NRL SuperCoach: 10 things we learned from round four

IT’S time to cut Daly Cherry-Evans, Jayden Nikorima is making SuperCoaches very nervous and Sam Mataroa owners are laughing all the way to the bank.

1. Even though the representative period does not begin for another eight rounds, many SuperCoaches have been keeping an eye on St George players who will not be selected for Origin duties as they will play the first two big bye rounds (12 & 15).

Unfortunately not many have shone through as options during this important SuperCoach period until the past fortnight. Mitch Rein ($325,300) has played the full eighty for the last two games, offered plenty to the Dragons attack out of dummy half and has averaged 57 while Jack De Belin ($349,000) has averaged 77 minutes and 70 points in the last two games.

2. Priority number one for the 82.5 per cent of SuperCoaches who don’t own Anthony Milford should be to get him in by any means possible. Milford is in a class of his own at the moment and will start round five with a three game average of 105 and a price tag just under $500,000.

Shaun Fensom at $364,000 represents great value.

3. Aiden Tolman and Shaun Fensom can be picked up this week for around $346,000 and $364,000 respectively which is great value but potential owners need to be aware that both of these players, although having a favourable bye schedule have seen inconsistent fluctuating minutes in the first four rounds which can obviously impact upon their scores.

4. Early season cash cow Jayden Nikorima may have to be let loose and cashed in earlier than expected if he continues to play 19 minutes a game off the bench. Nikorima only managed 10 points and this could be a spanner in the works for owners who have him sitting as their bench hooker.

Time to cut your losses, Daly Cherry-Evans fans. Picture Gregg Porteous

5. Daly Cherry-Evans owners will have to cut their losses and move on this week. DCE has had a disappointing start averaging 45 points a game and with the Sea Eagles playmaker expected to miss up to four weeks, he’s a definite sell. If Te Maire Martin retains his spot and plays his third game, DCE can be traded for the Panthers rookie which will free up around $220,000 to spent elsewhere.

6. He may have started the season slowly, but it appears as if the Brisbane Broncos may have found a way to use their exciting new recruit James Roberts. For those new SuperCoaches joining us this year, an important rule to take into account when trading is not to chase last week’s points. However, over the past four rounds, Roberts has increased not only his work rate (8 runs in round one, 10 in round two, 12 in round three and 13 in round four) but also the quality of his hit-ups (2 over 8m round one, 6 in round two, 7 in round three and 9 runs over 8m in round four) and as he showed against last year’s premiers, when he has the ball in his hands, he is capable of doing serious damage. Possibly not one to trade in just yet but one to keep doing your homework on to see if he maintains these stats.

7. Sam Mataora (65) owners will be laughing all the way to the bank as the Knights front-rower who started the season at $177,000 crossed for his second try in as many weeks. Mataora scored 86 points above his breakeven meaning he will start round five valued at somewhere in the vicinity of $268,000.

8. Bryce Cartwright is back on the casualty list. Cartwright wasn’t able to re-create the form that saw him score 112 in round three and had to be rushed to hospital at half time to have a dislocated thumb put back into place. 32,831 SuperCoaches have invitations to the ‘Carty Party’ and are hoping that it re-opens for business as soon as possible.

Shaun Johnson, with 86 points, had his best performance of the season against the Knights.

9. New Zealand Warriors’ dangerous spine is starting to click into alignment. Issac Luke (62), Shaun Johnson (86) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (76) scored two tries and set up another two between them to give the Warriors their first win of the year.

10. Trent Merrin owners were able to breathe a sigh of relief when he not only took the field after failing to strap the boots on in round three due to suspected glandular fever, but produced a well-earned 87 in 59 minutes.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: 10 things we learned from round four