NRL ironmen: Save SuperCoach trades and lock in these durable, dependable players
They are the NRL’s ultimate ironmen, the durable players every team can rely on. And at the other end of the spectrum, those players who just can’t take a trick with injury.
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Trades are precious. If you’re a SuperCoach trade-aholic, say it again. Now consider how many value players you’ve loaded into your team with a very sketchy record for injury, suspension or other issues.
If you’ve started the past two seasons with Tom Trbojevic (he’s played just 18 of 48 games) or Ryan Papenhuyzen (14 of 48 games) you know exactly what I’m talking about. Kalyn Ponga 32/48 and Latrell Mitchell 30/48 have also missed big chunks.
Trades are burned moving them in and out, opportunities to make cash are missed while you’re putting out other fires. Fires you had a part in lighting by ignoring the warning signs.
Meanwhile, Clint Gutherson has missed two games in the past four seasons (90/92) and has been among the top three overall scoring fullbacks since 2019. He’s not as exciting as any of the names above but the numbers speak for themselves. Reliable and no risk.
The Brailey brothers sum up the SuperCoach conundrum perfectly in our annual position-by-position preseason look at the NRL’s ironmen.
Sharks No.9 Blayke Brailey has dethroned Gutherson as the NRL’s ultimate ironman, edging past him after playing his third straight season without missing a game.
Blayke has played 91 of a possible 92 games in the past four seasons, sadly at the other end of the scale his brother Jayden has played 37 games in that time.
At their best there isn’t much between them… Blayke’s peak season was 2022 at 58.7PPG, Jayden’s was 2021 at 59.2PPG.
SuperCoaches have flocked to Jayden with 40% of teams locking him in at $330k looking for value and a hope his injury curse is over. While the unbreakable Blayke is in 5% of teams at $579,800.
I’ve crunched the numbers on which players have played the most games over the past four, three and two seasons and highlighted the numbers to compare the top-dollar picks and those popular bargain buys. Take your pick of these ironmen to firm up your squad.
HOOKER
Four seasons: Blayke Brailey 91/92 (98.9%), Lachlan Croker 90/92 (97.8%)
Three seasons: Reece Robson 71/72 (98.6%)
Two seasons: Reed Mahoney 48/48 (100%)
How the top-dollar options compare: Harry Grant 42/48 (87.5%), Damien Cook 43/48 (89.5%), Jeremy Marshall-King 39/48 (81.2%)
Other popular picks: Jayden Brailey 13/48 (27%), Brendan Hands 19/21* (90%) (since 2023 debut)
Analysis: If you want the rock solid option it’s probably Reece Robson with no byes until mid-season for the Cowboys. Blayke Brailey has good fixtures but a bye in Round 5 isn’t ideal. Either way I can’t see Harry Grant not finishing top scorer in this position given his recent durability and scoring potential.
FRONT ROW
Four seasons: Blake Lawrie 87/92 (94.5%), Isaac Liu 87/92 (94.5%)
Three seasons: Coen Hess 67/72 (93%), Joe Ofahengaue 67/72 (93%)
Two seasons: Max King 47/48 (97.9%), Joseph Tapine 46/48 (95.8%), Addin Fonua-Blake 44/48 (91.6%), Moeaki Fotuaika 44/48 (91.6%)
How the top-dollar options compare: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 41/48 (85%), Payne Haas 40/48 (83%).
Other popular picks: Reuben Cotter 36/48 (75%), Spencer Leniu 40/48 (83%), Thomas Flegler 37/48 (77%)
Analysis: Impressive durability from Lawrie and Liu but they’re not pumping out the big SuperCoach scores we want. King’s one game missed in two seasons catches the eye. The Bulldogs are short of middle options and he’s likely to carry the heaviest load. Kiwi pair Tapine and Fonua-Blake are likely to drop in price so you could wait and trade them in mid-season when Origin players go missing. But they could do a season-long job. The top two options in Fa’asuamaleaui and Haas aren’t missing many games considering their Origin workload.
SECOND ROW
Four seasons: Isaiah Papalii 85/92 (92.3%)
Three seasons: Briton Nikora 68/72 (94.4%)
Two seasons: Josh King 47/48 (97.9%), Nat Butcher 46/48 (95.8%)
How the top-dollar options compare: David Fifita 40/48 (83%), J’maine Hopgood 24/24 (100%), Isaah Yeo 41/48 (85.4%)
Other popular picks: Shaun Lane 32/48 (66%), Josh Curran 38/48 (79%), Beau Fermor 23/48 (47.9%), Viliame Kikau 31/48 (64.5%)
Analysis: More Kiwi forwards pumping out big numbers – no Origin so more games of course. Papalii and Nikora have been the most durable long-term second row options. Papalii’s output dropped dramatically with his move to the Tigers and is a bounceback candidate. David Fifita has an unmatched ceiling in this position so even if he misses games for Origin he’ll finish over the top of his rivals. There are so many options in the second-row mid-price range that I can’t see a huge risk whoever you pick up here.
