NRL SuperCoach teams analysis round 19: Top replacements for Nicho Hynes, Latrell Mitchell

It’s the final big bye and we need all hands on deck, but unfortunately a heap of injuries have cruelled the hopes of many SuperCoaches.

Welcome to the final big bye of the year.

It’s a week we needed all hands on deck given seven teams are on the bye and Origin players out, but unfortunately a heap of injuries have cruelled the hopes of many SuperCoaches.

Among them are Nicho Hynes (two months), Latrell Mitchell (at least four weeks) and Ben Trbojevic (hopefully just a week).

LOSERS

Nicho Hynes is for two months with a leg fracture and associated syndesmosis injury. He is therefore a sell so see Rob’s full manifesto below.

Latrell Mitchell: First the good news. He has avoided surgery and will therefore miss only four weeks (at a minimum). But four weeks is too long to hold a player in the red-hot fullback position so it’s time to sell.

Ben Trbojevic is out with concussion. It should only be a week but it’s the week we needed him most.

Tolu Koula’s injury is worse than first thought. After initial reports he would miss four weeks, Koula is now confirmed out for six weeks after undergoing surgery. It’s bad news for those who got on last week as a POD, but good news for the next name.

Latrell Mitchell will miss at least a month. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

WINNERS

Tom Trbojevic moves to fullback for the Sea Eagles and therefore becomes a genuine SuperCoach option. Albeit he’s a POD move at best after returning from injury at centre last week and barely striking a blow. Injury concerns remain real with his dicky hammies and the likes of Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Edwards come on the market next week post-Origin at reduced prices. Resist the temptation for now.

Fletcher Sharpe creates a crucial extra number this week due to Kalyn Ponga’s Origin call-up and he should score a small price rise in the process. He was the most popular cheapie two weeks ago and we are hoping for a big final hurrah this week.

David Fifita and Haumole Olakau’atu’s Origin snubs are music to the ears of SuperCoaches. But more on them below.

WHAT TO DO WITH HYNES

With Hynes booked in for surgery, he has to go.

Having made the easy decision to sell, let’s move on to the tough one – who do you buy?

Halfback for halfback replacements:

There are obvious direct replacements available at HFB: Jahrome Hughes, Cody Walker, Dylan Brown and Matt Burton. Two of those – Brown and Walker – play this week. If you don’t have them then either are decent buys.

Hughes and Burton are players I am happy to own from here to home but would not be buying this week.

Nicho Hynes is out for two months. Picture: Getty Images

Of the two who do play Rd 19, Brown is the steadier. He rarely scores below 60, but he also has the lower ceiling with a top score this season of 96 and just three 80+ scores.

Walker and his Rabbitohs are enjoying a decent run (he has a 5RA of 75PPG) after a lean start to the season. But they have made the most of a soft draw and the injury to Latrell Mitchell is a huge blow to the team in general and Walker in particular as so much of his attack comes off Mitchell magic. Of the two I much prefer Brown.

The other obvious direct HFB replacement – Nathan Cleary – is due back after a lengthy injury layoff next week. You could go early and grab him this week but I would not because:

1. He’s no help in the byes, and

2. While he is due back next week I want to see him actually named and survive the post-captain’s run cut-off before I bring him in.

Staying in the halves, but branching out to the five-eighth position (provided you have one of the likes of Walker, Brown or Burton at 5/8 you could bring them up to HFB when trading out Hynes) then our options widen.

Nathan Cleary is due back in round 20.

Five-eighth replacement options

Widening the net to include five-eighths creates some funky choices. Gold Coast’s Jayden Campbell is one that piques my interest. After starting his season at fullback, Campbell shifted to five-eighth in round 14 and over a three game span he scored 75, 77 and then 170 points. That’s enticing. But mention needs to be made of the opposition which was Rabbitohs, Tigers and a truly terrible Warriors.

With interesting dual eligibility (5/8|FLB) you could grab Campbell this week and then when you need to make room to grab Cleary next week you could sell that cheapie fullback you’ve been holding on to for the byes (looking at all the Sharpe/Fuller/Hopoate owners out there) slot Campbell down to fullback, move your dual halfback (Brown/Walker/Burton) down to 5/8 and bam there’s room for Nath.

