NRL SuperCoach: 10 things we learned round 21

A GARETH Widdop stinker, Cameron Smith stunner and more crucial injury blows.

Gareth Widdop has had an up-and-down season.

A GARETH Widdop stinker, Cameron Smith stunner and more cruel injury blows.

1/ After sending shock waves through SuperCoach world last weekend, Cameron Smith (143) celebrated his 350th game in fine style by setting up four tries to hit triple-figures and post his highest score of the year. He is owned by 42 per cent of players and those looking to bring him in for the remainder of the season will have to fork out around $525,000 next week. Considering he averages more than 10 points a game higher than his nearest HOK rival, it is fair to say it would be money well spent.

The Storm celebrate Cameron Smith’s 350th game.

2/ The hits just keep on-a-comin for SuperCoaches in this treacherous run home, especially for those players who avoided Cameron Smith in favour of in-form POD Andrew McCullough. Until last Friday, McCullough had scored over 70 in three of his last four games for a four-game average of 65. However, owners were left shaking their heads when he was forced from the field after 69 minutes with a season-ending knee injury. Owners will have just under $370,000 to replace him if they have any trades left.

3/ Nathan Brown (90) has had his SC status updated to ‘gun’ this year, scoring under 60 only once in un-injured games since round three. If he holds onto this score after final updates, he will have a five-game average of 78 and these stats put him in ‘set and forget’ captain territory. He will come with an expensive price tag of just over $460,000 this week.

Nathan Brown has been a SuperCoach revelation in 2017.

4/ In a very low scoring SuperCoach week, Matt Gillett (106) was one of only four players to crack the ton and with just 5.3 per cent ownership, the Broncos’ edge forward is the POD of the week. Despite being heavily involved in another brutal Origin campaign, Gillett has put up some brilliant SuperCoach numbers, cracking the ton in three of his last five games for a new five-game average of 89. His price will remain just under $480,000 for those interested this week.

5/ James Roberts (85) signed a new contract with the Broncos last week and showed no signs of resting on his laurels for the 7.9 per cent who own him. Jimmy the Jet has been a ripper of a POD, crossing for four tries in his past three games to post scores of 68, 91 and 85. He will still be affordable with a price tag somewhere around $385,000 for those looking to board the jet for the final five weeks of the competition.

6/ Paul Vaughan (109) will smash through the $400,000 barrier this week after scoring his second try in as many games to beat his breakeven by 82 points. Vaughan played 59 minutes against the Knights, which is the most he has played all season, and will be extremely tempting at around $410,000 this week taking into consideration his new three-game average of 84. Teammate Jack De Belin also deserves a mention after playing 76 and 80 minutes in his past two games for scores of 76 and 78. He will come with a price tag somewhere near $420,000 this week.

Paul Vaughan has scored six tries this year.

7/ Angus Crichton (75) still pumped out a great score even though he spent 10 minutes in the sin bin and has earned the utmost respect from SuperCoaches this year with some even proclaiming he is ‘the new Corey Parker’. With his monstrous 166 from round 15 now out of his five-game rolling average, Crichton has still delivered in a big way for his 42,557 owners, sitting with a new five-game average of 74. Those still to bring him in can do so this week for around $510,000 and even though he is one of the most expensive players in the game, he is one of this season’s best due to the fact he has not scored below 60 since round nine.

8/ With just 4,054 owners, Aaron Woods (85) continued to reward his loyal following, scoring a try to post his fourth score over 75 in as many games. He appears determined to leave his beloved Tigers on a high and this is certainly translating into fantastic SuperCoach scores, rocking three and five-game averages of 82 and 78. Anyone interested in bringing him in for one last hurrah as a Tiger can do so this week for around $460,000.

9/ James Tedesco (91) has escaped the try scoring hoodoo that plagued him throughout the season after notching three 17-pointers in his past five games on the way a new five-game average of 70. Teddy beat his breakeven of 58 by 33 points and will sit somewhere in the vicinity of $400,000 this week.

10/ Crashed and burned, stunk it up, tanked or flopped are all ways to describe Gareth Widdop’s performance in round 21. Widdop was the most popular trade-in target and captain choice this week and even though he came into the round as the highest averaging HFB/5/8 in the business, he has earned the mantle of 2017’s version of the SuperCoach Rollercoaster, delivering scores of 27, 30, 131, 38, 76, 128 and 28 in his last seven matches. It will be a rare occurrence next week when thousands of Australians cheer on an Englishman to score a century at the SCG when the Dragons take on the Rabbitohs.

Gareth Widdop is the new rollercoaster of SuperCoach.