NRL SuperCoach wrap round 7: Best replacements for injured star Kalyn Ponga

Knights star Kalyn Ponga picked up a new injury and will no doubt be the most sold NRL SuperCoach player when lockout ends on Monday morning.

Kalyn Ponga left the field with a fresh injury and judging by the post-match presser the prognosis is not great.

Ponga carried a hip injury into the game and only managed 13 points in his 52 minutes, but his new foot injury is the most pressing.

“It’s nothing to do with his hip-pointer, it’s in the foot,” said coach Adam O’Brien.

“It’s a ligament issue and as far as I know it’s pretty rare. They’re not great signs for us, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what it is.”

Ponga will no doubt be the most sold player when lockout ends on Monday morning so let’s look at the best replacements.

PROVEN GUNS (AT FULLBACK)

* Reece Walsh – His showing against the Raiders included two tries, five goals, three line breaks and a whole lot of SuperCoach points. Take out the game where he copped a facial fracture and Walsh is averaging 78. He averaged 80 over the entire 2023 so this year’s form holds up nicely. Yet he’s available this week for a discount of essentially $250,000 on his starting price.

* James Tedesco - Teddy will also be verrrry cheap when lockout opens up - more than $200,000 cheaper. The main contributor to the price drop was the concussion-induced score of four. But he’d averaged basically 90 before the injury and was one of the hottest players in SuperCoach 2024.

Kalyn Ponga has a foot injury and hip issue.

* Scott Drinkwater - The Cowboys got hammered by the Sharks but Drinkwater still managed a very serviceable 56. It was his lowest score since round 1 so the consistency is great for a guy who can sometimes come across as a flash-in-the-pan player. Drinky has overtaken Ponga as the top SuperCoach pointscorer at fullback this year and therefore deserves serious consideration. Match-ups are mixed with tough games against Sharks and Panthers in the next two weeks. But he doesn’t have a bye until round 16 and has plenty of easy match-ups thrown in.

PROVEN GUNS (WITH THE RIGHT DUALS)

* Nathan Cleary - Yes, Cleary is a halfback and Ponga is fullback. But with the right duals you can make this work (eg: if you have Kayal Iro at CTW and Drew Hutchison at halfback). Cleary is bordering on SuperCoach GOAT status and is tipped to return from a hamstring injury this week.

* Nicho Hynes - Arguably the best SuperCoach player of the last two seasons and finally hit his straps with 133 against the Cowboys on Sunday. Available at a discount of around $140,000 on his starting price this week.

* Valentine Holmes and Zac Lomax - Lighting up the CTW position and the trade should be pretty simple if you own Iro.

* David Fifita – The SuperCoach great is yet to fully get it together in 2024 after injury, but is still averaging mid-70s. Only available at 2RF, Iro and Ben Trbojevic can be used as swing men.

David Fifita celebrates a try against Manly. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

POD MOVES

* Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad - Top average of any fullback-eligible player in SuperCoach this year after returning from a hamstring injury with a bang. Yes, it’s only three games, but he should make some handy cash while many other players on this list will either keep status quo or lose money. Only 1.6 per cent ownership.

* Dylan Edwards - Limped off late on the weekend but the Panthers say it’s nothing to worry about. Only CNK is averaging more at fullback this year. In other words, Edwards was going far better than Ponga anyway and is at under six per cent ownership. No bye until round 16 (unless he makes Origin).

* Alexander Brimson - After doing a solid job at centre, Brimson switched to his favourite fullback position over the weekend and promptly banged out 67. He gets a solid run in the position with Jayden Campbell (knee) out for another three weeks.

CHEAPIES

First things first, I don’t recommend cheapies at fullback given it’s such a red-hot position. You need two guns there. Having said that, with the right duals you may be able to bring these guys in. And look, it’s always good to chat cheapies anyway, so let’s chew the fat.

* Kayal Iro - If you somehow missed this potential all-time cheapie, it’s time to hop on. The job security myths are well-and-truly busted with Iro one of the best on field with 23 runs against the Cowboys, although he somehow missed the attacking stats.

* Chevy Stewart - I’d locked him in as the cheapie of the week for the upcoming round after a solid debut. But he got embarrassed by the Broncos in a brutal Suncorp initiation. However, he showed real character to come back from the bashing in the second half, the work rate is still good and he likely kicks goals with Jamal Fogarty out for three months with a bicep injury.

