The Final Word: Round 4 trades, captains, POD plays

Absolute injury carnage has hit Supercoach coming into Round 4.

Nathan Cleary out for 2-4 weeks with a hamstring. Hold or sell?

Taine Tuapiki set to be out this week with repeat HIAs is probably a sell for most owners.

Tino is gone for the season and the Titans are in all sorts.

For the Roosters, Sandon Smith is out for an extended period of time. Lindsay Collins’ hamstring injury probably helps Terrell May sure up 55-60mins playing time this week.

Add to that Josh Schuster has now had a couple of games in NSW Cup… is he set to come in and take Ben Trbojevic‘s spot? He has played a combined 131 mins of NSW Cup in the last 2 weeks now and should be running into some type of condition. 

SUBSCRIBE TO SC PLAYBOOK IN 2024! Access extra premium articles every round of the season, access our subscriber only Whatsapp group with contributor feedback, late mail and other threads, our major unlimited group prize and plenty more. SIGN UP HERE!

Embed from Getty Images

Round 4 Supercoach Strategy

With the Nathan Cleary injury, many Supercoaches will be thinking about the money they can free up to spend elsewhere with trades.

This is the type of week where you wish you had 5 or 6 trades available but we only have a maximum of 3 with a boost.

Looking at the halfbacks, there aren’t many sticking their hand up to come into the side. Value-wise there is really only Chad Townsend and Drew Hutchinson with low break-evens – and I don’t want to touch either of them.

Luke Brooks has been good for owners who took the punt on him early in the year and maybe he’s the play but not overly convinced.

Mitchell Moses has been impressive so far this year particularly playing a bit wider and sweeping to link up with outside backs, but the fact the injury he is carrying is preventing him from goalkicking has to be a serious concern.

Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans might be the POD move. He comes up against the leaky Dragons this week, although that is followed up by the Panthers and Warriors.

A Nathan Cleary hold is looking more and more likely. So is Nicho Hynes, even though he’s bleeding cash like there’s no tomorrow.

With Cleary out now’s not the time to be making rash decisions on a marquee halfback like Hynes, but I think that’s what I’m going to do to be honest. 

Embed from Getty Images

Trade Plans

With $520k in my bank before trading I’m looking to be aggressive. I’m looking at the following trades: 

HOK

Trade out Harry Grant to Api Koroisau, with a view of trading Joey Lussick back to Grant next week. Burns two trades but gets me to the 2 x HOK’s I want for the season, even though they both most likely play Origin.  

FRF

I’m contemplating Josh Kerr for Viliame Fifita. Hopefully, Fifita doesn’t get named, and that way I could hold that trade for a week longer even though Kerr will be more expensive. 

2RF

I still have Siua Wong sitting on the pine in my team, but was happy to change the Joe Chan trade to Samuela Fainu late last weekend. No trades for 2RF this week 

HLF

Originally, I was not touching this position but I see opportunity to go for a big play this week to set up my season for later in the year. I’m looking at seriously trading our Nicho Hynes – most will keep him.  

5-8

I am sticking solid with Dylan Brown. I have bigger problems in other areas and he is due for a big supercoach score this week. 

CTW

Even though the Dolphins have a juicy match-up against the flailing Titans, I think I’m going to bypass Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jack Bostock in favour of some marquee CTW’s in Dom Young and possibly Zac Lomax or Jacob Kiraz. 

FLB

I am happy with James Tedesco and Tom Trbojevic. 

Best Value Propositions

Lachlan Galvin – I’ve had him from the start and just got lucky I guess. If you haven’t got him you must get him. At worst he’s a cash generator…at best he’s a keeper and solid play each week. 

Samuela Fainu – Another money maker who has the faith of his coach and is getting the minutes to show. 

Jack Bostock – I probably won’t get him but I can see why teams would as he should make some decent cash for owners. 

Embed from Getty Images

PODs & SuperPODs

Here’s the players I’ve identified as PODs (Point of Difference players – less than 10% owned) and SuperPODS (less than 2% owned) that should be on your radar: 

PODs 

Haumole Olakau’atu – 48 is just about his floor and he got that running up against maybe the best 5-8 defender in comp in Dylan Brown. Ola is going to terrorise some halves this year.   

Reece Robson – with just under 10% ownership, Robson qualifies as a POD but for how much longer? It’s hard to know. Putting up HOK numbers that are starting to get Supercoaches attention. 

Dom Young – 150 points as a winger with only one try is unheard of. His involvement levels were through the roof with 4 x line breaks, 2 x try assists and 14 x tackle breaks. 

SuperPODs 

Isaiah Papali’i – there is life in the Tigers and there are signs of life in this once-upon-a-time Supercoach Gun!

Close Watch 

Justin Olam – looks to be an integral part of the Tigers attack. Let’s have another look before we pull the trigger on a trade-in.  

Blaize Talagi – looked awesome in the pre-season and now gets his shot in a key position. 

Embed from Getty Images

ROUND 4 CAPTAIN

This year I reckon this is where you can seriously make up some ground on the pack. Tom Trbojevic is the obvious choice but consider the following left field choices of Nicho Hynes, Api Koroisau, Scott Drinkwater and Dylan Brown. 

Do you ever feel uneasy with how much you’re gambling with? You’re not alone, sport fans love a punt, but sometimes it can get a bit out of control. There’s help available with Gareth Wyatt and the team at CECAL. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, so make the call and get in contact here: https://bit.ly/3L2yG1W

BETTING PLAYS

Please Gamble Responsibly

$100 to bet with a week. 2 from 2 with the Locks to start the year. 

Week-2 $44.30 profit 

Week-3 $111.25 profit 

2024 Stats  +$155.55 profit ROI = +77.78%

Week-4 bets 

Lock ($65) 

Multi – Roosters +7.5/Broncos +7.5 /NZW +7.5/Raiders +14.5 @ $2.66

Plays ($15 each)

Arthurs, Cobbo and Sailor to combine for 2+ tries @ $4.50

Broncos win + Raiders win @ $5.27

Hail Mary ($5) 

Anytime Tryscorer Multi– Ezra Mam + Luke Brooks + JMK @ $60.29