NRL teams round 13: What Blaize Talagi benching means for SuperCoach

Blaize Talagi has been a SuperCoach revelation this season but has been demoted by the Parramatta Eels to accommodate the return of Clint Gutherson.

Tom Sangster and Rob Sutherland analyse the SuperCoach impact of another crazy teams day.

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* James Tedesco FLB $824,600 - Teddy’s NSW selection loss was our win and the Roosters’ skipper is the most purchased player of the round. Tedesco’s five-round average sits at a spectacular 102.2 and he looks like the best captaincy pick of the round up against a Cowboys team which was already leaking 26 points per game and now has lost six players to Origin. Round 14 will be tricky for those of us with lots of Roosters in their side, but after that a draw of Eels, Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and Dragons is appealing.

* Trai Fuller FLB $429,200 - With Hamiso-Tabuai-Fidow on Origin duty, Fuller returns for the Dolphins at starting fullback and should cover all three big byes. With an average of 74.8 and BE of 21, he’s hardly the worst purchase this week for those needing cash.

* Terrell May FRF $573,900 - Big boost for those who held with May named to start at prop while Lindsay Collins and Spencer Leniu are on Origin duty.

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Blaize Talagi CTW $538,900 - Massive blow for SuperCoaches with Talagi demoted to the bench to accommodate the return of Clint Gutherson at fullback. With a BE of -21 and as an extra number this week, he’s a hold. But he’s on this ice from there.

* Viliame Kikau 2RF $489,700 - Out for 4-6 weeks with a finger injury and therefore a popular sell.

Blaize Talagi has been benched by the Eels. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

BUY

* Sam Walker HFB $685,200 - Alongside Dylan Brown (more below), Walker is the half to target this week. Walker has a 5RA of 90.4 and is clearly in great form. His recent pattern is a worry though with his last five scores reading 172, 40, 95, 45, 100. If you follow that line Walker is due a sub-50 stinker this week. But see above re his opposition being severely weakened.

* Dylan Brown 2RF/5-8 $698,600 - Brown is a New Zealander and therefore won’t play Origin. Available for two big byes in rounds 13 and 19, his schedule is darn tasty. After a slow start, he’s hit form recently with three and five game averages of 77 and 71, but is still quite affordable for a proven gun. While he doesn’t kick goals, Brown has the best pure base of any half in the game, only scoring below 50 once this year but also never scoring above 96.

* Joseph Manu CTW $838,700 - Rinse and repeat plenty from Brown above. A New Zealander available for 2/3 big byes and crucially the first two. Teddy’s Origin snub means Manu won’t fill-in at fullback, where he averages close to 100 over his career. But with the third most points of any player in SuperCoach this year, he’s hard to pass up even at a big price.

* Jacob Kiraz CTW $799,200 - We’ve been blessed with a host of high performing CTWs this year with eight players (played four or more games) averaging over 70PPG. At the top of the list are perennial stars Joey Manu and Val Holmes. Right behind them – on average and total points – sits Kiraz. With a great base and terrific power game, Kiraz is far from a flat track bully as his 100 against the Panthers and 101 against the Knights (the fifth stingiest defence in the league right now) attest. A good buy for those looking to get out of Zac Lomax or Reece Walsh (via duals) but I’m not sure about all those selling Garrick to get Kiraz, that one feels sideways.

* Jack De Belin 2RF/FRF $617,800 - Plenty of top SuperCoach forwards are out this week and De Belin is a great low-risk alternative. Covers 2/3 big byes and averages 43 in pure base. De Belin’s lowest score is 42 and highest score is 82, so you know what you’re getting.

MONEY-MAKERS

* Naufahu Whyte 2RF/FRF $379,300 - Third-most popular buy. Whyte started at lock last week and in his first game of over 40 minutes he returned a very impressive 73 points (51 in base and 14 in tackle breaks). He has retained the starting spot this week even with Nat Butcher back, while Angus Crichton, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu (Origin) and Egan Butcher (ACL) are out. I’m prepared to wait and watch in round 13 then if Whyte is selected to start at lock again come round 15 he might move into the ‘buy’ list.

* David Armstrong CTW/FLB $388,400 - If you are late on Armstrong the $180K we’re paying compared to his starting price hurts, but don’t let your pride stop you from buying. With a BE of -53 this week there’s plenty more money to be made and his job security is solid for the next 4-6 weeks at least.

HOLD

* Addin Fonua-Blake FRF $748,900 - Dropped by his club last week for disciplinary reasons and missing this week due to the bye, plenty are hopping off AFB. The Warriors have a great bye schedule playing all five rounds from 14-19 (inclusive) and with the elite FRF stocks thin, some may regret this sell later.

* Angus Crichton 2RF $853,400 - I’m surprised by how many are selling here. I suppose his unavailability this week into the bye next week is the motivation but it’s tough to sell a guy with a 5RA of 102.6PPG. The big question at 2RF is who to sell to – the top 13 players for total points are out this week. A little digging suggests that Crichton to Tedesco/Manu via duals are popular trades and I suppose those make sense.

