KFC SuperCoach NRL: Round 8 best players and trade targets

The Mastermind breaks down every KFC SuperCoach NRL Round 8 game as a future great emerges and we farewell another.

In the same game Roosters halfback Sam Walker firmly announced himself as a KFC SuperCoach must-have for seasons to come we also saw a season and potentially career-ending injury for one of the great wingers in Brett Morris.

Walker’s game was unlike any we’ve seen from a rookie in their fourth game with his score of 163 pumping his averaged to 95PPG and making him a genuine captaincy option ahead of Nathan Cleary in the halfback position.

While Morris hasn’t always been a top tier KFC SuperCoach gun, his past two seasons at the Roosters have seen him average 71PPG in 2020 and 100PPG in 2021.

ROUND 8 LATEST: EARLY MAIL

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

RAIDERS 20-34 RABBITOHS

Highs: Cody Walker, 89, had three try assists and six linebreak assists in his second game at fullback for the season. Keaon Koloamatangi, 83, followed up last week’s century with 57 in base stats a linebreak and try assist. His output has improved dramatically since returning from suspension. Campbell Graham, 82, had a try, linebreak, two offloads and four tackle busts on top of 42 in base stats.

Lows: Cameron Murray, 20, played just 16 minutes before going off with an ankle injury. Ryan James, 15, played just 23 minutes.

Watchlist: Corey Harawira-Naera, 65, is worth a serious look this week at $302,300. He showed glimpses of his ball playing best with two offloads and four linebreak assists, but did only have four hit-ups in 80 minutes. Adam Reynolds, 54, looks set for an extended stint on the sideline injured, making Latrell Mitchell an enticing option when he returns from suspension.

STORM 40-14 SHARKS

Highs: Reimis Smith, 120, scored a century for the second week in a row with three tries, three linebreaks and six tackle busts. Harry Grant, 100, started for the first time this season and played 68 minutes with three try assists and six linebreak assists. This could be the week to move for him with another four rounds until Origin.

Lows: Cameron Munster, 51, had a shocker with the boot kicking 4/8 goals and missed seven tackles, more than any other player. Will Chambers, 15, had a quiet night in his NRL return.

Watchlist: Wade Graham, 53, is close to bottoming out in price around $300k after a couple of injury affected games. Dean Ieremia, 17, is a dual FLB/CTW at bargain basement price and worth keeping an eye on even though he missed out on the attacking points in his NRL debut.

BRONCOS 36-28 TITANS

Highs: Jamayne Isaako, 156, had two tries, three try assists, 6/7 goals, seven tackle busts, two linebreaks and four linebreak assists in a career best game. Alex Brimson, 91, had a try, try assist, eight tackle busts, three linebreaks and also copped a sin-binning. Mitch Rein, 84, had a boost up to 66 minutes with no other hooker on the bench. He delivered a try, linebreak, and five tackle busts. Tyrone Peachey, 80, scored a try and had 40 in base stats while he notched points against a stack of other categories while buzzing around the middle of the field.

Lows: Corey Thompson, 23, scored a try before going off injured.

Watchlist: Jesse Arthars, 78, had a try, try assist and two linebreaks in his first game of the season. Though he did have four errors. Tyson Gamble, 60, had three try contributions and 35 in base stats in a game full of energy. The dual 5/8TH/HFB will go up in value and be handy for bye coverage if he keeps that up.

PANTHERS 28-16 SEA EAGLES

Highs: Brian To’o, 104, had a try, eight tackle busts, two linebreaks and 34 points from hit-ups. He’s the undisputed top CTW with Brett Morris out for the season. Liam Martin, 78, had a try, try assist, six tackle busts and a linebreak as he got his longest stint on the field with Kurt Capewell going off injured. Morgan Harper, 76, had a try assist, linebreak, four tackle busts, two offloads and two linebreak assists.

Lows: Charlie Staines, 19, is still in 36% of teams. Viliame Kikau, 23, had his third score below 40 in the past four weeks.

Watchlist: Martin Taupau, 69, had five offloads (two ineffective), his most in a game since 2019. He’s had more in the past two games than he did in the first five of the season. With Tom Trbojevic back in the team it seems Marty has a licence to offload and that means big KFC SuperCoach points.

BULLDOGS 10-32 EELS

Highs: Clint Gutherson, 140, had his third century in a row and is now the top scoring fullback. He had two tries, a try assist, three linebreaks, 10 tackle busts, two offloads and 35 points in hit-ups. Isaiah Papali’i, 125, is behind only David Fifita in total points scored this season. In 69 minutes, he had 76 in base points, a try assist, three offloads, three tackle busts and six linebreak assists. Maika Sivo, 99, had two tries, two linebreaks and seven tackle busts.

Lows: Nathan Brown, 23, went off injured after 36 minutes. Junior Paulo, 29, averaged 78.5PPG over the first four weeks and 36.5PPG in the past four weeks.

Watchlist: Ryan Matterson, 60, played the full 80 minutes on his return and will be a handy pick up in a few weeks when his price bottoms out. Bryce Cartwright, 63, had two try assists and could be in for extended minutes with Brown out.

KNIGHTS 4-38 ROOSTERS

Highs: Sam Walker, 163, had a try, four try assists, 5/7 goals, a linebreak and six linebreak assists. Daniel Tupou, 102, and Josh Morris, 90, have been the beneficiaries of Walker’s impact with attacking points flowing to the left edge than the start of the season. Tupou in particular is at a very tempting price. Brett Morris, 88, was injured in the closing stages and in his likely last game had two try assists, five tackle busts, three offloads.

Lows: Kalyn Ponga, 40, Lindsay Collins, 42, out for the season after an impressive start to 2021. Blake Green, 26, set for a few weeks on the sidelines with a rib injury.

Watchlist: Bradman Best, 43, was all base points getting through a mountain of work and is set for some big points when the attacking stats flow.

WARRIORS 24-20 COWBOYS

Highs: Kodi Nikorima, 112, scored his third century of the season but he’s also had four scores under 40. This week he had a try, try assist, 4/5 goals, six tackle busts, two linebreaks and two linebreak assists. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 112, had his third century of the season and is the second top scoring fullback. He had two try assists, seven tackle busts, two offloads, a linebreak, four linebreak assists and 41 points in hit-ups. Murray Taulagi, 96, had two tries a try assist and two linebreaks.

Lows: Ben Condon, 23, had just four hit-ups in 70 minutes and five missed tackles. He’s ready to sell. Jason Taumalolo, 39, played just 45 minutes.

Watchlist: A number of Warriors cheapies have emerged in the backline. Reece Walsh, 43, and Rocco Berry, 50, are options at fullback. Edward Kosi, 29, had a solid debut on the wing.

DRAGONS 8-16 TIGERS

Highs: Daine Laurie, 119, bounced back from his lowest score of the season last week with two try assists, eight tackle busts, two linebreaks and six linebreak assists. Adam Doueihi, 83, had five tackle busts, three offloads and six linebreak assists.

Lows: Zac Lomax, 5, went off after 18 minutes with a broken thumb. Tyrell Fuimaano, 16, is still in 20% of teams and it’s time to move him on. Ben Hunt, 22, couldn’t deliver his early season form as he returned from injury after a month out of action.

Watchlist: Joey Leilua, 76, was at his best with a try, five tackle busts, three offloads and a linebreak, but with a break-even of 110 you can take another look at him to see if it’s just a one-off. Zach Cini, 59, had a try and two linebreaks on his debut for the Tigers. Max Feagai, 51, had 36 in base stats and a linebreak on debut for the Dragons.

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach NRL: Round 8 best players and trade targets