Round 1 is in the books and there's plenty to unpack. Before we rip into the games, the headline message on strategy: do not panic. It's one round. If you brought in a mid-range centre like Brian To'o or Kale Iro, or even a top-end gun who scored poorly, be patient — the centre position is volatile and you picked them for a reason. Don't worry about break evens on your guns. The one place you can't be patient is on those second-row cheapies that exploded — if you missed them, you're going to have to bring them in. I'm in that boat myself. Here's every game, every key score, and every buy/sell/hold call from the Round 1 review.
Storm vs Eels
All the talking heads had Parramatta going into Melbourne and potentially winning this one — I wasn't one of them. You know how the Storm come out in Round 1: prepared. The Eels were awful — sloppy, no ball control, and they got found out on intensity. Most of the action was on the Storm side of the ledger.
Huge conjecture about whether to start with SFL — if you pulled the trigger in classic, well done, 116 points. The big talking point is the Storm back row. I avoided both Chan and Lassati because I thought Blore was coming back into Lassati's role, and Chan hadn't been SuperCoach relevant. Lassati came out looking like Eliesa Katoa reincarnated. His base plus power was 67 — crazy good. Chan was 48 in base and power — better than last year, but a 20-point swing between the two. Chan looks more dangerous in attack running that Nicara-style line off Jerome Hughes, Lassati got his off a monster grubber. If you don't have either, you could wait a week — there's job security questions once Blore returns.
Harry Grant stamped his authority all over that game. The ruck was slow from the Eels and he exploited it — 80 points, he's a monster. If you started with him in classic, well done. Utoikamanu played 50 minutes for 65 — if Bellamy builds him up to 55, he's a top-six front rower and a must-own in draft. Nick Meaney landing on that goal-kicking wing will be very popular — 64 and he'll have nights with two or three tries and the boot.
Parramatta was ugly. Hold Jermaine Hopgood — he got 10 in the bin (looked like a head clash to me, they had an angle), played 55–60 minutes and still knocked out 50 despite the -8. He was ready to work. I'm not moving him in classic or draft. Hold Mitch Moses — he was playing behind a well-beaten pack. Don't be surprised if the Eels bounce back against the Broncos. Avoid Pezet at 5/8 — he should not have been on your reserves and he's not a draft buy in anything under 14-team leagues.
Roosters vs Warriors
Really disappointing for me — I was high on the Roosters this season from an NRL perspective, top-four bound with that roster, but they were well beaten. The Warriors looked great. And it was all about Tanah Boyd.
Teddy is the goat of SuperCoach. If you started with him as a pod play, well done. Billy Smith had nice moments and worked hard for 60. Angus Creighton looked good enough and scored a try — would have hoped for more than 54 but they were well beaten. Hold Sam Walker — don't jump in and bring in Nico Hynes yet. If you watched that Titans game, any half would have had a field day. Be patient.
Tanah Boyd — an absolute guy. In my draft league Dion predicted a Tanah Boyd masterclass before the match and boy did he get that right. Buy Tanah Boyd — he should not be sitting on waivers. Harris Taevita was really relevant last year at 5/8 and he's going to be again — sneaky waiver pick. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck took his chances for a 90 — can't knock that. Concern for Clark at 47 — last year he was a beast in the back row, 47 won't make him must-own.
Avoid Laban — 21, didn't play the 80, and Halasima is lurking on the bench. One of the few second-row cheapies I got right by avoiding altogether.
Panthers vs Broncos
Penrith look like Penrith again — workmanlike, super slick. The Broncos looked off the pace — still tired from the back end of last year plus that England travel.
Moylan Jenkins got the start over Isaah Tungai, who by all reports was dropped — played NSW Cup on the weekend, not injured, coach's call. Interesting to watch how that plays out. Dylan Edwards had his zip back — 85 is great to see. Cleary looked like he might score a ton on the eye test but finished at 65 — hugely influential regardless. IPap didn't get 80 minutes, 57 isn't bad. Casey McLean looks good — only 38 with a try. Brian To'o went into my classic team for 38 with no attacking stats — worked his butt off and he'll get better.
Hold Reece Walsh — 34 isn't what you wanted but they were playing Penrith. He looked great in the World Club Challenge, he's not losing form or confidence, and he's got Parramatta next. He could comfortably score 150 this week. Ezra Mam came off the bench in a job share with Ben Hunt — don't love it. Pat Carrigan worked his arse off for 52 — you'd want more if you started with him. Hold Payne Haas — 75 minutes for 68. There's a stat floating around that in 70+ minute games he's never scored below 80. Down game for the Broncos, not one of Payne's better matches against expectations. He won't score 68 in 75 minutes again — I can tell you that.
