NRL SuperCoach wrap: What we learned from Storm v Eels massacre round 1

Yes, that sounds like a very strange headline after such a dominant performance from Ryan Papenhuyzen and the Storm, but there is a good reason.

Don’t buy Storm players!

Yes, that sounds strange after such a dominant performance but there is very good reason – the Storm have the bye next week.

They are therefore SuperCoach buys for round 4, given prices don’t rise until after two matches played. That means you can wait on Storm and load up elsewhere.

PAP IS BACK AND STORM ARE OUTRAGEOUS

While the opposition may not have been great, the Storm showed they will be huge yet again for SuperCoach 2025.

Ryan Papenhuyzen (133), Cameron Munster (91), Jack Howarth (89) and Eli Katoa (80) will be big options during the season.

HARRY EARLY SHOWER WARNING

I deliberately left Harry Grant (56) off the last point because he is an early shower candidate every week. Left the field late and 56 points with a try is not a great return in such a lopsided game.

IONGI, BROWN STAR DESPITE THRASHING

The Eels were smashed but our cheapie of the year Isaiah Iongi still scored 64 points, including a try and try contribution. Translation: He was involved in 2/3 Eels’ tries despite the team being dominated. Most runs of any player in this game with 22. Rolled gold cheapie.

Meanwhile, Dylan Brown notched three try assists. In other words, he assisted all Parramatta tries – a pretty serious effort given the flow of the game. Is he playing for a contract or something?

HOPGOOD NOT QUITE HOP-GOD, BUT CLOSE

Only 49 points for J’Maine Hopgood but the signs are good for the man once dubbed Hop-God.

With so many tries in this game and the ball therefore out of play for so long, the work rates were low. But the 68 minutes were encouraging.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach wrap: What we learned from Storm v Eels massacre round 1