NRL 2024: Sharks vs Warriors, Storm vs Panthers | SuperCoach winners, losers, top buys and flops
It was a bloodbath for Cleary and Hynes owners, while a host of cheapies and mid-range talents punched above their weight. We look at the SuperCoach winners and losers from Friday Night Footy.
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What a night of SuperCoach.
The foolproof combo of Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary was a popular one, but the pair combined for just 50 points.
Spare a thought for those who put the ‘C’ next to their name.
They weren’t the only talking points from the night, as we look at the 10 biggest winners and losers from the evening.
We saw just one player raise the bat for a century in Warriors enforcer Addin Fonua-Blake.
But it was a previous SuperCoach gun that creates the most intrigue going forward.
Siosifa Talakai was superb in the second half, scoring 68 points in the second 40 alone in an impressive display.
As for the smokies, Soni Luke showed he is a genuine back-up hooker option with a 49-point effort from the bench.
At just $263,400, expect him to be among the most traded-in players for round two.
On the flip side, in 44 minutes of play Moses Leota could only muster 22 points, while the less said about Jarome Luai’s score, the better.
WINNERS
Addin Fonua-Blake (New Zealand) - 100
Siosifa Talakai (Cronulla) - 76
Taylan May (Penrith) - 57
Sione Katoa (Cronulla) - 54
Soni Luke (Penrith) - 49
LOSERS
Nicho Hynes (Cronulla) - 16
Jarome Luai (Penrith) - 18
Moses Leota (Penrith) - 22
Kurt Capewell (New Zealand) - 25
Nathan Cleary (Penrith) - 34
This is one of the most stunning opening rounds to a rugby league season we’ve ever seen, and I’m not talking just SuperCoach @scplaybook1
— Dez Creek (@DezHassler) March 8, 2024
10PM: Craig Bellamy is just too good.
He’s done it again, getting the Storm up and about to knock off the Panthers and keep them scoreless in the process.
The question of a premiership hangover is now in play after Penrith suffered defeats in the World Club Challenge and round one for the second-straight season.
Their 8-0 defeat at AAMI Park will have plenty wondering if the departure of Stephen Crichton was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
On the SuperCoach front, the big winners were Soni Luke (49). At the bargain price of $269k he performed 23 points above breakeven in a great outing.
Taylan May’s 57 had genuine potential to be 80 or 90. He’s one to watch in the coming weeks.
Liam Henry (35) was another cheapie that went above benchmark, while Eli Katoa (68) justified his price.
As for the losers, it’s hard to go past those that had both Nathan Cleary (34 points) and Nicho Hynes (hello Tom Sangster).
Jarome Luai’s 18 points was the third-lowest score of the evening and Izack Tago (40 points) didn’t reach the heights of his $698k tag.
TOP SUPERCOACH SCORERS
1 Isaah Yeo - 74
2 Eli Katoa - 68
3 Taylan May - 57
4 Soni Luke, Sunia Turuva - 49
REPORT SHEET
Will Warbrick, Melbourne (High Tackle)
I went SJ over Cleary. I didn't expect him to outscore Cleary and Hynes combined. What a crazy week for Supercoach so far
— haydos (@haydos817) March 8, 2024
9.45PM: There’s 10 minutes to go and Melbourne is desperately holding out Penrith as they throw everything but the kitchen sink at them.
In good news for cheapie hunters, Liam Henry has coasted past his breakeven with a haul of 35 points.
Cleary is still not getting it done though, posting just 23.
9.35PM: Oh Tui.
He’s entered himself into the fibber’s club after dropping the ball over the line and celebrating.
Nothing gets past the Bunker.
Panthers have been held tryless just twice since 2018.
— Roast (@thenrlroast) March 8, 2024
Both times against Melbourne.#NRLStormPantherspic.twitter.com/rgvYzpvebP
It was a rough watch for Kamikamica owners with the forward already putting up 34 points. A try would’ve been the cherry on top of a strong performance.
