SuperCoach Plus article Round 21: 10 key numbers to seal a head-to-head final

It’s KFC SuperCoach finals time and here are the stats to give you the edge, via former champion Wilfred Zee.

It’s finals time and it’s also crunch time for the overall race. With trades dwindling and captaincy options becoming more critical, let’s check out some key stats to define Round 21!

1.

94.3

Joey Manu is having some year, and it’s safe to say that he’s in career-best form. The man is simply unstoppable at times and the Roosters are leaning into that form and trusting him.

There’s a lot of chat about his best position, but right now they seem to just be telling Manu to go touch the ball regardless of position. He currently averages 94.3 points per game in his last three games playing centre, and his base and base attack stats during those games are 78, 71 and 49 – largely off the back of double digit tackle bust numbers.

When you can’t get tackled though, it’s not surprising that Manu is doing what he is. He remains a premium CTW option regardless of price tag and could prove more than a handful for the young second-game rookie in Deine Mariner this week…

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Adam Doueihi is a popular POD choice this week.

2.

65.3

With the Nathan Cleary suspension, plenty of KFC SuperCoaches are looking all around for options. Jahrome Hughes is one of the highest averaging halfback options in KFC SuperCoach, and he has a juicy match-up against the struggling Titans this week. In fact, Hughes is a former Titan and he enjoys turning up against them to remind them of what they let go. He averages 65.3 points per game from four meetings, but this will be first time he gets to face them when they are battling as hard as they are. Hughes has a great workrate and is very involved – all important aspects for KFC SuperCoach – and plenty will be looking at him to replace Cleary moving forward.

3.

61.2

There’s a bit of a theme this week with halfbacks – obviously the need to replace Cleary means there’s lots of interest and Daly Cherry-Evans is one popular pick. He has had a great year, averaging 68.3 points per game and scoring under 60 just five times all season. Unfortunately, two of those five times have come in the past two rounds, and the Sea Eagles are currently working through some unrest within the playing group due to the drama of last week and the “Everyone in League” jersey. Still, DCE is a good player and this is a good opportunity for the Sea Eagles to bounce back from their recent struggles. DCE also does quite well against the Eels, with a career average of 61.2 points per game.

4.

68

It’s Cam Murray season and since returning from Origin, Murray has scored 69 and 83 while playing the full game. He’s integral to the Rabbitohs making a charge for the finals and more, and with tough games on the horizon you can expect Murray to be playing big minutes. He has averaged 68 points per game in base and base attack stats in the past two weeks, which is simply elite in the backrow. This one isn’t too complicated – Cam Murray is an absolute stud and he’s not going to get any cheaper, so get on now before it’s too late!

5.

73.3

Much has been said about the Panthers and how they might struggle without Cleary and Luai, but Sean O’Sullivan has played pretty well in their absence. He’s also scored handily for KFC SuperCoach purposes too, averaging a nifty 73.3 points per game in his last three games filling in. He’s not a ‘worker’ like Cleary is for KFC SuperCoach purposes, nor does he goalkick like him either (although he appears to be the back-up to Stephen Crichton now), but it’s O’Sullivan’s team for the next few weeks at least and he has some pretty handy players all around him, giving him the best possible opportunity to score KFC SuperCoach points.

6.

75.0

More halfbacks but Jamal Fogarty is a left-field option to replace Nathan Cleary who many won’t consider. He sits on a three round average of 75.0 but more importantly, he has put up those numbers without mass reliance on attacking stats (three try assists and one try contribution, two line breaks and one line break assist his only major attacking stats). In other words, he would have scored 52.3 points per game without his attacking stats, which is effectively his ‘floor’ right now. The Raiders are playing well and it coincides with strong form from Fogarty. This week’s match-up isn’t ideal but look at the following four weeks…

7.

52.1

It’s halfback SZN and Nicho Hynes is the only halfback-eligible player in KFC SuperCoach that held a candle to Nathan Cleary from a KFC SuperCoach perspective. A large portion of that has been his involvement, and also his (mediocre) goalkicking; Hynes touches the ball so often, running and passing in equal measure, that he just finds a way to accumulate KFC SuperCoach points. There’s a reason he has been such a safe option, and with his 43.1 points per game in base and base attack stats, combined with nine points per game in goalkicking, it gives Nicho one of the safest ‘floors’ to work with in not only the halfback position, but also at fullback and five-eighth too.

8.

63.1

Last week we highlighted the Mick Potter effect on the Bulldogs and also Matt Burton’s KFC SuperCoach average, but this week we need to look at Josh Addo-Carr who has, despite some injury concerns, just continued to ‘get it done’ since Potter has taken over. The difference isn’t anywhere near as drastic as with Burton, but Fox’s 50.6 points per game average pre-Potter compared to 63.1 points per game post-Potter is still a significant 12.5 points per game difference. It’s a tough match-up this week but Fox gets to go against the Hammer, who isn’t usually a winger, in what could be a battle of speed for the ages!

9.

102.3

It only comes from four games but sheesh, Jeremiah Nanai has ascended to a whole new level since making his Origin debut (and getting injured). He has averaged 102.3 points per game with scores of 77, 70, 104 and of course, last week’s masterful 158. We knew he was talented, but he has been next level in the second half of this season. Nanai is now the most expensive 2RF option and it’s hard to argue with what he is producing on the field. Yes, plenty of that has come from his attack but he has also averaged 55.5 points per game in base and base attack stats in the past four games. Catching tough aerial tries are part of his base anyway, given how much the Cowboys love kicking to Nanai!

10.

86.7

It’s Adam Doueihi’s world and we’re just living in it. Well, Adam Doueihi at five eighth anyway. He’s returned from a serious injury but it’s hard to argue with how he looks on the field and what he is producing on the stats sheet too. An impressive 45.3 points per game in base and base attack stats, combined with 12 points per game in goalkicking (although the Tigers’ may not score as many points without Jackson Hastings on the field), means that Doueihi is as safe as you can get right now at CTW given his floor of 57.3 points per game the last few weeks. Throw in a few attacking stats and he’s raising the bat!

Bring on Round 21!