NRL SuperCoach finals fever 2024: Tom Sangster’s best PODs for run home

A good POD can be the difference between winning and losing your NRL SuperCoach head-to-head final. TOM SANGSTER rates the best options

The head-to-head finals start this week, which is when SuperCoach becomes sudden death for many.

A good POD can be the difference between winning and losing.

Tom Sangster rates the best options.

Kalyn Ponga - 6% ownership

$648,900

A lot to like here. Currently at a discount of almost $250,000 on his starting price, you’ll never get Ponga any cheaper. Ponga has the leaky Tigers this week so notch up a huge score (and even lock him in as captain in the final game of the round).

He also has the Rabbitohs and Titans among his closing games. Ponga also has the goalkicking duties following the axing of Jackson Hastings last week. The Knights sit on the cusp of the top eight so Ponga is unlikely to be rested, and he has no more byes.

Kalyn Ponga is a great POD for the run home. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

Cameron Munster - 4% ownership

$535,000

It’s the stuff of dreams - a great of SuperCoach available for just $535,000. Five-eighth is a barren position in SuperCoach this year and Munster looms as the x-factor. That said, the Storm are set to rest players in the run to the finals and Munster would be a prime candidate given his recent injury history.

Mitchell Barnett - 11% ownership

$826,300

Averaging 94 over the last five rounds. Barnett is the best forward in SuperCoach right now – by a long way – but is still only in 11 per cent of teams. Why? Well he’s almost prohibitively expensive because he’s, like, extremely good. He also has the bye in round 27 which is a consideration for overall players, but not head-to-head players given league grand finals are in round 26.

Zac Lomax - 15% ownership

$667,900

Lomax has the second-highest average of any CTW, yet sits at his lowest price since the start of the season following a taxing Origin period. The Dragons have no more byes and aren’t in a position to rest players given they are chasing a top eight spot. The match-up against the Bulldogs this week is tough, but he also has a few gimmies against the Titans and Eels.

Joey Manu - 12% ownership

$574,300

Owned by over 56,000 SuperCoaches at one stage, Manu has dipped to POD territory following a hand injury. His return from injury last week was hardly encouraging (just 30 points) and he has the bye this week. But Manu could be a serious option for round 24 - the second week of SuperCoach finals. Fifth highest average of any CTW despite injury-affected games, yet at his cheapest price of the year.

Daly Cherry-Evans - 6% ownership

$634,600

Back from the bye this week and has the fifth best average of any available halfback this season. With Tommy Turbo back in the side, the sky is the limit for Manly’s attack. Available for a very juicy $634,600 after price drops over Origin. His run over the next three games is very favourable - Raiders, Warriors and Tigers.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach finals fever 2024: Tom Sangster’s best PODs for run home