By Alex Christie - @SuperCoachRealm on X Positional points conceded data is one of the most powerful tools available to SuperCoach players, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Raw averages often fail to tell the full story.

Things like goalkicking, HIAs, sin bins, injury-related positional changes, and mid-game role changes can all heavily influence where points are scored. This creates a misleading picture of which positions teams are genuinely struggling to defend. To combat that, every average in this article has been manually tracked and adjusted to provide the most accurate representation possible of where SuperCoach points are being conceded across the field. This article examines the season to date across every position, while also highlighting the 3-round and 5-round averages to showcase emerging trends and provide a clearer picture of current defensive form. 

FRF has been excluded from this analysis due to the constant rotation of middle forwards and the difficulty in accurately assigning points conceded to individual front row roles. 

Every average in this article will be colour-coded:

• Blue – elite
• Green – good
• Yellow – okay
• Orange – not good
• Red – terrible

All Season Averages

St George Illawarra Dragons

The Dragons are the clear number one team to target overall, sitting highest for total positional average conceded at 70.5. Their biggest leaks are to fullbacks (1st), left wingers (1st), left centres (2nd), right second rowers (2nd), and hookers (1st). This coverage of positions makes them one of the most reliable matchup teams in the competition as it stands.

Parramatta Eels

Parramatta are arguably the most consistently vulnerable side according to the data. They sit second overall in points conceded across the board but are especially poor against left-sided players. They are ranked 2nd to left wing, 3rd to left centres, and 1st to left halves and left second rowers. 

Melbourne Storm

Who would’ve thought Melbourne would end up here, 3rd overall on the list. They are massively exposed to both centres and the right edge forward. Unlike the other two sides above they are not a full-team target and are more of a specific edge/centre matchup. 

North Queensland Cowboys

The Cowboys sit 4th overall but their main concern so far has been through the left side defence as they are ranked 3rd on the right-sided points list. Right halves, right centres, hookers, and right edge forwards have all scored well against them, while their left side has been more stable. They are a team where the side of the field matters for matchups. 

Canberra Raiders

Canberra rounds out the top 5 worst defensive teams so far averaging 63.7 total points. They are vulnerable to halves and left-sided attackers. Their left-side average of 66.2 is among the highest on the list, with right halves, left halves, and left edge forwards all scoring strongly. They are not terrible everywhere, but they have clear SuperCoach target zones. 

Gold Coast Titans

The Titans’ biggest issue is obvious: right centres (aka whoever is running at AJ Brimson). They concede a monstrous 79.4 average to RC, the highest number for that position in the comp. They also give up strong numbers to fullbacks, left centres, and left halves, making them a matchup worth targeting through the backline and attacking spine. 

Cronulla Sharks

Cronulla sit just above the middle of the pack at 62.5, but their standout weakness is through hooker and left edge forwards. They are in the top 5 points conceded to HOK and L2RF while also giving up solid numbers to right halves and right edge forwards. They are not an obvious overall target, but there are positional opportunities. 

Wests Tigers

Wests are the clearest example of why side-specific data matters. While their overall average is only 62.3 ranking them 8th, their right-side average is 67.3 in comparison to the left at 53.4. Fullbacks and hookers have scored decently against them, but any left-sided player you have against the Tigers you play and play confidently. 

Canterbury Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are a mixed matchup. Their overall average sits at 61.7 but they are clearly more vulnerable to wingers, left halves and hookers. The Bulldogs have been exceptional against fullbacks and centres so far, so that’s something to consider going forward. They are not a team to blindly attack, but the right players in the right positions can still find strong scores.

Newcastle Knights

Newcastle is the first team to be featured in the bottom 8 sides at a 61.5 overall average. The major standout position against the Knights is the fullback averaging a whopping 77.8 points making them one of the highest in the competition. Outside of that, they are not a heavy target team across the board.

Brisbane Broncos

Brisbane’s overall average is relatively strong at 59, but there are still specific areas to attack. Right halves, right edge forwards, and hookers have all scored well against them, while their left-side average is the second lowest in the competition. Brisbane are not a bad defensive matchup overall, but they do have a clear right-side weakness. 

The Dolphins

The Dolphins sit low overall at 58.8, but their edge forward numbers stand out. They concede 74.1 to L2RF and 67.9 to R2RF, making second rowers the key SuperCoach target against them. The outside backs have been well handled by the Dolphins, specifically against right-sided players as they rank 17th to right wingers and 15th to right centres.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Souths are the first side to enter the bottom 5 SuperCoach matchups at an overall average of 58.2, but left edge forwards remain the only exception to the overall strong defence. They concede exactly 70 to left second rowers, while keeping every other position under 63 points averaged. They are not a team to target, conceding less than 60 to both right side and left side overall. 