HALFBACK
Four seasons: Daly Cherry-Evans 86/92 (93.4%), Adam Reynolds 82/92 (89.1%)
Two seasons: Chad Townsend 48/48 (100%), Lachlan Ilias 47/48 (97.9%), Ben Hunt 45/48 (93.7%), Shaun Johnson 44/48 (91.6%)
How the top-dollar options compare: Nicho Hynes 43/48 (89.5%), Nathan Cleary 33/48 (68.7%), Jahrome Hughes 40/48 (83.3%),
Other popular picks: Mitchell Moses 41/48 (85.4%)
Analysis: Nicho Hynes has played 10 more games than Nathan Cleary in the past two seasons. I’m probably picking them both. But if I had to go one, the durability swings it in Hynes’ favour. Daly-Cherry-Evans rarely misses a game and usually comes into SuperCoach contention in the back end of the season as injuries hit others. Great to see Shaun Johnson miss just four games in the past two seasons after a rough run with injuries.
FIVE-EIGHTH
Four seasons: Cody Walker 86/92 (93.4%)
Three seasons: Matt Burton 69/72 (95.8%), Kieran Foran 66/72 (91.6%)
Two seasons: Luke Keary 45/48 (93.7%), Thomas Dearden (91.6%)
How the top-dollar options compare: Dylan Brown 41/48 (85.4%), Cameron Munster 40/48 (83.3%)
Other popular picks: Jayden Campbell 36/48 (75%), Ezra Mam 35/38* (92%) *since mid-season debut 2022
Analysis: Cody Walker doesn’t miss many games at all and is a solid plug in for the season. But given his reliance on attacking output it’s often best to wait for a price dip. Matt Burton at 95% has the best longer-term record of any half. Dylan Brown could have had a 100% record but for the seven-game ban in 2023 for an off-field incident. As a Kiwi he’s another great set and forget for maximum games.
CENTRE/WINGER
Four seasons: Joseph Manu 85/92 (92.3%), Alex Johnston 84/92 (91.3%), Stephen Crichton 83/92 (90.2%), Reuben Garrick 83/92 (90.2%)
Three seasons: Nick Meaney 66/72 (91.6%), Jake Averillo 65/72 (90.2%)
Two seasons: Will Penisini 48/48 (100%), Matt Timoko 48/48 (100%), Kotoni Staggs 46/48 (95.8%), Jesse Ramien 45/48 (93.7%)
How the top-dollar options compare: Greg Marzhew 37/48 (77%), Jamayne Isaako 36/48 (75%), Dane Gagai 40/48 (83.3%), Valentine Holmes 40/48 (83.3%), Brian To’o 35/48 (72.9%).
Other popular picks: Taylan May 20/48 (41.6%), Hamiso Tabui-Fidow 41/48 (85.4%)
Analysis: Joseph Manu is a SuperCoach weapon at fullback and still a very good centre but he’s probably one to wait for the right moment on. A Tedesco injury and it’s Manu time. In the top-dollar options Marzhew and Isaako both had breakout seasons in 2023 after limited opportunities the season prior. Brian To’o’s 20 games in 2023 was also his most in a NRL season.
FULLBACK
Four seasons: Clint Gutherson 90/92 (97.8%)
Three seasons: Scott Drinkwater 65/72 (90.2%)
Two seasons: Dylan Edwards 45/48 (93.7%), James Tedesco 43/48 (89.5%)
How the top-dollar options compare: Kalyn Ponga 32/48 (66.6%), Tom Trbojevic 18/48 (37.5%), Reece Walsh 41/48 (85.4%).
Other popular picks: Latrell Mitchell 30/48 (62.5%), Ryan Papenhuyzen 14/48 (29.1%)
Analysis: Papenhuyzen, Trbojevic, Ponga and Mitchell have all had a run of injuries recently. I don’t love using a combination of these players.
A Pappy/Turbo pairing is just asking for trouble. Please don’t. Drinkwater and Walsh are the top dollar options with the highest playing percentage and offer the excitement Gutho lacks. One of them and a riskier option feels like the right mix.
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