* Dylan Edwards FLB $950,500 - Nicho’s weekend injury means Edwards is the best player in SuperCoach by a huge margin of almost 10 points per game. He also has the best possible bye schedule if any Origin player, so stick solid.

Dylan Edwards will debut for the Blues. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

* J’maine Hopgood 2RF $671,300 - Named on the bench for the Maroons. This presumably means reduced minutes so he’s a solid chance to back up in round 14. However, his schedule gets problematic later in the Origin series when he’s confirmed to miss 3/5 games at a minimum. Consider selling then.

* Matt Burton HFB/5-8 $762,500 – Set to miss 4/7 over the Origin period. But the round 15 bye should be easy to cover so it’s essentially 3/7. While a trade to Dylan Brown makes sense, there’s not the usual SuperCoach depth in the halves this year so replacements are thin. Can you trade to anyone better? Likely not.

* Val Holmes CTW $684,200 - Very hard to sell a guy who scored 136 on the weekend, kicks goals, has close to the best base stats of any CTW and has a great record of backing up.

* Harry Grant HOK $672,800 - The best possible schedule for an Origin player and only plays from the bench in Origin which means reduced minutes. He has backed up at every single opportunity so far in his Origin career and has decent turnarounds between games.

SELL

* Nicholas Hynes HFB $984,100 - Let’s assume Nicho doesn’t back up from Origin, which is a fair assumption given the ongoing calf injury which requires a modified training program. In that case, Hynes only plays 2/8 games over Origin. He also has a massive BE of 190 so it’s not like his price will be unattainable after Origin. Even consecutive 100s on his return would still see a price drop of approximately $125K over two weeks.

* Reece Walsh FLB $718,400 – Walsh hobbled around a little on the weekend when his knee was hit and you can be sure that leg will be a target of the Blues. One player it would not shock to see rested by his club at some time throughout the Origin campaign. The fullback position is too red-hot to not keep rolling with players who actually take the field and score big.

* Zac Lomax CTW $676,400 - After a very strong start to the season Lomax has gone cold with a 5RA of 63.8PPG and 3RA of 58.3PPG. Out this week for Origin, a sell is on the cards even with a juicy round 14 draw against the Wests Tigers. The CTW position is hot this year and the likes of Kiraz and Manu are calling.

NRL ROUND 13 TEAMS

EELS v SHARKS

Thursday, 7:50pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Eels

Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitch Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11.Kelma Tuilagi 12. Bryce Cartwright13. Joe Ofahengaue

Bench: 14. Blaize Talagi 15. Shaun Lane 16. Makahesi Makatoa 17. Wiremu Greig

Reserves: 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Morgan Harper 20. Joey Lussick 21. Ryan Matterson 22. Luca Moretti

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jack Williams

Bench: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Royce Hunt 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Billy Burns 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Jayden Berrell

KNIGHTS v BULLDOGS

Friday, 8pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. David Armstrong 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Kai Pearce-Paul 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Daniel Saifiti 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Mathew Croker 20. Will Pryce 21. Jack Hetherington 22. Fletcher Sharpe

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Jacob Preston 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Kurt Mann

Bench: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Josh Curran 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Poasa Faamausili

Reserves: 19. Lipoi Hopoi 20. Blake Taaffe 21. Jake Turpin 22. Harry Hayes 23. Jeral Skelton

PANTHERS v DRAGONS

Saturday, 5:30pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Panthers

1. Daine Laurie 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jesse McLean 6. Jack Cole 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Henry 13. Lindsay Smith

Bench: 14. Trent Toelau 15. Preston Riki 16. Mavrik Geyer 17. Tyrone Peachey

Reserves: 18. Isaiah Iongi 19. Ativalu Lisati 20. Luron Patea 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Casey McLean

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Sione Finau 3. Moses Suli 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Jesse Marschke 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Toby Couchman 17. Ryan Couchman

Reserves: 18. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Michael Molo 20. Alec Tuitavake 21. Christian Tuipulotu 22. Mikaele Ravalawa

DOLPHINS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kenny Bromwich 16. Ray Stone 17. Anthony Milford

Reserves: 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Edrick Lee

Raiders

1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Kaeo Weekes 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Ata Mariota 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Emre Guler

Reserves: 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Zac Woolford 20. Peter Hola 21. Michael Asomua 22. Hohepa Puru

ROOSTERS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Terrell May 11. Nat Butcher 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte

Bench: 14. Sandon Smith 15. Siua Wong 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Michael Jennings

Reserves: 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Blake Steep 20. Ethan King 21. Jake Elliott 22. Delasalle Vaa

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Tomas Chester 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Jake Granville 10. Griffin Neame 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Thomas Mikaele

Bench: 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Jamal Shibasaki 17. Jason Taumalolo

Reserves: 18. Kaiden Lahrs 19. Thomas Duffy 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jai Hansen 22. Jaxon Purdue

Originally published as NRL teams round 13: What Blaize Talagi benching means for SuperCoach