NRL SuperCoach teams analysis Round 7: Star cheapie Dylan Egan demoted but still a buy

Teams are in for round 7 and the headline news for SuperCoaches is the demotion to the bench of top cheapie Dylan Egan, while a host of big guns have been named.

Teams are in for round 7 and the headline news for SuperCoaches is the demotion to the bench of top cheapie Dylan Egan, although he remains a great target. There’s also rare good news with a host of injured players named including Jahrome Hughes, Haumole Olakau’atu, Addin Fonua-Blake and Jesse Arthars.

SUPERCOACH WINNERS

* David Fifita - Retains his starting spot for the Titans, where he banged out 128 on the weekend including two try assists and 11 tackle busts. Available this week at a $67,800 discount on his starting price and therefore very popular.

* Jarome Luai - Moves to five-eighth in place of the axed Lachlan Galvin. Luai has been a SuperCoach dud as an organiser at No. 7 this year, but the switch could ignite his running game. One to watch at a far-reduced price in the $300,000s.

* Dylan Egan - Has been named on the bench for the Dragons but expect him to come into the starting side on game day, as per last week when he notched 99 points. A total of 23,624 SuperCoaches are already on board but it’s not too late to grab one of the top 2025 cheapies even for an extra $111,400 this week.

* Jahrome Hughes - Named and set to play for the Storm following a shoulder injury. He’s been cleared of any structural damage.

* Haumole Olakau’atu – Struggled with a shoulder injury against the Sharks but has been cleared of serious damage and is set to play.

Addin Fonua-Blake suffered a groin issue against the Sea Eagles. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images

* Addin Fonua-Blake - Named for the Sharks despite failing to finish due to a groin injury.

* Jesse Arthars - Had his weekend HIA downgraded by the NRL and therefore named for the Broncos. Even so, he’s a popular sell after peaking at a rise of $152,200.

* Matty Nicholson - The popular cheapie retains his starting edge spot even with Zac Hosking back from injury this week. Hosking has been named on the bench and is expected to play through the middle.

* Thomas Cant - Last week’s most popular cheapie retains a starting edge back row spot at the Knights. His main competitor for the spot, Dylan Lucas, again misses the squad due to a hamstring injury.

* Mawene Hiroti - Most popular buy of the week after averaging 75 in two games so far. SuperCoach Gold predicts he will rise by $150,000 in the two weeks he has left in first grade before Kayal Iro returns from a hamstring injury.

* Mitchell Moses - Named to return two weeks ahead of schedule for the Eels. Not especially SuperCoach-relevant himself but should improve those around him at Parramatta.

SUPERCOACH LOSERS

* Billy Smith - The fourth most popular buy this week but SuperCoaches must not have read the charge sheet. Smith has copped a one-game ban and won’t play this week, although he’s a must for next week after consecutive 70s.

* Christian Tuipulotu - The popular money-maker is out due to a hamstring injury and must be sold.

—Tom Sangster

Christian Tuipulotu has made plenty of money this year but now has a hamstring injury. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

ROB’S ROUND 7 MUSINGS AND Q&A

The curse lives on!

That’s right friends, I took down yet another captain last week after I made the call to take the armband off Payne Haas and put it onto Jahrome Hughes.

The reasoning was sound – Storm on a firm track looked sure to put a big score on the Warriors.

Which they duly did.

But after injuring his shoulder early in the first half, my man Jahrome floated around on the wing for the remainder of the half then sat out the second finishing on a mere 16 SC points.

What a game we play.

Having got that off my chest let’s talk trades.

Re-live Rob’s Q&A via the comments section below...

NRL Team Talk: Round seven.

MY TRADES

OUT: Paul Alamoti and Gehamat Shibasaki.

When I bought Alamoti he was rocking an 84PPG average – and that was from games against putative heavyweights Sharks, Roosters and Storm. In the three weeks I have owned him, Alamoti has averaged 37PPG – in games against putative lightweights Souths, Cowboys and Dolphins. I do believe Penrith will find a way to improve, I also think Alamoti would benefit from a move to the centres where he might get more attacking chances than he is currently outside Izack Tago.

