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SuperCoach NRL: Five reach the century mark, 10 SC Winners and Losers from Tigers vs Cowboys

An incredible five players were able to strike SuperCoach gold with a century, while a Tiger pulled one of the year’s worst scores. Here are the 10 SuperCoach Winners and Losers from Tigers vs Cowboys.

Sean TeumaSean Teuma
@seanteuma
7 min read
August 1, 2024 - 10:16PM
Scott Drinkwater was one of five players to reach a SuperCoach century. Photo: James Gourley/Getty Images
Scott Drinkwater was one of five players to reach a SuperCoach century. Photo: James Gourley/Getty Images

It was a wild night at Leichhardt Oval as the Tigers and Cowboys delivered an unforgettable spectacle.

There were 14 tries and a controversial send off, and that’s before getting into the SuperCoach wrap.

Five, yes five, players hit the century mark, while another player produced one of the worst scores of the season.

Here are the 10 SuperCoach Winners and Losers from Thursday footy:

SUPERCOACH WINNERS

1. Valentine Holmes (137) – The Cowboys left-hand attack had a field day with the Tigers and Holmes was eating all night. Two try assists, a try and a heap of goals helped him top the night.

2. Jahream Bula (131) – Scored one of the tries of the season on his way to a double and responded to criticism with a stunning game. Such an exciting player to watch.

3. Samuela Fainu (105) – Scored two tries and was in devastating form throughout the night as one of Wests’ best. Will be a wildly popular player in SuperCoach 2025.

4.Scott Drinkwater (122) – Attacking conditions always favour Drinkwater and he lapped it up big time. His fourth century of the year as he tore the Tigers to shreds.

5. Reuben Porter (94) – Easily his best performance of the season and he looked so dangerous with every touch of the ball. Not bad for someone who started the year at the lowest price.

Tigers vs Cowboys - top SuperCoach full-time scores
Tigers vs Cowboys - top SuperCoach full-time scores

SUPERCOACH LOSERS

1. Justin Olam (-9) – Not only has he produced one of the worst scores of the year, but he won’t play many more games this season after being sent off for a horrible high shot.

2. Jake Granville (5) – The early diagnosis was a pec injury which would spell disaster for the Cowboys veteran.

3. Chad Townsend (23) - While the Cowboys feasted on the Tigers, the soon-to-be Roosters halfback didn’t get in on the action, scoring poorly in an eight-try night.

4. Charlie Staines (16) – A few poor reads in defence allowed Murray Taulagi to finish with a hat-trick. Was a tough night for the winger.

5. Latu Fainu (7) – The young halfback went off with a head knock and was ruled out, so unfortunately he won’t be seen next week either.

RELIVE ALL THE LIVE ACTION FROM TIGERS VS COWBOYS

FULL-TIME - Cowboys 48-30

The Tigers fail to find touch from a penalty and the Cowboys score two plays later through Scott Drinkwater.

That sums up the Tigers night.

They appeared to have ended on a good note with Samuela Fainu attacking a short dropout and scoring his second of the night.

But Kyle Feldt decided to pick off a Lachlan Galvin pass and run close to 50m to give the Cowboys the last say.

Here are the top SuperCoach scores from full-time:

70th minute - Cowboys 38-24

A couple of penalties helps the Tigers get back into good territory and they score again!

Solomona Faataape has been giving Valentine Holmes nightmares in defence and he gets through the Maroons player with ease.

The Tigers aren’t done and dusted despite being down to 12 men.

They make a big break from the ensuing set, but Isaiah Papalii goes himself on the back of it and loses the ball a metre before the tryline.

They should’ve had back-to-back tries.

The result was almost beyond doubt, but Griffin Neame clearly promoted the ball when he wasn’t entitled to.

60th minute - Cowboys 38-20

It’s all starting to unravel for the Tigers.

From the set after the send off, Valentine Holmes catches some slow defence with a nice play out of dummy half to gift Murray Taulagi his hat-trick.

Alex Twal is off with a finger injury to rub further salt into the wound for the Tigers.

The Cowboys make it back-to-back tries as Kulikefu Finefeuiaki gets through Api Koroisau and hands it off inside to Scott Drinkwater to stretch the margin to 18.

This could get ugly.

The poor Tigers cop a dud call there.

Valentine Holmes gets through the line after Finefeuiaki appears to obstruct Koroisau on the way through.

It was sent up as a no try by the referee but overturned by the Bunker.

That’s a shocker.

The points continue to flow in this game. This time it’s the Tigers after some nice lead-up work from Reuben Porter who helps to set up Solomon Alaimalo in the corner.

50th minute - Cowboys 20-14

WOW!

Totally against the run of play and with the Tigers inside their own 20m line on fourth tackle, a lovely offload from Reuben Porter to Jahream Bula sees the Fijian flyer streak away and completely burn off Scott Drinkwater to score the try of the night.

In another blow for the Cowboys, they are down to 16 with Jake Granville suffering a suspected pectoral injury.

North Queensland gets a penalty from a scrum and opts for a shot at goal, with Valentine Holmes slotting the easy shot.

From the very next set, Justin Olam has been SENT OFF after what was deemed a forceful shoulder direct to the head of Heilum Luki.

