NRL teams round 20: Key changes and KFC SuperCoach analysis
KFC SuperCoaches have been left hanging on an all-important teams day so it’s time to start planning for a crazy week. Full SuperCoach analysis here
Tom Sangster analyses the NRL teams for round 20 and the SuperCoach implications.
WINNERS FROM TEAMS
* Nathan Cleary HFB $857,400 – First things first, naming Cleary as a “winner” is a stretch given he has been named on the extended bench for the Panthers as he aims to return from a hamstring injury. But even so, he remains one of the most purchased players this week. There is a definite argument to wait a round given the BE of 131 and the fact he may ease back in after being off his feet for so many weeks.
But if he plays he also has a great match-up in a day game against the Dolphins, who have conceded the most SuperCoach points of any club this season. With another easy clash against the Bulldogs the week after, it could be a massive fortnight for Cleary. Hopefully you can wait until late in the round to make the decision given Cleary plays the second-last game of the weekend.
* Origin players - All SuperCoach big guns have been named to back-up from Origin and we eagerly await Wednesday’s clash to see which players get through.
LOSERS FROM TEAMS
* Payne Haas FRF $694,800 - Misses out for the Broncos but due to return from his ankle injury next week.
* Joey Manu 5/8-CTW $709,100 – A host of big guns are back on deck for the Roosters this week which means Joey Manu moves back to centre, which is by far his worst SuperCoach position despite playing most of his career there. That said, he’s still a chance to take up the No. 1 slot depending on how James Tedesco gets though Origin, but the five-eighth experiment is well-and-truly over.
* Rabbitohs, Raiders, Dragons – Plenty of big SuperCoach guns are on the bye this week including Cody Walker, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro (more on these popular Rabbitohs below), Joseph Tapine, Cameron Murray and Corey Horsburgh.
BUY
* David Fifita 2RF $828,400 - Take out the one injury-affected game and Fifita has averaged 111.5 in his last six games. That places him in the elite of the elite and SuperCoaches must move heaven and earth to get him in this week. Plays the last game of the round so keep an eye on Late Mail to see if he backs up.
* Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2RF/FRF $835,900 - Speaking of gun Titans forwards, Big Tino isn’t too far behind Fifita in the SuperCoach stakes and is a definite option for the run home. With an average of 76.6 for the season, Tino has the best average of any FRF, even better than Haas. He also has an outrageous base of 57, making him one of the safest players in the game. But is prop really the position to be spending big on at this time of the year? There is definitely more upside in the backline.
* Cameron Munster 5/8 $654,900 - A combination of Origin and Caxtonitis has seen Munster dip to his lowest price of the year - a discount of almost $200,000 on his starting price. But with Origin over and a BE of 59, surely the only way is up for one of the greats of SuperCoach. Despite the plummeting price, Munster is still matching it with the best five-eighths in SuperCoach this year, sitting just four points per game off the position leader Dylan Brown.
* Harry Grant HOK $643,900 - Cut and paste from Munster above but delete the Caxtonitis. And herein lies the biggest problem. Grant has backed up from both Origin games this year and must surely be a chance of getting a rest at some stage. Keep a close eye on Late Mail but realistically the only question is whether to jump on this week or next given Grant is seven points per game better than the next best fit hooker in SuperCoach and therefore a must for the run home.
* Kalyn Ponga 5/8-FLB $759,800 – Ponga has been sensational since his return from concussion, averaging a tick under 100 in the past five weeks. The decision to step down from Origin this year has clearly done wonders, as has the move back to fullback. The price is getting up there now and he’s hardly at a world-beating team, but that just means Ponga must be in absolutely everything if the Knights are a chance to win.
