NRL SuperCoach winners and losers round 18: Greg Marzhew fires as most popular buy
Greg Marzhew loved having his main man Kalyn Ponga back in the side and got the job done as the most popular SuperCoach buy of the week.
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Tom Sangster reveals the studs and duds from Sunday’s NRL action.
SuperCoach winners:
* Dane Gagai (115) - Two tries and nine tackle busts in a brilliant Origin audition.
* Greg Marzhew (85) - Crossed for a try and loved having Kalyn Ponga back in the team. Very solid score from the most popular buy this week.
* Tom Starling (82) - After playing second fiddle to Danny Levi for much of the year, Starling is now the main man at hooker for the Raiders. Try assist and a massive 57 tackles.
* Will Pryce (66) - Produced three poor errors but still notched a very solid score and will be the cheapie of the week for the coming round.
* James Tedesco (148) - A try, three try assists and 10 tackle busts as the most popular captain. SuperCoaches salute.
* Lindsay Collins (107) - Crashed JWH’s party with a try and try assist, plus a mountain of work.
* Angus Crichton (88) - Scored off a Sam Walker grubber and was a handful with his running game all day.
* Terrell May (68) - SuperCoach stud continues to produce the goods, this time with no big attacking stats.
SuperCoach losers:
* Danny Levi (17) - As per above, Tom Starling is now the main man at the Raiders, which makes Levi an auto emergency nightmare for the rest of the season for those who still own.
* Enari Tuala (17) - Failed to finish due to a calf injury.
* Fletcher Sharpe (13) - Last week’s most popular cheapie was dropped to the bench this week to accomodate the return of Ponga. Played limited minutes but still notched another decent rise and should be an extra number next week when/if Ponga is on Origin duty.
* Sam Walker (65) - On face value, this is a decent score. But SuperCoaches were hoping for plenty more given 52 points in try assists and goals.
* Zac Lomax (25) - Strangely quiet game from the SuperCoach stud. He was rested last week and has Origin next week. How much is his shoulder an issue?
FULL-TIME: KNIGHTS 16 BEAT RAIDERS 12
In a weekend of thrillers, we had another nailbiter.
Fresh from two golden point games, this clash seemed destined for the same fate.
But the Kalyn Ponga-inspired Knights held on late to get home.
In a weekend of thrillers, we had another nailbiter.
Fresh from two golden point games, this clash seemed destined for the same fate.
But the Kalyn Ponga-inspired Knights held on late to get home.
What a play from Elliott Whitehead! ðŸ‘
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 7, 2024
Kaeo Weekes puts the burners on and goes all the way! 💨
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55 MINS: WHITEHEAD GENIUS GETS RAIDERS BACK IN IT
Veteran Pom Elliott Whitehead is not noted as a flashy player but he produced a piece of genius here.
Just as the Kalyn Ponga-inspired Knights seemed destined to score, Whitehead plucked an intercept.
Knowing he didn’t have the pace, he offloaded to Kaeo Weekes, who ran close to the length of the field to get the Raiders back in the game.
They trail 16-12.
HALF-TIME: KNIGHTS 10 LEAD RAIDERS 6
SuperCoach winners:
* Dane Gagai (57) - Making a strong claim for a Queensland Origin jersey with a try and five tackle busts.
* Greg Marzhew (54) - Putting on a show as the most purchased player of the round. Try, five tackle busts and loving Ponga feeding him on the left.
* Kalyn Ponga (42) - In everything for the Knights as he guns for an Origin jersey.
* Will Pryce (36) - Putting in a solid audition to become the cheapie of the week in the coming round, despite a few errant passes.
Origin hopes Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best combine to set up Newcastle's second try! ðŸ‘
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 7, 2024
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SuperCoach losers:
* Dylan Lucas (8) - Only 12 minutes so far for the popular dual position player.
* Kaeo Weekes (13) - Not much involvement from the Raiders’ new fullback.
20 MINS: PONGA’S RETURN HAS IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Kalyn Ponga has starred early on his return from a foot injury.
Ponga is on the hunt for an Origin jersey and already has a try assist as the Knights lead 10-6.
That try assist was to the most popular SuperCoach buy this week Greg Marzhew.
Dane Gagai also notched an early try as he plays for a Queensland jersey for the Origin decider.
FULL-TIME: ROOSTERS 42 DEFEAT DRAGONS 12
Well that happened quickly.
The Dragons were in the hunt when trailing 14-12 in the 50th minute.
Then the Roosters stormed home with four tries to notch a dominant victory.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was in everything as he became the most capped player in Roosters’ history, pulling off a succession of big hits, copping a sin-bin and six stitches in the melon.
SuperCoach wise, the star was James Tedesco, who produced the goods as captain of 63 per cent of teams.
SuperCoach winners:
* James Tedesco (148) - A try, three try assists and 10 tackle busts as the most popular captain. SuperCoaches salute.
* Lindsay Collins (107) - Crashed JWH’s party with a try and try assist, plus a mountain of work.
* Angus Crichton (88) - Scored off a Sam Walker grubber and was a handful with his running game all day.
* Terrell May (68) - SuperCoach stud continues to produce the goods, this time with no big attacking stats.
SuperCoach losers:
* Sam Walker (65) - On face value, this is a decent score. But SuperCoaches were hoping for plenty more given 52 points in try assists and goals.
* Zac Lomax (25) - Strangely quiet game from the SuperCoach stud. He was rested last week and has Origin next week. How much is his shoulder an issue?
