SuperCoach NRL trade tips and talk: Live Q&A and round 17 teams reveal
Fletcher Sharpe has accumulated the second-most points of any CTW and has the sixth best average of any player available at the position.
So the news that the Newcastle gun, who started the weekend in more than 30% of teams, had suffered both a lacerated kidney and ruptured spleen on the weekend would normally come as a hammer blow to SuperCoaches.
However, there is a clear silver lining here.
Canterbury served their final bye of the season last week which means Jacob Kiraz - who has the third-best average of any CTW - is now a very strong BUY.
Priced at a mere $33K premium to Sharpe, Kiraz has failed to reach 60 points just once this season (and even in his worst game he still scored 53) and punched through the 90 point barrier in each of his past two games despite not scoring a try in either match.
Averaging 34PPG in base and a phenomenal 25PPG in offloads/tackle busts there's no safer backline prospect than the Bulldog. Now I'll just say what we're all thinking - hopefully Kiraz has more luck with injuries than the top backline picks of the past three weeks!
Join our live trade talk via the comments section below …
BUY/SELL ANALYSIS
Josiah Karapani: It's not too late for cheapies, especially cheapies who have scored four tries in their past two games. The left edge of the Broncos is a good place to be and Karapani is making the most of it. He cannot keep scoring tries at that rate - and his opponents over the next fortnight (top-four Warriors and Bulldogs) should prove stiffer than the Titans and Sharks were. However, from there the medium term draw is Titans, Eels and Rabbitohs. That's enticing. With a BE of -85 if you don't buy Karapani this week you'll be paying around $150K more for the privilege in a couple of weeks. BUY
Harry Grant: The Storm hooker has strong formlines around finishing the season well and has averaged between 15-20PPG more in the final eight rounds of the season than he has through the middle over the past three years. Consecutive scores in the 80s suggest that Grant is warming up again and I'll be keen to add him to my side for the run home. However, with Origin duties set to see Grant miss round 18 the week to buy him is leading into round 19 not now. WAIT
Zac Lomax: The Parramatta winger's phenomenal workrate, he is averaging almost 40PPG in base, plus his goalkicking duties means that even when he fails to score a try Lomax is still likely to exceed 60 points. While I have him behind the likes of Farnworth, Kiraz and Lucas in my CTW pecking order he then sits alongside Garrick and Holmes - and with a lower ownership than both. However, like Grant, Lomax does not play round 18, and I think this week is a week early to be buying. WAIT
Viliame Kikau: I've been singing big Billy's praises for a few weeks now and see no reason to change my tune now. Kikau will never be the safest of second row options - his base of 38BPPG does not even crack the top-50 at his position. However, Kikau's attacking threat - he's the leader at his position for offloads and also linebreak assists and equal leader for try assists - more than makes up for his workrate deficiencies and sees him boast the fourth best average of any 2RF. The Bulldogs have no more byes left to serve and while there are safer options at the position (like the next man on this list) I do like Kikau's upside. BUY
Erin Clark: The Warriors lock is a much safer 2RF option. He has the fifth best base (54BPPG) of any option at the position, is top-five for tackle busts and top-ten for offloads all of which combine to rank Clark behind only Pat Carrigan and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui for base/power combined. However, like Lomax and Grant above, Clark (bye) does not play round 18 so prospective owners should bear that in mind before making any trades. WAIT
Alex Johnston: Last week I broke my own golden rule regarding not recommending wingers as a BUY off the back of big try hauls and said that Jack Bostock was probably worth the risk. And while he did not fail due to form he did succumb to injury and those hoping for some easy profits have to sell. Well, 'AJ' scored four against the Storm and comes into this week with a low BE and the prospect of a negative BE the week after. A try scoring freak on the precipice of breaking Ken Irvine's record for the most tries in first grade rugby league in Australia, Johnston never has been a SuperCoach stud. As to why, one needs only look at his scores in round 11, 14 and 15. SJ scored a try in each of those games and yet finished with scores of 48, 53 and 55. A pure finisher who averages less than 20BPPG, Johnston needs to score multiple tries to hit 60+. PASS
Lehi Hopoate: Word is Manly have come to their senses and will move Tom Trbojevic to the centres and slot Lehi Hopoate into fullback. A genuine stud at the position I can see Hopoate having a field day this round against the Wests Tigers (at Brookvale Oval). Manly also provide valuable round 18 bye coverage. But I have Hoppa low on my 'Buy' list. In round 14 the young star copped a category 1 HIA and scored just two points. As a result he has a BE of 120 and a monster BE in round 18 too. Then Manly are on a bye in round 19. Then the draw gets super stiff with Manly facing Melbourne, Bulldogs, Roosters and Raiders from rounds 20-23 (inclusive). Hopoate is a guy I'd be happy to own and hold, but I consider others better buys at the position. HOLD/DON'T BUY
Latu Fainu: The Wests Tigers have been waiting patiently for Fainu to bounce back from injury and reach match fitness playing him for 44 minutes in round 14 and 53 minutes in round 16. He aced the eye test in those games and scored at over a point per minute (though it should be noted he was playing a middle/utility role in those games and his workrate will possibly drop if starting in the halves). Tipped to start this week against Manly and with a BE of -11, Fainu could be a nice little earner at 5/8. However, his injury history is concerning and that concerns me this late in the season. RISKY BUY
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui: The big Titan, dealing with injuries and a reduced club workload due to Origin commitments, is averaging less than 50PPG over his past three games. Which is obviously concerning. However, Tino still has the third best average season average of any 2RF and that speaks volumes about just how good he was before Origin. If you have held this long then I would advice you continue to hold. It is short term pain which will pay off in the long run. HOLD
Jed Stuart: The eleventh most popular buy of the round and I don't really see it. The left edge of the Raiders was a decent place to be for Savelio Tamale but I put more of that down to Tamale's high workrate and excellent tackle busting. Stuart does not seem to be quite that guy with a lower workrate and less damaging running style. I much prefer Karapani if looking for cheapie CTW. PASS
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