NRL SuperCoach trial scores 2025: Stats and analysis from Pre-Season Challenge week 1

Week one of the Pre-Season Challenge is done and won with a number of young guns proving their SuperCoach worth, but even more falling flat.

Rugby league is finally back. Yes it was just the NRL Pre-Season Challenge – and only the four Vegas teams – but something is better than nothing.

Check out full SuperCoach scores and analysis below.

The big winners include Luke Metcalf (currently the most popular buy at five-eighth), Raiders hooker Owen Pattie (70) and potential cheapie Matty Nicholson (35).

Sharks v Warriors

WARRIORS

* Fielded close to a full-strength side except for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who was ruled out pre-game with a “minor niggle”. Chanel Harris-Tavita and new signing Tanah Boyd also weren’t considered due to minor injuries.

* Dallin Watene-Zelezniak went down in the opening 10 minutes due to a wrist injury and is in doubt for round one in Las Vegas.

* Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (81) was on fire with a try, try assist, seven tackle busts, a line break, line break assist and offload.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad had a blinder. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

* Promising display by Luke Metcalf (38). He took complete control of the Warriors’ attack and while he didn’t notch any big attacking stats, crucially he kicked goals. Will be very hard to leave out of round one sides if he continues with the tee.

* Jacob Laban (25) created plenty of cheapie hype during the week when named to start in the back row. But he was pushed back to the bench on game day with Kurt Capewell and Marata Niukore starting.

* Popular cheapie Demitric Vaimauga (34) had some good touches off the bench and did his chances of a round one bench spot no harm, but hardly stood out.

* Dylan Walker (49) produced a try assist and line break assist as he guns for the lock spot of Tohu Harris (medical retirement).

SHARKS

* Fielded a strongish team with the only big-name omissions being Nicho Hynes, Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Jesse Ramien and Ronaldo Mulitalo.

* Jayden Berrell (67) had a blinder in place of Brailey but is realistically only a SuperCoach option if Brailey is injured.

* Tom Hazelton (76) continued his try scoring ways. It will be exciting when he and fellow try scoring prop Fonua-Blake are on the field together.

Panthers v Raiders

PANTHERS

* It’s hard to read much into the Panthers as no members of the grand final-winning side took the field.

* The big watch was the battle between brothers Jesse (20) and Casey McLean (32) to start on the wing vacated by Sunia Turuva (Tigers). They started on opposite wings and produced very similar base stat lines, the only real difference being a line break to Casey.

* There was nothing flashy from Isaiah Papali’i (26) on the left edge, but he did more than enough to suggest he’ll be a key signing for the Panthers in 50 minutes.

RAIDERS

* Owen Pattie (70) showed why he’s being spoken about as a genuine option in the hooking rotation. The 21-year-old played 12 games in reserve grade last season but looks like he can handle the big stage after he crossed twice in a matter of minutes to blow the game wide open.

* Matty Nicholson (35) had some nice moments with the English forward forcing an error from Papali’i as he looked to barge over from close range. SuperCoaches hope he can score a bench spot for the opening round.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach trial scores 2025: Stats and analysis from Pre-Season Challenge week 1