Round 26 NRL SuperCoach Positional Averages & Matchups

By Alex Christie - @SuperCoachRealm

How it works

Positional points conceded data is a key SuperCoach tool, but raw averages can be misleading. Goalkicking, HIAs, sin bins, injuries and mid-game role changes can all shift where points are scored.

To make this more accurate, every average in this article has been manually tracked and adjusted to better show where teams are conceding points.

This article looks at season averages, while also using the last three-round average (3RA) and last five-round average (5RA) to highlight current trends.

Front Row Forward has been excluded due to middle-forward rotations making it difficult to accurately assign points conceded.

Colour guide

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

Team Overview

Parramatta have moved into outright first after rising by 0.5 to 66.9 points conceded per position. The Dragons increased slightly to 66.5 but dropped to second, while the Tigers climbed above North Queensland into third after rising by 0.4 to 66.1. Just 1.1 points separate the top four teams.

Newcastle recorded the largest increase of the week, jumping by 0.7 to 60.3 and moving from 12th to 9th. The Warriors also rose strongly, increasing by 0.6 to 57.7 and climbing above the Dolphins into 14th.

The Dolphins recorded the largest drop, falling by 0.4 to 57.6 and sliding to 15th. Canberra dropped by 0.3 to 62.8 while Melbourne fell by 0.2 to 63.7. Neither moved in the rankings.

The Tigers remain the leading right side matchup at 66.0, followed by the Dragons at 65.1 and Manly at 64.1. Parramatta have extended their lead at the top of the left side rankings, rising from 68.9 to 70.4. The Titans sit second at 66.0, followed by Melbourne at 65.3.

The Roosters remain the most restrictive team overall at 55.3 and have the lowest right side average at 52.5. Penrith have replaced the Warriors as the toughest left side matchup at 53.5, followed by the Warriors at 54.7 and Manly at 54.9.

Fullback

Tom Trbojevic has the strongest season matchup against the Dragons. They concede a competition-high 74.1 points across the season, although that has dropped to 62.7 across three rounds and 65.6 across five.

Jahream Bula has the standout recent matchup against North Queensland at 71.0 across the season, 97.3 across three rounds and 92.6 across five. Scott Drinkwater also gets a strong Tigers matchup at 71.6 across the season, 75.3 across three and 66.4 across five.

Matt Dufty faces a consistent Gold Coast matchup at 69.0 across the season, 73.0 across three rounds and 72.0 across five. Sua Fa’alogo is also in a steady spot against Brisbane at 66.5 across the season, 68.7 across three and 68.2 across five.

Kalyn Ponga faces a more restrictive Warriors defence conceding 63.2 across the season, 55.0 across three rounds and 60.8 across five.

James Tedesco has a difficult matchup against the Dolphins at 59.5 across the season and 48.3 across three rounds. His return from an ankle injury also remains uncertain after being withdrawn late in each of the past two rounds.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has the toughest matchup of the position against the Roosters. They concede only 54.6 across the season, 47.3 across three rounds and 44.6 across five.

Right wing

Mathew Feagai has the standout matchup against Manly. The Sea Eagles concede a competition-high 70.1 across the season and remain at 70.7 across three rounds and 68.8 across five.

Braidon Burns has the strongest matchup among the relevant players against the Tigers. They concede 65.0 across the season, although that has fallen to 60.0 across three rounds and 57.8 across five.

Sione Katoa’s Parramatta matchup is far better than the 52.8 season average suggests. The Eels have surged to 85.3 across three rounds and 71.6 across five. Jamayne Isaako gets a similar recent boost against the Roosters, rising from 48.8 across the season to 71.7 across three rounds and 63.0 across five.

Brian To’o faces a mixed Bulldogs matchup. Their 57.5 season average has climbed to 69.7 across three rounds but sits at only 55.6 across five.

Jason Saab faces the second highest season average against the Dragons at 65.1, but their recent numbers have dropped to 56.7 across three rounds and 47.6 across five.

Jacob Kiraz has a difficult Penrith matchup at 44.2 across the season, 55.3 across three rounds and 50.8 across five. Mark Nawaqanitawase has the toughest matchup of the position against the Dolphins at 42.6 across the season, 40.0 across three and 45.2 across five.

Right centre

If Jack Wighton is ruled out and Tallis Duncan or Latrell Mitchell shifts to right centre, they will inherit the strongest matchup of the position against Gold Coast. The Titans concede 70.4 across the season, 71.0 across three rounds and 61.8 across five.

