KFC SuperCoach NRL: Round 11 best players and trade targets

The Mastermind analyses every KFC SuperCoach NRL Round 11 match with the first ever million-dollar player crowned.

KFC NRL SuperCoach’s first ever million-dollar-man is Nathan Cleary, who backed up the best all-time score of 225 last week with the seventh best all time score of 190 against the Rabbitohs. He now has three of the top 10 scores of all-time and with that sort of ceiling you’re running a serious risk not captaining him every week. His game is as close to perfection right now as you can get, barring one missed goal and one missed tackle this week.

Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic won’t be far behind Cleary to the million-dollar mark with his incredible form of five centuries in six games with 159 against the Eels.

ROUND 12 LATEST: EARLY MAIL | CASUALTY WARD

Let’s take a look at the highs and lows from each game and the players to add to your watchlist.

COWBOYS 36-20 KNIGHTS

Highs: Murray Taulagi, 145, had three tries, four linebreaks and 12 tackle busts. He might be the best cheapie that most KFC SuperCoaches missed. Valentine Holmes, 138, had a try, two try assists, 4/7 goals, a linebreak and 12 linebreak assists. He’s averaging 70PPG for the season and 75PPG in games at fullback. In just 10% of teams but looks like one of the best and most consistent CTW options this season. Kyle Feldt, 101, didn’t score a try but had five linebreaks and 11 tackle busts. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 93, followed up two lacklustre games with a try, try assist and linebreak.

Lows: Francis Molo, 10, failed a HIA after playing just 15 minutes. Lachlan Burr, 25, was sin binned for the second week in a row. Popular Knights players Jayden Brailey, 44, Connor Watson, 44, and Mitch Barnett, 44, all posted their worst scores of the season.

Watchlist: Jason Taumalolo, 42, played 60 minutes but the first sin binning of his 201 game career and five missed tackles kept his score down. A try on debut for both Heilum Luki, 57, and Nathanael Sasagi, 64.

WARRIORS 30-26 TIGERS

Highs: Reece Walsh, 129, scored his second century in a row and the 6% of coaches that rolled the dice on the rookie are reeling in points and generating some massive value. He had a try, three try assists, four tackle busts, two offloads a linebreak and eight linebreak assists. Luke Garner, 100, had two tries, a linebreak and five tackle busts. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 94, had a try, try assist, two linebreaks and 36 points from hit-ups. Marcelo Montoya, 92, scored two tries and had three linebreaks.

Lows: Popular cheapies Jake Simpkin, 8, and Shawn Blore, 8, missed out on minutes again. Warriors forwards Ben Murdoch Masila, 13, and Eliesa Katoa, 34, were sin binned.

Watchlist: Kodi Nikorima, 69, is having a massive season bumping up his previous best by 19PPG. The dual position half is the top scoring five-eighth, second to Cleary at halfback and worth a look for Round 14 onwards with just 6% of teams having him.

SHARKS 13-12 DRAGONS

Highs: William Kennedy, 100, had a try, try assist, nine tackle busts and a linebreak. Josh Kerr, 76, pumped out 50+ in base stats and had a try assist, following up last week’s 86 but he faces suspension for a shoulder charge. Wade Graham, 67, was all base stats, running the ball more than he has since Round 1.

Lows: Cody Ramsey, 24, played just 40 minutes after failing a HIA.

Watchlist: Jackson Ford, 60, played 60 minutes and delivered a nice score with an offload and three tackle busts. Max Feagai, 67, had two tries and a linebreak. His cheapie price hasn’t moved too high though with the 7 from last week sitting in his average.

TITANS 30-20 BULLDOGS

Highs: Nick Cotric, 105, was at his blockbusting best with a try, try assist, three offloads, two linebreaks and eight tackle busts. Moeaki Fotuaika, 102, had a linebreak, try assist and nine tackle bust on top of 56 in base stats. Phillip Sami, 93, had a try, five tackle busts, two linebreaks and 43 points from hit-ups. Luke Thompson, 92, had a try and two linebreaks on top of 55 in base stats. He’s one of the top FRF options at the moment and in just 10% of teams. Brian Kelly, 91, had two try assists and a linebreak. He’s set up six tries but only scored one himself this season. Alex Brimson, 90, had two tries and a linebreak on his way to a fifth score over 80 in five weeks. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 86, produced the sort of game that made him such a popular pick to start the season with a try, linebreak, three tackle busts and 56 in base stats in 65 minutes playing through the middle.

Lows: Dylan Napa, 27, was sin binned. Anthony Don, 19, has the lowest average of any regular 80-minute player. The Titans’ all-time leading try scorer has not crossed the line this season or made a linebreak.

