NRL teams Round 23: Best replacements for suspended Valentine Holmes revealed

Valentine Holmes’ huge risk at the judiciary came up donuts with the star Cowboys’ centre suspended for four games – and SuperCoaches are on the hunt for a replacement.

Valentine Holmes’ huge risk at the judiciary came up donuts with the star Cowboys’ centre suspended for four games.

Given the Cowboys have the bye next week, he won’t play again this regular season – and perhaps not again this year given the Cowboys sit precariously in eighth spot.

He is a definite sell for SuperCoach and here are the best replacement options.

* Latrell Mitchell FLB $769,700 - Most popular replacement for Holmes and second most purchased player overall behind Nathan Cleary. For those unfamiliar with the rules of SuperCoach, Holmes (a CTW) can be traded for Latrell (FLB) by using the “S” button during the trade if you have the right duals.

Many were hoping for a bigger score against the Wests Tigers last week but 74 on return from a serious calf injury with no tries or try assists is pretty darn good. The stat that stands out is the 16 runs, which is an insane workrate for Trell. Should notch up some huge scores in the run home against the struggling Sharks, Dragons, Knights and Roosters. But he also has that tough round 26 bye on SuperCoach grand final week.

* Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad CTW/FLB $697,100 - The Warriors have the best run home of any side by a fair distance against the Titans, Tigers, Sea Eagles, Dragons and Dolphins. They only leave New Zealand twice in that time and CNK is therefore a strong chance to score the most points of any CTW over the final five rounds.

* Dallin Watene-Zelezniak CTW/FLB $666,800 - Rinse and repeat from CNK above. Watene-Zelezniak is on a tryscoring spree, having scored 15 tries in his last nine games.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is set to come home hard. Picture: Getty

* Greg Marzhew CTW $759,000 - The Knights are red-hot as they aim to sneak into the eight and Marzhew is at the centre of much of it either with high workrate or big attacking stats. The SuperCoach cult hero has a try in each of his last four games plus a great run home against the Dolphins, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Sharks and Dragons. With Ponga firing and the Knights motivated, Marzhew could challenge Nicoll-Klokstad as top-scoring CTW for the run home.

* Dane Gagai CTW $656,900 - The POD option. Gagai’s ownership of just two per cent is insanely low for a guy with the fifth best average of any CTW. The Knights’ attack is humming and Gagai’s pure base of 37 is off the charts for the position.

* Alex Johnston CTW $568,500 - Scored a hat trick on the weekend and clearly loves having Latrell back in the team. The above-mentioned run home (Sharks, Dragons, Knights and Roosters) should see some big tryscoring efforts from Johnston but also look out for that round 26 bye and don’t expect much if he doesn’t cross the stripe given his base of just 18.

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SEASON-DEFINING CALL ON NICHO

To trade Nicho Hynes or not to trade Nicho Hynes, that is the question most SuperCoaches are wrestling with this week.

And as superb as Saint Nicho has been over the course of the season – and conscious of not wanting to execute a knee jerk trade as a result of a player going poorly against the best team in the competition – I am leaning towards pulling the trigger and bringing in Shaun Johnson.

Here are my Nicho/SJ thoughts in a snazzy little table:

My conclusion...if you have two or more trades and not a lot of cash then I’d be leaning to making the Hynes to SJ trade this week.

If you have two or more trades and plenty of cash (so could cover the big price drop that Hynes likely experiences this week) AND Hynes is named at fullback in a late change, then I’d be tempted to hold and see how he goes down back.

If you have just the one trade then please let me know because I’m at the coin toss stage myself – I just cannot decide what to do.

Should SuperCoaches move Nicho Hynes on in Round 23? Picture: NRL Imagery

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Ronaldo Mulitalo CTW $448,500 - Burned plenty of SuperCoaches with a late withdrawal on the weekend due to a “training mishap”. It’s now been revealed that mishap was a jaw injury but he’s been named to return this week and is a crucial extra number for many, especially those low on trades and cash. The Sharks have a tough run home and are horribly out of form so any upgrade to a genuine keeper is encouraged. But those short on cash will be bummed to find he has dropped to $450,000 and there aren’t many good options at that price.

