NRL SuperCoach Round 19 players to watch, match centres, weather and tips
Round 19 is proving tougher than expected for NRL SuperCoach - here's seven players who could give you the edge.
Friday, July 10
Wests Tigers v New Zealand Warriors, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 8pm AEST
Campbelltown weather - game time: Possible shower. 0-10% chance of rain.
Player of interest: One man who had plenty of optimism around him on return from injury was Adam Doueihi but those who had him on their watch list are being given reason for pause. The first is a 67 average over the last two games, even with three major attacking stats. The second is Api Koroisau is hurt won’t be back until after the bye - bad for the Tigers overall. Is this enough to put you off, or will it only make him go to another gear to put the side on his back in a bid to play finals?
Saturday, July 11
Dolphins v Cronulla Sharks, Kayo Stadium, 3pm AEST
Redcliffe weather - game time: Partly cloudy. 0-10% chance of rain.
Player of interest: Has the beast awoken? Anyone who held Kulikefu Finefeuiaki was ready to turf him this week until he pumped out an 82 on Saturday, all in base+power. This is what made him irresistible to many in the opening 10 weeks of the season. Now at 525k, he’d be a fine hold as a 5th 2RF, or even a value trade in knowing his potential and the attacking potential of the Dolphins, even with Izzy Katoa out for a period. It may actually be helping him, with Brad Schneider very happy to feed the beast on his hip.
Canterbury Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders, Accor Stadium, 5.30pm AEST
Sydney Olympic Park weather - game time: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of no rain.
Player of interest: Fancy a bit of Ricky Roulette at HK2? Owen Pattie is touted as future Origin player and many are, ironically, eyeing him as a useful deputy to Harry Grant - if they didn't already trade him in last week. Pattie now has back-to-back games of 55 minutes under his belt and his base PPM appears around the 0.8 mark. He also loves an attacking stat, with 18.5ppg in his two starts. Pattie also covers Grant owners in R24 and is still just 311k. Is it worth the risk he retains Ricky's trust instead of nuffing HK2? He's at least an easy play this week if you're struggling for numbers.
Sydney Roosters v Parramatta Eels, Allianz Stadium, 7.35pm AEST
Sydney weather - game time: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of no rain.
Player of interest: The shiny 2RF toys in the 500ks are taking the spotlight away from a quiet achiever at the Eels who could be worth the extra spend. Kitione Kautoga is only 0.4% owned and $617k but boasts a three-round average of 83. His underlying numbers have been increasing too as he returned to fitness after a knee injury a month or so ago, producing a three-round base+power average of 63, which is bang on his Ballr projection for the week. The Eels have a so-so run home, but Kautoga seems to be in everything good they do.
Sunday, July 12
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights, Accor Stadium, 2pm AEST
Sydney Olympic Park weather - game time: Possible shower. 0-10% chance of rain.
Player of interest: 36,000 SuperCoaches may have a big call to make if David Fifita fails to get through 80 minutes for the third time in four weeks. Many who traded him in for Round 18 were rocked by his 44 score last week in 55 minutes, but this week with Tallis Duncan at centre, his chances are safe, at least until Latrell Mitchell returns in the next couple of weeks. It would feel a luxury to trade him out with so few left and knowing his past spike performances, but his peak this season is only 79. A tough call for coaches who will be watching him closely.
Manly Sea Eagles v North Queensland Cowboys, 4 Pines Park, 4.05pm AEST
Manly weather - game time: Shower or two. 0-10% chance of rain.
Player of interest: Even more coaches are turning to Tom Trbojevic this week hoping he will perform and stay fit after James Tedesco's Origin knockout sent trade plans into disarray. Turbo was a disappointment to those who hoped for big things in Round 18 against the Eels, but the Sea Eagles were awful, so a 68 with his only attack being two linebreak assists is a very nice floor. If Fozball recovers, he's starting to explode from a solid base. Projected 78 this week against the Cowboys, against who he holds the SuperCoach record score. Captain material?
Melbourne Storm v Gold Coast Titans, AAMI Park, 6.15pm AEST
Melbourne weather - game time: Shower or two. 25-50% chance of rain.
Player of interest: Someone primed for a bounce back after a horror Origin game is Cameron Munster. It’s hard to imagine this guy was 200k cheaper than he is now, but at least now you know he’s in form and Origin is out of the way. With a 127 in his rolling average, his five-round average is 87, and with the Storm are desperate to go on a run to get into the finals, you can be sure he’ll be motivated and won’t be getting a rest. Projected 71.
Make your last-minute sit-start or captaincy decisions painless with the Rankings tool, which uses Ballr NRL SuperCoach Projections to rank the best players by position and tell you the chances of your player going big.