SuperCoach Plus NRL article: Jacob Kiraz a keeper candidate at just 1% ownership

He’s the keeper candidate flying under the radar at a barely-believable ownership rate. We reveal the SuperCoach stats set to define Round 2 and beyond.

Round 1 of SuperCoach 2023 was a doozy but now our attention turns to Round 2.

Each week I’m going to dive in to find some key stats to define the upcoming round.

Let’s check out this week.

5

Five is the number of offloads Jacob Kiraz threw last week, with four of them being deemed effective. This is impressive for any player, but Kiraz spent 10 minutes off the field for a HIA which he passed.

These offloads formed 18 of the 51 points Kiraz scored, all in base and base attack stats, in his 70 minutes of game time – those are elite numbers and if he can maintain that work rate, and the Bulldogs’ attack also starts clicking and he can add some tries to that, Kiraz could elevate himself into the discussion for top five premium CTWs.

Jacob Kiraz is a potential keeper at just one per cent ownership. Picture: Getty

9

Cam Murray played the full 80 minutes in Round 1, something he does from time to time but it’s definitely not a regular occurrence. In fact, only 15.7% of the time, or nine times in the last 57 regular season games he has played from 2020 to 2022. He does have another 12 games playing above 70 minutes (but not quite the full 80), which in more than one third of his last 57 regular season games (37.8% to be specific), Murray has played at least 70 minutes and has averaged 77.2 points per game in those 21 games.

With the Rabbitohs’ forward stocks depleted, it seems highly likely that Murray will be relied upon to play big minutes for the time being and that spells KFC SuperCoach gold for those with Murray on their rosters.

81

J’Maine Hopgood (or HopGod, as you will) played a monster of a game this week, staying on the field for the entirety of the 84 minutes (four minutes of golden point) and playing exclusively in the middle. What’s amazing is that he scored 81 points in pure base – that’s tackles less missed tackles, and hit-ups of the over and under 8m varieties.

That’s an almost obscene workrate. And then when you factor in his impressive offloading ability, he is a KFC SuperCoach weapon provided he keeps getting big minutes even after Ryan Matterson returns in Round 4 ... but in any case, until then he is a must-play over the next two rounds and arguably could even be a captaincy candidate.

J'Maine Hopgood is a base stat beast. Picture: Getty

65

Payne Haas continues to prove the doubters wrong, bursting out a monster Round 1 score of 79 points without any attacking stats – just pure base and base attack stats. He did all of that in 65 minutes of game time, which is a very repeatable number for Haas even if the preference might be to keep him closer to the 60 minute mark.

He was impressive to the eye and even moreso on the stats sheet, without a single missed tackle, error or penalty. With another tough game against the Cowboys lined up this week, it’s hard to imagine Payne not ripping and tearing at Suncorp Stadium for another monster score.

63

Reuben Cotter played a fantastic game in Round 1, and showed his importance to the Cowboys. He was relentless in defence, a constant threat in attack and the work he gets through cannot be understated.

You won’t get many tackle busts and offloads from Cotter but 33 tackles with no misses, and 30 points in hitups – for a total of 63 points in pure base – will deliver a highly reliable floor each week. He did play 67 minutes though, and that number may not need to be that high from week to week, depending on the game script.

Lindsay Collins is attracting big game time in a depleted pack. Picture: Getty

55

The Roosters’ forward pack are basically all in the casualty ward, with big names like Waerea-Hargreaves, Lodge, Crichton, Tupouniua all missing and doubts hanging over Radley and Smith. Up steps Lindsay Collins who played an impressive 55 minutes at prop, and delivered 66 points in base and base attack stats (including five tackle busts). Judging by the look of the team named this week, Trent Robinson appears to have no option but to lean heavily on Collins again.

80

The Warriors are a better team when Tohu Harris in on the field. He’s the captain but he is also their on-field inspiration, as you can tell the players lift when he’s out there with them. Tohu never tires, never takes a backward step and you can bet that he is the first one to put his hand up for yet another tireless carry, or to tackle that incoming ball carrier.

He can also ball play too, and his classy line break assist last week is yet more evidence of that. The Warriors have some seriously tough games coming up and it’s hard to imagine Tohu Harris isn’t out there in the thick of things through this stretch.

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39

The biggest knock on Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow’s KFC SuperCoach credentials thus far has been his inability to hold down a regular fullback spot at the Cowboys, as well as a trend towards lower workrate games. In Round 1 ‘The Hammer’ scored a very nice 39 points in base and base attack stats, which would see him make decent coin based on his current price tag even without attacking stats.

The trend thus far in his career however is that he hasn’t been able to maintain this workrate, and it drops to below 25 points per game which then means he is definitely reliant on attacking stats to make cash. For those without him on their roster yet, he might be a ‘wait and see’ for at least one more week before you jump on board.

46

Is it an injury issue, or is there something more to it? The signing of Api Koroisau was meant to be the crown jewel on an offseason signing spree by the Wests Tigers, and there was plenty of excitement amongst fans. However, a shift to the bench in final team lists and only playing 46 minutes wasn’t the start the fans (and also 7% of KFC SuperCoaches) expected. You’d expect better days ahead and more game time sooner rather than later, but Api may take some time to warm up.

40

Kalyn Ponga’s second coming as the Knights’ five-eighth started brightly, with a strong 72 points on the weekend. Forty of those came from two try assist and line break assist combos, and you can see the potency in attack of that left edge.

He didn’t have the perfect game by any means, but it’s not impossible to see Ponga being able to set up a try at least once every game or two, given his natural ability. He is an ongoing concussion risk unfortunately, and his lack of goalkicking at the moment means that he could have the odd sub-30 score, but it’s a positive start.

77

This is a bit of a left-field one but it’s also the first time we’ll see Jack Bird (and the rest of the Dragons) playing this season. Bird has been named to start at lock, something he hasn’t done all that much although he definitely has the size and the skillset to succeed there.

He started six games last year at lock, and averaged 77.0 points per game with 51.3 of those points coming from base and base attack stats. You couldn’t jump on straight away, not with De Belin sidelined with injury this week, but if De Belin returns at prop and Bird holds onto the #13 jersey, he looms as a real interesting watch.

Bring on Round 2!

Originally published as SuperCoach Plus NRL article: Jacob Kiraz a keeper candidate at just 1% ownership