SuperCoach winners and losers from Sunday: Nicho Hynes’ late burst, top cheapie struggles
It was looking dicey for Nicho Hynes early but he produced a brilliant second half to get the Cronulla Sharks - and SuperCoaches - home.
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Tom Sangster wraps Sunday’s SuperCoach action.
SuperCoach winners:
* Nicho Hynes (95) - It was looking dicey at half time with only 20 points, but Nicho produced a brilliant second half to finish on a strong score for the 36.6 per cent who captained him.
* Kayal Iro (60) - Another huge score considering he missed the attacking stats. 19 runs and six tackle busts in a powerful display.
* Mikaele Ravalawa (102) - Two tries for the barnstorming Dragons winger.
* Tom Hazelton (79) - Can’t stop scoring tries. Hazelton produced his fourth four-pointer of the year and it ended up being the matchwinner.
* Tom Eisenhuth (77) - Sneaking under the radar as a 2RF/CTW dual. 58 tackles.
* Dylan Walker (72) - Best score in a long time for a former SuperCoach gun.
* Addin Fonua-Blake (65) - No tries this week but owners will take 65 in pure base in atrocious conditions.
* Greg Marzhew (62)- A base stat special from a SuperCoach favourite, the highlight being 13 tackle busts. But how many more tries will he score while Kalyn Ponga is out? Not many.
* Dane Gagai (60) - I wrote last week that Gagai is a serious option after taking on the goalkicking duties and the opinion hasn’t wavered.
SuperCoach losers:
* Zac Lomax (45) - Forced to play centre due to injury and the wet conditions didn’t suit his offloading.
* Kyle Flanagan (22) - Early-season money-maker is starting to leak cash heavily.
* David Armstrong (25) - Stunning debut last week but only eight runs today. Owners were no doubt hoping for more from the cheapie of the week but the conditions were horrid and he’ll still be the most purchased player of the upcoming round.
* Shaun Johnson (37) - The Warriors have lost their attacking mojo and Johnson is the face of it. Carrying a painful Achilles injury and it may be time for a rest.
* Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (38) - The 28 runs a game were always going to be impossible to keep up. Back to the pack after a stunning month since returning from injury.
* Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (48) - Do we sell before the round 13 bye? It’s tempting. RTS’s average now sits in the mid-50s which is not quite elite.
* Kurt Capewell (13) - Picked up a calf injury and didn’t finish.
FULL-TIME: SHARKS 20 DEFEAT DRAGONS 10
That’s a wrap.
After leading at the break and looking good for an upset, the Dragons simply didn’t aim up in the second half.
They completed only eight from 15 sets and the Sharks, while far from brilliant, kept it together in tough conditions to grind out another win.
The Sharks are top of the table once again and take on second-placed Storm next week in a blockbuster.
64TH MINUTE: CULT HERO CROSSES
Tom Hazelton could well have just won the Sharks the game.
The cult prop barged over for his fourth try of the year and celebrated in typical style.
The Sharks now lead 18-10, which is a huge buffer in the conditions. They’ll be hard to stop from here.
63RD MIN: BUCKLE UP FOR A THRILLER
Nicho Hynes (Sharks) and Ben Hunt (Dragons) have both threatened to take control of the match but neither side can get any momentum in tough conditions.
45TH MIN: WHY DID WE EVER DOUBT NICHO?
Just as we question Nicho Hynes, he comes up with the goods!
Hynes produced the assist as Siosifa Talakai stormed over to put the Sharks in the lead 12-10.
Nicho is now up to 61 points (122 is captain) and suddenly on track for a decent score.
Good luck stopping Talakai this close to the line.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 5, 2024
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NERVOUS MOMENTS AS HYNES ON 20 AT HALF-TIME
Nicho Hynes owners – and particularly captainiers – are watching this clash with gritted teeth.
Hynes has been captained by a massive 36.6 per cent – the next most popular is Tom Trbojevic at just 4.7 per cent – so SuperCoacdhes clearly have big hopes against an up-and-down Dragons team.
However, Hynes has barely troubled the scorers and sits on just 20 points at half-time.
Other notable scores:
- Mikaele Ravalawa (83) including two tries
- Ben Hunt (50) including a try assist and try contribution
- Kayal Iro (26) is on his way to another base-laden half ton
- Nicho Hynes (20) with no big attacking stats
- Zac Lomax (16) is another attacking ace struggling in poor conditions
HALF-TIME: DRAGONS BUILD TOWARDS BOILOVER, LEAD 10-6
Mikaele Ravalawa is in for his second and the Dragons are a genuine chance of a boilover despite starting rank outsiders.
While the conditions have no doubt brought down the standard of the game to Saints’ level, the tenacity of Shane Flanagan’s side is obvious against his former club.
28TH MIN: When the weather is wet, Bent Hunt comes to the fore.
On his third touch of the set, the nuggety halfback set up Mikaele Ravalawa with a cut out pass to continue an incredible statistic - 22 of the Dragons’ 28 tries this season have involved Hunt, the highest rate of any half in the competition.
It’s now 6-4 to the Sharks.
The Dragons get on the board courtesy of Mikaele Ravalawa! 🔥
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 5, 2024
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13TH MIN: BRAILEY EMERGES AS BYE OPTION
Oregon Kaufusi has barged over from short range to open the scoring for the Sharks 6-nil.
Blayke Brailey got the try assist with a deft pass from dummy half.
