NRL SuperCoach wrap round 21: Lachlan Galvin, Reuben Garrick injuries ruin high-scoring round

A number of key injuries - including Lachlan Galvin, Reuben Garrick and Cody Walker - have thrown spanners in the works ahead of the start of head-to-head finals next week.

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Lachlan Galvin of the Tigers is tackled during the round 20 NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers at Industree Group Stadium, on July 20, 2024, in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

The big story of the weekend was Nathan Cleary (178) producing as the most popular buy (and captain) of the week.

Those who missed out are kicking themselves and he’ll be the most purchased player of the coming round.

But there were also a number of key injuries - including Lachlan Galvin, Reuben Garrick and Cody Walker - that throw spanners in the works ahead of the start of head-to-head finals next week.

KEY PERFORMERS

* Nathan Cleary (178) - Banged out the equal 27th highest score of all time with three tries and two try assists. A must-own for the run home and still at quite an affordable price. The safety was in the crowd this week with Cleary captained by 67% per cent of SuperCoaches.

* Tom Trbojevic (45) – The third most purchased player of the week and the second most captained player of the round. SuperCoaches who brought him in and threw the C on him went disappointed after he was well contained by the Roosters. Had a try assist disallowed and 22 runs, so it wasn’t from lack of effort. Has the bye this week.

* Sam Walker (108) – The most sold player heading into the round, so everyone who moved on will be spewing.

* James Tedesco (126) – Coming off a poor performance against Melbourne, James Tedesco bounced back in the best way possible, inspiring a first half Roosters onslaught, scoring 100 SuperCoach points in the first 40 minutes. Sadly scored just 26 points in the second half, but his owners won’t be complaining too much.

* Casey McLean (53) - Very solid showing as the most popular cheapie of the week and showed he’s a top 17 player for the run home depending on match-up. Will be popular again this week but he’ll be about $60K more expensive.

Lachlan Galvin failed to finish. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

POTENTIAL SELLS / KEY INJURIES

* Reuben Garrick (14) – Forced off the field early with what was deemed a category one headknock, he finished the game on just 14 points. But alarmingly, coach Anthony Seibold was adamant that Garrick was fine and should not have been brought from the field. The Sea Eagles have the bye anyway this week but Garrick is building a worrying history of concussions.

* Lachlan Galvin (34) – The star SuperCoach rookie failed to finish the match and coach Benji Marshall was unable to provide the exact injury. One to watch for Early Mail.

* Cody Walker (72) - Notched a try and try assist but left the field late with a hip flexor injury. With Cleary calling, he’ll be a popular sell.

* Blaize Talagi (26) – We’ve seen some good from Talagi this year, but the Storm contained him very well and were up in his face to prevent his creativity from close range. With Clint Gutherson confirmed in the fullback role for the rest of the year, Talagi will be a popular sell once again.

* Sua Fa’alago (1) – The popular SuperCoach buy from the start of the year is now an auto emergency nightmare following the resurgence of Ryan Papenhuyzen (more below).

* Terrell May (33) – One of the most owned forwards in the game, his 28% of owners may need to reassess going forward as he struggles to get minutes now the Origin series is over. Averaging mid 40s in the last two weeks.

* Reuben Cotter (13) – On the end of a nasty headknock that left him on the ground seemingly unconscious, the highly owned forward finished the game on just 13 points.

Reuben Cotter’s night finished early due to concussion . Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

POD ALERT

* Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (76) – Didn’t look out of place at fullback at all. In fact you could say it’s the best someone has looked wearing the Warriors’ No. 1 jersey this season. With 24 runs, you know the base is there and he’ll cost well under $600,000.

YOUNG GUNS TO WATCH FOR 2025

* Latu Fainu (50) – Was given 56 minutes, his most of the season, and looked really good for the most part, including setting up the last try of the night. Should see more minutes in weeks to come.

* Liam Ison (60) - Try assist and seven tackle bust in a strong debut. Should play at fullback again for the Sharks next week with Will Kennedy suspended for another round.

ROUND 21 WINNERS

* Jayden Campbell (101) - Hands up if you sold Jayden Campbell this week? Plenty did - almost 4,000 in fact - and all are no doubt regretting it. Campbell assisted three of the Titans’ four tries.

* Connor Tracey (163) – The Bulldogs’ hat-trick hero played the game of his life as he tore the Broncos’ apart. With all the recent attention on how to bring Tom Trbojevic into every SuperCoach team, has Tracey been flying under the radar?

* Jacob Kiraz (120) – Kiraz had an almighty performance down the right edge with a try and try assist. Two linebreaks, three linebreak assists and five broken tackles got the tough Bulldog over the ton.

* Kayal Iro (87) – Despite being one of the most popular players in the game, he was a popular sell among the game’s highest ranked players. But Iro rewarded those who held with an impressive 87 points.

* Payne Haas (79) – One of the most purchased players heading into the round, Haas rewarded his owners with a solid 79 points in basically pure base stats. Luckily for non-owners, he should still see a price drop given his break-even was 100.

* Addin Fonua-Blake (107) – For the fifth time this season AFB raised the bat, and he’s done it in back-to-back weeks. Absolute machine.

* Ali Leiataua (95) – It was hard not to be impressed by the efforts of this young man. In just his third game of the season he looked dangerous with every touch of the ball.

* Valentine Holmes (98) – He’s struggled for form this year, but that hasn’t impacted his SuperCoach output too much, with the Cowboys centre falling just short of triple digits.

* Ryan Papenhuyzen (98) – The game opened right up and that played right into the hands of the classy fullback. Was at his attacking best during the second half in particular.

* Eli Katoa (88) – The combination between him and Jahrome Hughes looked the goods and Katoa’s ability to offload came in very handy in leading to a few tries.

* Api Koroisau (93) – Scored right at the death to inflate his score, but it was another strong performance from the Tigers skipper up to that point and he was deserving of a meat pie.

* Jahrome Hughes (74) – Keeps ticking over good scores for his owners. Despite a down week against the Roosters he bounced back hard. The price drop will be appealing come Monday.

ROUND 21 LOSERS

* Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (50) - It’s not a disaster but it’s not great for the fourth most purchased player of the week. No big attacking stats but plenty of work.

* Daine Laurie (50) - Was looking good but failed a HIA in the first half.

* James Fisher-Harris (4) - Only lasted a few minutes before succumbing to a groin injury.

* Liam Henry (34) - Hopefully you didn’t need the popular SuperCoach prop in your 17. Just didn’t need to do his usual work as the Panthers dominated.

* Brian To’o (41) - Was talked up as the POD of the week but he somehow avoided the attacking stats and there was no need to bust his guts with hit-ups.

* Reece Walsh (58) – 58 points would be a pass mark for most players, but owners of Walsh need more from their marquee man. There are too many great fullbacks in the NRL and they need to be close to 100 more often than not.

* Reed Mahoney (39) – Only three runs for the Bulldogs hooker as he took a pass-first mentality to the game and let his halves pull the strings. Mahoney collected two try assists despite the fact that most of the damage was done out wide.

* Jason Saab (3) – Forced off the field before halftime with a headknock, Saab failed his HIA and finished the game on just 3 points.

* Ben Trbojevic (22) – Still owned by 20% of SuperCoaches, owners would have been frustrated as he struggled to get involved in the centres.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach wrap round 21: Lachlan Galvin, Reuben Garrick injuries ruin high-scoring round