Buy, Hold, Sell round 6: Another week, another SuperCoach injury crisis

The likes of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jamie Humphreys headline our latest SuperCoach crisis, but thankfully there’s good news on Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Another round, another crisis.

This time Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (suspension), Jamie Humphreys and Adam Reynolds (both hamstring) headline the carnage.

But thankfully, Ryan Papenhuyzen appears to have avoided a hamstring injury of his own, posting a positive update to social media on Sunday night.

BUY

Nathan Cleary (94) - The best halfback in SuperCoach history will be available in the $600,000s this week as his price corrects after the concussion-induced score of two. That’s a steal. What’s more, plenty of SuperCoaches are looking to upgrade in the halves following injuries to Adam Reynolds and Jamie Humphreys. Cleary scored some handy updates over the weekend to finish on 94 points. 

Reece Walsh (63) - Like Cleary, Walsh is another great of SuperCoach available at a bargain. The star Bronco produced a number of error-ridden displays over the opening four rounds, including 34 points in negatives (errors and penalties conceded).

His price has therefore dipped into the $500,000s - a discount of around $140,000 on his starting price. However, while Walsh was in single figures at half-time against the Tigers, he came to life once Adam Reynolds left the field and showed his first semblance of form for 2025.

He now picks up the goalkicking following the injury to Reynolds. And as the SuperCoach Whisperer points out, Walsh averages mid-80s when Reynolds is on the sideline.  

At less than $600k, this is the cheapest we have had Reece Walsh since his rookie season! Is now the time to pull the trigger? pic.twitter.com/nPATVOoece

— The SuperCoach Whisperer (@SCWhisperer) April 5, 2025

James Tedesco (101) - Last year’s best SuperCoach player, and therefore this year’s most expensive player, has dropped around $80,000 and looks juicy at the price. While he doesn’t have the cattle around him he once did, Teddy seems to have lost little given his two tons in the opening five rounds. The Roosters also have the best bye schedule in the competition so Teddy will be crucial over Origin. 

Dylan Lucas (DNP) - The Newcastle backrower sits with a BE of 18 and projected price rise of $51,000 after a brilliant opening fortnight. There are whispers he could return ahead of schedule this week. 

Thomas Jenkins (66) - Dubbed a potential cheapie of the year last week and he delivered, locking in an initial price rise of almost $130,000 - the biggest of any player this season. Still a buy if you were living under a rock last week and missed out. 

Angus Crichton (78) - After a price drop of almost $70,000, Crichton is slowly working back to the form that won him the Wally Lewis Medal last season. Crichton has averaged close to 70 with no big attacking stats, but he pulled off some signature bell-ringers in the local derby on Friday night and one gets the sense it’s not long before he produces a whopper. 

Joseph Tapine (93) - A suspension stunted his early form but Tapine is now rocking a two-game average over 90. There may be more important buys this week, but keep Tapine on your radar for over Origin. As a Kiwi, he’s unavailable for the interstate blockbusters, while the Raiders don’t have a bye until round 15. 

Zac Lomax, Valentine Holmes, Dylan Brown - Three greats of SuperCoach have dipped to very juicy prices. 

CHEAPIES

Dylan Egan (43) - Cheapie of the week. Over his two games so far, Egan has averaged 51.5 minutes for 45 points to set up a price rise of around $55,000. He’s also a rare absolute bottom dollar cheapie at $198,800.

Job security is decent given he’s smashed the eye test and is a noted favourite of coach Shane Flanagan. Game time security is also decent given there were no real injuries or incidents that inflated his minutes. He’s not fancy and he’s not the best cheapie we’ve seen this year (it’s been a particularly good crop this season), but he’s solid and the best we have this round. 

Jaylan De Groot (30) - Let’s start with the good. The man he replaced Keano Kini is out long-term so the job security is near-impeccable. The biggest threat to De Groot’s spot in the short term is AJ Brimson moving from five-eighth to fullback. But that likely only happens when Kieran Foran is fit and he’s still listed as indefinite due to a bicep injury. De Groot has looked decent on the eye, notched a handy try assist against the Dolphins while he also had a try disallowed.

Now for the bad. De Groot’s work rate is almost non-existent, averaging just 7.5 runs a game. That means he’ll need bumper attacking stats for price rises. In fact, he’s barely predicted to rise in price at all in the coming week. 

Ryley Smith (30) - It was a rollercoaster week for owners and prospective owners. First we all cheered when Smith was named to start on Tuesday. And the joy continued when his job security was locked in as we found out Joey Lussick would miss 6-8 weeks with a thumb injury.

