NRL SuperCoach Round 15: Rolling coverage of weekend action

KEEP up to date with the weekend’s SuperCoach action in our rolling coverage. Highlights, lowlights, injuries, judiciary dramas, talking points — it’s all here.

KEEP up to date with the weekend’s SuperCoach action in our Round 15 rolling coverage.

Highlights, lowlights, injuries, judiciary dramas and talking points — it’s all here.

Bookmark this page and keep coming back throughout the weekend so you never miss a big SuperCoach moment.

TITANS V SEA EAGLES

Injuries/reports:

* Jamie Lyon (hamstring) was ruled out pre-game for the Sea Eagles.

* Manly hooker Matt Parcell (hamstring) went off late and didn’t return.

* Ashley Taylor (groin) got an early mark when the match was well-won.

Highlights:

* It’s official. Ryan James (118) has scored the second most points of any player in SuperCoach this year, with only Anthony Milford scoring more. But unlike Milford, James is still owned by less than 10 per cent of SuperCoaches. He notched a try, try assist and topped the Titans tackle count in another dominant display.

* Tom Trbojevic (62) struggled for most of the game with an ankle issue, but still managed to notch a strong score on the back of a freakish try assist.

Lowlights:

* Jake Trbojevic (68) just keeps churning out great base stat performances, making 48 tackles.

* Popular hooker Matt Parcell (48) produced another decent score, with the aid of a line break. However, SuperCoaches eagerly await news on his injury and may be forced to sell in the lead-up to the round 18 bye.

Talking points:

* Early-season cheapie Ashley Taylor (24) carried a groin injury into the match and his involvement was well down.

* Fellow early-season cheapie Nathan Davis (18) had a tough assignment up against Tom Trbojevic and produced his worst score of the SuperCoach season.

Teams

Titans: 1 William Zillman 2 Anthony Don 3 Josh Hoffman 4 Nathan Davis 5 Nene MacDonald 6 Tyrone Roberts 7 Ashley Taylor 8 Luke Douglas 17 Nathan Peats 10 Ryan James 11 Zeb Taia 12 Chris McQueen 13 Agnatius Paasi Interchange: 14 Eddy Pettybourne 15 Leivaha Pulu 16 Ryan Simpkins 9 Nathan Friend

Sea Eagles: 1 Brett Stewart, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Tom Trbojevic, 4 Brayden Wiliame, 5 Matthew Wright 19. Peta Godinet 7 Apisai Koroisau, 8 Darcy Lussick, 9 Matt Parcell, 10 Martin Taupau, 11. Lewis Brown 12 Jamie Buhrer, 13 Jake Trbojevic, Interchange: 14 Blake Leary, 15 Josh Starling, 17 Siosaia Vave 18 Liam Knight

WARRIORS V ROOSTERS

Injuries/reports:

* Thomas Leuluai (concussion) went off early and didn’t return for the Warriors.

Talking points:

* Shaun Johnson (57) didn’t train all week and played on one leg due to a quad injury. He saved his score with a late try, but gave up the goal kicking duties to Issac Luke.

* Tuimoala Lolohea (43), the seventh most purchased player of the week, switched to the halves when Leuluai went off injured. He still produced a decent score, but SuperCoaches would much prefer he play at the back.

Highlights:

* Simon Mannering (69) was the sixth most-purchased player of the week and he didn’t let SuperCoaches down with a strong base stat performance.

* Bodene Thompson (76) again showed why he is the POD of the year, with his usual base stats boosted by a linebreak.

* He may be out of favour at the Roosters, but early-season cheapie Jackson Hastings (60) just keeps producing for SuperCoach.

* Joseph Manu (29) had some decent touches on debut and may emerge as a cheapie for round 18.

Lowlights:

* The grind of his first NRL season is becoming too much for youngster Latrell Mitchell (23). He produced his second poor score in a row and will see a price drop of approximately $35,000. He is on the chopping block next week for James Tedesco or Trent Merrin (through duals).

* Young gun Ryan Matterson (37) produced his worst game of NRL so far and should be sold at a massive profit this week for cheapie Nathan Cleary.

Warriors: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea 2 David Fusitua 3 Blake Ayshford 4 Solomone Kata 5 Ken Maumalo 6 Thomas Leuluai 7 Shaun Johnson 8 Albert Vete 9 Issac Luke 10 Ben Matulino 11 Bodene Thompson 12 Ryan Hoffman 13 Simon Mannering. Interchange: 14 Nathaniel Roache 15 Sam Lisone 16 Toafofoa 17 Charlie Gubb

1-17. Shaun Johnson (cork) cleared to play.

Roosters: 1 Latrell Mitchell 2 Daniel Tupou 3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall 4 Dale Copley 5 Joseph Manu 6 Ryan Matterson 7 Jackson Hastings 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9 Jake Friend (c) 10 Sam Moa 11 Sio Siua Taukeiaho 12 Mitchell Aubusson 13 Dylan Napa. Interchange: 14 Isaac Liu 15 Kane Evans 16 Connor Watson 17 Chris Smith

No changes. Mitchell Frei drops off the bench.

Shaun Johnson saved his score with a late try.

DRAGONS V STORM

Injuries/reports:

*Cameron Munster (ankle), Blake Green (calf) and Tim Glasby (shoulder) were ruled out before the match.

Talking points:

* Last week’s SuperCoach superstar Munster was replaced by Young Tonumaipea at fullback for the Storm, while 18-year old Queenslander Brodie Croft made his first-grade debut at halfback in place of Green.

* Dragons recruit Tariq Sims made his club debut, coming off the bench for a moderate 38 points from 33 minutes.

