NRL Supercoach | Clem’s Captains, Round 24 Skippers


<p>Round 24 is here, and that means it’s time for the Round 24 Captaincy article, aka:</p>



<p>‘The One with the Usual Suspects’</p>



<p>Because when I look down my list of this week’s games, it feels like captaincy déjà vu.</p>



<p><strong>Herbie, Nicho, Ponga</strong></p>



<p>Groundhog Day.</p>



<p>So to spice it up a bit this week, we’re going to add a rogue &#8211; and please, if this rogue makes it onto the quote tile this week… you&#8217;d best believe I’m staying in my nice safe lane, with my nice safe Herbie x Nicho x Ponga captaincy.</p>



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<p>But if you’re looking to make a jump up the ranks or you have a special feeling that <strong>Rouchman</strong> is going to go absolutely enormous – by all means, go a rogue!</p>



<p>And I have been playing it too safe of late. I know.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I’m stuck.&nbsp;</p>



<p>I didn’t even move one place up or down last week.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Not<strong> </strong>one<strong>.</strong></p>



<p>Just a chill guy with zero arrows. Zilch. Nada. Absolutely stationary.</p>



<p>Which is obviously not ideal when I should really be starting to sprint.</p>



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<p>So, hopefully this is the week we can channel our inner Shura Kitata &#8211; winner by ONE<strong> </strong>SECOND of the mind-blowing all-out sprint to the finish line in the 2020 London Marathon.</p>



<p>With 4 weeks to go, that is the energy we need right now. SPRINT.</p>



<p>77<sup>th</sup> place. Is this the week we FINALLY get our sit starts right? Benching <strong>Manuleleua</strong> and <strong>Hosking</strong> last week for <strong>Marzhew</strong> was not my finest SC moment.</p>



<p>But I am still beating Spy, etc etc.</p>



<p>Except he beat me in the Playbook H2H last week; we shall never speak of it again. I don’t even play H2H, and therefore this result is completely irrelevant, and I refuse to acknowledge it (kidding haha well done Spy!).</p>



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<p>Anyway. Moving swiftly on.</p>



<p>Let’s get stuck into the Captains.</p>



<p>And look, you may have gone Nathan last night. But hopefulluy, the Thursday Night Captain curse was enough to scare you away.</p>



<p>And yes, I can hear the voice in my head screaming ‘STOP PLAYING SAFE! TAKE A CHANCE!</p>



<p>But let’s ignore that for now and move on to Friday night’s game instead:</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Herbie Farnworth</strong></h3>



<p>I like Herbie for a VC this week against Manly.</p>



<p>Manly smashed the Dolphins 52-18 in front of the Redcliffe faithful back in Round 5.</p>



<p>Playing at 4Pines Park this Friday night, the Dolphins will be looking to return the favour.</p>



<p>And Herbie continues to score well, even if his Base+Power was a little under last week vs the Broncos and he needed a try to get to his 78 points.</p>



<p>A 3-round average of 93, including a ton a couple of weeks ago, 90 including a try last time he played the Sea Eagles…</p>



<p>Herbie is 28% VC’d amongst the top 10%, and I could be convinced to get on board too.</p>



<p>(If you want to take a punt on the other side of the field, you may give <strong>Isaako</strong> a go. I can never get his VC right though, but I wish you all the very best if you choose to go here).</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Nicho Hynes</strong></h3>



<p>The weight of 150,000 SuperCoachers giving him the armband was too much for <strong>Nicho</strong> last week.</p>



<p>Or maybe it was the might of the mighty Dragons (if they win the spoon this year, it’s not because they deserve it).</p>



<p>61 points for Nicho was not what the Captainers were hoping for, but with basically every man and his dog on board this Captaincy, it really didn’t matter.</p>



<p>If we all go down, we all go down together.</p>



<p>(We made a joke that Rouchman was the Captain of that game in this article last week… I can’t pick a premonition if it slaps me on the face this season…)</p>



<p>Anywho – Nicho. Apparently almost 67% of the top 10% of SuperCoachers are willing to give our Wet Haired Prince a second chance against the Raiders this week. Fair call.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In his last 5 games, Nicho&#8217;s gone 193, 61, 185, 133, 61.</p>



<p>The mathematical pattern is so obvious here, it doesn’t really need pointing out. But it’s 157.&nbsp;</p>



<p>So yes, you may Captain Nicho for his 157 points this Saturday arvo when he faces the Green Machine at home.</p>



<p>Rain dances are on. Meet at the Community Hall at 1pm.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Kalyn Ponga</strong></h3>



<p>If you don’t own <strong>Kalyn</strong> <strong>Ponga</strong> this week up against the Titans, what do you do?</p>



<p>If you have a trade, you bring him in. If you don’t, assume the position. Behind the couch is the best place for you.</p>



<p>A try and a try assist in the literal monsoon that was Canberra last week, Ponga might not have the kicking but still has potential to go very big.</p>



<p>(Let us pray he has the kicking)</p>



<p>A season average of 87, a team whose attack is clicking, a team that boasts Cheapie of the Year, <strong>Francis</strong> <strong>Manuleleua</strong>, in it (why do I keep sitting him!), and with the masses jumping on Nicho as Captain. </p>



<p>At just 20% captained in the top 10%, Ponga up against the leaky Titans, who let the Cowboys pile 30 points on them last round, could be a sneaky semi-pod option here.</p>



<p>Especially if you can VC Nicho to cover your bases…</p>



<p>Just don’t look at Ponga’s record vs the Titans… cover your eyes and just give him the armband.</p>



<p>Look at the stunningly sunny weather instead, and the fact he’s playing at home on a Sunday arvo – all you have to do is crack open a beer and enjoy the points!</p>



<p>So, I promised a pod, and I will deliver. </p>



<p>If you go this route, god bless, and I hope your team makes it to the other side:</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Val Holmes</strong></h3>



<p>Only IF you dare. The Tigers are in Bali enjoying a Bintang – it’s official.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Meanwhile, the Dragons are playing as if they’re aiming for a late finals run… two teams in the finals…a girl can dream…</p>



<p>And Val. He started the season slowly… very, very slowly… but as of late, he’s switched to QLD-mode, and I spot a couple of tons in there. </p>



<p>105 points vs the Dolphins in Round 22, 85 points in the win over the Sharks last round.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Captain Hail Mary.</p>



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



<p>Let’s be honest, most of us, including me, are going with some combination of the Herbie x Nicho x Ponga trio. </p>



<p>But if we look at who scored the tons last week, it certainly wasn’t The Usual Suspects &#8211; except Cleary, who basically took on the Wahs himself with his trusty sidekick Milky Jenkins.&nbsp;</p>



<p>And as an aside, how about that Wahs win! And how about that haka! I was in raptures!</p>



<p>So, this is your choice this week – play it safe, or run the risk of a pod armband and reap the rewards if it pulls off…lose your H2H if it doesn’t.</p>



<p>I’m on the Nicho x Ponga bandwagon at the moment, but I’m more worried about my sit starts – who knew depth would be my undoing…</p>



<p>Now I must run, as I need to go open the Community Hall for the Apology Circle consisting of me and Manuleleua, where I will beg forgiveness for sitting him last week, and ask if he will play this week for my team.</p>



<p>And on that note…may your Captain score you a ton and Up the Wahs!&nbsp;</p>



<p>Clementine xxx</p>


NRL Supercoach | Clem’s Captains, Round 24 Skippers

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