Ballr NRL SuperCoach Team List Tuesday podcast analysis NRL Round 22

Round 22 of NRL SuperCoach 2026 is a tricky trade week, and on episode 150 of the Ballr podcast, host Jono (Hungry Fermor) was joined by Matt (Terrace Crew) and CMac (CMac's Shark Attack) to break down the key decisions following Team List Tuesday.

Handling Harry Grant

With Harry Grant sidelined until Round 25, the trio ran through hooker cover scenarios.

Titans rookie Oliver Pascoe (68 minutes last round) and Raiders rising star Owen Pattie (averaging 58 minutes since claiming the No.9 role) were both rated clear holds if you already own them, with Sam Verrills (backup to Pascoe) and Tom Starling (backup to Pattie) tipped to soak up the spare minutes.

For Brandon Smith owners, with The Cheese nursing a calf scare the panel's fallback plan is a switch to Blayke Brailey if Smith is ruled out.

Captaincy and vice-captaincy

Nicho Hynes remains Jono's captain this week off the back of Cronulla's red-hot form, with Nathan Cleary the standout alternative given a Panthers draw running home with Raiders, Warriors, Roosters, Storm, Bulldogs and Tigers.

For vice-captain, Herbie Farnworth was the panel's pick against a Dragons right edge that's been exposed lately, ahead of Reece Walsh and Jayden Campbell, who's again being purchased after finally exploding for 140 SuperCoach points.

Trade targets for the run home

Simi Sasagi is now sitting in 50% of top-10% teams after a standout return-from-injury performance, though the panel flagged shoulder injury recurrence risk.

Toby and Ryan Couchman were both backed as safe, boring point-scorers for the Dragons, while Jacob Preston was tipped as the best value back rower buy in the competition on a cheaper price tag.

Mark Nawaqanitawase copped a strong buy rating under $550K despite a quiet month, with the Roosters run home expected to bring his ceiling back.

Cheaper trade options

Among the budget-friendly forwards discussed, Viliame Kikau snuck into the panel's radar after a 75-point outing (cut short to 63 minutes by a HIA) that included a try assist - though the panel remained lukewarm on bringing him in.

Francis Manuleleua was rated a pass for now given his output drops to a 43-point average in games without an attacking stat, while Storm midseason recruit Oryn Keeley - fresh off a career-best game with a try and 82 in base plus power - was seen as a fine option only if cash is tight and no better buy is available.

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.