SuperCoach teams analysis round 18: Why Cameron Munster is a mistake until after Origin

Back in the Storm team after a case of ‘Caxtonitis’, Cameron Munster is the most purchased SuperCoach player this week. But is this really the week to jump on?

Rob Sutherland and Tom Sangster survey the SuperCoach implications from round 18 teams.

WINNERS

- Cameron Munster 5/8 $666,600 - Back in the Storm team after a case of ‘Caxtonitis’. Munster is the most popular buy of the round – but this is a mistake. He comes up against the stingiest defence in the game this weekend in the Panthers, then misses the week after due to Origin/bye, then may struggle to back up (although the pub scene in Homebush is hardly as good as Caxton Street).

The price is good at the moment and he’s a season long keeper, but the wise move is to wait until Round 20 or even 21.

- Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2RF/FRF $813,700 - Returns after being rested from the upset win over the Broncos.

Tino has the highest average of any FRF and is a definite target for the run home. But as with Munster, the biggest question is now or after Origin?

Cameron Munster is the most popular purchase this week. Picture: Getty

LOSERS

- Reece Walsh FLB $630,800 - Named for now but almost 30 per cent of SuperCoaches are sweating on his availability. Walsh faces the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night with talk he could miss three games for allegedly swearing at the referee. Keep an eye on proceedings.

- Clint Gutherson, J’Maine Hopgood, Mitchell Moses - The Eels are the hottest team in SuperCoach right now but are on the bye this week. However, they are the only team on the break so hopefully you can cover them.

Reece Walsh is accused of abusing a referee. Picture: NRL Imagery

BUY

- Briton Nikora 2RF $648,700 - Ultra-consistent, solid upside (6/14 scores of 80+) and with no byes from here to home, Nikora is one of the buys of the round.

- Ronaldo Mulitalo CTW $617,700 - Rinse and repeat from Nikora above (though Mulitalo is 6/14 scores of 70+). Yet to go 100+ but with the Dragons and Wests Tigers up next he’s a very strong chance of doing so in the next fortnight.

- David Fifita 2RF $858,200 - How good is Fifita going? Well, the Gold Coast monster scored 16 points in 33 minutes in round 14 and still has a 5RA of 92.8. Or to put it another way – other than that 16 point flop he has hit triple figures in each of his past five games. But Fifi has a pretty tough game this week (Raiders at home), a BE of 149 and will miss next week due to Origin commitments. If you don’t own, wait until round 20.

- Valentine Holmes CTW $755,900 - Sorry to sit on the fence here but I’m pretty undecided when it comes to Val. The form (3RA of 97.7, 5RA of 87.2) and draw (Wests Tigers this week at home) is superb. But then Holmes misses round 19 so he’s one to wait until Round 20.

- Jack Howarth CTW/2RF $200,800 - Feels a little early to be nuffing, but if you need one then the man with a monster contract but seemingly zero love from Craig Bellamy looks a fine nuff.

David Fifita scores against the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery

HOLD

- Jahream Bula FLB $711,900 - If Bula is still in your team, then you held him through last week’s bye so why sell now? While the short term draw (Cowboys away, Sharks at home) is not ideal, he then has Knights and Dragons. With a 5RA of 83 and top score of 124 points against the Cowboys in his team’s round 12 ambush, the bye came at the right time giving the rookie a chance to refill his petrol tank.

- Reuben Garrick CTW/FLB $779,300 - One of most sold players but surely you hold now he’s at fullback.

SELL

- Josh Schuster 5/8-2RF $400,700 - No problems with those offloading now, though personally I’m going to hold and see if the Luke Brooks news lights a fire in Josh’s big belly – it wouldn’t shock me if it does.

- Sunia Turuva FLB/CTW $529,200 - Barring a monster score, Turuva’s value has likely peaked so cashing in is tempting. Equally though, he’s a handy fifth or sixth CTW for the run home.

- Billy Smith CTW $360,900 - Smith scored 35 in base last week but once again – much like his teammates – failed to garner any attacking stats. Time to cash in.