Sharks vs Titans
This was an embarrassment for the Titans — another example that trial form means absolutely nothing. It was the Braden Trindall show. Four try assists and two tries. Absolutely nuts. And Nico Hynes picked up a couple late to elevate him to a 131.
Shout out Chris in our draft league who had Hynes captained in classic — he scored 1,540+ points this week. Has to be top 50 overall. Buy Nico Hynes. Jesse Ramien is another top-10 waiver pick — heads up. Siosifa on the wing 91, looks really good. Will Kennedy got in on the attack — still wouldn't pick him up in 14-team leagues. Watch Britton Nikora — 48 with a try in a flogging is a little concerning. Be patient.
Cole Quinn at 44 — not what we wanted from a cheapie, still a slow cash burn, don't trade him yet. Kale Iro at 44 — I traded him to Turbo late and was really happy with that in the end. The Titans were hopeless — some of the tackles they missed was embarrassing. Trellis top-scored at hooker with 71, Kenny 59, Hippy Howe 57 (one of the second-row cheapies I brought in and I'm not unhappy). Tino at 44 — standing behind the posts a lot. Watch and wait, but Koloamatangi made a case for a straight swap: 70 minutes, 40 minutes straight in the first half, 25 runs. Buy Koloamatangi ASAP. Hold AJ Brimson — no attacking stats, 30 in base, disappointing for owners.
Sea Eagles vs Raiders
What a game of footy. Manly looked home and hosed, then dead and buried, then took it to Golden Point. Exciting finish. Tommy Turbo and Tom Trbojevic on the edge as a combo looked really sharp.
Cooler — heavily featured in the waiver top 10 — looked outstanding. Tommy Turbo had that pop back, didn't look like he was worried about his hamstring, scored a try early. Really happy to bring him in at his price, remains a pod given Manly's Round 3 bye. Olakau'atu back to his best after shoulder surgery — scored a try, looked strong. Fogarty 69, never shirk that. Buy Paseka — front row GP for 63 is a waiver-wire target; front row is critical and high scorers are thin. Reuben Garrick — not relevant in classic or draft, package him in a draft trade.
Hudson Young fantastic for 85. Corey Horsburgh worked his arse off for 75 (extra minutes in Golden Point). Tom Starling 59 at hooker — a few people started cheap with him. Disappointing Tapine in the front row — probably the third or fourth best premium front rower and only a 42. Ethan Sanders at halfback — the Colonel, 94 points, looked really comfortable in first grade and kicked the winning field goal. Dare I say it — he's a Round 3 trade target for me. Want to see how he goes next week, but he'll be in.
Dolphins vs Rabbitohs
A high-scoring game — 40-30 to the Bunnies. PVL ball is back and the six-agains are flowing. Latrell looked sensational on that left edge with Daine Laurie, Cody Walker and Latrell feeding the great Alex Johnston. That's the source of a lot of points this year.
Latrell 113 — sensational. Cody Walker 104 — so great to have him healthy, looked slick. Buy Koloamatangi — 77 in about 70 minutes, must own ASAP. Campbell Graham scored two tries for 72 — great cheapie / mid-range center-wing. Buy Cam Murray (after the Round 4 bye) — worked his ass off, played good minutes, looked sensational. I'll wait because I'll have too many Bunnies once I bring in Koloamatangi. Davvy Moale scored 68 with a sin bin — would have played the full 80, add 6-7 points plus the -8 and he would have scored 80+. Tick tick, he looked strong in contact.
Dolphins looked great in attack but rolled over too easily early. Lemme played 80 minutes for 76 — base plus power was sensational. Jermaine Asarco 79 — weird year last year without tries but he and Kobe will score plenty this year, both sides used fairly equally. Isaiah Tass (the one I dropped for Kale Iro to bring Turbo in) — 75, every time he touched the ball he looked electric. That could have been anything if he'd finished a couple of tries. The Hammer — really good individual try to get to 66. Was starting to look a little concerning. Hold Bowd at 54 — popular mid-range GP, did a lot of work, do not trade him out. Flagler 47 as a semi-cheapie front row GP — would hope for mid-50s, but we're not moving on him just yet.
Round 1 Buy / Sell / Hold Summary
That's the wrap. One round down — don't get trigger happy, don't jump the gun, relax. Plenty of time to go in this game. Make sure Trindall, Tanah Boyd, Noah Martin, Jesse Ramien, Cooler, Moses Leo, Ethan Sanders, Lassati and Chan are not sitting on your waiver wires this week. See you next round.
This Round 1 review is from the Such Is Fantasy NRL SuperCoach & Fantasy Podcast. Catch every episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and follow Stephen on TikTok.