Playing 80 minutes, averaging mid-60s and next to no chance of Origin, Brailey is a serious option for round 13 bye coverage.
FULL-TIME: KNIGHTS 14 DEFEAT WARRIORS 8
SuperCoach winners:
* Dylan Walker (72) - Best score in a long time for a former SuperCoach gun.
* Addin Fonua-Blake (65) - No tries this week but owners will take 65 in pure base in atrocious conditions.
* Greg Marzhew (62)- A base stat special from a SuperCoach favourite, the highlight being 13 tackle busts. But how many more tries will he score while Kalyn Ponga is out? Not many.
* Dane Gagai (60) - I wrote last week that Gagai is a serious option after taking on the goalkicking duties and the opinion hasn’t wavered.
SuperCoach losers:
* David Armstrong (25) - Stunning debut last week but only eight runs today. Owners were no doubt hoping for more from the cheapie of the week but the conditions were horrid and he’ll still be the most purchased player of the upcoming round.
* Shaun Johnson (37) - The Warriors have lost their attacking mojo and Johnson is the face of it. Carrying a painful Achilles injury and it may be time for a rest.
* Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (38) - The 28 runs a game were always going to be impossible to keep up. Back to the pack after a stunning month since returning from injury.
* Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (48) - Do we sell before the round 13 bye? It’s tempting. RTS’s average now sits in the mid-50s which is not quite elite.
Kurt Capewell (13) - Picked up a calf injury and didn’t finish.
Saifiti just walks through the Warriors line to take the lead.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 5, 2024
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62ND MIN: Jacob Saifiti is over to take it to 14-8 to the Knights.
It could be a winning lead.
That may sound a big call given there is are still 18 minutes left but in these conditions a six point lead is massive.
53RD MIN: The Warriors have levelled scores at 8-all with a Shaun Johnson penalty goal.
And given the way it’s bucketing down in Newcastle, goals may be the only scoring option from here on with ball handling proving near-impossible.
“This game has golden point written all over it”, said Andrew Voss in commentary and it’s hard to argue.
HALF-TIME: YET ANOTHER BAFFLING BUNKER DECISION
- KNIGHTS 8 WARRIORS 6
Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been denied a penalty try in a “baffling” decision by the bunker.
DWZ rose high to take a bomb but dropped the ball on the way down and couldn’t ground it.
He was taken out with a mid-air tackle which attracted a penalty, but strangely not a penalty try.
“Our game throws up some doozies,” said Michael Ennis in commentary.
“I’m not sure how that’s not a penalty try in this day and age.”
29TH MINUTE: CAPEWELL WON’T RETURN
Big injury blow for the Warriors with former Queensland Origin forward Kurt Capewell out of the match due to a calf injury.
26TH MIN: WALKER BARGES OVER
Dylan Walker is in for the Warriors to bring the score 8-6. The ever-consistent Tohu Harris gets the assist.
10TH MIN: Tyson Gamble has opened the scoring for the Knights.
The five-eighth, who only returned to the top grade last week, pounced on an in-goal error by Warriors fullback Charze Nicoll-Klokstad, who failed to field a grubber.
It’s wet conditions in Newcastle and the Knights are kick-happy.
CNK bobbles the kick in the in-goal and the Knights capitalise to open the scoring.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 5, 2024
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8TH MIN: EGAN PLAYS ON DESPITE SICKENING CLASH
NSW Origin contender Wayde Egan copped a sickening hit but was somehow allowed to stay on the field despite strict concussion protocols.
Egan has emerged as one of the Warriors’ most important players over the last few years.
LATE MAIL: SAIFITI RULED OUT
Origin prop Jacob Saifiti is out of Newcastle’s clash against the Warriors due to an ankle injury.
He is replaced in the starting line-up by brother Daniel with Jack Hetherington joining the bench.
Greg Marzhew and Jed Cartwright have been cleared of ankle injuries.
Just the one change for the Warriors with Adam Pompey coming onto the bench for Jacob Laban.
As predicted, Shaun Johnson is right to play despite an ongoing ankle injury, while Bunty Afoa (hamstring) and Kurt Capewell (throat) both return.
Knights
1. David Armstrong 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 10. Leo Thompson 9. Jayden Brailey 15. Daniel Saifiti 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott
Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Brodie Jones 19. Jack Hetherington
Reserves: 21. Thomas Cant
Cut: 8. Jacob Saifiti 18. Mathew Croker 20. Jack Cogger 22. Thomas Jenkins
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris
Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Tom Ale 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Adam Pompey
Reserves: 16. Jacob Laban
Cut: 20. Zyon Maiu’u 21. Edward Kosi 22. Taine Tuaupiki 23. Tanner Stowers-Smith
EARLIER...
Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes is the overwhelmingly popular pick for captain this week with nearly 38% of SuperCoaches trusting the wet prince of Cronulla to deliver big points in the rain.
Hynes boasts a stonking career average of 134.2PPG (from six starts) against the Dragons and has scored 156, 180 and 124 points in his last three outings against the Red V.
In the earlier game of the day the majority of SuperCoaches will be cheering on the Wahs with Addin Fonua-Blake, Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuiavasa-Sheck all boasting high ownership rates.
The Knights will have their fans too though with plenty hoping that David Armstrong gets through the game well after nearly 30,000 SuperCoaches jumped on him a week earlier than they needed to and hooker Jaiyden Brailey also a strong addition as he churns through minutes in the middle.
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