It also should be noted that Campbell’s huge 170 point game in his late game means he has a BE this week of -44 and if scores around 80 points against the struggling Eels (a live chance) then he will have a negative BE the week after too. Even if you don’t hold you could probably sell for $150-200K profit 3-4 weeks later.

But with all that said, AJ Brimson is lurking as 18th man this week and he said on the Matty Johns podcast he won’t play centre. So does he come in for Campbell on game day? Can we trust Des Hasler? It’s a gamble but with high upside.

Jayden Campbell was in hot form for the Titans before being sidelined by injury.

Lachlan Galvin is going from strength-to-strength and if I had not already sold him I’d probably be planning to hold him. But would I buy? No. Galvin is five-eighth only so brings no roster flexibility and the youngster is in his rookie season, it’s common for rookies to flag in the final few weeks of their first NRL season. Galvin’s a freak so maybe he won’t, but why buy the risk?

Max Plath is the last five-eighth option I’d consider. Available at 2RF|5/8 and pumping out very reliable scores in the 60-65 range, Plath is a guy I’d be happy to hold as a 2RF cover but lacks the upside to be held in the halves and I would not be buying him here. Where Plath is really interesting is if you have him in the 2RF currently because while I would not buy him I would be happy to move him around for a few weeks. For example you could sell Hynes, move a Walker/Brown etc player up to HFB, move Plath form 2RF to 5/8 and then your buying options likely open right up (the commonly held duals would now mean you could buy a FRF/2RF or even CTW for Hynes). Then when you want to buy Cleary next week you sell one of your underperformers in other positions, move Plath back up to the 2RF, Walker, Brown et al down to 5/8 and in comes Cleary.

That segues nicely to a brief (I’ve exceeded word count already) discussion of other Buy/Sell options.

Haumole Olakau'atu of the Sea Eagles is a good price with plenty of upside. Picture: Getty Images

OTHER BUY/SELL OPTIONS

YES

David Fifita: Billy Slater may not like David Fifita but SuperCoaches do. The big unit’s Origin snub is our win and if you don’t have him then you should get him. Won’t waste more words here.

Haumole Olakau’atu: Another Origin ‘snubee’, Olakau’atu is the most purchased player this week and for good reason. Not a ‘base stat monster’, but still good for 50 odd in base each week, Haumole’s superpower is his attacking and power stats (he has 30 tackle busts, six linebreaks plus four tries/try assists to his name already). Available for just $600K, Olakau’atu is a strong buy.

Keaon Koloamatangi: The big man has been immense since moving to lock for South Sydney in round 12. Across those five games he has averaged 88PPG (61.6PPG in base alone!), scored four tries, busted 15 tackles and thrown five offloads. As per Walker above it should be noted that was a pretty soft five-game run and the extra $100K compared to Olakau’atu hurts but, oh my, that base...

Reuben Garrick: Easily the pick of the centre options this week and perhaps the player I would prioritise the highest of any buy this week. A lock and load CTW option which I rate among the top-five at a top position, Garrick is both a safe play each week and one who possesses a really high ceiling.

NO

Ryan Matterson: One last 2RF option is the former SC gun Ryan Matterson. After a season which has largely failed to hit any highs thanks to playing limited minutes off the bench, Matterson started on an edge last week and played 71 minutes and scored 64 points (64 in base). Priced at just $479K and with a great SC pedigree in the past this is clearly a risky buy. IF Matterson keeps getting 70+ minutes I’d have him pencilled in for 60-65 points each game. And at his price that’s a great return as a spare 2RF. BUT the Parramatta forward roster is a bit of a mess right now so minutes from last week are no guarantee of being played in future weeks. Ultimately too much of a risk this late in the season for mine.

Will Pryce: The Englishman has shown plenty of good signs in his two games for the Knights scoring 60 and 69 - though it has to be noted that those scores came against the cellar-dwelling Eels and defensively poor Raiders. Having started the season at a low-mid range price of $345K I don’t see huge cash gains here and also don’t see him being a keeper when matched up against better opposition (Newcastle’s next four weeks read Manly/Broncos/Bye/Panthers) so I don’t think this is a good buy.

Cody Walker/Jack Wighton: I’ve gone into a fair bit of detail on Walker above and won’t bother going to deep on Wighton other than to say I think both suffer from Mitchell’s injury and don’t have either as strong buys.

