Croker’s Call: Trades fire first up, decision looms

• SPY TALK ROUND 12: Answering the week’s big questions
• FINAL WORD: Key trade and tactical advice, Round 12

After a gangbusters start to the season that saw the boys ranked just over 1,000th, the Stockmen have been on a gradual decline ever since.

We’re not doing a lot wrong, it’s largely been some poor captain choices that have let us down.

We scored 1,336 last week to fall to 14,000 in the overall standings.

My captain was James Tedesco who went well, but comparatively to others in my side it wasn’t enough.

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Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and Brian To’o all hit the three figure mark with big weekends.

It’s fair to say the boys need to find their groove to start rising up that leaderboard again.

Rubbing further salt into the wound was the fact my opponent Adam in the SC Playbook league scored over 1,600, so my for-and-against took a battering.

This week I take on Tim Williams in head to head, tough league to say the least.

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TRADES

CHRISTIAN WELCH to TEVITA PANGAI JNR

Welch has done such a solid job for me this season at prop and has been one of my most reliable players.

Unfortunately injury and looming Origin duties means it’s time to move him on following a job well done.

In comes my old teammate Tevita Pangai Jnr – yep there’s a theme popping up across the Stockmen – who can add some X-factor in the pack.

Despite the result last night, he scored well with eight offloads, good start mate.

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KURT CAPEWELL – NICHO HYNES

Like Welch, Capewell has been a stalwart of my team but due to suspension and Origin he has to go, another job well done!

Fortunately I was able to bring in Melbourne’s Nicho Hynes who has been in blistering form since earning a starting role.

He went gigantic once again last night against Brisbane to get my weekend off to a good start.

However, it has left me with the below dilemma.

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CAPTAINS

That dilemma is the fact that I put the vice-captaincy on Hynes.

I’ve never actually used this so called ‘loophole’ before, so it may be time to bank those huge points.

I’d love to know anyone’s thoughts on whether or not it’s the right move this week.

At this stage I think I’ll just captain Nathan Cleary who has beaten the score in question the past two weeks quite comfortably and has a nice match up with the Bulldogs this week.

It’s a difficult decision, so please pass on any thoughts on the decision.

Good luck to everyone in SuperCoach this weekend!