​​​​Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.​

Tom Trbojevic shapes as one of the standout point of difference selections for NRL SuperCoach Round 18, with the Manly Sea Eagles superstar offering coaches a unique opportunity during the final major bye round of the 2026 season. Despite being one of the game's highest ceiling players, Trbojevic entered the round with ownership of just six per cent, making him a genuine POD option for coaches chasing overall rankings or head to head success.

With the State of Origin period coming to an end, Round 18 represents a crucial opportunity for SuperCoach players to gain ground before the run home begins.

Why Trbojevic stands out

​Trbojevic is priced at $557,300 and carries a season average of 71 points.

However, that average is affected by injury interrupted performances. Excluding those matches, he has averaged more than 80 SuperCoach points per game, highlighting his scoring potential when fully fit.

While his ownership is expected to rise throughout the week, he is still projected to remain well below the ownership levels of many premium fullbacks and centre wings.

That makes him an attractive option for coaches looking to differentiate their squads.

Favourable draw boosts appeal

Manly enters an appealing stretch of fixtures against Parramatta, North Queensland and Gold Coast.

Those opponents have historically suited Trbojevic, whose highest SuperCoach scores against the three clubs are an extraordinary 179, 229 and 208 respectively.

The Sea Eagles also face St George Illawarra during Round 26, the week many head to head competitions hold their grand finals.

That matchup further enhances Trbojevic's value for coaches planning ahead.

Against Parramatta this week, the statistics are equally encouraging.

Trbojevic owns a career SuperCoach average of 82 points against the Eels, who have conceded 31 points per game this season, the second highest average in the NRL.

Strong bye round history

History suggests Trbojevic thrives during the final major bye round.

Across the past five seasons, he has played in the final major bye round three times and produced scores of 123, 119 and 144.

Few players in SuperCoach possess the ability to produce match winning scores as consistently as Trbojevic when healthy.

That upside becomes even more valuable during bye rounds, where fewer premium options are available.

Risk remains part of the equation

The biggest concern surrounding Trbojevic remains his injury history.

His durability has often prevented coaches from investing, and he has not consistently displayed the dominant form that defined the peak years of his career.

Even so, his discounted price and favourable schedule present an appealing balance between risk and reward.

For coaches willing to gamble on one of the competition's highest scoring players, Trbojevic could prove one of the defining SuperCoach purchases of Round 18.

While an injury would likely force another trade later in the season, the potential scoring upside may outweigh that risk during such an important stage of the campaign.