Tom Chester gets another strong matchup against the Tigers at 66.2 across the season and 65.7 across three rounds. Their five-round average has climbed further to 78.8.

Nick Meaney has one of the strongest recent matchups against Brisbane. The Broncos sit at 62.3 across the season but have climbed to 86.7 across three rounds and 79.2 across five.

Moses Suli gets similar numbers against Manly at 61.6 across the season, 72.3 across three rounds and 78.2 across five. Ali Leiataua also faces an improving Newcastle edge conceding 87.0 across three and 74.4 across five.

Robert Toia faces a difficult Dolphins edge conceding 55.2 across the season, 51.3 across three rounds and 44.2 across five.

Jack Bostock has the toughest season matchup against the Roosters at 48.3, although their recent averages have lifted slightly to 58.0 across three rounds and 53.6 across five.

Right half

Nicho Hynes has the strongest season matchup against Parramatta at 69.5. Their three-round average has dropped to 60.7, but the five-round figure remains strong at 74.4.

Lachlan Galvin gets the standout recent matchup against Penrith. Their season average sits at 60.9 but has exploded to 108.0 across three rounds and 89.2 across five. It is the clearest recent form boost across the position.

Kyle Flanagan also deserves attention against Manly. The Sea Eagles concede 57.5 across the season, 65.0 across three rounds and 83.0 across five. Jayden Sullivan gets another improving matchup against Gold Coast at 69.0 across three and 73.6 across five.

Tom Dearden’s matchup against the Tigers appears much tougher than the 61.5 season average suggests. They have dropped to only 30.3 across three rounds, although the five-round figure is higher at 56.6.

Mitchell Moses faces a restrictive Cronulla defence conceding 52.5 across the season, 28.0 across three rounds and 31.4 across five.

Nathan Cleary has the toughest season matchup of the position against the Bulldogs. They concede only 46.2 across the season, 31.0 across three rounds and 36.4 across five.

Right second row

David Fifita has the strongest recent matchup among the major options against Gold Coast. The Titans concede 73.3 across the season, 79.3 across three rounds and 81.2 across five.

Jordan Riki has the highest season matchup across the position against Melbourne at 77.5, although their recent numbers have settled at 66.0 across three rounds and 69.2 across five.

Jacob Preston faces Penrith, who concede 74.5 across the season and a position high 84.6 across five rounds. Their three-round average has dropped to 62.7, creating a clear split between the short and medium term numbers.

Haumole Olakau’atu gets a strong season matchup against the Dragons at 73.7, although their recent averages have fallen to 68.0 across three rounds and 67.6 across five.

Briton Nikora faces a similar Parramatta matchup at 73.5 across the season, 64.0 across three rounds and 69.2 across five. Oryn Keeley gets a steady Brisbane matchup at 71.4 across the season, 73.0 across three and 68.4 across five.

Heilum Luki’s 71.3 season matchup against the Tigers looks appealing, but recent averages of 61.0 and 62.6 are less convincing.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has the toughest matchup among the relevant players against the Roosters. They concede a position low 61.7 across the season, 63.3 across three rounds and 66.0 across five.

Left wing

Ronaldo Mulitalo has the strongest matchup of the position against Parramatta. The Eels concede 72.5 across the season, 88.7 across three rounds and 73.6 across five.

Junior Tupou also gets an excellent matchup against North Queensland at 71.0 across the season, 95.7 across three rounds and 75.2 across five. Thomas Jenkins faces another strong matchup against the Bulldogs at 69.7 across the season, 77.0 across three and 65.4 across five.

Alex Johnston gets a positive Gold Coast matchup at 64.4 across the season and 67.0 across three rounds. Their five-round average has climbed further to 74.8.

Lehi Hopoate’s Dragons matchup is far less appealing than the 67.3 season average suggests. They have dropped to 35.3 across three rounds and 55.2 across five.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira faces a moderate Newcastle edge conceding 55.7 across the season, 65.0 across three rounds and 60.2 across five.

Greg Marzhew’s matchup against the Warriors is the opposite. Their competition-low 48.5 season average looks extremely difficult, but that has risen to 74.0 across three rounds and 62.4 across five.

Billy Smith faces a restrictive Dolphins edge conceding 55.1 across the season, 35.3 across three rounds and 42.4 across five. Enari Tuala has the toughest recent matchup of the position against Penrith at 32.7 across three and 29.8 across five.