Manly Sea Eagles

Manly had a very rough start to the year but they have done extremely well to be the 4th best side on this list. Manly’s standout weakness is right wing, where they concede 70.5 making them the highest in the competition. Outside of that, their numbers are fairly controlled, especially on the left side. They are a very specific winger matchup rather than a team that leaks points elsewhere. 

New Zealand Warriors

The Wahs are quietly one of the toughest defensive sides in the data, sitting 3rd lowest overall at 57.8. They do not have any major red flags, although players on the right side are significantly more likely to score points in comparison to the left. Overall, they are hard to target but the backs and edge forward on the right have a chance to get on the board. 

Sydney Roosters

The Roosters are the 2nd toughest team overall so far, conceding just 56.9 across the tracked positions. Their right-side average of 52.3 is the best in the competition, making them particularly difficult to score against on that side. They only concede 65+ against two positions: left second rower and hooker. 

Penrith Panthers

Penrith remain the hardest team to score against overall, shock. They only concede 55.1 points overall and their left-side average of 50.8 is also the best in the competition. The only notable exception is right edge forwards, where they conceded 71.1, but outside of that they remain the benchmark defensive matchup. 

Want to turn these matchups into picks? Check this week’s SuperCoach rankings and filter by position, team or price to find the right player to back.

Positional analysis

Fullback

The season-long numbers point to Dragons, Knights, Tigers, Titans, and Eels as the top fullback matchups, but recent form shifts the focus.

Wests Tigers are the clear standout conceding 103 over the last 3 rounds and 88 over the last 5, making them the hottest fullback target right now. 

Gold Coast have also spiked hard recently, jumping to 93.7 over the last 3 and 82.8 over the last 5.

The Dragons remain the safest season-long target, with an average of 84.5 and a strong 92.2

The big movers the other way are Parramatta and Canberra, who both rate poorly season long but have tightened up significantly in recent weeks. 

Manly, Bulldogs, and Panthers remain the best defensive sides against fullbacks and are matchups to not target. 

Right Wing

The season long numbers have Manly as the clear worst right wing matchup at 70.5, but their recent form has dropped off with just 43.3 over the last 3 and 52.6 over the last 5.

The current form standout is Wests Tigers, jumping to 95.3 over the last 3 and 72 over the last 5, making them the hottest RW target right now.

The Dragons remain a strong right wing matchup, sitting 2nd for season average at 69.1. Their recent numbers have heated slightly to 73 over the last 3 and 86.4 over the last 5, but they are still one of the strongest teams to target in this position.

The Warriors are quietly trending upwards too, with 70.3 over the last 3 and 73 over the last 5, despite sitting only middle of the pack season long.

The teams to be more cautious with are Panthers, Storm, and the Sharks, who all look tougher on recent form than their season averages suggest. The Dolphins are an absolute avoid as they are not only averaging just 37.5 to right wingers but are averaging less than 30 in both the last 3 and last 5. 

Right centre

Gold Coast are the clear right centre target. They sit 1st season long at 79.4 and have stayed extremely high with 91.7 over the last 3 and 84.6 over the last 5.

Melbourne are also a strong season long matchup at 67.5, but their recent form has cooled slightly to 59.7 over the last 3 and 64 over the last 5. They are still playable, but not as hot as Gold Coast.

North Queensland are a current form riser, sitting 3rd season long at 64.8 while climbing to 71.7 over the last 3 and 73.4 over the last 5.

South Sydney are another one to watch. Their season average is only 59.1, but they have jumped to 78.7 over the last 3. The 5 round average is 60.6, so the spike is perfectly relative to Latrell Mitchell being out. 

The tougher matchups look like Sydney, Knights, Bulldogs, Dolphins, and Canberra. They sit low season long and also remain low in current form, making them the least appealing RC targets.

Right half

Parramatta are the strongest right half matchup. They sit 1st season long at 72.3 and have stayed hot with 74.7 over the last 3 and 76 over the last 5.

Canberra are also a premium target, sitting 2nd season long at 70.3 while jumping to 84.3 over the last 3 and 79.2 over the last 5.

Cronulla are the biggest current form riser. Their season average is 65.1, but they have climbed to 75 over the last 3 and 77.8 over the last 5, making them one of the best matchups right now.

Brisbane are worth noting too. Their season average is 68.8 and their 5 round average is 72.6, so they remain a solid target even though the 3 round number has cooled slightly.

The tougher matchups look like Gold Coast, Sydney, Manly, and Souths. They sit low season long, and their current form does not show any amount of a spike to make them right half targets.

Right second row

Melbourne are the top season long right edge forward matchup at 82.9, and while their recent numbers have come back slightly, 79.2 over the last 5 keeps them firmly in the target range.

The Tigers are the best current form target. They sit only 4th season long at 77.1 but have jumped to a whopping 120 average over the last 4 and 93.8 over the last 5, making them the hottest right second rower matchup right now.

