NRL SuperCoach Buy, Hold, Sell round 3: Time to trade big as injuries hit

A slew of injuries have hit right on cue for one of the biggest trading weeks of the year. We reveal the players to target and avoid in round 3.

That’s what instant regret feels like. Luke Metcalf was the most sold player this week, with 13,207 SuperCoaches parting ways after his Vegas shocker.

But a huge portion of sellers will buy back immediately after a stunning 117, especially with Thomas Duffy (21) on the chopping block.

Meanwhile, injuries have struck with Tom Trbojevic limping off late due to hamstring tightness.

Thankfully, the Sea Eagles say scans have come back clear and he will be named on Tuesday, although there is no guarantee he will play.

Manly play the last game of the round which makes this decision particularly tricky.

Dylan Edwards has been ruled out for 2-4 weeks with a groin issue, while Matt Burton is out for “at least four weeks” with an MCL injury.

BUY

* Ryan Papenhuyzen (DNP) - The Storm were very low in ownership percentages to start the season due to the round 2 bye, but the schedule is clear and now is the time to jump on. Pap scored 131 points in round one including two tries, three line breaks and 10 tackle busts.

He will likely be the top option for those looking to replace Trbojevic, Edwards or Reece Walsh (only 19 points). That said, unlike most players, Pap’s price won’t rise until after round 4 so you can hold off for a week.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to be the most popular buy of round 3. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

* Kalyn Ponga (129) - Another strong option to replace Turbo, Edwards, Walsh. Yes, even with the bye in round 4. Aside from the bye, his schedule is great until just before Origin. Ponga’s 129 from the weekend ended up very loopable as other captaincy options faltered around him.

* Savelio Tamale (57) - The Raiders revelation has averaged 65 over the opening two weeks and is therefore set for enormous price rises. However, this buy hinges entirely on whether he retains his wing spot when Xavier Savage returns from suspension this coming week. Savelio is therefore the top watch for TLT, now known as TamaLe Tuesday.

* Gehamat Shibasaki (33) - It wasn’t quite his 83 from round 1 but 33 in pure base is nothing to be sneezed at. This looks like his floor and, even in a rough loss for the Broncos, the left edge attack was humming with the next man on this list crossing for three tries. Unfortunately, all that attack somehow bypassed Shibasaki this week, but being the centre outside Ben Hunt is definitely a nice place to be.

* Jesse Arthars (97) - A quarter of SuperCoaches have enjoyed Arthars’ massive contributions so far and there’ll be plenty more onboarding this week. The once-maligned Arthars, who has never averaged above 40 in his career, all but sealed his place in this team, and plenty of SuperCoach squads, with a massive 97 off the back of a hat trick. He scored 94 in round one and is set for one of the biggest price rises in SuperCoach. Should make at least $150,000 in the next few weeks even if the tries try up.

Jesse Arthars scored a hattrick against the Raiders. Picture: NRL Imagery

* Jamie Humphreys (70) - He’s more than just biceps and quads. Humphreys proved the matchwinner against the Dragons and looks set hold onto the No.7 jersey at Souths for a long time, especially with Lewis Dodd (calf) going down in NSW Cup. Tackles like a backrower, kicks goals and has averaged 62.5 over the season start. He’ll be a popular replacement for Thomas Duffy and perhaps even Nicho Hynes (see below).

* Luke Metcalf (117) - Plenty of the 13,207 SuperCoaches who sold after his Vegas horror show will buy back this week. Two try assists, a try and perfect from the tee.

* Payne Haas (78) - Most popular buy last week and will be up there again this week. Looks the elite FRF option this year, averaging 91 so far almost entirely in work (a try assist is his only big attacking stat).

* Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (100) - Those who weathered the round 1 bye were vindicated. You’d have no idea he was making a NRL return from an ACL injury. A try, 35 tackles and seven tackle busts.

* Dylan Lucas (97) - If SuperCoaches had to take a stab right now at the top finishing CTW of 2025, Lucas would be the overwhelming favourite. On the back of 75 last week, he had another great outing, finishing up on 90 points, with a try, linebreak and whopping 60 points in pure base stats. The best thing about him is he retained the 2RF/CTW dual position. He is owned by 16 per cent of SuperCoaches so he’s not a massive POD but expect those numbers to rise in the coming weeks.

* DNP - Cameron Munster (99 in round 1) , Harry Grant (61), Jahrome Hughes (71), Jack Howarth (96), Eliesa Katoa (85) - Repeating from Papenhuyzen above, the Storm didn’t play on the weekend but are back from the bye this coming week. They become serious options after routing the Eels in the opening round.