But this is a loser of a trade and the smart thing in investing is to sell your losers and buy your winners and I’m dumping Alamoti while he still holds some value.

My other sell is not a loser, rather Shibasaki has been a revelation averaging 63PPG and having increased by almost $300K on his starting price. This sell is about maximising current value. There may be a little more juice in Shibasaki but I feel he’s made at least 90% of any profit and while he’s close to a ‘keeper’ I don’t love his bye schedule and have decided to upgrade.

INS: Jacob Kiraz and James Tedesco

Kiraz does not score a lot of tries for a winger. In 2024 he scored just 12 from 25 games. But boy does he love an offload and a tackle bust. Averaging around 40PPG in base (runs + tackles) and 15PPG in offloads + tackle busts I love Kiraz’s floor. I’ll take 60PPG week in week out from any CTW and in those games he does score a try he hits 80+. The Zac Lomax/Brian To’o injuries mean Kiraz is closer to Origin selection which is not great for SC, but I’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.

Tedesco is averaging 82.5PPG in 2025 and has scored 80+ in four of his six outings so far – and he’s yet to score a try! Averaging 28.5PPG in runs and 18PPG in tackle busts, the Roosters star will bust through the 150 mark when he does cross the line. Provided he avoids Origin selection, he will be a must over the byes.

James Tedesco is yet to score a try for the Roosters this season. Picture: Getty Images

HOLDS

I was sorely tempted to hold one of Alamoti/Shibasaki and trade out Beau Fermor instead but I didn’t and wanted to briefly outline why in case others are in similar positions. With a two game average of 31.5PPG Fermor has underperformed even Alamoti lately. But there are extenuating circumstances at play here. This is not a drop of form, or a permanent change in circumstance. Rather, the Titans have copped a raft of injuries to their outside backs of late and as a result Fermor has played his last two games in the centres.

With wingers Jojo Fifita and Alofiana Khan-Pereira set to return Fermor will revert to 80 minutes on an edge where he is an excellent link man to his winger. And with the strike wingers back defences need to honour their threat which also opens the door for Fermor to break the line. In short, look beyond the bad stats sometimes and if the player is still the player he was, and you can see why a drop in stats may be temporary then contain your rage and don’t sell.

Mawene Hiroti has job security issues. Picture: Getty Images

OTHER POPULAR TRADES

Mawene Hiroti – The most popular buy of the round and I don’t get it. Yes he’s been in fine form and with a massive negative BE he only needs two games to make around $150K, but two games is all he is expected to get with the return of Kayal Iro in round nine set to end his run. In any other year I might be keen on this as a gamble. But with the plethora of cash cows popping off in 2025 you should be cash rich already. I just don’t think two trades is worth $150K this year.

Billy Smith – Suspended for this week so there’s an obvious element of ‘going early here’ but I can understand why many are doing so in the understanding that Smith is a must next week so by buying him now they free up a trade next week. I just hope Billy is wrapped in cotton wool for the week.

Dylan Egan – Yes your decision to not buy Egan last week will cost you $110K, but he’s still a great get at $310K. I’m not sure he’ll punch out 65 in base each week (bit of debut start boost action there) and he won’t score a try each week, but an average of 55-60 as a starter is more than enough to get you late adapters $200K and that’s pretty conservative.

David Fifita – Finally promoted to the starting side, Fifita delivered for his owners with 128 points. I wouldn’t talk anyone out of buying the big man, but would prioritise the likes of Eli Katoa ahead of Fifita.

Ryan Papenhuyzen – Still decent value at $720K, Papenhuyzen showed his class with a lazy 136 point game against the Warriors – without scoring a try. As always the ‘buy’ call comes with the caution that Papenhuyzen is terribly unlucky when it comes to injury but provided you go into the purchase aware of the risks I would argue the rewards justify the move.

Xavier Coates – This one feels like chasing last week’s points. Coates was elite against the Warriors scoring two tries and setting up two more. But this is the guy who scored just 25 points against Manly when his team ran in eight tries. There are lots of mouths to feed at Melbourne and when Xavier feeds he feasts, but he’s capable of stringing together a few quiet ones and that will stop any cash generation very quickly.