* Dylan Brown 5/8 $815,000 - Back from suspension and still owns the second best average of any 5/8. The Eels have a great match up this week against the Dragons at home and he could be a handy POD play, while also having another good match-up against the Roosters in round 25. However, he also has a bye in the final round and tough match-ups against the Broncos and Panthers. Pass.

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* William Kennedy FLB $516,400 - Out for “significant” period with a hamstring injury and therefore a must-sell. The biggest question is who to go to.

* Tyrone Munro CTW $200,800 – The popular cheapie has missed the 17 but gets jersey 18 after being left out due to injury in the last two weeks. It’s good news either way. If he doesn’t play he just nuffs out. If he does, he’s a proven try scorer and has some juicy match-ups in the run home in an attack not doubt improved by the presence of Latrell.

BUY

* Nathan Cleary HFB $788,800 - Most purchased player this week and it’s a no-brainer really. Cleary is a great of SuperCoach and the ton on the weekend in his second game back from a hamstring injury showed he’s well-and-truly back. Genuine captain option every week.

HOLD

* Joseph Manu 5/8-CTW $688,700 - The wheels have fallen off the Roosters and Manu is back at centre which is not his best position for SuperCoach. There are plenty of upgrade options at both CTW and 5/8. You could hold through as he has some good match-ups coming in Manly, Dolphins and Wests Tigers which are all teams that can leak points wide.

* John Bateman 2RF $565,600 - The game flow didn’t help Bateman last week, however the Englishman is more an honest toiler than a power/attack stat beast and is a hold as fifth 2RF. But don’t play him in your 17 every week.

* Scott Drinkwater FLB $1,016,200 – It’s understandable why people are cashing in Drinkwater while his value is so high, and he does miss round 24 due to a bye, but gee he’s a terrifying opponent in H2H.

SELL

* Jacob Preston 2RF $569,000 – Makes a great 18th, 19th or 20th man. But equally if you can sell to a genuine keeper with a nice run then do it. One of the best cheapies of all time in making almost $370,000.

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Paps closes in on shock return

—Brent Read

Ryan Papenhuyzen has waited more than a year for this moment. When kick-off arrives on Saturday afternoon on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, his long and torturous time on the sidelines will finally be over after a challenging 384 days.

Papenhuyzen was flying when he clashed knees with Canberra five-eighth Jack Wighton at AAMI Park in July last year, shattering his knee cap and prompting some to fear his best days may be behind him.

There were plenty of dark days in the weeks and months afterwards, but Papenhuyzen refused to give in and on Saturday afternoon he will get his reward, albeit in the No.1 jersey for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Queensland Cup.

Papenhuyzen is expected to start at fullback and play up to 40 minutes, but no longer. The Storm will ease him back with the hope that he will be fit and firing in a month or so, when the NRL finals arrive.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to make his return via the Queensland Cup for the Sunshine Coast Falcons. Picture: Storm Digital

Papenhuyzen would be a handy addition to a side looking to make a premiership charge. He was one of the game’s elite fullbacks before injury struck, leaving him fighting to save his career.

No-one ever doubted his speed or talent, but those qualities have now been eclipsed by his toughness and determination. For more than a year, Papenhuyzen has battled physical and mental demons, he has circumnavigated the globe in the search for answers, he was tried his hand at new sports, he has taken his fans and those of the club on the journey with him by posting regular footage of his rehabilitation on social media.

While others clamoured for a return date, Papenhuyzen visited renowned sports conditioning guru Bill Knowles in Philadelphia in January and was advised not to put a timeline on his return. He and only he would know when he was ready.

So Papenhuyzen kept everyone guessing until final confirmation arrived on Tuesday afternoon when, having completed a training session with the club, he felt confident enough in his knee to give the green light to his comeback.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet so I’m sort of just going through the training week and trying to prepare like it’s a normal game,” Papenhuyzen said.

