NRL SuperCoach 2025: Top 18 targets for round 18 bye

The final major bye is looming for NRL SuperCoaches and many players on this list are holds for the entire season. MAX BRYDEN reveals the top targets.

As we get towards the final major bye, the players you bring in now are more than likely sticking with you to the end of season.

With trades running low, casualty wards swelling and an unprecedented Origin game in Perth to contend with, the moves you make right now need to be deeply considered.

SuperCoach can be a short term game, but finding the player who suits your long and short game is the win we’re really chasing.

Which is where this analysis starts as we try to find you the best targets for the Round 18 Major bye – the last one for the season!

Who has the best draw

As we did earlier in the season, when analysing the best draw for Round 18 we need to account for the Round 19 Mini bye as well. This is what I mean when I talk about the long game.

Of the 10 teams playing in Round 18, only seven play in Round 19 as well. Which means we immediately should value players from those clubs higher when finding out targets.

Those clubs are the Storm, Dragons, Bulldogs, Cowboys, Roosters, Broncos and Tigers.

Of all the clubs playing, it’s also important to consider the impact of missing Origin representatives to their squad.

As we saw on the weekend, teams like the Cowboys were impacted extremely negatively with four players missing from Origin. The Bulldogs conversely won well despite the absences from their team, and the Storm won well in Round 13 when some of their contingent didn’t back up.

The final thing to consider is the ‘toughness’ of the fixture and if they’re playing a side with good, average or bad defence.

I won’t make you dive into the data like I have, but am happy to share that when considering the draws between Rounds 16 (now) and Round 19, the standout clubs of the seven featured are the Storm, Roosters, Bulldogs and Broncos.

The hardest draw belongs to the Dragons followed by the Cowboys and Tigers.

SuperCoach bye planner going forward.

Caveat

Now while it’s all well and good to narrow the analysis down to four clubs to target it is important to remember that in the Major bye you only need 13 players to field a full team.

My focus on the Mini bye is based on this being scored as a regular round where you’ll score from your best 17 players of the 18 you select.

There will absolutely be other players outside of these teams who will score well, but due to the aforementioned long game we are trying to nail here, I will place more focus on the sides who are both available and can make the most of that availability with soft matchups.

Top 18 Ranked SuperCoach targets for round 18 bye

Terrell May | $832,800 | FRF | 60.1 per cent owned

I almost forgot to include him on this list as my assumption was that his ownership was already 100 per cent. But the story here is that if you don’t own him, his bye coverage is a great reason to jump on board. He’s a Top 2 player at the position and easy Top 5 in all of SuperCoach.

Jacob Kiraz | $753,100 | CTW | 11.2 per cent owned

I like to call Jacob Kiraz the “Lebanese To’o”. Much like the man from Penrith who pioneered the style, Kiraz is all effort and offloads and his engine is enormous. His scoring since returning from a leg injury is frighteningly good and he is arguably the best CTW in the game – he can truly hurt you if you don’t own in a bye round. His low ownership has jumped him up the rankings for this list!

Ryan Papenhuyzen | $760,900 | FLB | 47 per cent owned

A wise man once told me “buy the players who scare you not to own” and Lil Papi firmly fits that mold.

With his try-sneak abilities, goal-kicking and chief role in the best attack in the NRL, he’s a man who can easily score 150 in the right conditions. And again, in a bye week, you can be left behind if you don’t own.

Jahrome Hughes | $609,600 | HFB | 10.9 per cent owned

Hughes isn’t going to win the Dally M again this season, but he’s scoring well enough to own a 66 average which jumps to almost 72 when you remove his injury impacted game in Round 6.

He’s at a great price of just $609k which nets over $150k cash in the bank if you sell Nathan Cleary to him this week. Plus there’s that great draw we mentioned and the fact he plays the Cowboys in Round 18, who he just scored 136 against.

He’s a genuine Vice Captain option in the Major bye which means he has to be on this list, and should be heavily considered for your team.

James Tedesco | $817,700 | FLB | 31.4 per cent owned

If you’ve waited this long to get on Teddy, you may not be reading the previous articles where he’s been flagged as a near must for each Major bye. But let me just say it’s never too late to own him as another member of the certified “keeper” category.

With a matchup against the Tigers in Round 18, followed by the Dragons in Round 19, he could score 200 points in two rounds and truly leave those behind who cannot afford.

Eli Katoa | $648,700 | 2RF | 27.8 per cent owned

With a season average of 73, it’s been a mediocre year for the big Storm second rower, but that just speaks to the standards we expect of him. Katoa is the best replacement for those who have lost Haumole this week, and a soft draw means you’d expect his scoring to trend up in this period.

Viliame Kikau | $621,800 | 2RF | 12.8 per cent owned

Experts will say a lot of things about big Billy Kiks. They might try to tell you he’s been around for years but never been ‘SuperCoach relevant’. That his work rate isn’t enough to compete with other second rowers. And maybe they’re right to have those beliefs given he’s averaged 53 and 46 in his two years at the Dogs up until 2025.

