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NRL SuperCoach analysis from Sunday’s action: Kai Pearce-Paul the big winner

He’s known as the ‘English Sonny Bill’ and he’s sure to surge up the NRL SuperCoach most-owned list after another powerhouse display.

Tom SangsterTom Sangster
@TomSangsterSC
8 min read
March 24, 2024 - 10:33PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
Kai Pearce-Paul is a cheapie option.
Kai Pearce-Paul is a cheapie option.

Cheapie Kai Pearce-Paul is the big SuperCoach winner from yet another low-scoring clash.

The English import played the full 80 minutes on the edge for 64 SuperCoach points, almost entirely in base stats.

The big question over the ‘English Sonny Bill’ has always been job security.

But he appears to have jumped ahead of his main rival Dylan Lucas, who copped a concussion in round 1, missed round 2 and then played from the bench on Sunday.

With an average of 50 over the opening three rounds, KPP is set for serious rises and will be one of the more popular players when SuperCoaches start trading come the end of lockout on Monday.

He currently sits at just six per cent ownership.

Kai Pearce-Paul is a cheapie option.
Kai Pearce-Paul is a cheapie option.

WINNERS

Mitchell Moses (HFB): 109 points - A second-half masterclass with three try assists and a try. Took one kick at goal so could be back with the tee next week after relinquishing the duties to Clint Gutherson over the opening rounds due to a groin issue.

Reuben Garrick (CTW): 95 points - All the chat in pre-season was around Garrick’s move to the centres and how it would kill his SuperCoach scores. Only 11 per cent of SuperCoaches jumped on, many spooked by the positional switch. But he was on fire yet again and now averaged 82 over the opening three rounds.

Tom Trbojevic (FLB): 79 points - The 79 points are nothing to be sneezed at but oh what could have been! Turbo had a potentially match-winning try assist (with linebreak) denied by a controversial call … he could easily have tonned up.

Blaize Talagi (CTW): 52 points - A SuperCoach cheapie of the future with 64 points including a try. Bailey Simonsson is back next week so Talagi likely drops out, but keep an eye on him for later in the season.

Kalyn Ponga (FLB): 76 points - Well, you could call it a win, although it looked like Ponga would score plenty more after starring in the first half. He’ll drop in price but thankfully not by quite as much as the $80K predicted by SuperCoach Plus.

Ryan Papenhuyzen (FLB): 76 points - The seventh most popular player coming into the round and it looked dire as the Storm struggled in the first half. But he stormed home to notch 76 points and secure a price rise of around $40,000.

Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm scores a try. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images
Ryan Papenhuyzen of the Storm scores a try. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

LOSERS

Joe Chan (2RF): DNP- The popular cheapie was ruled out due to a finger infection in a huge blow for almost 50,000 teams. Thankfully, replacement Shawn Blore hardly killed it in Chan’s absence so hopefully we see him again next week.

Joey Lussick (HOK): 32 points - Came into the week as the most purchased player but we warned you - if the attacking stats weren’t there the SuperCoach points won’t be there. And so it unfolded, although he still played the full 80 minutes and still scored a very solid price rise.

Ben Trbojevic (CTW/2RF): 21 points - Has been a star for the Sea Eagles over the opening two rounds but strangely went missing this week despite getting good game time (60 minutes).

J’Maine Hopgood (2RF): 42 points - Those backing Hopgood as a keeper at 2RF went disappointed with Hopgood playing 61 minutes and not producing anywhere near his usual work rate.

Shaun Lane (2RF): 35 points - The popular mid-ranger is still making his way back from serious injury and his work rate is suffering. However, the 80 minutes were encouraging so expect big things soon.

Bryce Cartwright (2RF): 26 points - Stunning in the opening round with 116, Carty picked up a rib injury and failed to return.

FULL-TIME: ROUGH SECOND HALF FOR PONGA AS KNIGHTS HANG ON

What happened in the second half to Kalyn Ponga – and the Knights for that matter?

