With Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth sidelined for possibly the remainder of the Supercoach season, many coaches will be forced to make a key trade in the all-important CTW slot.
Whether you’re looking for a gun replacement, a point-of-difference, or a downgrade to generate cash elsewhere, there’s a range of options worth considering.
These options aren’t only limited to Farnworth either – this week coaches have lost the likes of Lehi Hopoate, Isaah Yeo and several others in what has been a tough run into the Supercoach head-to-head finals kicking off this week.
Here are some of the best replacements depending on your strategy, for Farnworth or also for any of your other injured Supercoach stars needing to be traded..
MORE: NRL Supercoach - Targeting matchups
CTW Guns
Zac Lomax | CTW | $741,100 | 24% Owned
Lomax continues to be a top-tier option in Supercoach with an average of 75, goal-kicking duties, and consistent attacking involvement that has seen him go 5 games straight of 80+ scores before last week.
He is also coming up against two of the better matchups over the next fortnight highlighted by a Cowboys team this round who gave a lot of points to the Sharks and also happen to have a very leaky left edge he will be up against.
Lomax is the no-brainer option of the round who deserves to be the most traded-in player this week.
If you don't own him he is your priority with no downside and even the ability to use as a captaincy option with the last game of round 23.
Jacob Kiraz | CTW | $725,800 | 31% Owned
If Lomax is the no-brainer option then Kiraz is a very close second, especially since he has now moved to fullback for the immediate future.
Having both Lomax and Kiraz looks like a must for the run home in Supercoach now with both offering a unique blend of extremely high floor coupled with extremely high ceiling potential.
If there is a knock on Kiraz it is the Bulldogs’ inability to adapt to the wet coupled with a tougher run home draw than several other teams from here on out.
CTW PODs
Dane Gagai | CTW | $688,800 | 4% Owned
Gagai is flying well under the radar with just 4% ownership but continues to be a consistent performer in a struggling Knights side.
The fact the Knights have struggled so much but Gagai is still managing a 3-round average of 96 despite playing top 4 sides in every one of those matchups is a testament to how matchup-proof he can be.
Gagai has always had a very good base+power game, but the key to him being an interesting Supercoach option right now is getting the fullback jersey and the goal-kicking duties.
That has provided him with a very high floor and the ease to explode for a 100+ score just by scoring a try.
Alex Brimson | 58/CTW | $624,300 | 5% Owned
Since moving to fullback Brimson has been close to a 75-point player – leaps and bounds ahead of his 54-point average when named to start in the halves this year.
Last week’s 117-point explosion shows his upside and with a 3-round average of 84 and 5-round average of 78 his price point presents immense value still.
Despite being at fullback for a couple of months, his ownership has also still remained low making him an interesting POD option.
He also is up against arguably the most favourable matchup of the week coming up against a Bunnies side that had 60 points put on them by the Broncos in round 22 highlighted by allowing 5 90+ Supercoach scores.
The risk to Brimson is the fact Keano Kini has been named to return at fullback via Queensland Cup this week so there’s a chance Brimson loses his fullback spot as early as next round.
CTW cut price options
Ronaldo Mulitalo | CTW | $526,100 | 5% Owned
In prior articles we have highlighted the value price of Mulitalo coupled with the fact he finished last season with a 92 Supercoach average on the run home making him a great downgrade consideration.
Fast forward two weeks and it's paid off in spades with scores of 91 and 98 Supercoach points including 3 tries.
The Sharks have arguably the best two weeks of Supercoach matchups facing the Dragons and Titans and the fact not just Mulitalo’s try scoring but also base (35ppg over the last month) has seen a big spike is also reassuring.
At his price point a trade from Farnworth would allow another big upgrade with a second trade and it may not cost you any points in CTW if Mulitalo keeps up his current form.
Mark Nawaqanitawase | CTW | $519,500 | 26% Owned
The code-hopper has gone on a wild Supercoach ride with only two months ago some coaches seeing him as a must-have top 4 CTW only to see his value and output drop off considerably.
Prior to the last month he had back-to-back tonnes of 136 and 107 but has come back to earth with a thud having averaged just 39 Supercoach points across his last 4 games.
At high ownership still it isn’t a POD play to consider Nawaqanitawase, but it is a value one with his price now dropping to just over $500k – a relatively low investment.
The Roosters are in a must-win matchup and against a pair of inexperienced centres so some attack down each wing seems very likely to present itself.
The draw is a mixed bag after this round but if you are hunting overall glory you do get to go against two bottom 4 sides in the remaining 5 games.
Nawaqanitawase has 4 games this year scoring doubles and is a try-scoring freak – and when he scores two tries he goes berserk with a Supercoach average of 108 points across those games.
Brian To'o | CTW | $486,300 | 5% Owned
To'o continues to have a forgettable season highlighted by an extreme try-scoring drought that he couldn’t break last week against the Titans.
At under the $500k mark he presents the cheapest price point out of anyone and still has a good enough matchup this week to start and hope for his first try since round 13.
The downside is after this round the Panthers hit a run of the Storm, Raiders and Bulldogs and don’t play anyone out of the top 4 until the final game of the season against the Dragons when the head-to-head competitions are done and the Panthers could rest players.
There is nothing so far to bring any confidence to coaches trading To'o in but his price point coupled with coaches perhaps needing to win this week could still see him be a good option for this round – if you have the CTW depth to bench him down the track.
Other position extreme PODs (via Duals/Flex)
Latrell Mitchell | FB | $644,800 | 2% Owned
Latrell is not someone anyone will consider – and that’s just the way you like it if you need a hail-mary play to win your head-to-heads or want to make a run at overall glory.
Not even named but in the extended squad, a late round switch to bring in Latrell could pay off hugely if he does return from injury this week.
Mitchell has an insane 92 Supercoach average against the Titans historically and is on a streak of 3 tonnes in a row in his last 3 matchups against them.
He also has his third highest game ever scored against them a season ago – a mammoth 150 points.
If Mitchell returns he looks like the biggest upside POD this round but carries the obvious risk of lack of match fitness or form along with the fact he could very well go down again.
But the upside is undeniable.
Sam Walker | HFB | $644,700 | 1% Owned
Walker has returned from injury and averaged a career-best 72 Supercoach points per game with two of those four matchups against tough opposition in the Storm and Sharks where they lost both matches.
Whilst Cleary and Hynes deserve to be your first and second choice halfback in Supercoach there is an argument if you have a vacant Flex spot Sam Walker could be the POD you’re looking for.
The Roosters halfback only has two games against the Dolphins in his career but it's accounted for an 84 average and with some inexperienced outside backs he may very well be putting up attacking kicks like last week – and that yielded 4 try assists.
For overall players especially, 3 of the final 5 games for the Roosters project as good scoring outings for Walker and every week is a must-win week for the Roosters from here on out.
At just 1% ownership he is the uber-POD that could help you on the run home to glory.
Final Word
Herbie Farnworth’s injury is a major blow, but with every setback in Supercoach there is always a silver lining opportunity.
In this case, it's the flexibility to use Farnworth in a multitude of strategies as you can buy anyone in the game by trading him or split his value to make two separate upgrades or even leave some cash in the bank for emergency.
One of the lesser mentioned options however that is just as viable is – simply hold him.
There are many teams short on trades at this point of the season and if your 18-man squad is strong this week then it's a viable strategy to wait to use Farnworth in a future week as a high-value trade that could net you a head-to-head victory when you most need it.
Whatever way you decide to go with Farnworth or some of the other injured stars, there is no shortage of options and as with anything in NRL Supercoach... there are multiple ways you can get results.