NRL SuperCoach 2025: Mastermind’s final verdict on top round 8 buys

The NRL SuperCoach Mastermind gives his last word on weekend buys, sells, cheapies, captains – plus a sneaky look at next week’s top purchases.

Injuries to popular picks Harry Grant, Reece Walsh and Jayden Campbell create some tough calls for SuperCoaches heading into Round 8. As mentioned in last week’s crystal ball Cowboys fullback Scott Drinkwater plays four of the next five at home with the other fixture at Magic Round. He’s my buy of the round. Especially if you’re a Walsh or Isaiah Iongi owner. Drinkwater misses the round 12 bye but then has a clear run through until the final round after that. Get him in and let him tick over the points. An easy call.

The Grant and Campbell fixes aren’t so obvious though. I’d take a good look at your backup’s matches at five-eighth and hooker the next few weeks and assess if you really need to make a move in what have so far been underwhelming scoring positions. Cameron Munster is up there with Campbell averaging 70+ but the rest of the pack are 10PPG behind. A week’s patience at five-eighth and Dylan Brown will be off they bye, we’ll see if Matt Burton has regained the goalkicking duties and how Lachlan Galvin responds to a week in reserves.

As for hooker, Connor Watson is the stand out option in the position but with a bye and origin ahead he’s likely to only play four of the next eight games. Grant is due back in round 10 so would also play four in the same period. If you’re making the Watson move then I think you need Max Plath or another dual HKR/2RF, to give yourself cover. Plath’s 15 point game last week should see him drop below $500k in two weeks time. I expect Plath to be in the Origin conversation but he may be another season away from selection.

Pick of the cheapies

Roosters CTW Billy Smith is the guy you want this week. Don’t get too tricky here. Cash out another peaked CTW option, make another easy $200k to upgrade and you have solid cover through the bye rounds. He has a career average of 53.8PPG when you remove his injury affected games and is a very playable option.

Cowboys fullback is one of the buys of the week. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Captain’s call

The Roosters defence is the second worst in the competition. I expect them to show more steel in an Anzac Day clash but on paper Clint Gutherson should find some points picking apart the flimsy edges just like Dylan Edwards did last week with 134 on the Roosters. If like me you’re bringing Scott Drinkwater in then the Titans at home for the Cowboys fresh off a bye is crying out for a captain shout. He scored 144 in this exact match-up last year and now he has the goal kicking to pump up the scoring even further. Nathan Cleary has to be considered after 116 last week against the Roosters without a try, try assist or linebreak.

Round 9 crystal ball

Next week is Magic Round and Origin buzz will start growing for players in form, especially the Bulldogs. They are great picks if they miss Origin but poison for any that make it. Play it safe and turn your eye to the pick of the non-origin players. Kiwi and Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes should be at the top of that list. He has dropped $135k in value and has a breakeven of 133. Grab any time in the next couple weeks at a bargain price.

SuperCoach watchlist explained

To help with your trade calls and to track players of note we’ve pulled together our SuperCoach watchlist with a quick form guide alongside their names so you can at a glance see what we like about each player.

The boxes players want to tick are...

Form: F (Strong recent performances)

Draw: D (Weak opposition to target in coming month)

Minutes: M (Consistent minutes and job security)

Base: B (Reliable scorer through workrate on tackles and hitups)

Value: $ (Value buy) $$$ (Buys of the week)

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2025: Mastermind’s final verdict on top round 8 buys