- James Tedesco FLB $707,200 - Teddy made 19 runs last week and busted just one tackle. With Manly away, the bye, then Storm on the horizon, he’s a definite sell option. The Roosters romantic in me is hoping for a renaissance but if it comes it won’t be in my team.

James Tedesco has hit a rough run of form. Picture: Getty

SHARKS v DRAGONS

Thursday, 7:50pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Jack Williams 17. Wade Graham

Reserves: 18. Connor Tracey 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Toby Rudolf 21. Braydon Trindall 22. Jesse Colquhoun

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Tautau Moga 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Bench: 14. Talatau Amone 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Jaiyden Hunt

Reserves: 18. Ryan Couchman 19. Moses Mbye 20. Zane Musgrove 21. Max Feagai 22. Billy Burns

WARRIORS v RABBITOHS

Friday, 6pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Josh Curran 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Mitch Barnett16. Bayley Sironen 17. Tom Ale

Reserves: 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Brayden Wiliame 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Kalani Going 23. Zyon Maiu’u

Rabbitohs

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Richard Kennar 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Siliva Havili 15 Shaq Mitchell 16. Davvy Moale 17. Thomas Burgess

Reserves: 18. Tyrone Munro 19. Taane Milne 20 Dean Hawkins 21 Peter Mamouzelos 22 Jacob Gagai

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STORM v PANTHERS

Friday, 8pm, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne

Storm

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tariq Sims 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Kane Bradley

Reserves: 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Tom Eisenhuth 20. Chris Lewis 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Jonah Pezet

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 18. Zac Hosking 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Luke Garner 21. Tyrone Peachey 22. Thomas Jenkins

RAIDERS v TITANS

Saturday, 3pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Pasami Saulo 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Nick Cotric 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider 19. Danny Levi 20. Matt Frawley 21. Xavier Savage 22. Peter Hola

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu

Bench: 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Erin Clark 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Chris Randall

Reserves: 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Kruise Leeming 21. Klese Haas 22. Jacob Alick

COWBOYS v TIGERS

Saturday, 5:30pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Reserves:18. Jason Taumalolo 19. Kyle Feldt 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Jack Gosiewski 22. Zac Laybutt

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Brent Naden 4. Starford To’a 5. Junior Tupou 6. Daine Laurie 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Jake Simpkin 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Shawn Blore 13. John Bateman

Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Fonua Pole 16. Alex Twal 17. Asu Kepaoa

Reserves: 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Will Smith 20. Tommy Talau 21. Justin Matamua 22. Aistasi James

BRONCOS v DOLPHINS

Saturday, 7:35pm, The Gabba, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Xavier Willison 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves:18. Jesse Arthars 19. Deine Mariner 20. Jock Madden 21. Tristan Sailor 22. Logan Bayliss-Brow

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Herman Ese’ese 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Ray Stone

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Kodi Nikorima

Reserves: 18. Max Plath 19. Harrison Graham 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Brayden Mcgrady 22. Kurt Donoghoe

BULLDOGS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 2pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Khaled Rajab 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jayden Okunbor 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurtis Morrin

Bench: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Franklin Pele 17. Jackson Topine Reserves: 19. Reece Hoffman 20. Kyle Flanagan 21. Corey Waddell 22. Braidon Burns 23. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Brodie Jones 20. Lachlan Miller 21. Jack Johns 22. Adam Clune

SEA EAGLES v ROOSTERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Aaron Woods

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Morgan Harper 20. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 21. Karl Lawton 22. Sean Keppie

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 12. Naufahu Whyte 13. Nathan Brown

Bench: 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Terrell May 16. Siua Wong 17. Fletcher Baker

Reserves: 18. Junior Pauga 19. Corey Allan 20. Zach Dockar-Clay 21. Nat Butcher 22. Dylan Napa

Originally published as SuperCoach teams analysis round 18: Why Cameron Munster is a mistake until after Origin