NRL SuperCoach wrap round 18: Haumole Olakau’atu biggest winner from shock Origin teams

Origin teams are dropping, injuries are hitting and we have a topsy-turvy round of action to get through. Check out our round 18 SuperCoach wrap.

PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: Haumole Olakau’atu of the Sea Eagles warms up prior to the round 14 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Manly Sea Eagles at BlueBet Stadium, on June 09, 2024, in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Plenty to get through here with Origin teams dropping and a host of injuries hitting - and that’s before we even start to review the weekend round.

Here’s where SuperCoach has landed after a tumultuous and high-scoring round 18.

While Origin teams have thrown spanners and fixes in equal measure.

SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM ORIGIN TEAMS

* Haumole Olakau’atu (71) - Set to emerge as the most popular non-cheapie buy of the week after missing Origin selection. Fifth highest average of any 2RF this season and all those above him are are out this week due to the bye or Origin.

* David Fifita (52) - Snubbed yet again by Billy Slater’s Maroons which means a massive extra number for SuperCoaches in the coming week. Definite captain option against the 16th-place Eels at home on the Gold Coast.

* Fletcher Sharpe (13) - Kalyn Ponga’s Origin selection means Sharpe is set to play for the Knights in round 19. Sharpe, last week’s most popular cheapie, was dropped to the bench this week to accomodate the return of Ponga and got limited minutes. But he still scored a decent price rise and creates a big extra player we weren’t necessarily counting on.

Haumole Olakau'atu will be a popular buy for round 19. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM ORIGIN TEAMS

* Mitchell Barnett (121) – Was looming as a great POD after averaging almost 100 over the last three rounds. That great form has won him a NSW spot. He wasn’t playing this coming week due to the bye so now it’s a watch and wait. Brilliant over the weekend, finishing with a whopping 121 points thanks to a big shift in the middle. He made 54 tackles to go with 24 runs in a losing side during 82 minutes.

KEY INJURIES

* Latrell Mitchell (121) - Ruled out of Origin. Out for at least four weeks and potentially the season due to a foot injury.

* Ben Trbojevic (28) - Popular SuperCoach player copped a category one concussion and is set to miss the crucial bye week.

CHEAPIE OF THE WEEK

* 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. Set up for a price rise nudging the $100,000 mark and CTW positioning is crucial.

David Fifita is set to be left out of the Queensland side. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

WEEKEND STUDS

* Dane Gagai (115) - Two tries and nine tackle busts in a brilliant Origin audition.

* Greg Marzhew (85) - Crossed for a try and loved having Ponga back in the team. Very solid score from the most popular buy this week.

* James Tedesco (148) - A try, three try assists and 10 tackle busts as the most popular captain. SuperCoaches salute.

* 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.

* Josh Curran (90) – The Bulldogs workhorse barely slowed down as he approached triple digits and has the versatility of a DPP.

* Tyran Wishart (119) - The major beneficiary of Melbourne’s seven-try game and a great POD move for many.

* Jahrome Hughes (97) - Had his hand in just about everything for Melbourne and he dined out on it.

* Reuben Cotter (98) - Ran 126m and made 48 tackles in another big game from the Queensland representative.

* Brian To’o (86) - Heavily involved in the key moments for Penrith, setting up a try and scoring their first of the second half.

* Briton Nikora (84) - Another who put himself in the right places and was able to set up a Braydon Trindall try. A tantalising buy prospect over the coming weeks.

* Keaon Koloamatangi (80) - Held his position in the middle and posted another strong score. Will he stay there? If so he’s a definite buy if you don’t have him.

* Blaize Talagi (71) - With the tryscoring form he’s in, you’d be mad to sell. Has been one of the buys of the year and continues to deliver.

WEEKEND DUDS

* Danny Levi (17) - Tom Starling is now the main man at hooker for the Raiders, which makes Levi an auto emergency nightmare for the rest of the season.

* 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?

* Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (37 pts) – 37 points in a half of football is fine, but CNK left the field with a calf complaint making him a likely sell for any owners.

* Te Maire Martin (25 pts) – Martin also struggled to have an impact in a game dominated by the forwards. New Zealand was valiant in defence but need more spark if their players are to be considered good options for SuperCoach.

* Ronaldo Mulitalo (23) - Wasn’t his worst game by any stretch, but a few handling errors saw him post a pretty poor score by his standards.

* Josiah Karapani (6) - The popular cheapie played nine minutes off the bench so barely given enough time to make a decent contribution on the result.

* Mitchell Moses (26) - After a big Origin performance, Moses came crashing back to earth.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach wrap round 18: Haumole Olakau’atu biggest winner from shock Origin teams