Charlie Guymer/Jake Tago: The Parramatta cheapies both passed my eye test on the weekend but I’d worry about bringing in either at this stage of the season for fears they become ‘AE nightmares.’

NRL HANDS DESPERATE EELS A LIFELINE

A part time footy player and twin brother of Sharks star Ronaldo Mulitalo has been rushed into a decimated Parramatta side which has $4m worth of star power unavailable.

Lorenzo Mulitalo, a winger like his brother, will debut for Parramatta in Saturday’s game against Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Stadium.

Mulitalo is on a part-time contract worth around $1200 a week. He isn’t part of Parramatta’s top 30-man roster or the club’s development squad.

Parramatta officials had to seek special dispensation from the NRL for 24-year-old Mulitalo to be named in the Eels’ NRL team.

Mulitalo’s selection comes just a week after another part-timer, Jake Tago, and Charlie Guymer, made their NRL debuts for Parramatta, while hooker Matt Arthur played his first NRL game in round 17.

Lorenzo previously played junior for Cronulla and NSW Cup for Newtown, Norths, Parramatta and Blacktown Workers.

“Lorenzo is all effort and he’s powerful. He has a strong carry and he competes. He’s tough,” Barrett said.

“He’s not as big and tall as his brother but Lorenzo is very willing and he won’t die wondering. He’ll be fine.

“I thought Lorenzo deserved an opportunity on the back of Jake Tago doing so well last week. We saw the impact he and Charlie Guymer had last week and I’m looking for more of the same from Lorenzo.

“It’s taken him a while to debut but this is a real opportunity for him. I’m really happy for him. We have been able to debut four players in three weeks.”

Parramatta’s squad has been savaged with Barrett having just 23 uninjured players left in his roster this week.

The Eels have around $4m of their salary cap unavailable – a horror situation given their fight to avoid the wooden spoon.

Lorenzo Mulitalo will make his debut for Parramatta against the Titans. NRL Imagery

NRL ROUND NINTEEN

DOLPHINS v RABBITOHS

Thursday, 7:50pm, Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Euan Aitken 13. Kenny Bromwich

Interchange: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Sean O’Sullivan

Reserves: 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Tesi Niu 20. Anthony Milford 21. Mason Teague 22. Robert Jennings

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Jack Wighton 7. Cody Walker 8. Davvy Moale 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jai Arrow 13. Keaon Koloamatangi

Interchange: 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Liam Le Blanc

Reserves: 18. Dion Teaupa 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Siliva Havili 21. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 22. Thomas Fletcher

SHARKS v TIGERS

Friday, 8pm, Pointsbet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Royce Hunt 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Jesse Colquhoun 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Chris Veaila 20. Billy Burns 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Jayden Berrell

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Alexander Lobb 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. John Bateman 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Fonua Pole

Interchange: 14. Heath Mason 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Reuben Porter

Reserves: 18. Justin Matamua 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Starford To’a 21. Josh Feledy 22. Jordan Miller

TITANS v EELS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Beau Fermor 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Josiah Pahulu 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall

Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Phillip Sami

Reserves: 18. AJ Brimson 19. Joe Stimson 20. Tanah Boyd 21. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 22. Jaylan De Groot

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Lorenzo Mulitalo 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Matt Doorey 13. Charlie Guymer

Interchange: 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Shaun Lane 16. Luca Moretti 17. Bryce Cartwright

Reserves: 18. Makahesi Makatoa 19. Isaac Lumelume 20. Joey Lussick 21. Morgan Harper 22. Wiremu Greig

BRONCOS v DRAGONS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Joshua Rogers 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Tyson Smoothy

Interchange: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Josiah Karapani 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Vaa Semu 19. Cory Paix 20. Israel Leota

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Jesse Marschke 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14. Hame Sele 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Toby Couchman 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Reserves: 18. Jack Bird 19. Savelio Tamale 20. Fa’amanu Brown 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Michael Molo

SEA EAGLES v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 4:05pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Nathan Brown

Interchange: 14. Clayton Faulalo 15. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Corey Waddell

Reserves: 18. Caleb Navale 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Dean Matterson 21. Ben Condon 22. Aitasi James

Knights

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Krystian Mapapalangi 3. Dylan Lucas 4. Thomas Cant 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Jack Cogger 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Riley Jones 22. Thomas Jenkins

Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Jack Cogger 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Riley Jones 22. Thomas Jenkins