NRL SuperCoach: Dave Von Kotze’s highlights the good and bad of round 8

BEN Hunt starred and Anthony Milford gets a pass but could benefit further from updates. Former SuperCoach champ Dave Von Kotze delivers the good and bad news.

FORMER NRL SuperCoach champion Dave Von Kotze reviews the winners and losers from round eight so far.

BRONCOS DEFEATED RABBITOHS

Ben Hunt (85) — will be the third player this year to give the $500,000 club a red hot crack in the next few weeks after exceeding his breakeven by 104 points. Hunt once again combined brilliantly with Anthony Milford to score a try with a line-break as well as break the line on another occasion and force a drop out in the same play. He also busted five tackles and should see at least two extra points when effective offload updates are added to his score. If Hunt’s score remains at 85, he will increase in value by over $53,000 to start round nine with a $473,000 price tag and a four game average of 94.

Corey Parker (81) — crashed over for his first ‘meat pie’ of the year late in the game to reward those who gave him the captain’s orange square. He also made 14 hit-ups which included four tackle busts, 20 tackles and kicked four goals.

Anthony Milford (65) — those who paid top-dollar will be satisfied but not over the moon with their first game from the Milf. If he receives the rub of the green when final updates are completed on Monday, he may be credited with an extra try assist for Corey Oates’ (46) spectacular four-pointer but his current score comes as a result of a try-assist, 2 line-break assists, 3 forced drop outs and 11 runs.

Sam Burgess (52) — was busy in defence making 37 tackles but was often used as a decoy in attack only making the 12 hit-ups of which 7 exceeded the 8m mark. Burgess should see a few favourable updates with an extra four points expected when his 2 effective offloads are credited.

Greg Inglis (63) — found his way back to the pie shop for the first time since round one. Inglis’ try also came with a line-break which boosted his score and another 6 tackle-busts during his 16 runs contributed towards his second highest score of the year.

Andrew McCullough goes down with a knee injury. Pic Darren England.

Kodi Nikorima (49) — came on in the 24th minute when McCullough left the field with a knee injury and scored a try with a line-break to compliment his 16 tackles and 4 runs. If McCullough spends an extended period on the sideline, then Kodi could be traded into many teams in exchange for his brother Jayden who is currently sitting as deadweight in 39 per cent of teams.

Cameron McInnes (15) — started the game from the bench and only played 29 minutes with Michael Maguire electing to start the game with Damien Cook (21). McInnes has been a one of the best early season cash cows increasing in value by $144,000 prior to this round, however, the dream could be over for McInnes’ 7443 owners as he missed his breakeven by 70 points which will see his price decrease by over $36,000.

Hymel Hunt (6) — another early-season cash cow who will need to be on the trade-out list for the 16 per cent of SuperCoaches who still sit with him in their squad. Hunt will need to be traded after suffering a torn pec which should all but end his season.

Andrew McCullough (11) — limped off the field in the 24th minute with a knee-ligament injury. His 5726 owners as well as potential Kodi Nikorima owners will know more when his scans reveal further information as to the seriousness of the injury.

Herman Ese’ese (14) — the $133,000 FRF only saw 22 minutes and will not feature in the favourable half of Copes’ cheapie article in the near future if he continues with this rate of SuperCoach output.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: Dave Von Kotze’s highlights the good and bad of round 8