Then the outlook soured when Smith was dropped to the bench on game day, with Smith only notching 30 points. Still, the 66 minutes (realistically 62 minutes when you take out golden point) were encouraging.

A host of key cheapie hookers are ripe for the selling this week in Tom Starling, Peter Mamouzelous and even Sandon Smith. But with a predicted price rise of approx $12,000 in the coming week, the “Reed Mahoney-clone” is far from an automatic buy. 

Clayton Fualalo (69) – A late try against the Storm secured a solid price rise with more to come. Snuck under the radar last week as SuperCoaches, rightly, prioritised Jenkins.

HOLD

Ryan Papenhuyzen (65) – Scored a try and kicked all his goals, but came off late with what we were told was hamstring tightness. However, he took to social media later with good news: “corked quad, we good”.

Ryan Papenhuyzen says he's "good" despite leaving the field early.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (48) - Coming off his lowest score of the season - a sin bin-affected 48. Now facing a 1-2 match suspension but don’t even think of selling. 

Naufahu Whyte (55) - An interesting decision looms after his rollercoaster opening five rounds continued. Whyte tabled scores of 43, 56, 87 and 77 through the first four rounds before coming up with 55 against the Rabbitohs on Friday night. He’ll sit with a BE in the 30s when lockout opens, suggesting the price rises are coming to an end. Equally though, he’s averaged 63 for the year and is therefore a borderline keeper, especially given the Roosters’ amazing draw through Origin. 

Sandon Smith (66) - Another Rooster, another with an amazing draw and another decision on whether to hold for round 12. But with a BE in the negatives this week - just - you can delay that decision for at least another round. 

Matty Nicholson (91) - Just as many SuperCoaches were starting to entertain a sell, Nicholson produced another massive performance to keep the cash train rolling. With a breakeven of 32 heading into the week, Nicholson is set for another $48k price rise this week, taking his breakeven back down to 4. He is now a comfortable hold at least until Zac Hosking (hand) returns in round 7. And he may even have played well enough to keep Hosking out of a spot. 

Isaiah Iongi (102) - A total of 8,315 SuperCoaches are filled with regret. Iongi came into the Dragons clash as the fourth most sold player for the week but promptly knocked out a ton to keep the cash machine pumping for another few weeks. 

Jaxon Purdue (88) - A nice update from 72 at full-time to 88 at lockout,  Purdue will take his total rises well into the $200,000s in the coming fortnight. 

Savelio Tamale (54)  - Still sits with a negative BE. But even once the price rises dry up, Tamale is a potential hold for the round 12 big bye given he’s averaging a tick under 60, an incredible 46 of that in base plus power. 

Gehamat Shibasaki (31) - At least one more big rise to come even after his worst score of the season. 

Lachlan Hubner (64) - Produced a deft try assist to notch an initial price rise of around $60,000. Minutes were inflated due to the injuries to Cody Walker, Jamie Humphreys and Mikaele Ravalawa. 

Jamie Humphreys with ice on his hamstring. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

SELL

Jamie Humphreys (1) - Lasted less than 10 minutes before exiting early with a hamstring injury and has lost the goalkicking to Latrell Mitchell. It’s time to say goodbye and thanks for the $120,000. 

Adam Reynolds (58) - While it doesn’t appear serious, Reynolds is set to miss at least a week with hamstring injury and is therefore a sell, especially with Cleary so cheap. It’s a shame because Reynolds was in the midst of a great stretch of form, averaging 80.3 over the opening four weeks. 

Tom Starling (51) - After making around $145,000, the prices rises have all but ended for Starling. His minutes have gone down after the first two rounds, and are now hovering around 50-60 instead of 60-70, with Owen Pattie coming on at dummy half and helping spark the Raiders’ comeback against the Sharks. Downgrade to Ryley Smith or upgrade to Harry Grant. Or for those with the dual position flexibility of Sandon Smith, sell for Nathan Cleary. 

Peter Mamouzelous (37) - Cut and paste from Starling above as the situation is almost identical. However, Mamouzelous’s big advantage over Starling is that he’s playing 80 minutes or very close every week, so Starling goes first.  

Robert Toia (45) - After a rapid 90 point display in round one, Robert Toia has unfortunately followed up that score with showings of 43, 26, 45 and now 45. Thanks for the $110,000, but it’s time to cash in. 

Originally published as Buy, Hold, Sell round 6: Another week, another SuperCoach injury crisis