NRL SuperCoach teams analysis: Jacob Kiraz to fullback, Josiah Karapani dropped

Jacob Kiraz’s move to the No. 1 jersey for the Bulldogs could be a boost for SuperCoaches, while popular cheapie Josiah Karapani has been dropped.

Teams are in for round 22 and here are the big SuperCoach talking points.

SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Josiah Karapani - Was already a popular sell after peaking in price, but those numbers will increase after Karapani was dropped for the Broncos with Selwyn Cobbo and Deine Mariner returning to favour.

* Jahrome Hughes – Most sold player. Likely out for the rest of the SuperCoach season due to a dislocated shoulder.

* Haumole Olakau’atu - The seventh most purchased player of last week suffered a recurrence of a shoulder injury and is out for the season.

* Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Keaon Koloamatangi, David Fifita, Isaiah Iongi - Old news now but all these popular SuperCoach players are injured and potential sells.

SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Ryan Papenhuyzen - Back from a calf injury for the Storm after a month out.

* Jacob Kiraz and Jethro Rinakama - Big changes at the Bulldogs with Connor Tracey out for at least three weeks - and both are SuperCoach relevant. Kiraz moves to fullback, traditionally the hottest position in SuperCoach, while Rinakama finally emerges as a cheapie after a false start last week.

Jacob Kiraz switches to fullback. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

ROB SUTHERLAND’S SUPERCOACH ANALYSIS ROUND 22

How good is buying a bloke in only to see the poor bugger cop a season-ending injury?

After spending way too many minutes (and words) weighing up the pros and cons of Haumole Olakau’atu versus Hudson Young versus Isaah Yeo, I plumped for the big Sea Eagle.

Haumole looked pretty good, until he didn’t. Shoulder dislocated. Season over. And of course Young and Yeo had blinders. Such is SuperCoach eh?

Enough moaning let’s get to some Buy/Sell analysis of the popular moves this round and then we can get straight to questions (via the comments section below).

BUY

Nathan Cleary: Three try assists, six straight goals and 118 points against the Wests Tigers – and a season-ending injury to popular halfback Jahrome Hughes – has Cleary the most popular buy of the round and with good reason. The Titans this week could see Cleary score anything (he has a career high score of 225 against the Gold Coast) and then the Knights in round 23 should see some solid scoring too. The rounds 24-26 draw (Storm/Raiders/Bulldogs) is stiffer and there’s always some risk that Cleary gets rested from the round 27 match against the Dragons but I still see him as a strong BUY.

NRL Rd 22 Teams and SuperCoach Q&A.

Harry Grant: When Hughes dislocated his shoulder – and with Cam Munster missing the game – Harry Grant became the focal point of Melbourne’s attack against the Roosters. A try, two try assists and 113 points followed. I would note that the Roosters (who had their own issues with starting hooker Connor Watson pushed out into the halves due to Sandon Smith’s failed HIA) defended Grant very poorly. Below $600K, Grant is still a good buy, but I am not expecting him to average 80+ from here to home; 65+ maybe and that’s still worth a BUY, just don’t expect magic

Tom Dearden: Those looking for an alternative to Cleary (or maybe like the DPP HFB|5/8 flexibility) are buying into Tom Dearden and it’s easy to see why. Dearden pumped out 165 points against the Dragons in round 21 thanks to a second-half masterclass which featured two tries, two assists and a whopping 47 points in base. Supremely reliable (Dearden has scored under 60 just once in his past eight games) and with a nice little run of games coming up (Eels/Knights/Tigers in rounds 22-24), there’s plenty to like about Dearden. The round 27 bye is a bummer though and if you BUY beware of that.

Hudson Young/Isaah Yeo: I probably said all I really need to about these guys last week and if you want to revisit that it’s all here. I still feel Young averages more than Yeo from here till round 27, but the Raiders do miss round 24 (bye) and that matters more and more as we get less games to play with. With so many 2RF guns failing to fire of late I – needing an Haumole replacement – am leaning to Yeo and his base stat reliability. Watch him get rested now...both BUYS.

Jacob Kiraz/Zac Lomax: Looking for a CTW? These are your guys. Lomax, who scored just two games in his first nine games as an Eel has scored in each of his past five matches (and got a double last week). The return of Mitchell Moses is a win for Lomax too. BUY. Kiraz was in a mood against Manly scoring two tries and lobbing offloads with impunity. The Bulldogs play the Tigers this week (positive) and there are suggestions that Kiraz could move to fullback to cover for Connor Tracey. I’m not sure this move is the SuperCoach bonus for Kiraz that some are suggesting. Life outside Stephen Crichton on the wing is a good place to be and it’s hard to imagine Kiraz gets through a whole heap more work bringing the ball out of defence as he already is averaging around 20 runs per game. Still a BUY mind you.

