NRL Round 3 Supercoach Wrap: 10 Things We Learnt

Round 3 is in the books and the things have only gotten trickier it seems! 



Cash is being lost left right and fullback, players are getting injured and if the Cowboys keep winning, Jason Taumalolo might as well retire!



We saw some massive scores on Friday night as the Roosters did an absolute number on their cross-town rivals. 



Souths look like they spent the pre-season practising how to drop the footy. They need to find something and fast!&nbsp;



James Tedesco went up a notch and the one who looks most set to benefit from the Chooks form is Dom Young! 



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He&#8217;s shown no signs of slowing down since making the move to Bondi, he scored a monster 150 on Friday and might be the number 1 trade target. 



Normally, he is one I&#8217;d trade in after a score like that and not think about it, but he takes on the Panthers this week so there&#8217;s always a concern of a low score. 



However, after that the Roosters have the Bulldogs into the Knights. Tantalising.&nbsp;



It’s been some start to the year and already, there are some stark differences across teams, which is good to see! 



Some carrying Nicho Hynes and Nathan Cleary, others with Luke Brooks, and then there is Api Koroisau, Harry Grant and Reece Robson all vying for the number one hooking spot.



At fullback, well, throw a dart at any of the guns and go with that!



I’m burning through my trades like Souths going through halfbacks but at least I’ve got something to show for it. 



Turbo&#8217;s Hamstrings had another solid showing, finishing with 1,072 propelling me into 15,166 overall.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">10 Things We Learnt in Round 3</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">1. Some big guns shooting blanks</h3>



Round 3 was a wait-and-watch to see what sort of performance some of our big guns could muster. 



And all eyes were seemingly on Nicho Hynes to see what he could do against the Tigers. 



Someone though forgot to tell the orange and black faithful! Hynes couldn’t get his side going forward and was blown off the park by a Tigers side that came to play. 



Hynes only managed 53 but I can only guess picked up all 6 Dally M points.



He has dropped over 100k in cash and that will climb if he can’t pull his socks up. 



That seemingly easy run to start the Sharks year has resulted in scores of 26, 75 and 53.&nbsp;



Harry Grant too was another that hasn’t hit the lofty heights and has now dropped well down the hooker pecking order. 



He dropped a lot of cash for owners after his 63 on Sunday night and now faces the bye.&nbsp;



But&#8230;



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">2. Other big guns came to play</h3>



Nathan Cleary took off right where he left against Brisbane, putting them to the sword again after his Grand Final heroics. 



He was a popular VC choice and it paid off with a sublime 121. Running down another edge that was depleted, he toyed with the defence setting up 3 tries and having a hand in 1 more. 



Thankfully one halfback worth his salt scored well. An assignment against the Chooks awaits. Should be a belter!



Speaking of the Chooks, James Tedesco wound back the clock and went to work! He was outstanding and the somewhat forgotten man in the FLB chat. 



His 135 ignited the Chooks and unlocked Dom Young on the right-hand side.&nbsp;



Val Holmes had a day out for his monster 144 and that left edge of the Cowboys looks set for some points. 



Tom Dearden is playing as good as ever and Scott Drinkwater finally got some clean footy and paid back some faithful owners with 105.



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">3. Fullback conundrum deepens</h3>



This is where Supercoach will be won and lost &#8211; in the men wearing the number 1. 



And what a start they have all had. Not in a good way either. 



Kalyn Ponga has been underwhelming. 



Latrell Mitchell looked good in the opening weeks, but failed to fire a shot on Friday and got a late sin-bin – bad luck Spy. 



Tom Trbojevic looks set to explode at any minute, but has had 3 tough matches yet is scoring ok. 



Ryan Papenhuyzen without goal kicking is averaging 70 and the hottest of the lot.



Whilst Reece Walsh looks set to spend a month or so on the sideline visiting a plastic surgeon.



And then there is Scott Drinkwater who has been unlucky not to have scored 3 tons by now the way the Cowboys are scoring points.



However, the pick of them all has to be James Tedesco! 



He looks a different player to the one that we saw for the most part of 2023. Does take on Penrith this coming week, where fullbacks have averaged 20?&nbsp;



What does this mean for you? Patience. We can’t have them all and at some stage they will fire.&nbsp;



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">4. Hooker problem solved</h3>



It has to be Api Koroisau! 



