NRL Supercoach Round 4 Wrap: 10 Things We Learnt

Another week, another captaincy failure and some sit v start decisions that make for a regretful weekend!

And that’s 4 rounds done of NRL Supercoach 2025, and I’m none the wiser as to who’s good, who’s not, who my fullback will be and who to captain each week! I just know this; I have played Metcalf twice this year for a combined 35 points.

He has sat on my bench for 171 points.

So yeah, I’m going well, thanks for asking.

Least he can’t hurt me this week on the bye

Been an up and down start, and I’m questioning a lot of my decisions to kick the year off already.

But, we can’t spend our time looking back, and with each Monday, brings renewed hope for us all!

Our trades will fire, our captains will play all 80 minutes and score well, and each player you leave on the bench won’t score any tries!

The Reapers of Mars had a standard week, scoring 1062 with a Tommy Captaincy. Keaon, Tino, Shibasaki and my FRFs were shining lights, the rest couldn’t get out of 3^rd gear. 

1. Penrith’s empire is crumbling

Timmy started this little venture in 2020.

Since then, Penrith have lost about 17 games and concede 23 tries and we have actively avoided buying players if they had a Panthers matchup looming.

Is this kingdom built on defence crumbling before our very eyes?

We can forgive them for not rising like they have in the last few years, but the last few weeks aren’t exactly striking much fear into sides.

Conceded 28 points in a single half to Souths and lost to a Roosters side who looked more Bega than Sydney.

The tries against them are flowing and maybe it’s time we look at them a mere mortal side

To’o is out for a few weeks as is Sorensen and with Cleary coming back off a HIA, we might be able to play opposition players with confidence. 

Cleary has a big job on his hands, and as a non-owner it’s a fascinating watch.

He could go ballistic and throw his side on his back, or he too falls to the standard around him.

2. Tommy Turbo and Rehab rooms. Go together like a cold beer on a Friday night

What do you want me to say..

Just another Sunday night writing about Tommy and injuries. 

This one wasn’t related to his last one, which wasn’t related to the one he had previously, which was a shoulder injury which was different to the one that kept him out for most of 2023. 

2021 seems so, so long ago for us patient owners, and maybe that patience is wearing thin.

I bleed Maroon and white (a condition my doctor is vehemently looking into) but even I will consider trading him in again.

Actually, maybe it’s the weight of Supercoaches he carries into each match that are weighing him down.

I can see a world where I don’t own him again this year .

Anyway – here’s a link to some highlights of when he scored 226 against the Sharks back in 2021 to ease the pain

3. Shibasaki overtakes GI

Gehamat. Shibasaki.

GOAT Status and it’s only round 4.

I mean, NRL headquarters might as well get the etching done on the Dally M Centre of the year trophy it can go to no one else!

Another standout performance from the soon to be cheapie of the year!

A 2 try performance against the Dolphins for a career high (I’m not checking) 116.

He is just going to see more and more money come in for owners.

It’s a good problem to have, but is he seriously going to become a season long keeper?

It’s only Round 4, but signs are good, and if he can plug a hole in the 5^th, 6^th CTW spot, then there may be no reason to sell?

His base is good and the attack will come, especially playing off the back of Reynolds, Haas, Walsh and co.

4. Thomas Jenkins in. Simples

This is an easy one people.

When lockout ends today, just log in or open the app, hit trade on any CTW you can find, and hit trade in on Thomas Jenkins.

And boom, about $200k later you can trade him out to anyone!

Another very likeable performance from the Penrith outside back.

Scored a classy 91 last week, and paired that into a 69 without an attacking stat!

With To’o now out for a few weeks, he seems a safe bet, and one that you can turn into a keeper in no time. 

Some of our cheapie cash cows are close to peaking, so it’s an easy switch.

Thanks for your service Rob Toia

5. Gutho v Paps

With Ponga on a bye, Turbo shaky and Walsh having the confidence of Eeyore, it was a shootout between Paps and Gutherson as to who the masses moved to.

Paps declared he wasn’t goal-kicking which would have moved some on, but it was a small win to Papenhuyzen after he crossed for a try, finishing with 65 whilst Gutherson was downdated to 37, then rightfully given a try assist, to finish with 47.

Gutherson was in everything, and the wet grinding game brought the Dragons into the contest, where as it didn’t allow Paps to shine.

Either way you went, it will be a neck and neck between the 2 with some favourable games coming up.