9.25PM: High flying!
Xavier Coates gets up high to outleap the Panthers from a beautiful Jonah Pezet kick, batting it back for Reimis Smith to extend the lead.
Smith now leads all Storm players with 39 SuperCoach points, with Isaah Yeo’s work ethic putting him in pole position at 43.
Harry Grant has risen to 35 while Nathan Cleary still languishes with just 13.
9.20PM: That noise was the collective groan of SuperCoach players across the country.
A brilliant piece of play from Taylan May has been denied by the Bunker for an obstruction from Jarome Luai.
The classy centre skipped on the outside of Will Warbrick and kicked infield for Soni Luke to score.
May owners were counting the points from that brilliant passage of play, only to have them ripped away.
9.00PM: Nick Meaney went within centimetres of completing one of the best put-downs you’ll ever see, only to be denied by Dylan Edwards on the stroke of halftime.
It ends a defensive-oriented first half as Melbourne takes a 2-0 lead into the sheds.
Popular captain option Nathan Cleary is on just nine points at the half, while Harry Grant experienced a slight bump to rise to 21.
120 mins of Nicho (C) & Cleary = 43 points.. 🫠#NRLSuperCoach
— NRL_SC_Merseyside Reds (@SCMerseysideRed) March 8, 2024
Dylan Edwards (13) and Jahrome Hughes (10) are struggling to score, while departing Panther Jarome Luai is stuck at the bottom of all scorers with three points in the opening 40 minutes.
For those on Soni Luke watch, he is yet to take the field with Luke Sommerton playing out the half at hooker.
TOP SUPERCOACH SCORERS
1 Taylan May - 34
2 Eli Katoa, Trent Loiero - 28
4 Liam Martin - 27
5 James Fisher-Harris, Isaah Yeo, Luke Garner - 26
8.45PM: 35 minutes down and we’re still at 2-0.
If you’ve got big guns like Harry Grant (10 points) and Nathan Cleary (eight), you’re looking them to lift in the second half.
8.30PM: It’s shaping as a low scoring affair here as both teams feel each other out.
Tui Kamikamica put in an excellent first stint in the middle with 21 points, with James Fisher-Harris matching his output with a game-high 25 points through the first 24 minutes.
Trent Loiero and Eli Katoa are holding it down in the back-row for the Storm with 18 and 17 points respectively.
8.15PM: The second game of the night is underway with Nick Meaney posting first points for Melbourne to take a 2-0 lead.
Taylan May sounded out an early warning with a line break. He’s a popular player in the centres for a lot of SuperCoach fans and has surged to 21 points.
I hope your tips are going better than mine. I’m sitting at 0/4 and have taken the Storm to cause an upset.
HUGE ROUND 1 WIN ✅ pic.twitter.com/JW6pAXYeTj
— Cronulla Sharks (@cronullasharks) March 8, 2024
8.00PM: Cronulla has held on for a famous victory, coming back from 12-0 down to win 16-12 at Go Media Stadium.
They were under the pump early and looked like they were no hope before they surged.
The big winners were Fonua-Blake coaches. Yes his score was boosted by a try but he’s shown he can get across the stripe and looked as fit as ever.
The left-edge of Mulitalo and Talakai was dominant in the second half and that reflected in their scores as they tore their defenders to shreds.
As for the losers, plenty had Hynes in their team and a fair chunk as captain, but he netted a return of just 16 points despite a strong defensive showing when it counted.
Capewell (25) fell well short of his break-even, as did Dale Finucane (10).
Will Kennedy ($664,200) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($719,500) came into the contest with huge pricetags but could only muster 22 and 29 points respectively.
TOP SUPERCOACH SCORERS
1 Addin Fonua-Blake - 100
2 Ronaldo Mulitalo - 84
3 Siosifa Talakai - 76
4 Tohu Harris - 68
5 Jesse Ramien - 61
CASUALTY WARD
Wayde Egan, Warriors (Arm)
REPORT SHEET
Braydon Trindall, Cronulla (High Tackle)
7.40PM: We’re set for a grandstand finish here with 10 to play and the Sharks clinging onto a 16-12 lead.