The fans didn’t like that and are making their thoughts known.

HALFTIME - Cowboys 18-10

The left-hand side of the Cowboys is absolutely toying with the Tigers at the moment.

A simple spread, some nice footwork from Valentine Holmes to get past a rushing Charlie Staines and Murray Taulagi has his second for the night.

He was able to walk over the line, that’s how easy it was.

The Tigers get a few repeat sets and they’re able to exploit the defensive pairing of Chad Townsend and Viliami Vailea to cross through Jahream Bula.

They really needed that before the break.

Here are the top SuperCoach scores at halftime:

Tigers vs Cowboys - top SuperCoach halftime scores
Tigers vs Cowboys - top SuperCoach halftime scores

30th minute - Cowboys 12-4

In a big blow for the Tigers, Latu Fainu has been ruled out for the remainder of the game after a head knock.

A lost ball in their own half and the Tigers find themselves further behind.

Scott Drinkwater puts a little grubber in behind the line with Charlie Staines out of position for Murray Taulagi to finish with ease.

A penalty helps the Tigers downfield and Justin Olam looked close to scoring, before a big hit from Kyle Feldt.

The home side has looked alright when attacking the line, they just haven’t had enough chances.

20th minute - Cowboys 6-4

The Cowboys are starting to attack but just can’t get anything to stick for the moment.

Scott Drinkwater had a good chance to put Kyle Feldt over, but his cutout pass was forward and failed to hit the target.

At least they won’t die wondering.

Now they’re trying to attack with their kicking, but the last passes just won’t stick after regathering possession.

It could be another nightmare night for the Cowboys at Leichhardt.

Just as they look to have scored their first, Heilum Luki is found to have obstructed a defender in the run to the line.

Latu Fainu has come off for a HIA after collecting Valentine Holmes in an awkward tackle, bringing Tallyn Da Silva onto the field.

The pressure proves too much with Tom Dearden breaking the line far too easily and getting the Cowboys on the board.

10th minute - Tigers 4-0

Two errors in the opening 80 seconds could really sum up what we’re about to witness tonight.

The Tigers get a penalty, go down the other end and immediately strike through some poor Cowboys defence from Viliami Vailea, with Lachlan Galvin dishing off a nice pass to Samuela Fainu to score.

That was soft from the visitors at such an early stage in the game.

7.50PM: The referee has blown his whistle and we are underway.

Who will take the two points, the Tigers or Cowboys?

7.20PM: Who can forget the battles the Cowboys and Tigers had last year.

The Tigers put the cleaners through the Cowboys with a 66-18 demolition job in round 12 in front of 12,247 fans at Leichhardt Oval.

Just six weeks later the Cowboys responded in extraordinary fashion with a 74-0 demolition in Townsville.

Can the Tigers fans create an atmosphere like last year on a cold Thursday night?

They’ve saved their best performances for their spiritual home this year and with the final round inching closer, they need to pull out another win to avoid another wooden spoon.

Tigers vs Cowboys - top recent SuperCoach performances
Tigers vs Cowboys - top recent SuperCoach performances

6.50PM: North Queensland has kept the same 17 players named on Tuesday in its bid for a top four finish against the Wests Tigers.

Jason Taumalolo and Reuben Cotter are out from last week’s game.

Thomas Mikaele (FRF $257,100) was originally named to start but drops back to the bench with Harrison Edwards (2RF/FRF $327,600) to start at lock and Griffin Neame (FRF $367,200) coming into the starting side at prop.

The Wests Tigers will welcome another debutant with Tim Johannssen coming onto the bench after starting the year in Sydney Shield.

It’s quite the story for the 22-year-old who by all reports will cause havoc in the middle for Cowboys defenders.

EARLIER: Round 22 kicks off with the Wests Tigers hosting the North Queensland Cowboys.

The Cowboys, sitting in sixth, would love a win to maintain their cushion inside the top eight, while the Tigers are desperately looking for points in the race to avoid the wooden spoon.

Three Cowboys hit SuperCoach centuries last week against the Sharks: Kyle Feldt, Valentine Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai.

Holmes has seen over 5,700 trades in this week on the back of that showing, shooting his ownership up to 21.6%

On the flip side, SuperCoaches were left devastated by the 10 point showing from Reuben Cotter who is owned by a whopping 26%, only managing 19 minutes before being ruled out of last week’s fixture.

For the Tigers, Apisai Koroisau was a strong performer despite a loss, notching 93 points to please his 22% ownership.

It appears as though SuperCoaches are finally saying goodbye to boom rookie Lachlan Galvin however, with over 1,300 shipping out the Tigers half after just 41 points last round.

Who have you got from this one SuperCoaches?

More Coverage

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Rob Sutherland, Travis Meyn, Martin Gabor, Tyson Jackson, Michael Carayannis and Tom Sangster
SC wrap: Galvin, Garrick injuries ruin high-scoring round
Tom Sangster, Patrick Woods, Wilson Smith, Sean Teuma

Originally published as SuperCoach NRL: Five reach the century mark, 10 SC Winners and Losers from Tigers vs Cowboys

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