Left centre

KL Iro has the standout matchup against Parramatta. The Eels concede 72.1 across the season, 96.3 across three rounds and 78.2 across five.

Deine Mariner has the highest season matchup of the position against Melbourne at 77.5, with their five-round average remaining strong at 70.4. Josh Feledy also gets an excellent Dragons matchup at 71.6 across the season, 78.0 across three and 85.0 across five.

Jaxon Purdue faces the Tigers at 63.2 across the season. Their three-round average has fallen to 54.7 before recovering to 62.4 across five.

Tallis Duncan or Latrell Mitchell gets a moderate Gold Coast matchup if either starts at left centre. The Titans concede 62.8 across the season but have dropped to 52.7 across three rounds and 57.0 across five.

Casey McLean’s matchup against the Bulldogs is better than the 56.9 season average suggests. Canterbury have climbed to 82.3 across three rounds, although the five-round figure sits lower at 60.6. Leka Halasima gets a similar recent boost against Newcastle at 75.0 across three and 63.6 across five.

Herbie Farnworth faces a difficult Roosters edge conceding 56.5 across the season, 53.7 across three rounds and 46.6 across five.

Valentine Holmes has the toughest matchup of the position against Manly. The Sea Eagles concede only 48.1 across the season, 49.7 across three rounds and 58.2 across five.

Left half

Cody Walker has the strongest season matchup among the relevant players against Gold Coast at 69.5. Their recent averages have fallen to 60.0 across three rounds and 57.2 across five, making it less appealing than the season figure suggests.

Jarome Luai has the standout recent matchup against North Queensland. The Cowboys concede 62.5 across the season but have climbed to 84.7 across three rounds and 77.2 across five.

Sam Walker gets a strong recent matchup against the Dolphins at 58.0 across the season and 72.0 across three rounds. Their five-round average sits lower at 58.2.

Jake Clifford faces a Tigers defence conceding only 56.6 across the season but 78.0 across three rounds and 70.8 across five. It is one of the clearest recent improvements at the position.

Jayden Campbell gets a mixed South Sydney matchup at 55.1 across the season and 50.0 across three rounds. Their five-round average has climbed to 66.2.

Stephen Crichton faces the lowest season average against Penrith at 47.8, but their recent numbers have risen to 65.0 across three rounds and 67.4 across five.

Fletcher Sharpe has another difficult season matchup against the Warriors at 48.0. Their recent averages are slightly better at 56.0 across three rounds and 54.2 across five. Kodi Nikorima has the toughest recent matchup against the Roosters at only 22.0 across three and 28.4 across five.

Left second row

Teig Wilton has the strongest active season matchup against Parramatta at 70.5, although their recent averages have fallen to 67.0 across three rounds and 63.8 across five.

Max Plath gets one of the most consistent matchups against the Roosters. They concede 69.8 across the season, 70.7 across three rounds and 70.6 across five.

Kurt Capewell’s Newcastle matchup is far better than the 63.5 season average suggests. The Knights have surged to 97.7 across three rounds and 87.4 across five. Shawn Blore gets another major recent boost against Brisbane, rising from 61.8 across the season to 73.0 across three rounds and 72.8 across five.

Hamish Stewart faces a moderate Manly matchup at 63.8 across the season, 59.7 across three rounds and 64.6 across five.

Isaiah Papali’i gets similar numbers against the Bulldogs at 63.5 across the season, 65.3 across three rounds and 63.4 across five.

Viliame Kikau has the toughest matchup of the position against Penrith. They concede only 58.3 across the season, 58.7 across three rounds and 61.2 across five.

Hooker

Brandon Wakeham and Jake Simpkin have the strongest matchup against the Dragons. They concede 73.1 across the season, 73.0 across three rounds and 80.8 across five.

Tallyn Da Silva has the standout recent matchup against Cronulla. The Sharks concede 69.2 across the season but have climbed to 95.3 across three rounds and 74.0 across five.

Blayke Brailey gets an excellent Parramatta matchup at 69.8 across the season, 79.3 across three rounds and 70.4 across five.

Harry Grant faces a Brisbane side conceding 67.4 across the season. That has climbed to 79.0 across three rounds and 75.8 across five, making it another strong matchup across every measure.

Oliver Pascoe and Luke Sommerton face a steady South Sydney matchup at 64.6 across the season, 68.3 across three rounds and 69.0 across five.

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