SuperCoach NRL: The players most able to fill Jason Taumalolo’s giant boots

A whopping 45.1% of SuperCoaches had their worst fears confirmed with the news that Jason Taumalolo is set for a lengthy period on the pine. We rate the merits of the best replacements.

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A whopping 45.1% of SuperCoaches had their worst fears confirmed today with the news that Jason Taumalolo is set for a lengthy period on the pine.

We rate the merits of the likely Lolo replacements - and a couple of left-field options too.

Jason Taumalolo's injury leaves lots of SuperCoaches with a quandry.

BEST REPLACEMENTS IN ORDER OF PRIORITY

Jai Arrow 2RF ($598,000)

If you didn’t catch Arrow’s superhuman performance on Saturday then get thee to your Foxtel box, or Kayo stream, and watch a replay. For the time poor, let me give you a stats breakdown - 28 hit-ups (20 over eight metres), 23 tackles, seven tackle busts and four offloads. that totals 111 points - and there may be some more small upgrades. Owned by just over 25% of coaches heading in to round two there is no reason that ownership rate should not double heading in to round three because if Arrow is not in your side he should be.

Jake Trbojevic 2RF ($667,600)

This option may be of little use to most of you because ‘Jurbo’ is already in over 40% of teams and thus there’s a good chance he’s already in your team. However, if you are not an owner then you should be. The Manly workhorse scored 80 points in round two with 66 in base and a try as well. You could wait a week and get him a little cheaper (Trbojevic scored ‘just’ 58 in round one - 60 base with no attacking stats) but you’d miss out on the round three points and if he scores mid to high 60s then you’re not looking at much more than a $20K saving.

Andrew Fifita was outstanding against the Titans. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Andrew Fifita FRF ($634,300)

With quite a few quality options available in the 2RF you could use this ‘opportunity’ to strengthen your FRF, and as it stands Fifita looks the safest premium pick at that position. Big Fifi certainly seems to be moving freely so far in 2019 and he was right in the thick of it for the Sharks on Saturday scoring 69 points - 51 in base and a try assist off a kick which surely is a first for the big unit. Owned by almost 40% of players heading in to round two this is no POD nomination but it would be remiss of me not to have mentioned him.

Shaun Lane FRF | 2RF ($508,000)

After scoring 73 in round one, Lane backed up with 71 in round two and thus sits up near the top of the forward rankings for mine. Why I have Lane below the three above is that he does not offer quite the same base stat stability - 45 base in round one and 48 in round two. However, Lane is considerably cheaper, offers dual-position flexibility and is getting attacking stats for fun at the Eels. Currently underowned at 16.7%, swapping him in for Lolo gives you a big bank to upgrade elsewhere.

Martin Taupau FRF | 2RF ($605,100)

I’m aware I have a bit of a mancrush on big Marty and maybe that has him ranked a little higher here than others would but hear me out. I’m writing off Taupau’s round one score - the game flow was such that it is not indicative of what we’ll see in 2019. In round two however, I think we’re seeing the true Taupau. With 18 hit-ups (nine over eight metres) and 32 tackles the base is most definitely there. And - hello Tom Sangster - the offload (three effective in pouring rain) was in effect too. Dual position eligibility is a nice bonus too.

Sam Burgess flexed his might against the Dragons on Thursday night. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sam Burgess FRF | 2RF ($560,000)

No doubt some of you are thinking I have big Sam ranked a little low here but hear me out. Burgess had a whale of a game on Thursday night scoring two tries, assisting another and recording 129 points. Burgess was no slouch in round one either with 68 points (51 base and a try off a kick). No surprise then that Burgess’ price is set to rise. But, and you knew there’s be a but, I have ranked Sam down because I’m aware that several of you are hitting the trade button on Lolo having brought him in last week. Burgess is the wrong side of 30 and he is always a chance at a suspension. Those risks saw me push Burgess down my rankings.

Cameron Murray 2RF ($458,900)

Speaking of Bunnies forwards who have recorded back-to-back games with a try … Cam Murray has started 2019 just as many of us had hoped. With 70 points in round one (51 base and a try) and 74 points in round two (46 base and a try), Murray is a mid-priced pick-up who is scoring just below the top flight. The tries will slow down but there is no reason not to expect 55-60 weekly and you could use the $200K you pocket on the downgrade to upgrade elsewhere.

John Bateman 2RF | CTW ($400,000)

Here’s a trade that gives you $250K to upgrade elsewhere and leaves you with a very solid 2RF and a guy who is in the running to finish in the top-three CTW. Bateman’s workrate in round one (64 base in 80 minutes) was outstanding, and while it dropped off a little in round two (48 base) his ball play made up for it with a deft pass nabbing him a try assist/linebreak assist and a total of 69 points. The pessimist in me expects Bateman’s scoring to slide closer to 60 than 70 and so he’s not really a 2RF keeper but he’s the rock around which to build your CTW for sure.

Tevita Pangai Jr 2RF | FRF ($495,000)

The last of my legitimate options before some more left field plays below, some may wonder why I’d have Pangai so low following his massive game on Friday night. I mean after all TPJ, is the reason you are here right now as it was his tackle that bent Taumalolo back and damaged the big man’s knee - and whoa up I’m not calling it a dirty shot or suggesting there was intent to hurt it was just a big shot over the top. The reason I have ranked Pangai low is that injury is seemingly always on the horizon due to questionable hamstrings. On top of that, TPJ just doesn’t provide the reliable base rate production of those above him. Heaps of explosive potential but with so many question marks this is only a selection for the brave.

Tevita Pangai Junior of the Broncos. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

LEFT FIELD OPTIONS

These two nominations may not make sense on the face of it but here me out. Most of us should have either a Briton Nikora or John Bateman sitting in their CTW currently and both are certainly playing well enough to be your 2RF (3) or better. As a result you could take a punt on bringing in Ferguson or Trbojevic (this one a bit trickier as you’d also need a FLB/CTW but if doable it could be a masterstroke).

Blake Ferguson CTW ($611,700)

The mighty Fergo dominated CTW last year and while he was just fair in round one (40 points), he was sublime on Sunday scoring two tries, setting up another and scoring 115 points. Of course you have to keep in mind that Ferguson’s big score came against the Bulldogs and the boys from Belmore are special sauce for opposing teams. Ferguson offers solid base at his position thanks to his workrate bringing the ball back and the Eels are humming right now. Just one word of caution is that Parramatta face two of the better defensive teams (at least from 2018) in the Roosters and Sharks so be aware of the risks before taking this gamble. *

* Honourable mention in the risky CTW buys would be Ken Maumalo (NZL) and Corey Oates who have both started 2019 strongly.

Tom Trbojevic FLB ($691,200)

Now this is very risky, especially typing this prior to TLT, but if Tommy Turbo is named to return then you could use your Lolo loss to grab a super-POD. After suffering a hamstring strain in the pre-season, 2018’s best fullback Tom Trbojevic currently just has a 2.5% ownership rate. Grabbing ‘Turbo’ would be a massive gamble but it comes with massive rewards.