Melbourne take on Manly, Warriors and the Dolphins, and the Dragons with the Eels, Titans and Manly.

I can see both players have a 120+, just don’t go chasing if the other fires.

6. No cash signals for Tui 

No cash signals with his hands on the field, and the new owners weren’t doing them either!

As noted before, in a wet and miserable Saturday afternoon in Sydney, Christian Tuipulotu was a very popular target for both cash generation, and scoring potential.

He may have delivered on some cash, but after scoring only 32, that may have stunted somewhat. 

Wet conditions weren’t favourable, and neither was his matchup so owners won’t be looking at a one week play.

His 128 will now drop out so his BE might be in the 60s for this weekend’s clash.

I’m just saying, he averaged 113.5 when he was allowed to do his try celebration, and 32 when he wasn’t.

Might be something in that.

7. Herbie will go bananas

It’s not Herbie goes Bananas quite yet, but I tell you a big big score is just around the corner.

Was in everything way back on Friday night, trying and willing his Dolphins to find some flair in attack.

The attack didn’t come, but if they are any chance of scoring some points and winning some games, he surely will have a big say in that.

His battle with Kotoni was worth the price of admission, and in the end, it was Brendan Piakura who had the last laugh, ironing out Farnworth in the shadows on full time.

His high price – over 700k, has turned many away so he is well and truly into POD territory owned by only 4% of players so you will be on your own if you go down the path of buying him.

I quite like the buy, he was in everything, and has a low score of 58 and surely some tries will come. 

8. Forwards rule

In this upside season, I didn’t think after 4 rounds we would be needing to chase the upside in forwards but here we are!

We have only seen 32 games, but so far the forwards have reigned supreme!

The quicker game has led to more tackles, more tackle busts and offloads seem to come at will.

Players like Haas, Tino and May just lock themselves into sides with their work rate and ability to find some attacking stats.

May played the full 80 and was a dropped ball over the line away from 130.

It’s staring at us in the face now, but where was he as my captain?!

And that’s without really touching on Eli Katoa, Preston and Ola who look like they will score with every carry close to the line.

Fun times!

9. Players we may have missed

Whilst this is a weekly what we learnt/what we may have missed article, I thought after 4 rounds we might have a quick look at some players we may have missed owned by less than 10%

Wayde Egan. Lock him in for a Blue jumper come Origin time.

Kayal Iro. Patiently waited all of 2024 for some attack to come, and it’s come in 2025.

Hamstring injury has ended his hot run, but one to consider when he returns.

Jayden Campbell. Hardly breaking news, but a late try helped him to 63 on Friday night.

In an attack rich Titans side, he will have a hand in plenty of their points. At over 700k, he is a luxury but worth it

Beau Fermor. Usually it’s the other Titans backrower we are talking about, but this bloke has been Supercoach friendly since he made his debut.

Has had dual position despite rarely being seen in the CTW

Connor Tracey. Averages 67 in his 4 matches this year, and the Dogs haven’t really found their attack.

A reliable fullback, which is something foreign to that position.

He is one you could plug and play till September.

Lindsay Smith. If the FRF position wasn’t firing on all cylinders, he would be in most sides.

Base stat beast, and will have to do some tackling if Penrith keep going the way they are.

Eli Katoa. He sneaks in by .1%.

Owned by 9.9%, averaging a tick under 80, hot Melbourne side, scores more tries than some wingers and wont have to worry about Origin.

Get him in quick as you can!

10. Minute Watch

Souths v Panthers
Mamouzelos 79, Keaon 80, Smith 59, Jenkins 80

Roosters v Titans
Crichton 80, Whyte 50, Marky Mark 65, Tino 63, Fifita 56, Fermor 80, 

Dolphins v Broncos
JMK 71, Finefeuiaki 60, Plath 50, Gilbert 80

Dragons v Storm
Couchman 44, Liddle 28, Stewart 30, Grant 80, EKat 80

Cowboys v Raiders
Bateman 75, Cotter 72, Nanai 50, Nicholson 80, Pattie 24, Starling 56, Tapine 56

Sharks v Bulldogs
AFB 71, Nikora 80, Preston 80, Sitili 47, Curran 72, Mahoney 80

Sea Eagles v Eels
Turbo 40, Taukeiaho 46, Ola 80, Smith 31, Guymer 26

Tigers v Warriors
Seyfarth 80, Hunt 20, May 80, JFH 51, Clark 49, Barnett 47, Vaimauga 29