* Tyrone Munro CTW $200,800 – The most popular cheapie this week by a long way but the first thing to point out is that he’s on the bye so don’t count on him in your 17 this wee. That’s obviously not ideal but he still has appeal as a purchase this round. Munro has a BE of -89 and is set for a massive price rise the next time he takes the field, which is probably next week given on form he’s a good chance to retain his spot even when the big guns are back. And if he drops out with Latrell Mitchell and Campbell Graham back next week, he nuffs out perfectly.
HOLD
* Jacob Preston 2RF $550,300 - The Bulldogs rookie is one of the best cheapies of all time but if you’re selling to Fifita it’s an obvious trade (and the most popular trade this week by a long way). But ... for those who already own Fifita, Preston’s season average of basically 60 is also perfectly serviceable for a safe 19th or 20th man for the run home.
* Cody Walker 5/8 $730,100 - Why is Cody Walker the fifth most sold player this week when he has scored the eighth most SuperCoach points of any player and most of any five-eighth by a massive 156? Well for starters, the bye schedule is as bad as it comes given he has the bye this week and another in round 26. He is tough to cover in both those rounds given the byes x3 and Origin back-ups this week, while his final bye comes on grand final week for head-to-head players.
However, on top of Cody’s above mentioned brilliance this season, he also has 4/6 juicy match-ups against the Tigers, Dragons, Knights and Roosters. In summary, he could go huge on those weeks and is a hold for overall players with depth, but head-to-head players need to think much harder. He won’t help you on grand final week, but there’s no point planning for the grand final if you don’t get there in the first place and Cody will likely be a big part of that.
SELL
* Jahream Bula FLB $547,200 - The wheels have fallen off at the Tigers and so too have the scores of Bula. After an incredible start and peak price rise of over $500,000, he’s leaked over $160,000 in the last fortnight and has another big BE this week of 128.
* Josh Schuster 5/8-2RF $380,900 - Plenty sold last week for the bye and if you didn’t this is the week to do so. The $140,000 rise is handy but not brilliant, but he can be nuffed out this week at a decent profit or upgraded to Fifita/Tino etc for those flushed with cash.
TOP TEAM TALKING POINTS, VIA MARTIN GABOR
Penrith’s chances of a hat-trick of premierships have received a major boost with superstar Nathan Cleary on track to return this week from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for more than a month.
The representative halfback hasn’t played since he got hurt against the Dragons days after the State of Origin opener, with Cleary listed in jersey No.24 amongst the reserves for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
His inclusion almost seems unfair for the premiership favourites who have also named their Origin stars to back up against a Dolphins side that has again picked Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at centre, with Kodi Nikorima to remain at fullback.
Cleary isn’t the only big name set to return this week with Roosters hooker Brandon Smith to make his comeback from a broken thumb via the bench against his former side the Storm.
Smith hasn’t played since Round 12 and is one of several stars back for the Roosters – including Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – although Sam Walker isn’t quite ready to return from an ACL injury.
The Roosters return to the SCG given Allianz Stadium is unavailable because of the women’s FIFA World Cup, and they’ll face a Melbourne side that includes Origin stars Cameron Munster and Harry Grant.
The round kicks off in Newcastle on Friday night where the Wests Tigers welcome back Api Koroisau from a broken jaw that ruled him out of the final two games for the Blues.
He starts at hooker against a Knights side that has named Bradman Best and Jacob Saifiti, with the pair a chance of backing up just 48 hours after Origin.
A packed out Belmore will farewell Bulldogs legend Josh Reynolds in the NSW Cup curtain-raiser on Saturday, with Josh Addo-Carr set to back up from Origin in the main event.
Winger Blake Wilson has been retained after his three-try haul last week, with Jacob Kiraz shifting to centre, while Ryan Sutton (neck) will miss the game after he spent time in hospital following a scary collision last week.
The Broncos remain without the suspended Reece Walsh but they do get back-rower Kurt Capewell back, with Queensland star Patrick Carrigan listed amongst the reserves.
Manly has named veterans Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic to back up for the must win game at home against North Queensland, with the visitors also picking their Origin stars for a game that could see them jump into the top eight.
