Welcome back to the Such Is Fantasy NRL & SuperCoach podcast — the first ever NRL Draft Waiver Wire edition. Waivers go live at 4am tomorrow, so this one's quick and sharp: injuries, stashes, top five pickups in every position, and the overall priority list. Shout out the 25 of you listening and the 500 of you on TikTok — let's get to work before lockout.
Injury Updates: Returns, Stashes & Drops
Returning this week. Watch Liam Martin — never been draft-relevant, ignore for now. Watch Marata Niukore at the Warriors — not relevant with their depth. Watch Josh Papalii — not relevant at front row right now. Buy Reece Robson — was reported to miss 8–9 weeks, back after only two. If you stashed him, well done. Available in more than 40% of leagues and Hooker is lean — go pick him up.
Buy Trent Loiero returns from suspension for Melbourne. Coming back off the bench, but he'll ease back into starting minutes at 13 before you know it — a genuine SuperCoach and Fantasy option. Buy Jermaine Hopgood is back and available in more than 40% of leagues. Have a look — someone may have dropped him in frustration. I think he's in for a great season and you want him in your front row.
Buy Teig Wilton and Mitch Barnett both named in the reserves (Sharks and Warriors). Barnett is available in more than 60% of leagues — slow burn, but a good stash for depth, particularly in 12 and 14-team leagues.
Hold Kurt Capewell (calf) and Chanel Harris-Tavita (concussion, along with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad) for the Warriors — hold all of them. Chanel's possibly relevant at five-eighth but not at fullback unless you're in 16-team leagues or deeper. Hold Taylan May — shoulder, out four weeks, high re-injury rate, keep him on your bench. Sell Matt Nicholson — out for five months, drop him. Sell Adam Reynolds — named, but the mail is good, he's gone. And Jai Arrow at Souths remains out.
Top 5 Pickups: Hooker
Hooker is lean, which is why Reece Robson's early return is such a gift. Available in 40% of leagues — go pick him up right now, make the claim. Watch Connor Watson is available in 33% of leagues and played more minutes in Round 2 — not an add yet, but worth keeping an eye on.
Jeremy Marshall-King looks like returning around Round 7 — he'll be first choice when he's back, I like the stash. Jake Simpkin is playing close to 80 minutes (only scored 32, but minutes are minutes). Bailey Hayward returns this week, available in 65% of leagues. And look, Phoenix Crossland sneaks in at five — I've got my problems with Phoenix as a Knights fan, Hooker isn't his natural position, but he's there.
Top 5 Pickups: Front Row Forward
Really important position this year — some nice scores coming out of here. Jesse Kalhoun is the number one target on the waiver wire; he was outstanding from a fantasy and SuperCoach perspective last week. Tom Gilbert didn't have a happy Round 1, but in Round 2 he dropped a 71 in base — and he's dual FRF/2RF eligible. Love it.
Ata Mariota had 55 last week and about the same the week before — solid, that'll do a job in deep leagues. Xavier Willison has moved into the starting side and should get more minutes against Melbourne — I think Madge wants energy and aggression, and Xavier provides it. Josh King at the Storm rounds out the five. Hold Thomas Flegler is still available in 45% of leagues — carrying a knock, didn't have a happy Round 2, they're building him into minutes. I still like the stash.
Top 5 Pickups: Second Row Forward
More options here — and I have to correct myself on this one. Leka Halesima should be number one. My bad. I drafted him in Round 8 or 9 of my draft because I figured he'd start at some point, and now with the injuries he's playing great off the bench. Make a claim on Leka right now. The Dolphins then give you your 2 and 3 — Finn Fuimaono-Ikiua had 102 this week, mid-60s the week before, he's enormous right now. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki went 58 last week and close to 70 the week before.
Ui Lasati still available in 40%+ of leagues is absolutely nuts — get him in, his spot looks secure with Bloor injuring himself in New South Wales Cup. Joe Chan at 39% is another cheeky one past the cut-off — he should just be in your team. Watch Jordan Riki is available in 40% of leagues but not quite top-five for me. Luke Garner was on this list until Liam Martin returned and pushed him out.
Top 5 Pickups: Halfback
Things get skinny here — along with five-eighth, it's a tough position. Tana Boyd is the pick of the litter, available in 35% of leagues (past the cut-off because get him in now). Shout out to my brother Pete DeFries who dropped him in Round 1 and re-picked him up on waivers — lucky man.
Ethan Sanders still sits in 40% of leagues. Daniel Atkinson at three — shout out Dion, I think the Dragons go 3-and-1 in their next four and I think you'll see some good scoring out of Atkinson over that stretch. Luke Metcalf is a pure stash at four. Jamie Humphreys rounds out the five — back from injury with the halfback job at a red-hot Bunnies side.
Top 5 Pickups: Five-Eighth
Even more disgusting than halfback for availability. Quick aside — Adam Doueihi is somehow still available in some leagues, just double-check yours, I'm sure he's gone but have a peek. Jerome Luai is the number one at five-eighth, available in 44% of leagues — we need to jump on that quick. Shout out Jake in my league who already has him and somehow didn't play him on the weekend.
Jonah Pezet at two. Jake Clifford at three — as disgusting as that sounds. Then take your pick out of Luke Brooks, Kyle Flanagan or Tyrone Peachey (the only reason Peachey is in the conversation is because he comes off the bench). Any of those three in any order is fine.
Top 5 Pickups: Centre / Wing
This is where depth kicks in and there are options on options. I'm setting the cut-off at 37% of leagues here because of how many names pop up — Moses Leota, Robert Toia, Jamal Fogarty, Karapani, Katoa, Burns, Avaiki-Vailo, Philip Sami, Sasagi, Holroyd, Warbrick, Timmoko Smith, Chester, Xavier Coates, Moses Suli, Setu Tu, Taine Tuaupiki (named to start for the Warriors in place of Chanel), Dylan Watene-Zelezniak — seriously, options on options.
Jack Howarth and Moses Leota out of Melbourne make a lot of sense. Robert Toia is playing in the centres for the Roosters and was in a really good run of form last year. Philip Sami is an underrated SuperCoach and Fantasy gun — do not sleep on him. And Sasagi has just been a beast for Canberra. Watch Timmoko Smith — not sure he gets back in that Canberra team, some weird vibes there. Dominic Young has come off this list after last week — he was my waiver wire player of the week, absolutely dominated. Shout out Ben in our league who picked him up and then didn't play him. Guys, you can't make errors like that.
Top 5 Pickups: Fullback
Skinny position. From 50% and up you've got Connor Tracey, Hans, Will Kennedy, Trai Fuller, Tom Chester (in 60% of leagues — wow), and Fletcher Hunt as a one-week play if you're desperate. Trai Fuller I don't mind as a stash over Origin when Hammer is gone.
Connor Tracey number one. Will Kennedy number two — although, has there been a more vanilla fullback in the history of the game than Will Kennedy? It's just skinny at the back.
Waiver Wire Priority List
Regardless of position, here's where to spend your FAAB and claim priority. If you're carrying a couple of halfback injuries (hello, Adam Reynolds owners), depth trumps position — just grab the best players available.
That's the Round 3 Waiver Wire. I'll keep refining this show format over the next few weeks — drop your feedback in the Spotify and YouTube comments, hit me up on socials with your own waiver picks, and I'll see you tomorrow morning for the Team List Tuesday show before lockout. Have a great night.
This Waiver Wire recap is from the Such Is Fantasy NRL SuperCoach & Fantasy Podcast. Catch every episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and follow Stephen on TikTok.