* Kaeo Weekes - You can probably wait a week (or two) but Weekes is set to be named in the halves for the Raiders following the injury to Fogarty. Weekes was an extremely popular pre-season cheapie before losing his halves battle to Ethan Strange.

* Simi Sasagi – Formerly a centre, Sasagi started in an unfamiliar position of the second row and then switched to the halves when Fogarty went off. Demolished his breakeven of 16 with 77 points and may well emerge as the cheapie of the week depending on where he is named. We watch and wait.

* Trai Fuller - Bottom dollar. Scored 87 on debut for the Dolphins and has another three weeks to impress while Hamiso-Tabuai-Fidow is out. Fullback-only positioning is a drawback.

Kalyn Ponga is set to be ruled out. Picture: NRL Photos

ROUND 7 WINNERS

* Jack Bostock (118) - 11,237 SuperCoaches traded him out ahead of this game. They’re all wishing they could have their time again with Bostock scoring a hattrick.

* Reuben Cotter (59) - His team was dominated but Cotter was a shining light with 49 tackles.

* Matt Burton (77) - If someone said pre-season that Burton would dominate the five-eighth position, you’d get some weird looks. But he’s well ahead and may well stay there given the pace he has outside him.

* Kai Pearce-Paul (75) - Finally got an attacking stat with a try assist. Looks pretty close to a genuine keeper at 2RF.

* Sam Hughes (69) - Chris Patalo went down in the third minute which ensured minutes for the SuperCoach stud. Scored a try with his first touch so start counting that cash.

* Josh Curran (63) - Another to benefit from the injury to Patolo, notching 67 minutes in a base stat special. Also had a try assist from a grubber denied by the Bunker.

* Bronson Xerri (60) - Scored a try and locked in a price rise of around $60,000 for the many who got on this week. Notched 18 runs in a very promising performance.

* Isaah Yeo (84) – Such a reliable scorer and a try assist helped add to another big score for the classy lock.

* John Bateman (79) – Was one of the Tigers’ most dangerous players and that reflected in his score.

* Pat Carrigan (75) – All hail the base points King. Another very solid showing from the star lock.

Jamal Fogarty won’t return with a suspected biceps rupture.

More common to tear distal tendon (near elbow) = surgery & 3-4 months. Best case if true rupture would be proximal tendon (near shoulder). Can sometimes play through without surgery, usually 3-6 weeks return. pic.twitter.com/SPhNuYX0l6

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 20, 2024

LOSERS

* Jamal Fogarty (13) – Set to miss three months with a bicep injury.

* Ethan Strange (30) - Popular cheapie just couldn’t get going as the Raiders were smashed by the Broncos.

* Lachlan Galvin (35) - Didn’t get a sniff against a suffocating Penrith defence. But 35 in base against the three-time premiers is solid enough for a cheapie.

* Taylan May (DNP) - Ruled out pre-game due to personal issues, which had SuperCoaches scrambling.

* Blaize Talagi (10) - The top cheapie saw only 19 minutes of action and couldn’t make much of an impression with the Eels’ forwards getting hammered. Potential sell.

* Danny Levi (24) – Played 76 minutes but produced just 24 points in a night to forget for his owners. Has scored plenty of tries this year to prop up his scores but the time to sell is looming.

* Api Koroisau (35) – One of the most popular hookers in the game, but it didn’t happen for him against the disciplined Panthers.

* Terrell May (33) - The next Payne Haas one week, struggling for minutes the next week. Trent Robinson’s forward rotation is so hard to read.

* Cameron Munster (35) - Still looking under peak form from a groin injury, Munster – other than a sin binning – was barely heard from all game.

* Clint Gutherson (28) - We’ve seen him fall flat after big scores in 2024, here’s hoping he rises next week for owners.

* Ryan Matterson (33) - His minutes and SC scoring have taken a massive hit this year. Tough going for owners.

* Greg Marzhew (29) - Usually a great base stats performer but quiet in a well-beaten side.

* Reece Robson (40) - Currently topping the hooker position but produced his worst score of the year.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach wrap round 7: Best replacements for injured star Kalyn Ponga