NRL SuperCoach Round 8 preview & top trades

Round eight of the 2023 NRL Premiership kicks off on Thursday, and several injuries and selection calls have created many questions for SuperCoaches this week.

The first issue players across the league will need to navigate across the weekend is the two games played on Anzac Day, which falls on Tuesday. It’s important that coaches monitor team lists as much as possible prior to kickoffs, having their active players in their starting side. Any late changes for games on Sunday or Tuesday could leave big holes in sides, and SuperCoach points out of your team’s total.

Here are some of the must-haves and must-not-haves leading into round eight.

TRADE OUT

Jacob Kiraz (CTW)
Jacob Kiraz has suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain that does not require surgery. However, the issue for the Bulldogs winger is his timeframe for a possible return to play. On the NRL website, he is listed to return in round 11. The NRL Physio via social media has confirmed the ‘usual return to play range in the NRL’ could keep Kiraz out of the game until round 13. While that round is a bye for the Bulldogs, which would normally be a boost for most players, Kiraz would then be returning to games against the Roosters, Eels and Sharks. Two of those games will be road trips, which will not make the return easier. SuperCoaches should look to trade now for round 13 coverage and beyond.

Jason Taumalolo (FRF)
Jason Taumalolo has been ruled out until round 13 this season, requiring surgery on a knee cartilage issue. The Cowboys enforcer has already played through the injury earlier in the season, and should he return on time, he’ll find himself in a similar situation to Kiraz. Three of his first four games back from injury would be against the Eels, Storm and Panthers with a bye in the mix. That would be a difficult return, despite two of those games being at home, and there will be much better options out there for SuperCoaches for the middle part of this season.

Izaac Thompson (CTW)
Izaac Thompson impressed in his few games of first grade for 2023, alerting many SuperCoaches to his enormous scoring potential with his line- and tackle-breaking ability. He has since struggled with form, and now injury, which may not improve any time soon. With matches coming up against the Panthers, Broncos and Storm, coaches should be looking to quit while they’re ahead on his improvement in value and move to another cheapie who could increase in price.

TRADE IN

Junior Tupou (CTW)
Junior Tupou is an interesting trade-in choice for SuperCoaches. With the Wests Tigers naming outside backs Daine Laurie and Tommy Talau on the interchange bench, there is the possibility Tupou may not play the full 80 minutes. However, his 111 game against Parramatta which followed his 47-point outing against the Broncos should give SuperCoaches confidence. He has shown he is a good point-scorer for SuperCoach, and with a low break-even, would be a brilliant trade-in option for a player like Kiraz. Tupou should will only improve in value over the next fortnight despite a tough draw against the Sea Eagles and Panthers.

Lindsay Smith (FRF)
Lindsay Smith for the Panthers is another interesting option as a trade-in for the upcoming rounds. The injury to James-Fisher Harris should see his minutes increase with Spencer Leniu being the only other middle forward named on the bench. Should his minutes increase, Smith has shown he can be a strong scorer, as he did when he recorded 61 points in 36 minutes against the Raiders. Smith will only need to get through Thursday’s match against the Rabbitohs to take on the Tigers, and with a low break-even, he should also improve in value for SuperCoaches to continue building their side. A brilliant downgrade option from a player like Jason Taumalolo.

Cody Walker (5/8)
Cody Walker has been in sublime touch for the Rabbitohs over the last three rounds with a rolling average of 104.7. Although he has upcoming matches against the Panthers, Broncos and Storm, he has shown in the past he can score in excess of 70 points per game against each side. Walker will have Latrell Mitchell with him up until the Origin period, and by that time, should have build a strong connection with new back-rower Jacob Host who appears to have won that role on a full-time basis. With games against the Tigers, Raiders and Titans in and around the Origin period and Round 13, Walker is a brilliant choice for SuperCoaches in the difficult five-eighth position.

TRADES TO AVOID

Joseph Manu (CTW)
The naming of Joseph Manu in place of Sam Walker, who has been dropped by Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson, has excited SuperCoaches across the league. Despite upcoming matches against the Dragoons and Cowboys, there are several red flags for Manu. While he has enormous scoring potential at five-eighth, as evidenced in previous seasons, it is unknown if he can maintain that high ceiling for a long period of time. If Walker is brought back into the team inside the next fortnight, Manu will shift back to the centres, where he has only averaged 46 this season. Although dropping significantly in value over the early rounds of the season, Manu still has very high break-evens for the upcoming rounds, which should see his price drop even further. SuperCoaches should wait until after the round 14 bye, where he will be a lower price with a longer string of games ahead of him, ideally in a side that will be more cohesive and successful.

Jarrod Croker (CTW)
Jarrod Croker is the third most popular trade in for round eight. Assuming coaches are freeing up money to make trades elsewhere in their side, they would be better served to wait a week for two reasons. Firstly, Croker’s value will not change over the bye round, SuperCoaches should use this opportunity to fix problems elsewhere in their squad. Finally, and most importantly, there is no guarantee Croker will play in round nine. Xavier Savage returned from injury for the Raiders in NSW Cup last week and scored a try on the wing. If he makes his way back into the first grade side next week, it may be at the expense of Croker.

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