NRL SuperCoach hipages Trade Comparison: Two best trades of round 11

LOOKING for some SuperCoach NRL — presented by hipages — trade advice? Our stable of experts nominate their two best acquisitions of the round.

LOOKING for some SuperCoach NRL — presented by hipages — trade advice? Our stable of experts nominate their two best acquisitions of the round.

ROB SUTHERLAND

Brock Lamb

Currently averaging just 23 PPG, however, you should discard Lamb’s first six games of the season as he was either playing reduced minutes and/or playing very much second fiddle to Mitchell Pearce. In 2017, Lamb played 21 games scoring five tries and 15 try assists to average 47.8. Not exactly the most electrifying runner, he is solid in defence and a reliable goalkicker so he has a decent floor for a half. He can also fill his boots when the going is good as he showed when he scored triple figures in consecutive weeks in 2017. With a reasonable draw in the next four weeks — Titans (away), Sharks (home), Eels (away) and Roosters (home) — Lamb is forecast to make $100K profit if he can average 48 over that span.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon

The Newcastle double down is not where I expected to be, but since we were banned from nominating the obvious rookie Rhyse Martin (Dave ignored that ban), and Angus Crichton gets a good run below I’m going to bend to give the often overlooked Lachlan Fitzgibbon some love. Currently boasting the 12th best average of any player to have played over four games, the Newcastle second-rower is the very definition of a quality POD with just 3.5% ownership. He lacks the base stat reliability of his most obvious trade in rival Crichton, averaging ‘just’ 41.3 PPG in base to the mighty Angus’ 51.6 but more than offsets that with his ability to jag a try and linebreak. Averages an incredible 80.75 PPG at home and plays four of the next six games on home turf. Provides round 13 bye coverage and this is the last week you’re likely to get him for under $600K for a while so if you’re getting on this is the week to do it.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon about to score yet another try for the Knights in 2018.

TIM WILLIAMS

Angus Crichton

A quiet start to the season has the Rabbitohs back-rower ripe for the picking for SuperCoaches at a reasonable $30k discount. Crichton is averaging a very solid 64.1 PPG and has played 80 minutes every week (barring one 77 minute game). The appealing side to Crichton — other than Round 13 coverage — is his lack of attacking stats. Crichton averages 52 in base and is starting to find the attacking stats that helped him average 82 across his 13 games over 75 minutes last season. His century last week isn’t chasing points, he’s a lock in keeper with extremely reliable number each week. As for his ceiling, well he banged out a 166 point effort against the Titans last season.

Mitchell Barnett

Barnett ($397,400) has been a SuperCoach stud in previous seasons when playing 80 minutes. He’s done just that in the past two weeks on the left edge where Kalyn Ponga has excelled all season. Barnett has a break-even of 18, offers round 13 coverage, has a $105k discount on his starting price and is owned by just 1 per cent …

DOMINIC BURKE

Andrew Fifita

First things first, we are not expecting 80 minutes again from Fifita this season. But that’s not the point. You can argue about how many minutes the Sharks front-rower might play with Paul Gallen back, but it’s all just speculation. What isn’t up for debate is that Fifita is a proven SC gun and if you miss the boat now, you might be ruing it for the rest of the season. He has been an absolute beast over the past month, with a 3RA of 82.7 and 5RA of 77.4. And while that might not be sustainable, he’s still the standout FRF in the game. His price tag ($667,200) is hefty, but with a low break-even Fifita is only going to get more expensive.

Andrew Fifita has been an absolute beast for the Sharks in the last two weeks.

Api Koroisau

Okay, so Cam Smith isn’t playing State of Origin this year. But after his slow to the SC season, is he still a hold? (Yes, probably). But, picture this: downgrade Smith — who will miss two of the next three weeks regardless of his representative retirement — to the best hooker who is playing Round 13, and has a better season average than the Storm and SuperCoach superstar. Like many Manly players, Koroisau’s form dipped over the past six weeks — but has enjoyed a resurgence in recent weeks. He posted a tasty 85 points against the Broncos last round, which was boosted by a try but also hinted that a shift in Manly’s attack following Lachlan Croker’s season-ending injury could unlock some of Koroisau’s attacking potential. Writing off a SC stud like Smith always comes with a risk, but for those willing to roll the dice Koroisau shapes as a compelling option.

MARK GATELY

Angus Crichton

The Bunnies backrower hasn’t hit the heights of his stunning 2017 campaign but that doesn’t mean he’s gone off the boil. Crichton has quietly been toiling away doing the hard graft in the background, churning out 51PPG in base stats. He finally jagged some attacking stats last weekend and tonned up. With a BE of 46 there’s money to be made and at 12 per cent ownership he ticks the POD box — and is available for round 13. There are plenty of great options in the back row but you could do far worse.

Daly Cherry-Evans

The Sea Eagles halfback is a polarising figure but for the 21 per cent of owners who are (or should be) frantically looking for ways out of their Ryley Jacks nightmare he presents as the best of a bunch of troubling options. He’s the topscoring and third-best averaging halfback who kicks goals and his 31 BE isn’t scaring anyone off. And while he is very much a rollercoaster, having hit multiple lows already this season, he also has the ability to go large.

Souths Sydney’s ‘Mighty’ Angus Crichton. Picture: Brett Costello

DAVE CAMPBELL

Rhyse Martin

A basement dollar cheapie at $164k you can’t not have the Bulldogs rookie in your team. Named to play his third game, Martin is the perfect downgrade option for people still carrying the likes of Mark Nicholls (dropped), Jack Gosiewski (injured), Scott Sorenson (injured) or even Cam Murray (benched).

Connor Watson

Still has a negative break even, plays round 13 and hasn’t scored less than 57 points if you discount his injury-affected round three performance. Watson scored 67, 68 and 75 in the past three weeks after returning from injury. I’m annoyed I talked myself out of this trade last week. Fare thee well Riley Jacks.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach hipages Trade Comparison: Two best trades of round 11