The Warriors are throwing everything they have at the Sharks in defence and have forced an error inside Cronulla’s 10.
Who will be the one to step up for the Wahs?
7.30PM: It wouldn’t be a Warriors crowd without an incredible sign, and one punter has delivered in style.
Some see the initials RTS and think Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Not this man - instead opting for Ready To Skull.
He was shown during a break in play with Wayde Egan (32 points) taken from the field with an arm injury.
Nrl supercoach 4 games into the season 😅 pic.twitter.com/9qef5YI2Vq
— Mathew (@Brooma_23) March 8, 2024
7.25PM: And just like that the Sharks have their first lead of the game.
Talakai is turning it on in the second half and scores a try to take his tally to 67 after staying alive on the short side.
Mulitalo picks up the try assist and is up to 83 SuperCoach points as Cronulla takes a 16-12 lead with 21 minutes to play.
He now sits in second behind Fonua-Blake on 94.
7.15PM: Another huge charge has lifted Addin Fonua-Blake to 84 SuperCoach points.
He is on another level tonight with his tackle breaks coming in handy.
Cronulla has come out with a renewed energy in the second half, but their handling is letting them down in Warriors territory.
Briton Nikora is up to 31 points, while Hynes has plummeted to just three points through 50 minutes of play.
7.05PM: Teams are in for the second game, a blockbuster between Melbourne and Penrith.
After the major news of Cameron Munster’s withdrawal on Thursday, Jonah Pezet (5/8/HFB - $431.9k) steps into the five-eighth role for the Storm.
Nicho heard us all, felt bad and took the tee back. Smart man. He would have had a witch hunt coming for him.
— The SuperCoach Whisperer (@SCWhisperer) March 8, 2024
Interestingly he is among the least owned players in the game despite the dual-position tag.
Soni Luke (HOK - $263.4k) comes onto the bench for the Panthers replacing Tyrone Peachey.
SuperCoach players were dealt a cruel blow on Tuesday with Kane Bradley (2RF/CTW - $238.9k) named on the reserves list for Melbourne.
Over the ditch, Ronaldo Mulitalo has helped the Sharks get back to 12-10 after crossing in the corner.
Talakai jumps up to 28 points with the assist as Mulitalo rockets to 47 to lead all SuperCoach points for Cronulla.
6.55PM: It’s halftime and the Warriors lead 12-6.
Tries to Addin Fonua-Blake, Luke Metcalf and Jesse Ramien have the trio at the top of the tree at the break.
Tohu Harris and Sione Katoa round out the top five with typically solid games so far.
As for the other end of the spectrum - Hynes (six), Talakai (eight) and Capewell (14) are well below their predicted scores.
TOP SUPERCOACH SCORES
1 Addin Fonua-Blake - 62
2 Luke Metcalf - 44
3 Jesse Ramien - 41
4 Tohu Harris - 35
5 Sione Katoa - 31
Tohu Harris 35pts at the half, this man just never stops. Every single year I write him off SuperCoach wise. Absolute class #NRLWarriorsSharks#NRL#NRLSuperCoach
— 10 in the Bin ðŸ”ŸðŸ—‘ï¸ (@ask10inthebin) March 8, 2024
6.45PM: Jesse Ramien has the Sharks on the board in controversial circumstances.
The centre barged his way over from dummy half as the Bunker took a long time to look at whether there was interference in the play the ball.
They gave the green lights and Ramien is up to 38 points, with Trindall interestingly kicking the conversion in another blow for Hynes backers as Cronulla cuts it back to 12-6 inside the final five minutes of the half.
Tuivasa-Sheck has dropped back to fullback.
6.35PM: It’s been a tough start to the game for the Sharks halves.
