NRL SuperCoach 2025: Mastermind’s final verdict on top round 22 buys

The NRL SuperCoach Mastermind gives his last word on tactics for round 22, teams to target and avoid for the final six weeks, Jahrome Hughes replacements, captaincy picks + the full SuperCoach watchlist.

The NRL SuperCoach watchlist returns for round 22 as we push into the final six rounds with head-to-head finals a week away and trades running low with seasons on the line.

The watchlist has been tightened up. This time of year we don’t need anything but the best of the best and a few POD options with massive upside.

This week six of the bottom seven sides play finals-bound teams (the Knights are the exception on the bye). It looms as a big scoring week that should kill off a few seasons and open the floodgates in the rounds ahead.

First up, SuperCoaches can just draw a line through the Rabbitohs. The squad is decimated with injury and suspension with scoring SuperCoach scoring upside nowhere to be seen. They have the bye in round 26, head-to-head grand final week when you’ll want all your money on the field to win it anyway.

The injury-hit Dragons are another team I’ve skipped over entirely on the watchlist for now.

Three tough fixtures ahead should sink their season.

The teams jostling for spots in the bottom of the top eight are the ones I’m eyeing off.

The Sharks, Panthers, Dolphins and Broncos are feeling the pressure from the Roosters and Sea Eagles behind them but also within reaching distance of a top four spot if the Warriors falter. There is plenty to play for and a great run of fixtures to target.

Check out the pick of the trade targets in the watchlist below.

Jahrome Hughes dislocates his shoulder. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Hughes solution

The injury to Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes is the biggest problem for SuperCoaches this week and while the obvious answer is to fall back into a Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes combo at halfback. With just six weeks to go a POD play could pay off - the margin for error is smaller. Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds against the Rabbitohs this week could go huge. Isaiya Katoa is in red hot form fresh off a bye and has the Titans on head-to-head grand final week. Sam Walker has scored well on return from injury for the Roosters and has a very juicy Rabbitohs match in the final round. Daly Cherry-Evans usually storms home at the back end of the season and has the added motivation this will be his last at Manly. Cowboys Origin hero Tom Dearden has some appeal for head-to-head coaches but the Cowboys won’t play the final round which could be tricky for those already holding Scott Drinkwater and looking to move up the ranks in Classic.

Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary takes on the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

Captain’s call

The most popular option is a VC on Herbie Farnworth against the Warriors and a C on Nathan Cleary against the Titans. The Panthers match is simply too good to ignore. Cleary has a 91PPG average against the Titans including a personal best score of 225. Other VC options worth a look are Cameron Munster and Harry Grant against the Eels or Reece Walsh against the Rabbitohs. I’m leaning towards a VC on Cleary with Nicho Hynes in my flex position allowing me to get both halfbacks in the captaincy mix. Hynes has a career average of 90 against the Cowboys with scores in the past three seasons of 86, 142, 126 and 108. Tedesco has centuries in his past two against Manly and Bulldogs offload machine Jacob Kiraz shifts to fullback against the Tigers.

SuperCoach watchlist explained

To help with your trade calls and to track players of note we’ve pulled together our SuperCoach watchlist with a quick form guide alongside their names so you can at a glance see what we like about each player.

The boxes players want to tick are...

Form: F (Strong recent performances)

Draw: D (Weak opposition to target in coming month)

Minutes: M (Consistent minutes and job security)

Base: B (Reliable scorer through workrate on tackles and hit-ups)

Value: $ (Value buy) $$$ (Buys of the week)

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2025: Mastermind’s final verdict on top round 22 buys