TCT SuperCoach: Your Weekly Guide to Surviving the Season

(League Code: 704791)

An eventful Round 5 brought plenty of big scores. The Dragons keep stinking it up, the Bulldogs look confused, and the Panthers are, once again, the official SuperCoach killers. This time, however, the Panthers are as good in attack as they are in defence. So many players are killing it for the Panthers, and this was supposedly whilst they were going through their run of ‘difficult’ games. Well, we’ve come to learn that no team is difficult for the Panthers – they’re a step above the rest.

Congratulations to Warren’s team, GOD OF THUNDER, topping the TCT league this week with a whopping 1,456 points. Michael’s team, THUNDERMACHINE, continues to perform strongly with another great score which sees him maintain first place in the TCT league with a lead of 126 points on second.

My Team

This week, I scored 1,187 points. I’m plodding along at the moment and really need something big soon before it becomes harder for me to play catch-up.

Unfortunately, I captained Reece Walsh, which was a really painful one to take. Walsh looked like he was going to put up 150 points with ease in his milestone game. Walsh ran away for a spectacular try, only for it to be disallowed, followed by him suffering a HIA which ruled him out of the game, then for it to reveal that he had suffered a cheekbone fracture and would be on the sidelines for an extended period. The joys of SuperCoach. Captaining someone like Nathan Cleary instead really could have changed my week, but that’s why getting the captaincy right is so important.

I ended up trading in Kulikefu Finefeuiaki for Ryan Couchman. Finefeuiaki only scored 53 points. However, I’d say that’s fairly respectable, given he spent half the game under the posts due to an absolute shellacking from Manly. I also traded in Simi Sasagi for Stephen Crichton. Not only did Sasagi do brilliantly with 95 points, but Crichton stunk it up and is also sidelined with a multi-week injury, so I was very happy with this trade, which has started to strengthen up my CTW position.

Round 5 Review

Let’s break down the key SuperCoach takeaways from Round 5:

Premium Guns ($690k+)

Thomas Jenkins (CTW – $872.2k – 109 points):

5 games, 4 of them with 100+ scores. I apologise if I talked anyone out of this trade a week or two ago. He looks like a must-have, but I really don’t know how non-owners can afford him. He’s now the most expensive player in the game!

Nathan Cleary (HFB – $859.6k – 115 points):

Destroying every team with ease – we are witnessing greatness. Must-have, and I believe he’s a great worry-free captaincy play every week. It genuinely does not matter who Penrith are up against.

Casey McLean (CTW – $691k – 104 points):

I really wanted McLean at the start of the season, but I wasn’t able to get him in. He started off pretty slowly with scores of 38, 76, and 49, so I thought I got away with one there. However, McLean has now posted back-to-back 100+ scores, and looks incredible. He could be the play if you can’t afford Jenkins, as it allows you to get a piece of that red-hot Panthers left edge.

Nicholas Hynes (HFB – $808.8k – 144 points):

Nicho is killing it. Every time I looked at the SuperCoach app during the game, he had another 30 points – he just seems to accumulate SuperCoach points with ease. I want him in my team ASAP. However, it’s important to note that he does have a bye in Round 7. With a breakeven of 18, he’ll be out of range for most very soon if he continues with this form.

Nicho Hynes

Jaxon Purdue (5/8/CTW – $713.7k – 108 points):

Owners who were willing to pay extra for Purdue over Cody Walker would be laughing. After a poor Round 1 outing, he’s since averaged 91 points. This is one that I really missed out on and wish that I started with.

Kai Pearce-Paul (2RF – $696.6k – 120 points):

Averaging 92.3 points, KPP looks incredible! He’s locked into an 80-minute role, basing great, and playing freely. I’d love to get KPP in my team. Similar to Nicho though, KPP will be out of range soon if he continues this form, especially with his breakeven of 16.

Mid-Range Movers

Ben Trbojevic (2RF – $577.8k – 132 points):

Prior to this performance, Burbo was averaging 58.3 points, so he wasn’t doing bad by any means. He’s not my type of player, but I can see some merit in picking him up as a quick cash grab with a -7 breakeven.

Haumole Olakau’atu (2RF – $676.8k – 128 points):

23 damaging runs, the most Olakau’atu has ever taken in a game, along with one try and two try assists. Look to see if he keeps this up, as it could be the impact of new coach, Kieran Foran.

Haumole Olakau’atu

Jake Clifford (5/8 – $684.4k – 125 points):

A three-round average of 106.7, Clifford is killing it. He looks dominant, he’s running hard, and he’s got the goalkicking. He’s shaping up as an unexpected top option at the 5/8 position, and his price is starting to reflect that.