The Dragons are also extremely reliable. They sit 2nd season long at 79.6 and remain strong with 89.7 over the last 3 and 86 over the last 5.

Cronulla are a sneaky riser, sitting mid range season long at 68.7 but climbing to 73.7 over the last 3 and 75.8 over the last 5. They look more of a matchup in current form than the season average suggests.

The tougher matchups look like Roosters, Bulldogs, Souths, and Knights. They sit lower season long and do not have enough recent form to push them into the target group.

Left Wing

The Dragons are the clear left wing target. They sit 1st season long at 83.4 and their recent form is even worse, with 91 over the last 3 and 109.6 over the last 5.

Parramatta are also a strong matchup, sitting 2nd season long at 72, with 71 over the last 3 and 80.4 over the last 5. They remain one of the safest LW targets.

The Bulldogs continue to rate highly too. They sit 4th season long at 70.3 and have stayed strong as a target matchup with 83.7 over the last 3 and 77 over the last 5.

Canberra and Melbourne are steady rather than explosive. Both sit in the top group season long and both have recent numbers that keep them in the target range.

The tougher matchups look like Warriors, Manly, Brisbane, Wests Tigers, and Roosters. They all sit low season long, and most of them also have low recent numbers, making them less appealing LW matchups.

Left Centre

Melbourne are the clear season long left centre target conceding a huge 80.2 on average, and their recent form is still strong with 85.2 over the last 5.

South Sydney are the biggest current riser. Their season average is only 62.9, but they have jumped to 82 over the last 3 and 75.6 over the last 5. That makes them one of the best current LC matchups.

Parramatta remain strong as well, sitting 3rd season long at 71.8 while also holding 72 over the last 3 and 74.4 over the last 5. They look like one of the more reliable targets because the season long and recent form both line up.

Gold Coast are also worth monitoring. They sit fourth season long at 63.8 and have stayed strong recently with 68.7 over the last 3 and 68.2 over the last 5.

The tougher matchups look like Manly, Warriors, Brisbane, Sharks and Newcastle. Most of them sit low season long, and Newcastle in particular has dropped sharply to 29.3 over the last 3, making them an extremely poor current LC target.

Left half

Parramatta are the clear standout left half matchup. They sit 1st season long at 68.4 and have exploded recently with 107 over the last 3 and 87.2 over the last 5.

Canberra remain a strong target as well, sitting 2nd season long at 66.8, with 81.3 over the last 3 and 72.6 over the last 5. That makes them one of the safer matchups across both season long data and current form.

The Bulldogs are also worth highlighting. Their season average is 64.7 and their 5 round average has climbed to 70.2, showing they are still giving up points to left halves.

Manly are an interesting current riser. Their season average is only 53.9, but they have jumped to 79.3 over the last 3 and 69.2 over the last 5. They are not as safe as Parramatta or Canberra, but they are trending towards that level.

The tougher matchups look like Penrith, Warriors, Brisbane, and Melbourne. They sit near the bottom season long and their recent averages are still low, so they remain poor left half targets.

Left Second Row

The season long numbers point to Parramatta, Dolphins, Canberra, Sharks, and Souths as the main left edge forward targets.

Parramatta remain the safest matchup, sitting 1st for season average at 74.3, while also holding strong recent numbers of 77 over the last 3 and 75.8 over the last 5.

Gold Coast are the biggest current form riser. Their season average is only 63.6, but they have jumped to 80.7 over the last 3 and 81.2 over the last 5, making them one of the hottest left edge matchups right now.

Canberra and Cronulla are also worth noting. Canberra sit 3rd season long at 72.2 and have stayed high with 75 over the last 3 and 77.2 over the last 5. Sharks sit 4th at 70.9 and have remained strong with 79 over the last 3 and 73 over the last 5.

The tougher matchups look like Penrith, Newcastle, Melbourne, and Brisbane. They sit near the bottom on season average and all of them have shown enough recent form to suggest they are terrible left second rower targets.

Hooker

The season long numbers have Dragons and Eels as the top hooker matchups, sitting at 73.7 and 73.1, but the current form tells two different stories.

Parramatta look like the clear current form target, jumping to 82.3 over the last 3 and 75 over the last 5. They were already a strong season long matchup and the recent numbers back that up. 

Brisbane and Wests Tigers have also spiked heavily. Brisbane are conceding 90 over the last 3 and 81.2 over the last 5, while Wests are at 83.7 over the last 3 and 76.6 over the last 5. Both look like much stronger hooker targets right now than their season average alone suggests.

The Dragons are still the highest season long average, but their recent numbers have cooled to 60 over the last 3 and 62.4 over the last 5. They are still playable because of the full season sample, but not as hot as Parramatta, Brisbane or Wests in current form.

The tougher matchups look like Warriors, Melbourne, Canberra and Dolphins. They all sit low on season average and also remain low across recent form, making them less appealing matchup targets.