Captain's Challenge: Who to skipper in Round 14?

Round 14 looms as a tricky week for skippers with uncertainty around so many regular options who are backing up from Origin 1.



The likes of Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and James Tedesco all have outstanding match ups this week and would be the pick of the options, but will they play, and if they do, will they be given an early shower?



I’ll update this article later in the week as we gauge a better idea of those who may and may not back up from Wednesday night’s Origin blockbuster.



Last week wasn’t one for too many high individual scores, fortunately King Gutho was able to stand up as our number one selection with 121 points ahead of Nicho Hynes who managed 73.



Gutherson was a late trade in for me and was given the armband which paid off.



Let’s take a look at Round 14 which looms as one of the most open weekends of the season with numerous great match ups and uncertainty over player availability.



Due to the tricky nature of the round, and the fact that so many great options play early, I’ve made tier two a crossover with vice-captains.



***UPDATE: Cleary, Trbojevic gooonnnnneeeeeeee&#8230;. Tedesco set to face the Titans.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TIER ONE</h2>



CLINT GUTHERSON



King Gutho is again a strong option following last week’s ton.



He comes up against the shambolic Tigers defence who have conceded the 14th most points of any team this season.



They could have conceded the most if they weren’t flattered last week by the depleted Panthers side, there’s no two ways about it.



The Tigers concede the sixth most SuperCoach points to fullbacks.



Gutherson already has four tons to his name this year, and he put 81 on the Tigers back in Round 4.



Unlike many other popular captaincy options this week who will be wounded from Origin, Gutherson gets a nice seven day turnaround and will be fresh and firing.



NICHO HYNES



Hynes is again hard to ignore with a nice match up against the Warriors.



He’ll again kick goals and the Storm could put a few on the Kiwis.



Last week was a disappointing one for him and he still managed 73 points with 29 in base.



Pending Craig Bellamy’s decision, he should get a few Origin stars back on deck this week, although several may be rested, however the four day turnaround should help.



He has a five round average of 129 and he has a high score of 182 this year.



The Warriors concede the fifth most SuperCoach points to fullbacks.



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JAMES TEDESCO



Possibly a bit risky, but I don’t mind Teddy should he take the field as is now expected with Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirming his place against the Titans for the time being.



He’s owned by just 32% of the top 100 ranked SuperCoach teams, and many will avoid him as skipper this week due to the Origin back up, so he’s a massive POD.



That is of course if he backs up which isn’t guaranteed at all with the three day turnaround.



The match up against the horrid Titans defensive unit is so enticing.



Of course he’s a huge chance at an early shower and 60 odd minutes, but gee he can do some damage in that time.



The Titans have conceded the 14th most points this season, and surprisingly only the fifth most SuperCoach points to fullback.



Teddy has bounced back to form after a slump by his standards, boasting a three round average of 111.



Tempting…



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TIER TWO/VICE-CAPTAINS</h2>



CODY WALKER



I really like Cody Walker this week and I’m very tempted to skipper him.



He would be in tier one, however a few factors go against him.



The major one is just that Knights win over Manly a few weeks back that limited Tom Trbojevic to just 40 points.



They had a stronger side that day than the one they’ll field against the Bunnies, but it’s still a worry.



Furthermore, Jai Arrow and Dane Gagai aren’t backing up from Origin, while you’d think Cam Murray is a strong chance at a rest too.



The Knights concede the fourth most SuperCoach points to halfbacks and the ninth most to 5/8s.



However I suspect over the past six weeks that’d be far worse with their lapse in form after a strong start to the year.



Disregarding his stinker against the Storm, Walker hasn’t scored under 50 this season, but also hasn’t hit a ton.



I think it’s coming, although the return of Latrell Mitchell may not be ideal as he steals plenty of try-assists as the sweeper in backline movements.



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<s>NATHAN CLEARY &#8211; RULED OUT</s>



<s>It’s confirmed Cleary’s Origin injury was just a facial laceration, so he’s a chance to back up against the Sharks.</s>



<s>You’d think he gets a rest, but Ivan Cleary has shown his willingness to let players back up in the past, and I guarantee the likes of Cleary and Jarome Luai will be pushing to play if given the green light by the club.</s>



<s>If he does play, I expect Penrith to get a decent lead and Cleary to get spelled after 60 minutes, so it’s a pretty risky play.</s>



<s>That being said, he can do plenty of damage in that time.</s>



<s>Another vice-captaincy option for me, I was semi tempted as skipper but the likely early shower is a deterrent.</s>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">CAPTAIN RISKY/PODS</h2>



<s>TOM TRBOJEVIC &#8211; RULED OUT</s>



<s>Following his Origin carve up Tommy Turbo will obviously be a huge option if he plays.</s>



<s>He was on ice after the game, and basically played as a fullback, so the centre role didn’t exactly ease his workload.</s>



<s>I’d be very surprised if he took the field against the Cowboys, but the fact it’s Bob Fulton’s tribute match means he’ll be pushing to play, but surely not?</s>



<s>No need to get into numbers, we know how good Tommy is and he will carve up the Cows if he plays.</s>



<s>Should he take the field, he’s a huge vice-captain selection, but surely not the straight skipper?</s>



<s>If Manly do get out to a decent lead you’d think he only plays 60 minutes max.</s>



<s>While you&#8217;d argue Cleary and Teddy should probably be in the risky category, I think Turbo is far higher risk due to his injury history.</s>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AVOID</h2>



No straight out avoids this week as most match ups are super enticing for the main options.



I’d just be very cautious throwing the straight C on Cleary, Trbojevic and Tedesco (despite my wraps).



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VERDICT</h2>



Provided several key Origin players don’t back up from Origin, SuperCoach squads will be pretty decimated again this week.



As such, it should give us a decent enough shot at the vice-captain loophole, although it won’t be a free crack barring mass restings.



It’s hard to lock in a verdict for captain because we don’t know who is playing, but I’ll update the article as more news arrives over player availability.



I&#8217;ve gone away from my original thought of VC Tedesco and C Hynes/Gutherson.



I can&#8217;t help but love the thought of Teddy as a semi-POD skipper against the hapless Titans. I think the very real prospect of fewer minutes will scare people off, however I&#8217;m hoping the damage is done by the time he gets his early shower should the match pan out that way.



This gives me very limited options for a vice-captain which is the only issue.



If you want to play it safer, stick the VC on Teddy or Cody Walker, then give the captaincy to Hynes or Gutherson who shouldn&#8217;t let you down and can both go large.



Good luck with the skipper choices this weekend!

Captain’s Challenge: Who to skipper in Round 14?

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