NRL SuperCoach: Who to captain this week
Trent Copeland is on a roll with his captaincy selections so this column is a must-read.
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The three lead dogs for Copes’ Captains last weekend — Payne Haas, Cameron Smith and Tom Trbojevic — notched monster scores of 77, 102 and 106 points respectively! You beauty! We’re on a roll, now let’s keep that going team.
The run home comes with some uncertainty around the re-integration of Origin players into minute rotations and injuries, but largely everyone has very strong teams by now and the captaincy decision could well be the difference between winning and losing.
Each week I will delve into the stats that stick out, the best matchups, form and even sometimes a gut feel to find the best skippers of the week.
Without further ado…
VC OPTIONS
Shaun Johnson 5/8 | HFB (Sharks) vs. Cowboys
Providing SJ makes the cut with the niggling ankle injury, he is a MUST in terms of consideration for VC. This chat on #NRLTwitter about him having lost the plot with goal kicking and playing awful footy is just so far off the mark it’s not funny. The guy has had some niggling injuries, but when on the field he is an absolute STUD for SuperCoach. I mean, there were people insisting he be sold two weeks ago, and saying “no way you could play him against the Storm” — yep, he scored 98 points against them. Scores of 76, 20, 98 and 52 in his last four matches show he is ready for a monster. He also converted 100% of goals attempted last week. Who would’ve thought? * Face palms *. On a fast track at Shark Park (highest amount of points scored of any regular NRL home ground) I expect SJ to go large.
LOWDOWN: NRL teams analysis
LATE MAIL: Predicted team changes
BARGAINS: Final Cheapie Bible
Cody Walker 5/8 (Rabbitohs) vs. Dragons
Up until round 10, Cody Walker had scores of 43, 72, 86, 64, 150, 61, 99, 83, 64 and 81 to average an incredible 80.3PPG. At one stage cost $750k. Now, Walker is at a season-low $449k and about to hit a matchup with the Dragons — the team who have conceded the MOST SuperCoach points on average over the past 10 rounds. They do have some cattle (Widdop/Hunt) returning this weekend, but if there is one game where Cody explodes, it is this one!
Kalyn Ponga 5/8 | FLB (Knights) vs. Tigers
Ponga had a couple of weeks off with injury, then played his first game back in a team that got thrashed by the Roosters and he still managed to score 79 points. GUN. Ponga will be a popular choice this week as VC, but there’s good reason as one of the highest upside players in the game — against the Tigers who he has played against three times previously for an average of 70PPG. SuperCoach Stats projects Ponga to score 97 points, and I certainly wouldn’t back against that at home on Friday night.
Other options… Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, David Nofoaluma, Ryan Matterson, Clint Gutherson
Final teams are starting to take shape. Well, if you’ve got trades left. Join Tom Sangster, Dave Campbell and Tim Williams for the lowdown.
COPES’ CAPTAINS
There has been endless amounts written about the prowess of Damien Cook and Jason Taumalolo, and in any given week these two are OBVIOUS lock-in captain choices that are regularly above 20% captained — if it’s safety you want, lock them in. But, for the purposes of flagging alternatives, here are the plays that stand out from the pack this week…
Payne Haas FRF (Broncos) vs. Titans
What a dream it is to have Payne Haas not only sitting in our FRF1 slot, but to have him as a captaincy option you can trust EVERY week regardless of opposition. Haas’s last eight matches have seen scores of 102, 74, 72, 76, 60, 96, 104 and most recently 77 points against the Bulldogs. That takes his season long average to 76.7PPG, which has sat between 73PPG-76.7PPG for 10 rounds now. Amazing. Given the stellar matchup, you can bank the 70 points at a minimum barring injury, and the Titans concede a truckload of attacking stats every week, so let’s hope he can jag another try! Not that I’m overly concerned given what a gun he is, but just watch the minutes with Matt Gillett returning on an edge (pushing TPJ into the middle rotation).
James Tedesco FLB (Roosters) vs. Bulldogs
Amongst all the Trbojevic love these past few weeks, some have forgotten just how bloody good Tedesco is — 95 points in a canter against the Knights last weekend takes his season long average to 73.8PPG and now a matchup with the Bulldogs of all teams. A career spanning six previous matches against the ‘Dogs has seen Teddy average 74.8PPG with a high score of 113. I expect that to be the low water mark given the respective strength of both teams. The Bulldogs have conceded the MOST SuperCoach points of any team this season.
Cameron Smith HOK (Storm) vs. Sea Eagles
He’s gone back-to-back 100+ scores the past two rounds, and SuperCoach Stats projects the GOAT to score 99 points this time out at AAMI Park against the in-form Sea Eagles. I’m maybe not so bullish given how well the Sea Eagles have been defending, but he will likely cruise to an 80 point score, because, well, that’s just what he does. Remember the “you can’t possibly start with/pick Smith this year, he’s too old and will rest” banter in some circles in pre-season? Those were fun times. Safe as houses particularly at home.
Other options… David Klemmer, Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic, Jazz Tevaga
Good luck everyone, may the Orange Armband fall on the right man this week!
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