Herbie Farnworth – He was the CTW I looked at most closely when getting Kiraz instead. Averaging 68.3PPG despite scoring just one try and assisting one other, Farnworth is getting through plenty of work and busting lots of tackles. A good buy.

Val Holmes – The third CTW I considered this week and one I would be happy to buy. In the end his likely Origin selection was enough to make me go another way but would not talk anyone out of the buy.

Eli Katoa – When Hughes got injured I thought that would ensure Katoa had his first bad game of the year. I was wrong, Katoa went searching for the ball and 20 runs later he finished the game with yet another score of 70+. The gold standard of 2RF.

Joe Tapine - Has been in beast mode for three weeks straight and I can see why plenty are buying. Most of us already have Haas and May in FRF and the likes of Fonua-Blake, Horsburgh or Tino as FRF3 so despite his great form I have Tapine as a low order buy, but with the Raiders playing every game from here till their round 15 bye I won’t talk anyone out of him either.

Re-live Rob’s Q&A via the comments section below...

Xavier Coates scored three tries on the weekend but can he keep them coming? Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

NRL ROUND 7 TEAMS

SEA EAGLES v DRAGONS

Thursday 7:50pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Caleb Navale 22. Michael Chee Kam

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Dylan Egan

Reserves:18. Sione Finau 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Finau Latu 21. Lyhkan King-Togia 22. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

BULLDOGS V RABBITOHS

Friday 4:05pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Josh Curran 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Jack Todd 17. Bailey Hayward

Reserves: 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Blake Wilson 21. Jake Turpin 22. Lipoi Hopoi 23. Viliame Kikau

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Campbell Graham 3. Euan Aitken 4. Jack Wighton 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Latrell Mitchell 7. Cody Walker 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Lewis Dodd 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Davvy Moale

Reserves: 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Salesi Ataata 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Declan Casey 22. Joshua Schuster

DOLPHINS V STORM

Friday 8:00pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jere

my Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Max Plath

Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Ray Stone 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Kenny Bromwich 21. Francis Molo 22. Junior Tupou

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Jack Howarth 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick

Reserves: 18. Joe Chan 19. Kane Bradley 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Stanley Huen 22. Lazarus Vaalepu

WARRIORS V BRONCOS

Saturday 5:30pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Edward Kosi 3. Kurt Capewell 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Jackson Ford 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Bunty Afoa 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Te Maire Martin

Reserves: 18. Tanah Boyd 20. Tanner Stowers-Smith 21. Samuel Healey 22. Freddy Lussick 23. Morgan Harper

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Tyson Smoothy

Reserves: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Martin Taupau 20. Jock Madden 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Blake Mozer

ROOSTERS V PANTHERS

Saturday 7:35pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Nat Butcher 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu

Reserves: 18. Ethan King 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Chad Townsend 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Taylor Losalu

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Luke Garner 4. Casey McLean 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Liam Henry 17. Izack Tago

Reserves: 18. Daine Laurie 19. Luron Patea 20. Mavrik Geyer 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Jack Cole

TITANS V RAIDERS

Sunday 2pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Chris Randall 15. Klese Haas 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui

Reserves: 18. Arama Hau 19. Allan Fitzgibbon 20. Josiah Pahulu 21. Tom Weaver 22. Jacob Alick-Wiencke

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsurgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Simi Sasagi 20 Jed Stuart 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi

KNIGHTS V SHARKS

Sunday 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Fletcher Sharpe, 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Thomas Cant, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. MAt Croker

Interchange: 14. Jaiyden Brailey 15. Tyrone Thompson, 16. Jermaine McEwen, 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Paul Bryan 20 Jack Cogger 21 Matt Arthur 22. Jackson Hastings

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Jayden Berrell 20. Hohepa Puru 21.Billy Burns 22. Jesse Colquhoun

WESTS TIGERS V EELS

Monday 4pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Brent Naden 4. Starford To’a 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Tristan Hope

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti

Reserves: 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Brendan Hands 22. Jordan Samrani