NRL Supercoach 2026: Understanding the new stats system changes


<p>NRL Supercoach has introduced one of the biggest changes to the game in a very long time, a new statistical platform.</p>



<p>Previously using Fox Sports stats for the Supercoach scoring system, they’ve made the shift over to NRL stats (what you find in NRL.com match centres).</p>



<p>It’ll change the nature of the game quite significantly for a number of reasons, and it’s absolutely vital Supercoaches understand the changes before locking in their round 1 teams.</p>



<p>Provided you do, you should get a pretty significant head start on rivals.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MASSIVE win for SuperCoaches 💪<br><br>Full details: <a href="https://t.co/tqH44IIxLr">https://t.co/tqH44IIxLr</a> <a href="https://t.co/SR10yIRrE1">pic.twitter.com/SR10yIRrE1</a></p>&mdash; SuperCoach NRL (@SuperCoachNRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/SuperCoachNRL/status/2019241472407793779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>There’s still some information we don’t yet have, but most of it is accessible.</p>



<p>For a breakdown of the exact players most impacted and how their scoring will change, check out <a href="https://scplaybook.com.au/blog/2026/02/05/nrl-supercoach-2026-the-impact-of-the-nrl-stats-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">Rando’s statistical masterpiece article.</a></p>



<p>I’ve taken all the key questions being asked and broken down what the new system now looks like and how we can exploit the changes for Supercoach success.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What are the main changes?</strong></h3>



<p>Firstly, we’ll get quicker confirmation of scoring after games. There will be no more temperamental changes over the weekend that drive coaches crazy, this is a huge win.</p>



<p>The Fox system was a little more subjective, while they of course had criteria for awarding try-assists, there was room for some interpretation.</p>



<p>For the most part I actually preferred this, the most influential player would receive try-assists and line-assists rather than the player to throw the pass (more on this below).</p>



<p>NRL stats are black and white, while I don’t love this, it will save a lot of conjecture and blowups when people don’t agree (or understand) how Fox adjudicated certain stats.</p>



<p>This is a definitely a win, and as Supercoaches we’ll just have to adjust the way we select players and look at the game.</p>



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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The way we view tackles, try-assists and line-assists in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NRLSupercoach?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NRLSupercoach</a> has completely changed.<a href="https://twitter.com/randostatsguy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@randostatsguy</a> explains how, and shows the statistical change for hundreds of players and the impact on their scoring.<br><br>All the numbers, right here 👉 <a href="https://t.co/oc24gGAD1L">https://t.co/oc24gGAD1L</a> <a href="https://t.co/pYdRCwE0UO">pic.twitter.com/pYdRCwE0UO</a></p>&mdash; SC Playbook I Supercoach NRL (@scplaybook1) <a href="https://twitter.com/scplaybook1/status/2019361849037516980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Will player prices adjust to accommodate the new system?</strong></h3>



<p>No. This is a mistake in my view and is very frustrating, outside of this the conversion to the new stats is completely fine. With the game launching prior to the changeover it means player prices simply aren’t correct, they’re based on Fox stats, not NRL stats.</p>



<p>While annoying, it’s the same for everyone so we’ll just have to deal with it.</p>



<p>On the plus side, it means there’s a tonne of overpriced and underpriced players, so pre-season analysis will take you a long way!</p>



<p>What are the major stat interpretation changes, and who are the winners and losers?</p>



<p>Firstly, tackles. NRL stats awards far more tackles to players than Fox does. Essentially, NRL stats credits the third man into tackles even if the impact is minimal, Fox tends not to credit these tacklers.</p>



<p>The big winners are, you guessed it, those with big tackle counts! Hookers are the major ones that come to mind, along with your workhorses like Payne Haas and Terrell May.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jack Bostock&#39;s 9th try in 10 games in 2024! 😍<br><br>📺 Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NRLTigersDolphins?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NRLTigersDolphins</a> on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: <a href="https://t.co/B1ijnGXtqA">https://t.co/B1ijnGXtqA</a> <br>✍️ BLOG <a href="https://t.co/cit9JBUOcN">https://t.co/cit9JBUOcN</a><br>🔢 MATCH CENTRE <a href="https://t.co/PE7TA3Gw4T">https://t.co/PE7TA3Gw4T</a> <a href="https://t.co/ePXD1yUtaM">pic.twitter.com/ePXD1yUtaM</a></p>&mdash; Fox League (@FOXNRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/FOXNRL/status/1792113927309889594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Secondly, try-assists and linebreak assists. This is pretty simple. Fox would give the assist to the player most influential in the try, for example Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow sweeps outside a lead runner and creates an overlap, passes to Herbie Farnworth at centre, who passes to Jack Bostock on the wing who scores.</p>



<p>In this instance, Hammer would get both the try-assist and linebreak-assist for 20 points.</p>



<p>NRL awards both stats to the player who threw the last pass, it’s very simple.</p>



<p>In the above example, Herbie gets 20 points and Hammer gets 0. It’s an extremely significant change.</p>



<p>Do note, NRL stats doesn’t have try contributions (in which case Turbo would get 4 points), we’re awaiting confirmation of whether this will be integrated this season.</p>



<p>The biggest winner in the change is indeed centres, the increase in try-assists and linebreak assists means they’re essentially all undervalued and should increase their output of assists. Hello Herbie!</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How will our team structure change?</strong></h3>



<p>The big one will be loading up on centres. They probably now take preference over wingers, not necessarily long-term, just until the prices balance out by say round 6 or 7.</p>



<p>In my team for example, Jacob Kiraz won’t benefit from these stats, so he’s out and Herbie Farnworth is in.</p>



<p>I’ll likely look to stack my CTW with centres rather than wingers, while there’s a play to add a centre in your flex position as well. Bonkers!</p>



<p>Hookers become a little more valuable, the idea of getting to two gun hookers at some stage, or starting two gun hookers in Harry Grant and Blayke Brailey becomes viable.</p>



<p>I’ll also be very reluctant to start any top priced fullbacks to begin the season as I suspect a drop off in try-assists and linebreak assists.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Captaincy adjustment</strong></h3>



<p>At least for the first five or so rounds, I think this means you lock in a front-row forward captain.</p>



<p>With attacking stats looking a little less likely for star fullbacks, the likes of Payne Haas and Terrell May with a few more tackles under their belt become almost impossible to ignore with the captain’s armband.</p>


NRL Supercoach 2026: Understanding the new stats system changes

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