NRL SuperCoach wrap round 24: Look left-field to replace injured Nathan Cleary

Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary will be the most popular SuperCoach sell this coming round and the best replacement is (drum roll) ...

NRL 2024 RD24 Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm - Nathan Cleary, injury. Picture: NRL Photos

Nathan Cleary has avoided shoulder surgery and will be back for the finals.

And while that’s good news for the Panthers, it’s no good for SuperCoaches given he’s out for the rest of head-to-head and overall seasons.

He’ll be the most popular sell this coming round and the best replacement is ... drum roll ... nobody in the HFB position.

While being a strong position in the past for SuperCoach, halfback is barren in SuperCoach this year with no fit player in the top 15 for overall average.

The best option may therefore be to not replace Cleary directly, but hold him and use a crucial trade to bring in a CTW with a great run home like Dominic Young, Zac Lomax or Jacob Kiraz.

CTW is red-hot in SuperCoach this year and is set to decide SuperCoach season.

However, if you are constrained by the halfback position, the best replacement is Daly Cherry-Evans.

DCE has averaged 78 since the return of Tom Trbojevic and he possesses the best 5RA of any halfback in SuperCoach. He’s also unlikely to be rested as the Sea Eagles sit in sixth spot.

Nathan Cleary suffers a shoulder injury. .Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The other options at halfback all have big questions marks.

Sam Walker is in good form but the Roosters are flying and he likely gets a rest in the closing rounds.

Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes is also due a rest after the Storm pushed four points clear on the ladder this weekend.

Dylan Brown is out of form since the injury to Mitchell Moses (5RA 64).

Matt Burton is the dark horse in that the Dogs won’t rest players and he’s in strong form in actual NRL, but his game doesn’t quite translate to SuperCoach.

If you have the flexibility to buy at five-eighth, Max Plath is a strong option after averaging mid-70s over his last five games. He’s been particularly good since moving to hooker.

KEY INJURIES

* Cody Walker (27) - Struggled to make his mark on the game and was forced off the field early with a head knock that could rule him out for round 25.

* Connor Watson (10) - Was wiped out of the game early, failing a HIA after being hit with a shoulder to the head. Will spend a week on the sidelines as a result of the nasty incident.

* Josh Curran (46) - In obvious pain at the end of the match with a shoulder injury, an injury he’s carried for two weeks now. Rest?

Cody Walker comes off due to concussion. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

SUPERCOACH WINNERS

* Zac Lomax (89) - Very solid showing from the most purchased player this week. A try, five offloads and 22 runs.

* Jacob Kiraz (129) - He’s been in fine form and it was no different in Bundaberg. Kiraz lit up the opening half-hour with two tries and didn’t look back. A special effort considering he was winded and throwing up in the corner after landing painfully on the footy in the process of scoring his first try.

* Valentine Holmes (133) - Just days after announcing he was leaving the Cowboys, Holmes produced one of his best performances of the year on the back of three tries, seven goals, a linebreak, and 39 points in base. Remarkably this was only his fourth best score of the season so far.

* Scott Drinkwater (97) - Another great performance for the Cowboys fullback, coming close to a century before countbacks without scoring a try. He did however help set up three, as well as a linebreak and three linebreak assists.

* Heath Mason (61) - Not the biggest score of the day, but the Tigers rookie showed some signs of brilliance in his fourth career appearance, and could be one to watch in the future.

* Dom Young (127) - There were big concerns about his fitness coming into this clash, but owners had nothing to worry about with the English international scoring a hat-trick and piling on a monster score.

Jacob Kiraz had a blinder in Bundaberg. Picture: Emily Barker/Getty Images

* James Tedesco (125) - A great night for the skipper and for those who opted to captain him, finishing with two try assists and a try. Could’ve had a second try if not for an incredible trysaving effort from Maika Sivo.

* Tom Trbojevic (105) – Many kept the faith and left the C on Turbo despite it being just the second game of the weekend. Those people will be happy enough with that decision on the back of a try and two try assists.

* Casey McLean (89) - The more we see of this young man, the more obvious it is how he belongs at this level. Scored a try and set one up to cap a great night.

SUPERCOACH LOSERS

* Kalyn Ponga (73) - It’s not often a score of 73 is in the “losers” list but those SuperCoaches who took the punt on Kalyn Ponga are regretting it with the rivals in his position going much better this week (James Tedesco 125 and Tom Trbojevic 105).

* Reuben Cotter (23) - One of the most owned forwards in SuperCoach, Cotter produced one of his worst performances of the season, and with a BE of 106 before this game, looks set for a massive price drop. It didn’t help that he got an early mark because of the Cowboys’ massive lead. Also has the bye next week, so could be a sell.

* Ethan Strange (29) - Still owned by almost 24% of SuperCoaches, his owners will be disappointed with his score. His shift to centre was perplexing.

* Joseph Tapine (47) - While not the worst score, it was significant down on his 3RA of 85 and owners would be disappointed.

* Apisai Koroisau (32) - One of the most owned hookers in SuperCoach, Api got a rest in the second half and really needs to play the whole 80 for a big score.

* Blaize Talagi (12) – It’s been a superb year for the young gun, but this just wasn’t his night as the Roosters well and truly had his measure.

Dylan Brown has been out of form. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

* Dylan Brown (30) – Hasn’t scored below the half century mark since all the way back in round four, but this was a brutal watch for SuperCoach owners as he failed to make anything happen.

* Mitch Barnett (45) – Has been such a reliable front rower from a SuperCoach perspective, but even his staunchest owners will be disappointed with this score.

* Brian To’o (32) - We’ve been getting used to big scores from the Origin winger in recent times so this was a tough one for many. Didn’t really see any good ball in an attacking setting.

* Daine Laurie (35) - Has done a great job filling in at fullback for Dylan Edwards, but came up with a few errors after being shifted to the wing.

* Ryan Papenhuyzen (38) - His final score of 38 included a try assist. Always tough for opposition fullbacks to get going for a good score against the Penrith defence and he found that out.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach wrap round 24: Look left-field to replace injured Nathan Cleary