“It’s just been a while between drinks. It’s had its ups and downs and setbacks, and it’s probably taken a little bit longer than expected but at the same time I’m happy I did that.

“It’s been long enough now that I feel ready, and I guess that’s the main thing about long-term rehab is that resistance to being ready.

“There are so many people to thank, and I’ll probably save that for another day, but I think it’s a big milestone and I need to celebrate the small wins along the way, and this is another one of them.

“It’s a big step to be back after such a significant injury. I want to be playing NRL, so I have a little bit to go to achieve the goals I want – I’ve just got to keep doing the work.”

Papenhuyzen has now spent more than a year on the sidelines, after suffering the shocking knee injury in Melbourne’s round 18 clash against the Raiders in 2022. Picture: Getty Images

ROUND 23 TEAMS

ROOSTERS v SEA EAGLES

Thursday, 7:50pm, SCG, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Terrell May 17 Fletcher Baker

Interchange: 18. Corey Allan 19. Elie El-Zakhem 20. Jake Tyurpin 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Dylan Napa

Sea Eagles

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Aaron Woods 16. Dean Matterson 17. Ethan Bullemor

Reserves: 18. Ben Condon 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Morgan Harper 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

TITANS v WARRIORS

Friday, 6pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Erin Clark

Bench: 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Klese Haas 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini 19. Jacob Alick 20. Jo Vuna 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Ken Maumalo

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran

Interchange: 18. Jazz Tevaga 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Tom Ale 23. Ronald Volkman

PANTHERS v STORM

Friday, 8pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Zac Hosking 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Izack Tago 21. Tom Jenkins 22. Liam Henry

Storm

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Tom Eisenhuth 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Eliesa Katoa

Interchange: 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Jonah Pezet 21 George Jennings 22 Grant Anderson

COWBOYS v BRONCOS

Saturday, 3pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Coen Hess 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Heilum Luki 17. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Interchange: 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Kyle Feldt 20. Riley Price 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Jack Gosiewski

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia

Interchange: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Xavier Willison 20. Jordan Riki 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor

DOLPHINS v KNIGHTS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Optus Stadium, Perth

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Kodi Nikorima 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich

Bench: 14. Herman Ese’ese 15. Josh Kerr 16. Isaiya Katoa 17. Jarrod Wallace

Interchange: 18. Max Plath 19. Trai Fuller 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Ray Stone 22. Jack Bostock

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Brodie Jones 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker

Interchange: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Dane Aukafolau 22. Jack Johns

RABBITOHS v SHARKS

Saturday, 7:30pm, Optus Stadium, Perth

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Jai Arrow 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Davvy Moale 15. Siliva Havili 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Tallis Duncan

Interchange: 18. Tyrone Munro 19. Jacob Host 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Peter Mamouzelos 22. Dean Hawkins

Sharks

1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Jack Williams 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Royce Hunt 17. Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange: 18. Matt Moylan 19. Kayal Iro 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha 22. Daniel Atkinson

EELS v DRAGONS

Sunday, 2pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Isaac Lumelume 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Luca Moretti 15. Andrew Davey 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves: 18. Brendan Hands 19. Arthur Miller-Stephen 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Jack Murchie

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin

Bench: 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Zane Musgrove

Reserves: 18. Ryan Couchman 19. Sione Finau 20. Jack Bird 21. Max Feagai 22. Ben Murdoch-Masila

RAIDERS v TIGERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh

Bench: 14. Adrian Trevilyan 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Utuloa Asouma 19. Matt Frawley 20. Tom Starling 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Strange

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Junior Tupou 5. Charlie Staines 6. Daine Laurie 7. Luke Brooks 8. Alex Twal 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

Bench: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Justin Matamua 16. Aitasi James 17. Asu Kepaoa

Reserves: 18. Tallyn Da Silva 19. Alex Seyfarth 20. Will Smith 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Josh Feledy