NRL SuperCoach: Best captaincy options for round 24

JOHNATHAN Thurston’s final match in Townsville is a game to target for SuperCoaches.

TURBO the record holder!

A world (very US-sports like use of that word) record 194 points from Tom Trbojevic last weekend is the highest score ever, eclipsing Cameron Munster’s 186 points from last season and thankfully… He was atop the captains list and the second most popular choice - lots of happy SuperCoaches.

As head-to-head finals are here, the key is to play your opponent on merit. If you’re the favourite/ahead in the matchup then playing it safe with a Damien Cook captaincy choice is the way to go. If you’re the underdog or chasing overall points then delve a little deeper into the upside plays below to make up ground — don’t worry I’ve done all the research you just kick back and pick your favourite.

Each week I will delve into the stats that stick out, the best match-ups, form and even sometimes a gut feel to find you the best skippers of the week.

Without further ado …

VC OPTIONS

Tom Trbojevic FLB (Sea Eagles) v Tigers

Tom Trbojevic is a serious VC option this week.

I mean, how could we not have him here after the 194-point bomb last weekend? Easily one of the best straight up captaincy options every time he takes the field, Turbo finds himself in the ‘VC’ category purely due to playing the first match of the round. Feel free to whack the straight C on the man averaging 77.6PPG this season, and 108.8PPG in his last five matches.

Shaun Johnson HFB (Warriors) v Panthers

SJ has started the late season surge he has every year, with scores of 61 and 88 the past two rounds. Top that off with the Kiwi superstar getting a matchup — at Mt Smart where he dominates — with the Panthers who have conceded truckloads of points to playmakers over the last three weeks (and that’s from the Raiders, Titans and Knights!). The great man hasn’t gone past the 100 mark in recent times, this could well be the week.

Johnathan Thurston HFB (Cowboys) v Eels

Here we go, the final home game of Thurston’s Immortal-like career … It will be emotional, it’s against the Eels, it will be one he wants to sign off in style with, it’s against the Eels, his career record points to Friday night games being high scoring ones, oh and did I mention it’s against the Eels? Load up on the genius, even if it’s just for sentimental reasons.

Other options … Nathan Cleary, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Esan Marsters, Viliame Kikau

Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys is given a guard of honour after playing his last game in Sydney.

COPES’ CAPTAINS

Jason Taumalolo 2RF (Cowboys) v Eels

Lolo returns from suspension to a dream matchup against the team conceding the most points to 2RFs on the back of 112 and 95 points his last two outings. It’s also the “other” JT’s farewell match at home so the boys will be up and about for this one. Expect big minutes and big points for the biggest man in the game. Averaging 70.43PPG this season, Lolo presents the best ‘safe’ captaincy option if you’re looking for someone other than Damien Cook.

Val Holmes FLB | CTW (Sharks) v Knights

What a season Holmes has put together! The stigma used to be that whist the tryscoring upside was there, his downside was just way too low to buy in. Well, let me enlighten you to his scores since round 10 this season (baring in mind he also played an Origin series during this period) …

100, 40, 110, 88, 66, 64, 75, 95, 85, 71, 89 and 82 for an average of 80.4PPG across 12 matches. Incredible consistency. This week, Holmes gets a matchup with a likely Ponga-less Knights at home, where SuperCoach Stats projects him to score, wait for it … 130 points!

PODCAST!!! It’s sudden death in SuperCoach finals. Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the teams lowdown.

Damien Cook HOK (Rabbitohs) v Raiders

Numero uno this season, #CHEF sits atop the overall points race with only two matches to go despite the 41-point dud (for his standards) last week. That may well work in our favour as the ‘masses’ may look elsewhere this time around. The matchup with the Raiders in a day-game in Canberra is a nice one for hookers, let alone the best player in the game. Pick him with confidence.

Other options … Cameron Munster, Sam Burgess, Angus Crichton, Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Good luck everyone, may the Orange Armband fall on the right man this week!

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: Best captaincy options for round 24