Croker’s Call: Stockmen thrive as rank heads north

• FINAL WORD: Key trade and tactical advice, Round 7
• SPY TALK: Answering the big questions ahead of Round 7

I’ve written in recent weeks about the rollercoaster ride that is SuperCoach.

It’s continued for me, but fortunately I’m on that part of the rollercoaster that’s gradually going up a steep climb.

Inevitably, it’ll get to that stage where you’re dropping at a rapid rate. Let’s hope I can avoid it for a while at least!

I bashed out 1,300 points in Round 6 for a round ranking of 928^th, putting me in 2,303^rd overall.

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I also noticed the SC Playbook league finished first overall this week, good stuff from the boys!

My score saw me get a win over Michael Fisher, leaving me in fifth place at 2/4 to start the season.

My Newcastle contingent of Mitch Barnett and Tyson Frizell both delivered with centuries, as did captain Nathan Cleary. Kurt Capewell and Josh Schuster were other highlights of my week.

On the bad side, Charlie Staines only put together 15 points, while injury limited Siosiua Taukeiaho to only 23.

Let’s take a look at this week’s trades.

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JORDAN RIKI to JOSH CURRAN

The young Brisbane enforcer has done a good job for me, making plenty of money and acting as a reliable scorer most weeks.

Now playing from the bench, minutes look limited and he is set to lose lots of cash.

I’ll be moving him on for Warriors forward Josh Curran who is very cheap and scored well having gone the distance last week.

Having used all of my trades so far this season I’m going to sit on the other and bank it up.

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Fortunately my side is looking decent enough to deal with the injury to Ryan Papenhuyzen, although hopefully Taukeiaho takes the field after an injury concern last week.

I locked in Jake Simpkin last week, so this gives me a heap of cash to play around with next week, with a gun playmaker likely to come into my side.

It’ll be a hit out between a few heavyweight halves to get a run for Croker’s Stockmen.

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CAPTAIN

Nathan Cleary hasn’t put a foot wrong for me this year as a regular skipper choice.

I locked him in again and he scored fairly well last night in Penrith’s win over Newcastle.

While it wasn’t massive, I’ll take the 80 odd which is a nice double score to lock in early in the week.

Good luck to everyone ahead of Round 7!