The Knights won 14-12 but didn’t score a single point in the second half as the Storm finished fast.

The stats of Ponga (76) mirrored the game pattern.

He went into the break on 60 points but only notched 16 SuperCoach points in the second half as the Knights clung on for dear life.

Meanwhile, Ponga’s opposite number, Ryan Papenhuyzen, stormed home to also notch 76 points.

But the Pap-led Storm fell just short in a performance that will worry coach Craig Bellamy.

58 MINS: PAPENHUYZEN GETS STORM BACK IN IT

The Storm are having a shocker without Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.

But Ryan Papenhuyzen has stepped up in their absence.

He’s just scored the Storm’s first try and is now the top-scorer in this game on 72.

That also includes seven tackle busts and two linebreaks.

It’s 14-6 to the Knights. But is the Melbourne comeback on?

HALF-TIME: PONGA’S IMPOSSIBLE ASSIST

Kalyn Ponga has pulled off an impossible try assist in a first half masterclass.

The Knights lead 14-nil and much of that is on the back of Ponga, who sits on 60 SuperCoach points at half-time.

If you needed a reminder, Ponga was the most sold player in SuperCoach this week.

“The pass from dummy half was special. Very few players in the game could land that,” said Michael Ennis in commentary.

Top scorers:

Kalyn Ponga: 60

Enari Tuala: 60

Dane Gagai: 57

Tyson Gamble: 38

Nick Meaney: 38

Kalyn Ponga's freakish pass to set up a try.
Kalyn Ponga's freakish pass to set up a try.

23 MINS: GAGAI SCORES, SMITH INJURY CREATES GAME TIME FOR CHEAPIE

Two big happenings here.

Dane Gagai has scored the opening try and Reimis Smith is off with a rib injury.

The Smith injury means popular pre-season cheapie Kane Bradley is set for massive game time at centre.

20 MINS: PAP BEST OF A BAD LOT

Still nil-all here in the Knights v Storm clash.

Which means no big attacking points yet although Ryan Papenhuyzen is the best of the SuperCoach-relevant players with 27 points including a linebreak.

FULL-TIME: DID CONTROVERSIAL OBSTRUCTION CALL COST SEA EAGLES?

A controversial obstruction ruling has thwarted the Sea Eagles’ comeback against the Eels.

The Eels took the chocolates 28-24 but the Sea Eagles were denied a try in a match-defining moment.

Jake Trbojevic was deemed to have taken out defender Luca Moretti in contact that wouldn’t have knocked the froth off a cappuccino.

The Sea Eagles went on to score, with Tom Trbojevic notching the try assist (although that itself was dubious due to a potential forward pass).

But the try was disallowed due to the minor Jurbo contact.

“He’s clocked off, he’s given up. It’s a difficult one but they’ve been consistent with it,” said Corey Parker in commentary.

Andrew Voss added: “Moretti was not a chance, you can’t reward defender in that position.”

5.33PM: CHAN OUT IN HORROR NEWS FOR SUPERCOACHES

Late Mail is in for the final game of the round and there are big changes.

Well ... big changes for those who don’t read our Late Mail because we brought them to you long ago.

Adam O’Brien has made two changes to the bench he named on Tuesday, with Jack Hetherington and Jed Cartwright both dropping out in favour of Mat Croker and Dylan Lucas.

For the Storm, Joe Chan (hand infection) is out, replaced by Shawn Blore.

The Chan news is hugely SuperCoach relevant given he’s in almost 50,000 teams, while Lucas also has big SuperCoach ramifications.

Newcastle Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Daniel Saifiti 20. Mathew Croker 21. Dylan Lucas 18. Brodie Jones

Melbourne Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 22. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Kane Bradley 15. Tepai Moeroa 16. Chris Lewis 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson

42 MINS: BROWN NOTCHES BRILLIANT TRY ASSIST

Morgan Harper has strolled in for the first try of the half and the Eels now have the lead 20-18.

