South Sydney forward Sam Burgess is the Round 2 NRL SuperCoach Spoiler

SOMETIMES you pick all the right players but your captain leaves you languishing. This week’s SuperCoach Spoiler is the skipper you really should have had.

IN any given NRL round many players go large in terms of SuperCoach, scoring multiple tries, try assists and offloads.

Most of them are your standard SuperCoach superstars, owned by every team that’s not auto-selected. But others come out of nowhere.

And sometimes you pick all the right players but your captain leaves you languishing. This week’s SuperCoach Spoiler is the skipper you really should have had.

SAM BURGESS (SOUTH SYDNEY, 2RF/FRF, $423,700)

Yes, that’s right, SAM Burgess.

Before those dedicated types start tut-tutting over their bye-round spreadsheets, let me explain.

Everyone who’s got a pulse has Sam Burgess in their team, so how can he be the SuperCoach Spoiler?

Actually, according to the ownership stats, only 51 per cent had the hulking Pommy forward in their team at the start of round two. So his 135 points would have caught half the competition tripping over their trousers.

ROUND 1 SPOILER: Bird is the word

But that’s besides the point.

LISTEN TO OUR ROUND 3 SUPERCOACH PODCAST

What really makes the code-hopping Rabbitohs star this week’s SuperCoach Spoiler is if you had him in your team but DIDN’T have him as captain.

He’s traditionally been a top-five captain option and in hindsight it was so bloody obvious.

More than 12 per cent of coaches stamped the “c” on the big Bunny and were laughing all the way to the top of the ladder.

Sam Burgess pounds out the points against the Knights in round two. Picture: AAP

A friend of mine – let’s call him, umm, John – spent Wednesday night tossing and turning over who to make captain for Round 2.

“John” has tried the VC loophole but finds it’s a bit like preparing a salad for a BBQ – too much effort and it can leave a sour taste.

He likes to plant his “c” and get on with life.

“John” spends the next day at work researching.

He finds out that Burgess scored 65 points in the first round, playing 53 minutes at prop.

He’s expected to move to lock with the promise of 80 minutes in Round 2.

Before the match Burgess says: “I think in 2014 I averaged 78 minutes a game. I think I will start pushing out a few minutes (against Newcastle).”

So, Burgess has dipped his toe back into Australian rugby league and likes the feel of it, he’s expected to play an extra 27 minutes ... and he’s playing the Knights.

“John” talks to his mates.

“John”: Who’s your SuperCoach captain this week?

Mate 1: Corey Parker. You?

“J”: Parker? You need Burgess mate, he’s going to kill it.

M1: You’ve convinced me.

“John” immediately rushes back to his desk and hands the captaincy to Parker.

The Broncos workhorse has done the job in the past and his mate’s usually a pretty good judge. Who cares if he’s only playing 60 minutes and his kicking radar is in for repair.

Parker goes on to score a mediocre 58 points and Burgess goes bang.

The giant Pommie import had 2 try assists, 21 tackles, 8 points from tackle busts, 34 from offloads, 24 from linebreak assists and 31 from hit-ups.

Needless to say I, umm, sorry “John”, won’t be making that mistake again.

Originally published as South Sydney forward Sam Burgess is the Round 2 NRL SuperCoach Spoiler