And the Eels expect all of their Origin players to line up on Sunday night, with experienced edge forward Shaun Lane set to start after he returned last week off the bench.
They host a Titans side that is smarting from last week’s loss to the Titans but boosted by the return of their Origin quartet.
ROUND 20 NRL TEAMS
KNIGHTS V TIGERS
Friday, 8pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott
Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker
Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Brodie Jones 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Adam Clune
Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Asu Kepaoa 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Will Smith 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole
Bench: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Shawn Blore 16. Alex Twal 17. Alex Seyfarth
Reserves: 18. Daine Laurie 19. Aistasi James 20. Tallyn Da Silva 21. Justin Matamua 22. Brent Naden
BULLDOGS V BRONCOS
Saturday, 3pm, Belmore Sports Ground
Bulldogs
1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Braidon Burns 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11. Jackson Topine 12. Jacob Preston 13. Corey Waddell
Bench: 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior 17. Jayden Okunbor
Reserves: 19. Fa’amanu Brown 20. Jeral Skelton 21. Reece Hoffman 22. Paul Alamoti 23. Chris Patolo
Broncos
1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Corey Jensen 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Kobe Hetherington
Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Jesse Arthars 17. Martin Taupau
Reserves: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Patrick Carrigan 20. Jock Madden 21. Delouise Hoeter 22. Jordan Pereira
SEA EAGLES V COWBOYS
Saturday, 5.30pm, 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles
1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench: 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Josh Aloiai
Reserves: 18. Sean Keppie 19. Morgan Harper 20. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
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. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter
Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jason Taumalolo 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
Reserves: 18. Kyle Feldt 19. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 20. Zac Laybutt 21. Sam McIntyre 22. Riley Price 23. Ben Hampton 24. Brendan Elliot
ROOSTERS V STORM
Saturday, 7.35pm, Sydney Cricket Ground
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 12. Nat Butcher 13. Nathan Brown
Bench: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Siua Wong 17. Naufahu Whyte
Reserves: 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Terrell May 20. Corey Allan 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Dylan Napa
Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 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. Tyran Wishart 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tariq Sims 17. Bronson Garlick
Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Alec MacDonald 20. Jayden Nikorima 21. Marion Seve 22. Chris Lewis 23. George Jennings
WARRIORS V SHARKS
Sunday, 2pm, Go Media Stadium
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. Josh Curran 13. Tohu Harris
Bench: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Tom Ale 17. Dylan Walker
Reserves: 18. Kalani Going 20. Ronald Volkman 21. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Zyon Maiu’u 23. Viliami Vailea
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
Bench: 14. Wade Graham 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Jack Williams 17. Jesse Colquhoun
Reserves: 18. Connor Tracey 19. Kayal Iro 20. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Braydon Trindall 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
DOLPHINS V PANTHERS
Sunday, 4.05pm, Kayo Stadium
Dolphins
1. Kodi Nikorima 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harrison Graham 10. Kenny Bromwich 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone
Bench: 14. Herman Ese’ese 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Anthony Milford 17. Jarrod Wallace
Reserves: 18. Josh Kerr 19. Valynce Te Whare 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Brenko Lee 22. Kurt Donoghoe
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jack Cogger 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. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon
Reserves: 18. Zac Hosking 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Luke Garner 21. Tyrone Peachey 22. Thomas Jenkins 23. Jesse Maclean 24. Nathan Cleary
EELS V TITANS
Sunday, 6.15pm, CommBank Stadium
Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood
Bench: 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Andrew Davey 17. Ryan Matterson
Reserves: 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Waqa Blake 21. Matt Doorey 22. Haze Dunster 23. Isaac Lumelume
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. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Isaac Liu
Bench: 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Erin Clark 17. Jojo Fifita
Reserves: 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Jacob Alick 20. Keano Kini 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Ken Maumalo 23. Tony Francis 24. Thomas Mikaele
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