Dane Gagai (CTW – $570.6k – 131 points):

Vintage Gagai. He looked strong and he’s consistently putting it on a platter for Dom Young. Given he’s in under 1% of teams and has a -16 breakeven, he could be a great POD.

Players of Concern

Tanah Boyd (HFB – $748.8k – 41 points):

Back to reality for Tanah Boyd, scoring 41 points. Personally, I’d look to sell to a Cleary/Hynes while he’s still at such a high price. However, with Metcalf sidelined with a hammy issue, I could understand giving him one more week to see if he can replicate his form before Metcalf came into the side.

Valentine Holmes (CTW – $695.2k – 30 points):

The Dragons look so poor. Despite this, Val usually puts up a decent score even in a well-beaten side. Unfortunately, the Dragons scored 0, and Val’s involvement was down. He’s set to lose a lot of money, and I’m glad I didn’t pick him up a few weeks ago. I may look into getting Val a bit later once the Dragons seem like scoring a try.

Valentine Holmes

Payne Haas (FRF – $809.4k – 49 points):

As outlined in last week’s article, I expected Haas’ involvement/output to reduce with his AC joint injury, which is exactly what happened. 49 points in 55 minutes is not ideal for someone of his price and calibre. If this continues, he’s going to lose a lot of cash, especially with his breakeven of 129. For me, he’s a sell, which can give you plenty of money to use elsewhere.

Team List Watch

• Stephen Crichton drops out with an AC joint injury, with Bronson Xerri replacing him.
• Mitch Kenny returns. Expect reduced minutes again for Isaah Yeo.
• Daniel Atkinson is pushed to 5/8, with Kyle Flanagan returning to the halfback position. Hopefully this frees up Atkinson.
• Setu Tu returns after a one-week suspension to David Fale.
• Reece Walsh is sidelined with a fractured cheekbone, bringing Jesse Arthars into the fullback position.
• Brandon Smith returns from an extended stint on the sidelines as the starting hooker.
• Moses Leo returns to the Storm side, but he’s now on the wing. Owners will be hoping this brings more attacking upside.
• Bottom-dollar cheapie, Araz Nanva, is set to make his debut on the wing for Parra. However, with Penisini returning this week, and Russell out with concussion protocols, I don’t expect him to keep this spot for long.
• Luke Metcalf is sidelined with a hammy issue, with Chanel Harris-Tavita replacing him at 5/8. Look for this to boost the scoring of Tanah Boyd.
• Another bottom-dollar cheapie, Wilson De Courcey, is set to replace the injured Bradman Best. Given that Best is out for 4 weeks, and De Courcey played half a game last week, expect De Courcey to receive a few price rises.
• The Dolphins have the bye.

My Trades

For now, my trades are as follows:

• Reece Walsh >>> Tom Trbojevic
• Keaon Koloamatangi >>> Alex Twal

I’m unfortunately going to have to part ways with Walsh after he suffered a fractured cheekbone, which will see him sidelined for 4+ weeks. Tommy Turbo is in great form, and this is a relatively easy trade to make. I did think about getting Hynes in over Turbo at the flex position. However, with Hynes’ bye next round, I’m going to be hoping he does poorly against the Roosters this week so that his price doesn’t increase too drastically.

Keaon has apparently been dealing with a PCL issue the whole season, which would explain his lower output. This flared up during the game against the Doggies, and I want to cut ties before it becomes a further issue for me. As for Alex Twal, he’s looking brilliant, punching out big scores with ease.

I’d really like to get in Kai Pearce-Paul or Casey McLean, and I’d have no problem with boosting to get these players in, but it’s simply not feasible for me to do so at the moment.

Captaincy

Currently, I’m thinking of placing the VC on Cleary against the Bulldogs in his 200^th game. This is pretty self-explanatory, and I definitely have no problem with people putting the straight captaincy on him either, despite it being a Thursday game. However, the only thing that has me a bit worried about a straight captaincy on Cleary is the fact that the Panthers may rest their players if they get into a comfortable lead. As for my captaincy, I’m thinking of going Tommy Turbo against the diabolical Dragons.

Although I won’t be going this way and don’t own some of these players, I can definitely see the appeal in captaining a few other options:

• Thomas Jenkins/Casey McLean vs Bulldogs
• Nicho Hynes vs Roosters
• James Tedesco vs Sharks
• Sua Fa’alogo vs Warriors

I’m keen to hear your thoughts, trades, and captaincy calls – drop them below! Let’s see who nails Round 6. See you next week!

SC Adrian

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.