What SuperCoaches learned from round 8 of the 2016 season

KODI Nikorima is shaping as great value at hooker, should Semi Radradra be traded for Joey Leilua and Cameron Munster has moved into the ‘must have’ category.

1.Andrew McCullough will spend up to six weeks on the sideline with a hamstring tendon injury. It is expected that this will see a significant improvement in the SuperCoach output of Kodi Nikorima who played 54 minutes this round which is 27 minutes more than his average minutes per game in the first seven rounds.

Kodi Nikorima is sure to see more minutes with Andrew McCullough out with injury.

Nikorima (68) scored an individual try from a scrum to boost his score but has shown enough talent to warrant being one of the top trade-in options this week at a price of somewhere in the $185,000 ballpark.

2.Jordan Rapana and Joey Leilua have caused nothing but nightmares for left side defensive lines over the past three weeks. Rapana’s history making 163 has left him with a three game average of 107 and a price tag of over $420,000 next week so the Rapana ship has sailed for the time being with only 1,452 SuperCoaches on board. His partner in crime Joey Leilua’s ship is pushing off the dock and there is still a bit of time for potential owners to jump on. Leilua will also have an impressive three game average of 86, should continue to soar in value over the next month and will offer cover for two of the three bye rounds at a price of around about $350,000 this week.

3. Whether we admit it or not, myself and the other 47,906 selfish Corey Oates owners have been willing Kyle Feldt to make the Queensland side so the Broncos try scoring machine is available to cover the first big bye round. It appears as if the writing is on the wall after Oates’ world-class finish to score his try last Friday and Kyle Feldt getting schooled by Semi Radradra.

James Tedesco has been a high risk choice as captain.

4.James Tedesco has been one of the best SuperCoach options so far this season and will have averaged 74 for the first eight rounds of the season, however, in a struggling Tigers team who are missing the leadership of Aaron Woods terribly, Teddy has been a high-risk captain choice recently and has let many of his owners down after struggling for consistency with scores of 33, 103, 85, 41 and 30 to average 58 over his past five games.

5.Te Maire Martin’s SuperCoach stocks will take a dive after this round with the Penrith young gun, who has made now made over $130,000 for his 18 per cent of owners suffering a suspected fractured shoulder late in the first half. TMM owners will have the option to trade in Titans cash cow Cameron Cullen should he get the nod to play his third game this weekend or Kodi Nikorima if they still have Jayden Nikorima as their reserve hooker.

Should Semi Radradra be traded in for the in-form Joey Leilua.

6. Thousands of SuperCoaches will once again agonise over their trades this week as they decide whether to trade in Semi Radradra for Joey Leilua. Semi Radradra (Rd 9 est $372,000) was dropping in price rapidly but has levelled out after scoring three tries in the past two weeks whilst Joey Leilua (Rd 9 est $350,000) will make massive dollars over the next few weeks after his 132 monster and will also cover round twelve.

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7. Injuries to five key players have plagued both the Sea Eagles and the Knights and will have SuperCoach ramifications. Newcastle Knights new recruit Peter Mata’utia has injured his knee which should see brother Pat return to the role he played for the first seven rounds at left centre. Jarrod Mullen has suffered a badly torn hamstring which may open a spot for yet another Knights cheapie. For the Sea Eagles, Brett Stewart (hamstring), Tom Trbojevic (high ankle sprain) and Apisai Koroisau (lower back) all went down with injuries and are expected to spend time in the rehab group. Trent Barrett did mention in the post-game press conference that he is expecting Matt Parcell to return for round nine.

8. The overdose of cheap halves continued this round as Roosters debutant Ryan Matterson (5/8th) opened his SuperCoach account in fine fashion with a try and two try-assists. Those excited at the prospect of bringing in the young Rooster may have to cool their jets for the time being as Mitchell Pearce is due to return next round. If all of the planets align, Matterson may get an opportunity to make some cash during the representative period in which the Roosters play important bye rounds 15 and 18.

Cameron Munster has moved into ‘must-have’ territory.

9. Cameron Munster continues to show the consistency required to put him in the ‘must-have’ category after round twelve. Munster scored a try and set up another as he cracked the ton to increase his value to just under $420,000 this week prior to updates after soaring past his breakeven by 64 points prior to updates.

10. Jesse Bromwich (98) has gone to a new level this season and is another player who all serious teams need to acquire as soon as possible if they are going to give this year’s overall title a shake. Bromwich ran a great line off Cameron Smith (123) to bag a try with a line-break and will be valued at over $450,000 next round after averaging 76 points a game this season.