58 MINS: ROOSTERS NOTCH TWO IN QUICK SUCCESSION
Just as we said the Dragons were back in it, well … now they’re not.
The Roosters have run in two tries in the space of five minutes to take a commanding 24-12 lead.
Cult hero Lindsay Collins burst over for the first from short range, before Angus Crichton latched onto a classy Sam Walker grubber.
50 MINS: RADLEY KNOCKED OUT AS DRAGONS BACK IN IT
After seemingly being out of the match for the first 36 minutes, the Dragons are well-and-truly back in it at 14-12.
Christian Tuipolotu is the latest tryscorer, with the former Manly winger crossing in the corner and taking out Roosters star Victor Radley in the process.
Radley has been taken from the field with concussion and won’t return.
45 MINS: JWH COPS SIX STITCHES
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been sewn and is ready to return.
Although perhaps Roosters fans don’t want him back out there given look of anger on his face. Someone is going to cop it when he’s back on the field.
HALF-TIME: ROOSTERS 14 LEAD DRAGONS 6
A late try to Lacob Liddle has the Dragons back in the game - just - after being dominated in the first half by the Jared Waerea-Hargreaves-inspired Roosters.
Liddle burrowed over from dummy half to give the Dragons some sort of hope against a fired up Roosters, whose emotion got in the way at times.
SuperCoach studs:
* Jacob Liddle (58) - The Dragons’ best with a try and 22 tackles
* James Tedesco (49) - Doing the job so far as captain of 63 per cent of teams.
* Dom Young (49) - Teddy to Young is a great try assist combo for those who own both.
SuperCoach duds:
* Sam Walker (31) - Owners were hoping for more given he has a try assist and 12 points in goals.
* Zac Lomax (19) - Not the usual involvement from the Origin and SuperCoach star.
32 MINS: BLOODIED JWH TAKEN FROM FIELD
The milestone man hasn’t left anything in the tank.
Just moments after coming back on the field from a bin bin, JWH is back off with some serious claret flowing from the face.
17 MINS: JWH BINNED IN MILESTONE MATCH
What odds was Jared Waerea-Hargreaves paying to get sin binned on the day he celebrated becoming the most capped Rooster in history?
It simply had to happen.
JWH was a monster over the first 17 minutes but took his aggression too far and is now cooling his jets after a high tackle.
In his milestone game, JWH has been sent to the sin bin...
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 7, 2024
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6 MINS: WALKER LAYS ON FIRST
Sam Walker has continued on where he left off on Anzac Day by producing the first try assist for the Roosters. Walker saw Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan in the line and put a neat grubber through for Victor Radley to score.
4 MINS: JWH MAKES IMMEDIATE IMPACT
On the day he celebrates becoming the most capped Rooster, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves laid on a huge hit on the very first tackle. There is plenty of feeling in this clash early as the Dragons look to make up for their Anzac Day embarrassment and the Roosters do it for Jared.
The Roosters strike first! 👊
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 7, 2024
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LATE MAIL: ROOSTERS FORWARD AXED, DRAGON INJURED
Teams are in for this afternoon’s Roosters v Dragons clash.
For the Dragons, Raymond Faitala-Mariner (back) is out, with Luciano Leilua elevated to the starting side and Fa’amanu Brown the new face on the bench.
Zac Lomax will play after being rested last week.
For the Roosters, Naufahu Whyte was dropped to NSW Cup and young centre Ethan King promoted to the bench
ROOSTERS v DRAGONS
Sunday, 2pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Sitili Tupouniua 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Connor Watson
Interchange: 15. Terrell May 16. Nat Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King
Reserves: 20. Sandon Smith
Players cut: 14. Naufahu Whyte 19. Siua Wong 21. Blake Steep 22. Salesi Foketi
Dragons
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 12. Jaydn Su’A 17. Luciano Leilua 13. Tom Eisenhuth
Interchange: 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Toby Couchman 19. Fa’amanu Brown
Reserves: 18. Michael Molo
Players cut: 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Ryan Couchman 21. Savelio Tamale 22. Jack Bird
SUPERCOACH WRAP: PLAYERS TO WATCH IN SUNDAY FOOTY
Sunday footy kicks off with a tasty matchup between the Roosters and Dragons.
The most-owned player in this match at a whopping 35% is Joseph Manu ($624,500) who is looking at a number of weeks out with a fractured hand.
Dom Young ($738,000) is among the top 10 most traded-in players this week, having averaged 85 points across his last three games.
James Tedesco ($922,400) has proven a handy pick-up during the Origin period, averaging 105.6 across his last five games and pleasing his 29.9% ownership.
There’s a lot of Origin talent out and about in this game from both NSW and Qld, so both Michael Maguire and Billy Slater will be nervously watching on in the hopes their players come out of this one without a scratch.
The final match of the round sees the Raiders host the Knights, with SuperCoaches flocking to bring in Newcastle players this week.
Greg Marzhew ($505,100) is the most traded-in player this week, with a break-even of -12 meaning he’s a smart buy.
Also among the top 10 most popular buys this round are Will Pryce ($345,000) and Bradman Best ($649,600) who is pushing for a NSW Blues jersey.
SuperCoach stud Kalyn Ponga ($877,600) also returns to action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury, also rumoured to be back among the State of Origin picture immediately.
For the Raiders, Joseph Tapine ($676,000) has been in solid scoring form with a 77.4 average across his last five, with his 17.8% ownership hoping he can keep that up.
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