But a switch has flicked for the Fijian this season in a very big way. Not only has he lifted his average base from 31 to 38 - still low for the position but far more acceptable - but his whole average is nearly 20 points higher overall.

A 72 average has him firmly in the Top 10 scorers at the position. And that ticks the box of a guy you can buy for the bye and hold for the season with confidence.

Lachlan Galvin | $477,300 | 5/8 | 5.5 per cent owned

As a Tigers fan, it’s bittersweet seeing him carve up so far in a Dogs uniform. But from a SuperCoach perspective it’s exciting see a player of his callibre under $500k.

It’s worth waiting to see how exactly his role at the Bulldogs pans out and if he becomes a permanent starter, as you wouldn’t want to buy a bench warmer. But should Matt Burton be 18th man for the Blues again in Game 3 he would once more get the opportunity to play 80 and score well.

Lachlan Galvin is a top buy over the byes. Picture: NRL Photos

Reuben Garrick | $621,500 | CTW | 46.4 per cent owned

At just $621k he’s cheap enough now that non-owners should be prioritising him. Garrick’s scoring ability is absolutely elite and he rarely goes below 50 thanks to his goal kicking and base. Even if he shifts to a wing he will replace his high amount of tackles with more chances to run (which opens up those juicy tackle busts and offloads).

Lehi Hopoate | $663,600 | FLB / CTW | 9.7 per cent owned

With reports emerging of Tommy Trbojevic’s move to the centres post Round 16 bye, attention will turn to the new fullback on the peninsula.

Lehi did a good job there last season averaging 63.25 in the jersey with Turbo out. This year he’s elevated that average to 70.6 in 5 matches at fullback when you remove his concussion impacted match.

That average is enough to make him the 9th best averaging CTW or FLB likely available for the round - it’s also enough to make him a keeper (there’s that long game again).

The only knock on him is that Manly don’t play the Round 19 Minor Bye round which could prove tricky if Origin players aren’t backing up. For me he’s a guy to target in Round 22 but he absolutely has the chance to be a leading scorer in Round 18.

Toby Couchman | $541,900 | FRF / 2RF | 6 per cent owned

Couchman’s flown under the radar massively this season. When you remove his injury impacted game in Round 10 his true average is 66. For $541k that’s a bargain. His last bye for the season is Round 16 which means you can plug him into your front row or second row any week you need to for a very acceptable score.

Joseph Tapine | $641,300 | FRF | 11.1 per cent owned

Tapine was a popular replacement in Round 12 for Payne Haas owners. He’s since produced a 57 average and lose nearly $100k of value. But despite that, I still think he’s a SuperCoach gun and a keeper.

Mark Nawaqanitawase | $624,200 | CTW | 12.6 per cent owned

The perennial point of difference option at CTW this season is the Roosters flyer who looks at home in NRL. Yes, we’ve seen signs of a low floor when he doesn’t score a try. But he’s affordable enough and has a good enough draw to seriously help you gain ranks if he goes off due to his low ownership.

Jed Stuart | $198,800 | CTW | 1.1 per cent owned

Ricky’s son Jed joins an elite club this week of NRL players being coached by their dads. As a bottom dollar CTW whose never played NRL, he doesn’t necessarily belong on a list of top targerts until you realise he could be one of the last genuine cheapies we get all season.

Jed moves onto the left wing for the Raiders this week where there’s a vacancy for 10-12 weeks due to the knee issue to Savelio Tamale. He’s not set to change price until Round 18 but could free up cash for those in need that week.

Scott Drinkwater | $708,100 | FLB | 25.1 per cent owned

A 78 average on the season doesn’t speak to the turmoil Drinky has caused of late with some low scores. But despite that, he showed in Round 14 that even in a losing side he can score a ton. And as such, I think he’s a solid hold and a guy to consider purchasing as early as next week.

Api Koroisau | $630,700 | HOK | 5 per cent owned

At a boring position like hooker, Api is the guy whose upside makes him appealing. Of all the options at the position not named Sandon Smith, he’s the only player with the chance to kick goals. Plus he knows how to find his way to the tryline.

Ideally we’d find out long term that he is going to be playing 80 minutes for the Tigers and not split the role with young gun Tallyn Da Silva. But with his upside you could do a lot worse than to role the dice on Api.

Ethan Strange |$554,000 | 5/8 | 6.7 per cent owned

He’s two much of a roller coaster to be your primary five-eighth but there’s a lot to like about Ethan Strange. He’s playing in a potent attacking team, he’s feeding one of the biggest attacking threats in Hudson Young and he appears to now be the backup goal kicker if Jamal Fogarty’s groin is playing up.

He’s $554k this week with a -54 breakeven which means that at the very least between now and the end of Round 18 he should make a bit of cash. Plus fixtures against the Tigers (Round 16) and Dragons (18) are also very juicy.

He’s not going to be for everyone but he is certainly worth a look if you are planning a trade in your halves.

Reece Walsh | $601,300 | FLB | 3.7 per cent owned

His 60 average on the season doesn’t scream “buy me”, but his pedigree does. For those without the luxury of affording three gun fullbacks, Walsh presents good value in a side who can score a lot of points.