The Harbour Bridge pass try assist from Dylan Brown was outrageous.

Jaxson Paulo’s defence was just as outrageous, going up-and-in when there was no need.

HALF-TIME: GARRICK STUNS ON BUZZER

Who said Reuben Garrick can’t score big at centre?

Me.

And a lot of other SuperCoaches felt the same given he is only owned by 11 per cent.

Now Garrick is up to 82 points with a try, try assist, two linebreaks and three goals.

The Sea Eagles have regained the lead 18-16 at half-time.

32 MINS: EELS BACK IN IT AS POTENTIAL CHEAPIE SCORES

This is a huge turnaround.

The Eels have put on three tries straight to get back into the game after an early Sea Eagles’ onslaught.

Will Penisini, Mitchell Moses and Blaize Talagi have all crossed and the Eels suddenly lead 16-14.

Talagi in particular is looking brilliant and could be a cheapie of the future.

11 MINS: ANOTHER BROOKS TRY ASSIST

Jaxson Paulo is over after some lovely work from our SuperCoach stud Luke Brooks.

Brooks is now set for a huge price rise.

5 MIN: TRY OF THE YEAR CONTENDER

Scoring from a kick-off is rare but this was simply insane from the Sea Eagles and especially Tom Trbojevic.

Turbo set up the linebreak for winger Reuben Garrick, then chased Garrick’s kick to get the Sea Eagles to 8-0 after an earlier penalty goal.

WATCH THE TRY BELOW!

PRE-GAME: EELS PULL FORWARD SWITCH

Late Mail is in and the Eels have made a tweak to their forward pack with Joe Ofahengaue to start at prop and Junior Paulo dropping to the bench.

It’s the third week in a row the Eels have made the switch.

Brendan Hands is 18th man with Ofahiki Ogden the final player cut.

The Sea Eagles are 1-17.

Jakob Arthur is 18th man with Aaron Woods the final player cut.

Junior Paulo has switched to the bench. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
Junior Paulo has switched to the bench. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Morgan Harper 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 16. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 10. Junior Paulo 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 17. Kelma Tuilagi

Reserves: 20. Brendan Hands

Cut: 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Wiremu Greig 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Daejarn Asi

Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur

Cut: 20. Aaron Woods 19. Tommy Talau 21. Brad Parker 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

EARLIER ...

Sunday is always the day that can make or break your NRL SuperCoach round.

If you’ve gone the early crow, you’re likely watching with gritted teeth, especially if you sold Kalyn Ponga.

And if you’ve got ground to make up, it’s time to settle in, avoid sharp objects and watch a Tom Trbojevic masterclass (as captain). Here are the players to watch:

* Ponga is predicted to drop by almost $90,000 and is therefore the second most sold player this week. But will he make a fool of 15,000 SuperCoaches and have a blinder, albeit in a tough match-up against the Storm?

* Parramatta’s Joey Lussick is now an 80 minute hooker and he’s by far the most popular purchase of the week.

* Luke Brooks looks a new player at the Sea Eagles and is also all the rage this week, attracting the fourth most interest of any player.

* Ryan Papenhuyzen is also very popular following his 132 last week. But with no goalkicking and the bye next week, is he really a good purchase.

* Ben Trbojevic remains the most popular player in the game at 68 per cent ownership. It’s a tough match-up against the Eels at CommBank Stadium but he’s still a serious play in 17s.

More Coverage

Late Mail: Haas faces extended stint on sidelines
Fatima Kdouh, Tom Sangster, Dean Ritchie, Peter Badel and Wilson Smith
Teams analysis: New best buy as most popular player falls
Tom Sangster, Martin Gabor, Wilson Smith and Brent Read

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach analysis from Sunday’s action: Kai Pearce-Paul the big winner

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