Shame that he had a bye in round one because he would have featured in most sides if not.



He was outstanding on Saturday night and the whole Tigers attack runs off him. He dismantled the Sharks, even with a case of reported gastro. 



There’s a joke about how playing for the Tigers would make you sick, but they were just too good on Saturday!



Just begs the question who do you partner him with? Joey Lussick only managed 37, 8 more than Danny Levi.



Damien Cook got benched and only managed 44 and Phoenix Crossland now has Jayden Brailey back to contend with. Connor Watson anyone?



(I’m writing this under my doona in the cloak of darkness as a Reece Robson owner hoping to keep him at under 10% owned)



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">5. HIA means more headaches</h3>



We saw it again on Thursday night, Reece Walsh going off for a HIA and not returning. 



It is a huge blow for owners as he won’t return for a month. He only managed a solitary point in the time that he was on the field and now is a trade.



Taine Tuaupiki also left the field after 46 minutes and didn’t return. He now looks set for the 11-day stand-down, missing the Knights matchup on Sunday



It won’t be the last time we are left to rue what could have been.&nbsp;



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">6. Tino&#8217;s knee</h3>



Huge blow! 



An answer to many owners&#8217; front-row dilemma, the Titans big man is set to miss the remainder of 2024 which is not only a huge blow to the Titans but the game in general.



As a dual position player, I splashed the cash this week and traded him in so that was short-lived. 



The Titans could do with David Fifita and Jayden Campbell returning sooner rather than later.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">7. Forced trades</h3>



See above. 



I traded in Tino Fa&#8217;asuamaleaui this week looking to shore up my 2RF and FRF, and was very content once I hit submit on my trades. 



That changed at about 3.30 pm on Saturday when he was carried off the field. 



D. Ramas.



That was coupled with my first trade of the year, Spencer Leniu, out, and owning both Heilum Luki and Siua Wong, meant that every trade I have made so far has been forced. 



I don’t think I am alone here, but it&#8217;s a frustrating start when your hand is forced to hit the trade button.



Don’t go wasting silly trades because if I have learnt anything over these first 3 weeks it’s that every trade comes at a price and I could be out by Round 19. 



A silly trade would be Jason Taumalolo out for Davvy Moale, hey Matty.



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">8. Cheapies emerge</h3>



Lachlan Galvin, Kai Pearce-Paul, Samuela Fainu and Liam Henry have given owners some breathing space in picking up some bottom-dollar buys who are quickly showing some Supercoach pedigree!&nbsp;



Lachlan Galvin is a must for Round 4 with a BE of -62. He will make upwards of 100k with a solid showing and looks like that 6 jumper is his.



Liam Henry is another that might have solved some FRF headaches. His 42-minute stint amassed 55. With James Fisher-Harris still a few weeks away and Henry having a minus BE you could do worse.



Kai Pearce-Paul knocked out an impressive 80 minutes on Sunday night finishing with 67 including 50+ points in base. Dylan Lucas is still around but he forced Tyson Frizell to the middle. Positive signs.



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">9. #DualforCurran</h3>



There has been a lot of chat about giving Josh Curran dual position status in the FRF which would be an absolute godsend.



Cameron Ciraldo came out on the radio on Sunday and stated that he has been playing front row which comes as no surprise to anyone watching on.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">10. Minute Watch</h3>



Panthers v Broncos Henry 42, Walsh 4, Carrigan 80, Piakura 76, Willison 42



Warriors v Raiders Tuaupiki 46, AFB 48, Harris 80, Hosking 60, Smithies 66, Whitehead 34, Levi 52



Roosters v Rabbitohs May 53, Sitili 57, B Smith 61, Moale 22, Tatola 53, Murray 72



Bulldogs v Titans Kikau 80, Salmon 41, Curran 45, Tino 35, Fermor 80



Dragons v Cowboys Leilua 80, RFM 80, Lolo 21, Cotter 65, Finefeuiaki 57



Tigers v Sharks Pole 58, Api 66, McInnes 63, Wilton 80



Eels v Sea Eagles Lane 80, Lussick 80, Carty 52, Hopgood 61, Ola 80, Burbo 61



Knights v Storm KPP 80, Elliot 65, Crossland 60

NRL round 3 Supercoach wrap: 10 things we learnt

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