* Sandon Smith (72), Isaiah Iongi (21), Robert Toia (40), Corey Horsburgh (79), Terrell May (90) - Must-haves. They are the most popular players in SuperCoach and we’ve banged on about them for months, so won’t waste column space. If you don’t own them, buy them.

Luke Metcalf silenced the doubters. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

PODS

* Clint Gutherson (133) - Back-to-back tons for the SuperCoach stalwart. Gutho rarely finishes outside the top 10 for total SuperCoach points (last year’s 31st was an outlier) and he is everywhere in attack for the Dragons. Only in four per cent of teams.

* Christian Tuipulotu (96) - The Dragons winger has averaged 112 over the opening two rounds including four tries and a try assist. The $552,300 price tag is more hefty than wanted, but he could easily make $150,000 in a few weeks before being sold to a gun. Only in 604 brave SuperCoach teams.

* James Schiller (82) - After an impressive round one performance, where he scored 51 points without a try against the Tigers, the former Raiders winger impressed again with two tries. Only 1073 SuperCoaches have him in their teams so far, but that number could go up in the coming weeks. The main thing working against him is he is awkwardly priced at $515,300.

HOLD

* Tom Trbojevic (59) - I’ve banged Turbo in the holds for now pending more injury news. The Sea Eagles say scans have come back clear and he will be named on Tuesday, although there is no guarantee he will play. Manly play the last game of the round which makes this decision particularly tricky. Owners would be desperate to play him at his favourite 4 Pines Park, where he averages over 100 in recent years, but Papenhuyzen is calling.

* Nicho Hynes (81) - Owners would be relieved to see Hynes back kicking goals. But even so, the question needs to be asked: What do we do with the great Shark? He’s been one of the best halfbacks in SuperCoach for the past few seasons but he hasn’t set the world on fire through these opening rounds. Hynes was on 26 points at halftime, and while he shot up to 81 by the end of 80, there are lingering questions over his impact. He’s worth $735,500, had a 100 breakeven before round two, and will lose a fair bit of cash unless he tears the Bunnies apart next week.

* Jaxon Purdue (26) - More than half of all SuperCoaches have the young gun in their team, but Purdue could very well be jettisoned for literally any other cheapie CTW. An average of 27 is nothing to write home about, but he had an excuse on the weekend with a sin bin. He’ll be a slow burn but selling cheapies for cheapies is a recipe for disaster in SuperCoach. Your approach here will depend entirely on which top cheapies you’ve missed, but ideally he’s a hold as it only takes a try or two set off some big rises.

* Demitric Vaimauga (18) - The average of 17 points in 15 minutes is worrying. But the eye test has been good and he may only be an injury or two away from decent game time.

* Lachlan Hubner (48) - Hold. Yes even though he’s facing a 2-3 week ban. With an average in the mid 40s, he only needs to take the field on his return to make money.

* Jack Gosiewski (15) - This performance was a far cry from his 66 in 80 minutes from round 1. Just 15 points from 48 minutes is a huge worry (we warned you multiple times about his low PPM).

Matt Burton is set to miss “at least four weeks”. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

SELL

* Thomas Duffy (21) - The biggest issue facing SuperCoaches this week is whether to sell Duffy. The Cowboys young gun has averaged only 24 so far and crucially handed over the goal kicking duties on the weekend. All that screams sell, but who for? In the position, Humphreys will be popular but the trade costs over $100,000. Metcalf will also be repurchased by plenty after last week’s panic selling.

But Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster and the guns cost wayyy more and the jump is probably unattainable. However, with plenty of handy duals like Connor Watson (HOK/2RF), Sandon Smith (HFB/HOK) and Adam Doueihi (CTW/5-8), SuperCoaches can likely sell Duffy to a player in any position. Perhaps the decision will be taken out of our hands by coach Todd Payten, with Jake Clifford taking 18th man duties over the weekend and waiting in the wings.

* Dylan Edwards (50) - Went off with a groin injury which is set to rule him out for 2-4 weeks.

* Matt Burton (47) - Was on his way to a big score but went down in the 27th minute with an MCL injury. The Bulldogs say he will miss “at least four weeks”.

* David Fifita (31) - Named on the bench for the Titans and only played 32 minutes.

* Reece Walsh (19) - More like Reece Frightening. A moment of silence for the 26,900 SuperCoaches who kept the faith After Kalyn Ponga’s massive 129, James Tedesco’s 117 and Tommy Trbojevic’s injury-affected 59.

* Jarome Luai (21) - An average under 40 for the first two weeks is a worry and there are decent replacements available.