NRL SuperCoach hipages Trade Comparison: Two best trades of round 21

NEED that one last piece to perfect your SuperCoach NRL team? Our stable of experts — and Rob Sutherland — nominate their two best acquisitions ahead of round 21.

NEED that one last piece to perfect your SuperCoach NRL — presented by hipages — team? Our stable of experts nominate their two best acquisitions ahead of round 21.

POD WATCH: Former champion nominates nine players you should own

ROUND 21: SuperCoach teams analysis

Trent Copeland

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (NEW $578,100) — AVG: 66.5; 3RA: 89.7; 5RA: 71.4

Those of you that tune in to the SuperCoach LIVE Countdown Show each week will have heard me rave about this guy on last week’s show, only for him to go on and score 123 points with two tries — making it two consecutive 100+ scores in a row since returning from suspension. At this point of the season, the ‘cookie cutter’ teams will all have the Taumalolo, Jake Turbo and Rhys Martin’s of the world, but at just 4% ownership with this type of scoring upside and match-ups coming against the understrength (on the edge) Tigers, Warriors and Panthers in the next three weeks Fitzy could be the perfect POD move to win your H2H finals.

Latrell Mitchell (SYD $587,800) — AVG: 63.1; 3RA: 88.0; 5RA: 76.2

On the flip side to the POD move above, here’s one like the Teddy/Turbo suggestion last week as a player that a lot of teams own but one I don’t think you can possibly be without. I can safely say this as I traded Kurt Mann to Latrell two weeks ago (#humblebrag) which has netted around 220+ points through scores of 129 and 113 — trust me, the run of games against the Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Broncos and Eels in the H2H GF is going to be fun to watch unfold as an owner with this guy — and the Roosters on the whole — hitting untouchable form.

The two best SuperCoach NRL trades for Round 21.

Rob Sutherland

Waqa Blake (PTH $497,000) — AVG: 56.4; 3RA: 82.0; 5RA: 65.4

Averaging 30PPG in base since his return to the Panthers in round 17, Blake has been on fire scoring a try in each game since his return and averaging 13.5 PPG in busted tackles alone over that span. The Panthers have a pretty favourable draw over the next four matches with the Raiders, Titans (a), Knights (h), Warriors (a) — and then the Storm (a). Owned by under 5% of SuperCoaches and priced under $500,000, Blake looks like a quality POD from those teams fielding more generic CTW combinations.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (NEW $578,100) — AVG: 66.5; 3RA: 89.7; 5RA: 71.4

The Newcastle second rower has sliced through opposition lines for nine tries already this season and my tip is there are more to come. Not a base stat beast in the mould of Jake Trbojevic or Nathan Brown, Fitzgibbon has nonetheless scored 50 in base in his past two matches. The Knights’ remaining draw Wests Tigers, Warriors (a), Panthers (a), Sharks (a), Dragons is not too arduous and Fitzgibbon has a tremendous average against all bar the Dragons.

Tim Williams

Valentine Holmes (SHA $646,800) — AVG: 58.3; 3RA: 85.0; 5RA: 77.0

It may be frowned upon for lack of creativity, but I’m doubling down on Val. Josh Dugan is back and Holmes ($646,800) has retained the fullback role where he’s averaged over 80PPG since Round 10. The expensive price tag is a minor blessing with the inform flyer out of range for many SuperCoaches. Cronulla face the Sea Eagles (H), Storm (A), Cowboys (H), Knights (H) and Bulldogs (A) on their run home. Holmes has 17 tries this season, and while I’m constantly told the run has to end at some point, I’m not so convinced with his successful switch to the number one jumper.

Cameron Munster (MEL $534,900) — AVG: 61.8; 3RA: 55.7; 5RA: 68.0

The Storm pivot is an alternative to those jumping on the Nathan Cleary bandwagon. Many are opting for Cleary’s ‘stronger’ base stats over Munster, however it’s worth noting the Queensland star has just two scores under 50 points since Round 4. While he’s not exactly a prolific tryscorer, Munster has just three meat pies to his name this season. Munster has a 61.8PPG average and will be boosted by Melbourne fielding their full-strength team for the first time this season against South Sydney.

David Campbell

Latrell Mitchell (SYD $587,800) — AVG: 63.1; 3RA: 88.0; 5RA: 76.2

If you have the trades and you have the money then Latrell ‘the next GI’ Mitchell is your man. The Roosters young gun has been criticised in the past of being a little lazy and disinterested when it comes to involving himself in matches but since his State of Origin debut Mitchell has been everywhere for the Tricolours. With the Roosters attack hitting form at the right end of the season Mitchell could be a try-scoring beast for the run home. He is already a high 35+ per cent ownership but you’ve got to have him.

Nathan Cleary (PTH $469,500) — AVG: 58.2; 3RA: 63.0; 5RA: 56.4

The Panthers boy wonder hasn’t been at his best since returning from Origin but hit a hugely respectable 97 last week. If the Panthers are rediscovering some form then Cleary is a solid option. He is only at 13 per cent ownership and has a cracking run home with the Raiders, out-of-form Warriors, Titans and Knights making up four of the last five rounds. His price has bottomed out and he has a negative break even. Get on.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach hipages Trade Comparison: Two best trades of round 21