as his stats. But I’m not doing so for two reasons. Firstly, the starting price/price rise issue I discuss above in my Dylan Egan comments. Secondly, job security. Kai Pearce-Paul is due back for the Knights, likely this week. Dylan Lucas is also due back (though his return is probably a few weeks away). On form Cant may stay over Pearce-Paul but I do expect his minutes to suffer. But Lucas’ return will be more damaging. By going for Egan over Cant I am trying to reduce uncertainty – but if your appetite for risk is higher then Cant is a very legitimate buy.

Clint Gutherson: ‘Gutho’ is clearly loving life at the Dragons and has hit triple figures in three of his four games this season. His price of $828K is getting up there but it’s not prohibitive. Rather I just don’t believe that a 30-year-old in his 13th season of NRL is going to maintain attacking output that is so far outside his career averages. For reference Gutho is currently averaging 46PPG in combined try/linebreak assists. For comparison over the five seasons 2020-2024 Gutherson averaged just 16PPG in those two areas combined. I understand that he may be thriving under a new coach and at a new club – but I just don’t believe that rate of attack will continue.

Eliesa Katoa: The Storm edge forward has been a monster so far this season scoring tries in the opening two games and picking up try assists in the next two games. A great buy, I’m going AFB instead simply because he’s a bit cheaper and has better bye coverage but I want to get Katoa into my team ASAP.

Eliesa Katoa is a popular purchase this week. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Haumole Olakau’atu: If Katoa has been a monster then Olakau'atu has been in beast mode averaging 75PPG. Like Katoa, Haumole is not a ‘worker’ but what he lacks in base score he more than makes up in attacking/power stats. Manly cover all three major byes which would be awesome if Olakau’atu misses the NSW team. But if he makes it you’re in big trouble. That is the issue I worry about here.

Siua Wong: Since moving into the starting lineup in round two Wong is averaging 76.25PPG (and 56.25PPG in base). It’s great to see Wong delivering on that talent that has been apparent for a couple of seasons now and priced at just $500K there’s still value. Can he keep it up? Who knows. But if your 2RF budget does not run to the likes of Katoa or Olakau’atu then Wong (and his -24 break even) might be the guy for you.

Matty Nicholson: The other mid-priced 2RF killing it at the moment is Canberra’s English import Matty Nicholson. A try against the Sharks (and 56 in base) helped Nicholson to his second score of 90+ from just four games and at $456,200 there’s still value here with the big unit looking good to add at least another $100K to his price. Zac Hosking’s return from injury – expected round 7-8 – will create an interesting conundrum for Ricky Stuart and has me preferring Wong over Nicholson.

Nicho Hynes: If I had Nicho I’d be tempted to hold, as a non-owner I’m looking at him as a possible round eight buy as his price should have bottomed out by then and he covers all the major byes.

Kalyn Ponga: Had a couple of dud games in a row and his BE is now over 150. His draw is pretty positive though and the Knights offer great bye coverage (assuming he does not play for the Maroons.

Jamie Humphreys/Adam Reynolds: Injured and have to go, luckily both leave your team with $100K profit.

Re-live Rob’s Q&A via the comments section below...

NRL ROUND 6 TEAMS

DOLPHINS V PANTHERS

Thursday 7:50pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Max Plath

Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Kenny Bromwich 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Max Feagai 22. Junior Tupou

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Thomas Jenkins 5. Casey McLean 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner

Reserves: 18. Daine Laurie 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Trent Toelau 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Jesse McLean

DRAGONS V TITANS

Friday 6pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Dylan Egan

Reserves: 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Sione Finau 21. Lyhkan King-Togia 22. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

Titans

1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall

Interchange: 14. Arama Hau 15. David Fifita 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Brock Gray

Reserves: 18. Tom Weaver 19. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 20. Sean Mullany 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Allan Fitzgibbon

BRONCOS V ROOSTERS

Friday 8pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jaiyden Hunt 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters, 15. Corey Jensen, 16. Xavier Willison, 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Deine Mariner 20. Jock Madden 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Blake Mozer

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Nat Butcher 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu

Reserves: 18. Mark Nawaqanitawase 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Chad Townsend 22. Makahesi Makatoa

SHARKS V SEA EAGLES

Saturday 3pm, Optus Stadium, Perth

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Billy Burns 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Jesse Colquhoun

Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Clayton Faulalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Tommy Talau 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Lachlan Croker 22. Michael Chee Kam

RABBITOHS V COWBOYS

Saturday 5:30pm, Optus Stadium, Perth

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Euan Aitken 4. Jack Wighton 5.Isaiah Tass 6. Latrell Mitchell 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Liam Le Blanc 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Davvy Moale

Reserves: 18. Fletcher Myers 19. Salesi Ataat 20. Fletcher Myers 21. Haizyn Mellars 22. Nazareth Taua

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Thomas Duffy 21. Karl Lawton 22. Thomas Mikaele

EELS V RAIDERS

7:35pm, TIO Stadium, Darwin

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Will Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Zac Lomax 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Charlie Guymer 17. Sam Tuivaiti

Reserves: 18. Joash Papalii 19. Dan Keir 20. Bailey Simonsson 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Ryan Matterson

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Corey Horsburgh

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 19. Trey Mooney 19. Jed Stuart 20. Adam Cook 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Danny Levi

STORM V WARRIORS

Sunday 2pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Grant Anderson, 3. Jack Howarth, 4. Moses Leo, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Josh King, 11. Shawn Blore, 12. Eliesa Katoa, 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Tui Kamikamica, 17. Bronson Garlick.

Reserves: 18. Joe Chan, 19. Lazarus Vaalepu, 20. Jacob Laban, 21. Samuel Healey, 22. Te Maire Martin

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Taine Tuaupiki, 3. Rocco Berry, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Adam Pompey, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris (captain), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Bunty Afoa, 15. Jackson Ford, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima

Reserves: 18. Tanah Boyd, 19. Lazarus Vaalepu, 20. Kane Bradley, 21. Sualauvi Faalogo, 22. Keagan Russell-Smith

KNIGHTS V TIGERS

Sunday 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

Kalyn Ponga (captain), 2. Kyle McCarthy, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Phoenix Crossland, 8. Brodie Jones, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Thomas Cant, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Tyson Frizell

Interchange: 14. Matthew Arthur, 15. Tyrone Thompson, 16. Jermaine McEwen, 17. Mat Croker.

Reserves: 18. Paul Bryan, 19. Jackson Hastings, 20. Riley Jones, 21. Francis Manuleleua

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Adam Doueihi, 4. Starford To’a, 5. Jeral Skelton, 6. Lachlan Galvin, 7. Jarome Luai, 8. Terrell May, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Alex Seyfarth, 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva, 15. Royce Hunt, 16. Jack Bird, 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 18. Tony Sukkar, 19. Heath Mason, 20. Luke Laulilii, 21. Brent Naden, 22. Kit Laulilii