Watchlist: A couple of Bulldogs cheapies pop up on the radar with Aaron Schoupp, 31, making a solid at CTW and Matt Doorey, 54, playing 78 minutes in 2RF.

ROOSTERS 16-34 BRONCOS

Highs: James Tedesco, 97, had three try assists, five tackle busts and six linebreak assists. Tevita Pangai, 93, gave the Roosters right edge a torrid night with a try assist, six tackle busts, three offloads and four linebreak assists on top of 47 in base stats. Sitili Tupouniua, 90, playing opposite Pangai didn’t take a backward step though coming up with a try, three linebreaks and five tackle busts. David Mead, 89, scored three tries after missing the past three weeks. Angus Crichton, 87, scored his fourth try in as many weeks but now faces a two-week suspension.

Lows: Sam Walker, 11, had five errors, three missed tackles and two missed conversions for -17 points. Tyson Gamble, 22, was sin binned for the second week in a row and missed four tackles in another big haul of -18 negative points. Victor Radley, 21, topped them both with his two trips to the sin bin, four penalties conceded and a missed tackle for -25.

Watchlist: A try on debut for Broncos cheapie 2RF Keenan Palasia, 81. Albert Kelly, 71, also scored well in his return to the NRL with a try assist, try contribution, four tackle busts, two forced dropouts, a linebreak and a forty-twenty. Joseph Suaalii, 33, a solid debut for the teenager who’s already in 32% of teams.

RAIDERS 10-34 STORM

Highs: Nicho Hynes, 138, followed up last week’s 182 with another monster score and while the Storm were missing their entire spine. He had two try assists, 5/6 goals, 12 tackle busts, two forced dropouts, three offloads, a linebreak and four linebreak assists. Brandon Smith, 106, had three try assists and six linebreak assists as he tore Canberra apart in the middle. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 89, had two tries and linebreaks.

Lows: Melbourne’s left edge just couldn’t get in on the points with Josh Addo-Carr, 14, and Justin Olam, 17, below their best.

Watchlist: Corey Harawira-Naera, 69, has played 80 minutes every game and is averaging just under 60. He’s still a value pick up. Tom Starling, 31, injured his ankle.

RABBITOHS 12-56 PANTHERS

Highs: Nathan Cleary, 190, had two tries, four try assists, 10/11 goals, five tackle busts, two linebreaks and four linebreak assists. Matt Burton, 123, scored a hat-trick in front of his home crowd in Dubbo. Brian To’o, 101, had a try, try assist and the usual 40 points just from hit-ups. Kurt Capewell, 73, had a try, linebreak, two offloads and three tackle busts but will miss next week suspension.

Lows: It’s rocks or diamonds for Charlie Staines, 12. Adam Reynolds, 17, had his lowest score ever in an 80-minute game.

Watchlist: Latrell Mitchell, 50, and Cody Walker, 52, are going to be at a tempting price for Round 14 when the Rabbitohs start a run of very nice fixtures, especially if they miss out on the Blues Origin team. Jarome Luai, 41, has also dropped below his starting price with a three-round average of 35.

EELS 6-28 SEA EAGLES

Highs: Tom Trbojevic, 159, had a try, two try assists, nine tackle busts, two offloads, a linebreak, 10 linebreak assists and massive involvement with 42 points in hit-ups (his most this season). Reuben Garrick, 128, has the second most points of any CTW and had another big game with a try, two try assists, 4/5 goals, six tackle busts and four linebreaks. Isaiah Papali’i, 98, played 69 minutes and had a try assist, four offloads, two linebreak assists with 56 in base stats. Clint Gutherson, 83, scored a try after two lean weeks to give him a three-round average of 62 only the 16th best in the position though he’s still holding on to top spot for points scored. Josh Schuster, 77, had some very nice touches playing five-eighth with a try assist, three try contributions, three tackle busts, three offloads and four linebreak assists

Lows: Waqa Blake, 8, went even worse than last week’s shocker with five missed tackles, four penalties and a trip to the sin bin for -21 points.

Watchlist: Martin Taupau, 67, has brought back the offload with 46 points from them in the past four weeks. He’s one of the top props on three and five round averages and worth a look after the first bye round. Ryan Matterson, 47, played just 59 minutes having a spell in the first half then taken off with 15 minutes to go. Victor Radley and Angus Crichton’s suspension for Origin 1 also bring Matterson closer to playing for NSW and missing the first bye round. Blake Ferguson, 35, just one try in the past seven games and has almost returned to his starting price.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: Round 11 best players and trade targets