Dylan Edwards: The price is getting up there and Nathan Cleary’s resumption of the goalkicking duties puts a cap on his output – but it’s impossible to suggest someone in Edwards’ form and with looming matches against the Titans and Knights is anything other than a BUY. Has sufficient workrate to make him a play even against tough opposition but his career averages against Penrith’s round 24-27 opponents: 48.6PPG vs. Storm (nine games), 71.6PPG vs. Raiders (seven games), 56PPG vs. Bulldogs (10 games) and 44PPG vs. Dragons (five games) don’t make great reading.

SELL

All the injuries: Hughes, Olakau’atu, Keaon Koloamatangi and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui etc etc. They have to go.

Mark Nawaqanitawase: a popular sell with the return of Sam Walker seemingly starving the Roosters right edge of attacking opportunities and it’s hard to argue too much against that. I would note that if that last-minute play against the Storm had not been called up by the refs then Marky Mark would be back baby...but still a SELL if you don’t own the likes of Kiraz/Lomax yet.

NRL ROUND 22 TEAMS

Thursday, 7:50pm, CommBank Stadium

Eels

1. Joash Papali’i 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dean Hawkins 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti

Reserves: 18. Jordan Samrani 19. Kelma Tuilagi 20. Bailey Simonsson 21. Toni Mataele 22. Dylan Brown

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Tui Kamikamica

Interchange: 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Bronson Garlick 17. Joe Chan

Reserves: 18. Kane Bradley 19. Alec MacDonald 20. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 21. Josiah Pahulu 22. Lazarus Vaalepu

WARRIORS v DOLPHINS

Friday, 6:00pm, Go Media Stadium

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Demitric Vaimauga 9. Samuel Healey 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Taine Tuaupiki 15. Jacob Laban 16. Freddy Lussick 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith

Reserves: 18. Eddie Ieremia 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Edward Kosi 22. Kalani Going 23. Makaia Tafua

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jake Averillo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange: 14. Ray Stone 15. Aublix Tawha 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Harrison Graham 19. Peter Hola 20. LJ Nonu 21. Kenny Bromwich 22. Tevita Naufahu

BRONCOS v RABBITOHS

Friday, 8:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Xavier Willison 9. Ben Hunt 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Corey Jensen 17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19 Jesse Arthars 20. Ben Talty 21. Josiah Karapani 22. Jaiyden Hunt

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Ryan Gray 10. Sean Keppie 11. Euan Aitken 12. Jacob Host 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Liam Le Blanc 16. Thomas Fletcher 17. Ashton Ward

Reserves: 18. Peter Mamouzelos 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Tyrone Munro 21. Shaquai Mitchell 22. Salesi Ataata

TITANS v PANTHERS

Saturday, 3:00pm, CBUS Super Stadium

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas

Interchange: 14. 14. Tom Weaver 15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston

Reserves: 18. Arama Hau 19. Tukimihia Simpkins 20. Tony Francis 21. Ryan Foran 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Luron Patea 17. Isaiah Papali’i

Reserves: 18. Paul Alamoti 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Daine Laurie 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Luke Sommerton

DRAGONS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 5:30pm, CommBank Stadium

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Michael Molo 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Hamish Stewart 16. Hame Sele 17. Blake Lawrie

Reserves: 18. Jacob Halangahu 19. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Hayden Buchanan 22. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves:18. Danny Levi 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Noah Martin 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Sanders

SEA EAGLES v ROOSTERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Tommy Talau 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Caleb Navale 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Aaron Schoupp 21. Joey Walsh 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Egan Butcher

Interchange: 14. Ethan King 15. Blake Steep 16. Salesi Foketi 17. Spencer Leniu

Reserves: 18. Tom Rodwell 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Toby Rudolf 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Victor Radley

WESTS TIGERS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 2:00pm, CommBank Stadium

Wests Tigers

1. Jahreem Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Alex Twal 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Adam Doueihi

Interchange: 14. Sione Fainu 15. Royce Hunt 16. Fonua Pole 17. Tony Sukkar

Reserves: 18. Tristan Hope 19. Brent Naden 20. Charlie Murray 21. Heath Mason 22. Luke Laulilii

Bulldogs

1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Jethro Rinakama 3. Bronson Xerii 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Bailey Hayward

Reserves: 19. Mitchell Woods 20. Blake Wilson 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Toby Sexton

SHARKS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Sharks Stadium

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 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. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Billy Burns 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Thomas Hazelton 22. Samuel Stonestreet

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Harrison Edwards 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Marly Bitungane 15. Kaiden Lahrs 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. Jaxson Paulo 19. Nicholas Lenaz 20. Mason Kira 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Dane Aukafolau

BYE: KNIGHTS

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach teams analysis: Jacob Kiraz to fullback, Josiah Karapani dropped