* Popular Melbourne utility Tohu Harris took the kicking duties for Melbourne in the absence of skipper Cameron Smith and kicked a penalty goal within the first five minutes, but missed a couple of conversions.

* Possible POD for the run home, Jack De Belin, again started on the Dragons interchange, playing 51 minutes for 46 points in his second match back from injury.

* Slade Griffin came into the Storm second-row for his first NRL appearance in three years.

Draons hooker Mitch Rein crosses for a try. Picture: AAP

Highlights:

* Dragons hooker Mitch Rein (77) stepped up for those coaches who bought him as bye coverage for Cameron Smith. He defied some average performances in the past few weeks to post his highest SC numbers this season, with a try, a linebreak and a monster 48 tackles, taking out the Perfect 8 honours before updates.

* For those 6399 brave coaches who still hold Gareth Widdop (59), well, you finally had something to crow about. The English pivot, who has lost $111k since the start of the season, stopped the SuperCoach rot with a polished display which included a try, 16 points from goals, 13 tackles and a forced dropout. The downside: he’s not going to face a severely understrength Melbourne outfit every week.

* He’s not on too many SuperCoach radars but Kevin Proctor (58) continued his recent big minutes and resulting decent SuperCoach scores. The Melbourne second-rower’s haul included 42 tackles and 19 points from hit-ups from his 80 minutes.

* Electric storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu (57) may only average 20 base points a match but when you score a try, or two, or three in each match your SC scores just keep coming. The Fijian flyer has now scored the most tries of any player in the NRL this season after another double against the Dragons.

Lowlights:

* Munster’s injury hurt more than just the Storm’s premiership points. Even if you caught the news before the match started, given the slim pickings of the bye round, most SuperCoaches wouldn’t have had anyone to replace the gun fullback. Spare a thought for those who also bought him in during the week.

* With the late withdrawal of Munster, coaches would have been hoping for a much better score from SuperCoach forward heavyweight Jesse Bromwich (50). While the big Kiwi will probably scrape a few more points after the updates, it will be well below his average and comes on the back of a season low 41 last week, despite playing for 72 minutes against the Dragons.

* Only three linebreaks in the entire match (take a bow Kurt Mann, Rein and Vunivalu) contributed to some low overall SuperCoach scoring.

Teams:

Dragons: 1. Jason Nightingale 2. Kalifa Faifai Loa 3. Euan Aitken 4. Tim Lafai 5. Kurt Mann 6. Gareth Widdop (c) 7. Benji Marshall 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Mitch Rein 10. Russell Packer 17. Jacob Host 12. Joel Thompson 13. Mike Cooper Interchange: 14. Jack de Belin 15. Will Matthews 18. Jake Marketo 23. Tariq Sims

Dragons recruit Tariq Sims will make his club debut from the bench, while Jacob Host will start in the second-row for Origin-bound Tyson Frizell.

Storm: 17. Young Tonumaipea 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Cheyse Blair 4. Ryan Morgan 5. Marika Koroibete 6. Tohu Harris 21. Brodie Croft 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Kenny Bromwich 10. Jordan McLean 11. Kevin Proctor 22. Slade Griffin 13. Dale Finucane Interchange: 12. Felise Kaufusi 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Christian Welch 20. Ben Hampton

Cameron Munster (ankle) has been replaced by Young Tonumaipea at fullback. Brodie Croft will play halfback replacing Blake Green (calf). Felise Kaufusi will start on the bench with Slade Griffin starting in the second row in his first NRL appearance in three years. Ben Hampton comes on to the interchange for the injured Tim Glasby.

RABBITOHS V EELS

Injuries/reports:

* Kyle Turner went off inside the final 20 minutes and did not return.

* John Sutton had his nose busted wide open by a swinging arm from Vai Toutai.

* Kaysa Pritchard will go for scans with a shoulder injury.

* Siosifa Talaki went off in the final minutes with an ankle injury.

Talking points:

* Semi Radradra opened the door for the VC loophole and his late, length of the field try pushed him to 61. A try assist for Bevan French’s second try could see his score be boosted.

* French himself scored a double but only managed 55 in total, a score that could see a hefty rise after updates.

* Manu Ma’u was a popular choice over the Origin period but his 48 was well below his usual standard.

Bevan French celebrates a try with Corey Norman. Picture: Mark Evans

Highlights:

* Michael Gordon’s excellent recent form continued after he scored 71.

* If you jumped on the Cody Walker Wagon you’ve been richly rewarded - Walker put up 69 points and assumed the goalkicking duties with Adam Reynolds out.

* Nathan Brown sails close to the wind but has emerged as a genuine POD option, scoring a try and landing 60 points.

Lowlights:

* Sam Burgess scored just 48, a major blow to the hordes of SuperCoach players who gave him the captaincy.

* Siosifa Talaki seems to be an unlikely cheapie option after he scored just 29 and went off injured late in the match.

1. Michael Gordon 2. Semi Radradra 3. Clint Gutherson 4. Vai Toutai 5. Bevan French 6. Kenny Edwards 7. Corey Norman 8. Daniel Alvaro 9. Isaac De Gois 10. Danny Wicks 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Beau Scott (c) 13. Tepai Moeroa Interchange: 14. Kaysa Pritchard 15. Peni Terepo 16. David Gower 17. Rory O’Brien

South Sydney Rabbitohs : 1 Alex Johnston 2 Dane Nielsen 3 Kirisome Auva’a 4 Siosifa Talakai 5 Aaron Gray 6 Cody Walker 7 Luke Keary 8 Thomas Burgess 9 Cameron McInnes 10 David Tyrrell 18 John Sutton 12 Kyle Turner 13 Sam Burgess Interchange: 11 Paul Carter 14 Damien Cook 15 Jason Clark 17 Nathan Brown