Nicho Hynes sits at just five SuperCoach points through the opening half-hour with Braydon Trindall on four.
It comes as Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki is sent for a HIA after coming off on the wrong side of a mid-air collision.
Those with the C on Nicho pic.twitter.com/mV0u65aSNP
— Supercoach By Adrianasaurus (@SCAdrianasaurus) March 8, 2024
6.30PM: It’s all the Wahs.
They are suffocating the Sharks and not giving them a chance with the ball, notching up 85% possession through the first 20 minutes and have forced two straight dropouts.
This is on the back of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak narrowly being denied.
The winger has come up with some athletic efforts over the years, but not even he could bring that opportunity to ground.
He got on the end of a cross-field kick from Shaun Johnson but fumbled possession after he was tackled in the air.
Fonua-Blake is up to 57 points, with Mitch Barnett (26) and Johnson (23) putting up solid numbers early.
Me deleting all my anti AFB for SC tweets. pic.twitter.com/UbnNpzpO1G
— The SuperCoach Whisperer (@SCWhisperer) March 8, 2024
6.15PM: Bang bang.
The Warriors havemade it 12-0 in the blink of an eye after five-eighth Luke Metcalf sliced his way through three defenders to touch down.
That dazzling, stepping display sees him rise to 39 points as they take full control of the contest.
6.10PM: TRY TIME
Addin Fonua-Blake is a SuperCoach favourite because of his base stats, and now you can add a try to his tally.
He has 39 points within 10 minutes and Wayde Egan jumps to 26 with the try assist.
A hot start from Taine Tuaupiki at the back is delighting value hunters.
He’s looked dangerous with every touch and is already on eight points.
Braydon Trindall was placed on report in the second minute for a high tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
6PM: For the first time in 2024, Friday Night Footy is underway!
Have a look at the crowd in Auckland.
Almost that time... 💥 pic.twitter.com/tEDNfO7t3u
— One NZ Warriors (@NZWarriors) March 8, 2024
5.30PM: There’s something soothing about the voices of Yvonne Sampson, Michael Ennis and James Graham on a Friday arvo.
All that’s missing is pizza and a couple of cold ones.
A sellout crowd will pack into Go Media Stadium and create an incredible atmosphere as they cheer on a Wahs win.
Shaun Johnson (HFB - $793.7k) and Nicho Hynes are in the top three most expensive halfbacks, but with averages of 77.7 and 95 points respectively in 2023, it’s not hard to see why.
For the cheapie hunters, Taine Tuaupiki (FLB/CTW - $277.7k) steps into the fullback role in the absence of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
With an ownership of 33%, plenty are hoping he mounts his case to become more than just a fill-in.
5PM: Final team sheets are in for the first of an intriguing Friday night double header.
Both teams remain unchanged from the 17 named on Tuesday, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (CTW - $539.6k) to make his much anticipated return to rugby league in the centres.
There was talk in the lead-up about the fitness of Sharks star half Nicho Hynes (HFB - $970k), but he is in and will have the captain tag attached to him by a host of SuperCoach players.
Who do you have from the first match in your SuperCoach team?
I’ve got no Warriors or Sharks players in my squad, but with my predicted score of 1012 and having already blown my captaincy on Kalyn Ponga, I’m not the bloke you want to be taking advice from.
EARLIER: There’s plenty of SuperCoach intrigue on offer with the two superstar halves of the game, Nathan Cleary (in 48% of SC teams and the most popular captain at 24.3%) and Nicho Hynes (in 29% of teams, captain in 8.5%) the headline acts.
The supporting cast is nothing to sneeze at either with 10 more players with over 10% ownership in action including
* Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (43.1% ownership)
* Taylan May (41.1%)
* Harry Grant (34%)
* Joe Chan (33.8%)
* Taine Tuapiki (32.5%), and
* Ryan Papenhuyzen (20.4%)
It’s safe to say, plenty of us will know our round one fate before the weekend even begins in earnest.
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