SuperCoach NRL POD Watch Round 20

WITH trades running out it’s time to differentiate yourself from the crowd. Former SuperCoach champion Dave Von Kotze identifies nine underowned, but overachieving, game breakers.

WITH trades running out it’s time to differentiate yourself from the SuperCoach NRL — presented by hipages — crowd. Former champion Dave Von Kotze identifies nine underowned, but overachieving, game breakers.

Daniel Tupou ($398,800/ 1 per cent ownership)

With only 1,321 owners, player ownership doesn’t come much lower than Tupou’s. A season-high score of only 69 in what has been an injury plagued year might leave many wondering how he could possibly get a start in POD watch. Firstly, the Roosters are starting to get their attack on point and if the combination of Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco continues to fire as it did against the Sea Eagles last round, Tupou could be in line for a host of attacking stats in the near future. Secondly, he has shown in the past that he comes home strong finishing with a final three-game average of 78 last season and a final ten-game average of 62 in 2016. He is also relatively cheap at just under $400,000.

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A nthony Milford ($517,100/ 6.2 per cent ownership)

We can throw stats at you such as his three and five-game averages of 60 and 64, we can also point out that he only managed to score 49 SuperCoach points when the Broncos put 50 on the Panthers. However, since half time of his round sixteen match-up against the Raiders where he was sitting on -2 only to finish with 106 points, something has clicked and he is running the ball, taking on the line and repaying the faith to loyal owners with scores of 106, 62, 71 and 49. If overall players are going to make up ground in these final six weeks it is going to be in the CTW or halves and the history books show us that he can go on devastating runs. For head-to-head players he will play two of his last three games at Suncorp Stadium against the Bunnies and Manly whom he has respectable career averages of 63 and 69 against.

Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma could be a juicy POD but keep an eye on late mail after he was forced from the field following a head knock during the Round 19 NRL match against South Sydney. Picture: AAP Image

David Nofoaluma ($467,100/ 1.4 per cent ownership)

Just like clockwork the serial POD David Nofoaluma locks in a spot on POD watch. He scored 61 in 62 minutes last weekend before leaving the field with a head injury. Potential owners will need to keep track of his final HIA and keep an eye on final teams before bringing him in this week. Nofo has posted scores of 83 (42 base) and 87 (46 base) in his last two injury-free games and has under two per cent ownership. He has a break-even of 21 and a reasonably favourable upcoming draw which will see him take on the Bulldogs, Newcastle and Canberra.

Jordan Rapana ($508,500/ 9 per cent ownership)

Rapana scored 78 even though he spent ten minutes in the sin bin to compliment his 95 last round and these scores have put him right back into the frame for the run home. Some coaches may be hesitant to make the trade due to his upcoming games away from Canberra against the Panthers and Storm but from round twenty-two he will start a three game stint at home starting against the Tigers who he has a career average of 98 against. He has a break-even of 11 so this is the week for interested coaches.

Jordan Rapana sprays water on his eye during the round 19 NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Canberra Raiders at Southern Cross Group Stadium. Picture: Getty Images

Cody Walker ($564,500/ 13.7 per cent ownership)

As much as it hurts to say as a Roosters fan, the Bunnies are serious contenders this year and Walker has the X-factor to bring a SuperCoach team home with a wet sail in 2018. His style of play is refreshing and entertaining to watch and he is more than cutting the mustard as the second highest scoring five-eighth with a five-game average of 75. He has what appears to be a very favourable match this week against the Eels who he scored 90 against earlier in the season and will finish the SuperCoach season against the Roosters (64), Broncos (71), Raiders (60) and the Tigers (64) who he has also put up solid scores against in earlier matches this year.

Josh Papalii ($583,300/ 4.1 per cent ownership)

Papalii is great value at under $585,000 but more importantly he has POD written all over him with under five per cent ownership. Playing 75 and 74 minutes in the last two weeks after the representative period, Papalii’s five game average of 72 is the third highest 5GA of any 2RF in the competition. Definitely one to consider even though there are plenty of big hitters in the second row.

Valentine Holmes ($620,300/ 11.2 per cent ownership)

There is plenty of love for the expensive Valentine Holmes this week and it is not hard to understand the hype. A trap of the past Holmes is a genuine contender after going to town on the attacking stats in recent times with seven tries, three-try assists, two last touch assists and eleven line-breaks in his last six games for a six-game average of 83. For those SuperCoaches looking ahead to head-to-head finals he will play his last three games of the year against the Cowboys, Knights and Bulldogs.

Cronulla's Valentine Holmes has been on a try scoring run since shifting to fullback for the Sharks. Picture: Brett Costello

Nathan Brown ($530,700/ 7.8 per cent ownership)

Considering his pedigree Brown is a steal for $530,700 but with the second-row stacked in many teams, he will more than likely remain within POD range for the remainder of the season. He played the full-eighty last week for the battling Eels and even though he has lacked a little consistency week to week this season in comparison to 2017, he has still scored over 70 in four of his last seven matches which more than justifies the trade for those looking to invest.

Nathan Cleary ($446,400/ 8.7 per cent ownership)

Those coaches looking to gamble on making their final run by stacking up their halves will more than likely have a crack with Cleary hoping he can recreate his 2017 SuperCoach form. If he retains the goalkicking duties this week he will definitely create even more interest but with trades flat lining for the year, the big question remains whether or not James Maloney will hamper his SC output. He has a break-even of 69 so not necessarily a priority this weekend.

Originally published as SuperCoach NRL POD Watch Round 20