Welcome back to another edition of the Waiver Wire — your Monday night show off the back of last night's review from the Such Is Fantasy NRL SuperCoach & Fantasy Podcast. Waivers clear somewhere between 4am and 6am Wednesday, so you need this intel locked in tonight. I'm trying to tighten things up this week after some feedback, so we'll rip through the casualty ward, then the top adds by position, and finish with a priority list.
Casualty Ward — Injuries & Replacements
Devastating news for Jermaine Hopgood, out for the season. In terms of adds, nothing jumps out — I think the Eels will spread his minutes by committee. Just Watch for any Eels forward that starts gaining real minutes in deeper leagues.
Ryan Couchman has been referred straight to the judiciary and is facing a minimum of six weeks out. You need a plan in draft to replace him, and that plan should involve Add Hamish Stewart. There are question marks around his brother Toby's minutes, and I think Hamish is the big winner here. Love his work — if he gets the increased minutes, he's an absolute add.
Jordan Samrani has meniscus damage to his knee — not super relevant in SuperCoach or Fantasy drafts. Jerome Luai looks like he's facing a month on the sidelines, but I wouldn't be adding his replacement. The Tigers are up against it because Adam Doueihi, while cleared of any serious hamstring issue, will not play this week. Book it, mark it down — it would be gross negligence if he does. You just cannot risk hamstrings. Rule Doueihi out. Whoever the Tigers pick in the halves isn't relevant unless you're in a really, really deep league.
Morgan Ganon copped an HIA against the Knights for the Warriors and will be out — not super relevant. Campbell Graham and Euan Aiken missed last week, Souths had the bye, and both are due back next week — you should have held. While you're checking, Add Brandon Smith — he's slated to come back after the bye in Round 5.
Lee Martin returned last week but isn't relevant. Reese Robson returned and is super relevant — he's now picked in 75% of leagues, which either means 25% of leagues are sleeper leagues, or he's sitting there in yours. Add him if he is. Fletcher Sharp looks like he's going to sit out another week — frustrating, but should only be one more. That means Tyson Gamble's stint in the halves continues, and he's not an add.
Fletcher Hunt is deputising at the back for the Knights. He scored a 45 with a try but got sin-binned and missed time — I thought he looked okay. Add him, particularly in a deep league. Chanel Harris-Tavita and Chance Nikorima-Cotter should return this week, meaning Taine Tuaupiki will probably go back to the extended bench. I don't mind Tuaupiki as a handcuff on your bench — when Harris-Tavita is out, Nikorima shifts to five-eighth, and if Nikorima is then out of fullback, Tuaupiki picks up the spot.
Hooker — Top Adds
Add Reese Robson — 75% owned, so he could be sitting right there in your league. If he is, that's gold.
Add Wade Egan — just makes the cutoff, available in 32% of leagues. Scored a 63 on the weekend. Job share at the Warriors, but worth an add. Add Connor Watson — getting more minutes, available in almost 40% of leagues. Almost worth an add on your bench now. If something goes wrong with Robson or one of the Roosters back-rowers mid-game, Watson picks up more minutes.
Add Jeremy Marshall-King — slated to return after the Broncos game or the week after. Nice little bench pickup for when he comes in. 60% owned, available in 40% of leagues. Watch Bailey Hayward — dropped back to earth last week against the Raiders with a 39, available in 57% of leagues. Outside of those, I'm not adding anyone at the hooker spot.
Front Row — Top Adds
Add Mitch Barnett — still available in 34% of leagues and a must-add, particularly if you watched that Warriors game on the weekend. Is there a better three-man front row rotation in the NRL right now than James Fisher-Harris, Jackson Ford and a returning Mitch Barnett? Tough through the middle, quick, agile — and Tanah Boyd is playing off the back of it. The Warriors look red hot. Must-add.
Add Josh King — disappointing 37 last week but still potentially worth a bench add. Add Alex Twal — come from nowhere with a 69. He was relevant three or four years ago in SuperCoach and Fantasy. Keen to see if he can keep it up. Not a must, but if you lost Jermaine Hopgood and need a front-row forward, you could do a lot worse this week.
Add Bessie Colhoun — still available in 45% of leagues, don't mind the pickup. Add Aarama How-Fable at second row / front row, available in 60% of leagues. Very consistent — hasn't scored below 50 in the opening three rounds. Add Tom Gilbert — I wrote him off after Round 1, but he's bounced back nicely with two 60+ scores in his last two weeks. Should be added 1000%.
Back Row — Top Adds
Add Samuela Fainu — shout out to my brother-in-law who traded out Tele'a Stunken for Fainu this week and scored an 81. Looks great scoring tries, running great lines. With the halves potentially out this week his production might dip, but he's worth an add 1000%.
Add Joe Chan — still available in 41% of leagues, though that won't be the case for long. He is your number one priority this week. All players, all leagues — make it happen. Add Metuisela Jenkins alongside him (we'll cover him in the centres shortly).
Drop Lasalo Lasalo — he's gone. I don't think you need to hold him. He's not someone you hang onto desperately for five weeks. If you've got room, sure, why not, but no need.
Watch Jordan Riki — please don't rush to add him. He's never been relevant in Fantasy or SuperCoach, he's not relevant in draft unless you're in super deep leagues, and he's not going to score two tries every week. Largely irrelevant.
Add Sulu Wong — everyone knows how much I love him in the back row. Available in 52% of leagues, knocked out a 63, playing solid minutes, attacking stats are coming. Definitely worth your time. Watch Luciano Leilua — hot and cold, can't trust him, but could be worth an add. Scored a 90. If he gets that attack, the offload going and cuts out the silly errors and penalties, he could be super relevant.
Add Hamish Stewart — your add for Ryan Couchman, who will miss significant time.
Halfback — Deep League Only
Looking at who's available in 40%+ of leagues at halfback, 43% still has Ethan Sanders available. Watch Luke Metcalf — I don't think you have to rush to add him. Could be a nice stash, but what are the Warriors going to do in the halves? I think they're working him back nice and slow, so I don't think you need to stash at all. Watch Tyrone Wishart — not getting the minutes now, but around Origin time you're going to want to pick him up. Solid 47. Deep leagues only.
Five-Eighth — Deep League Only
Skinny position, deep leagues only. Add Kodi Nikorima — scored a 59. As the Dolphins find their attack (which they have now), Nikorima is typically all over it. Don't mind him as a replacement for Jerome Luai, which many of you will need this week.
Add Jonah Pezzet — solid add. Watch Jake Clifford — way too inconsistent, and so are the Cowboys. He'll score a 93 or a 3. Drop Luke Brooks — massive no-go. That's all the relevant names at 5/8.
Centres — Deepest Pool of the Week
One of the more exciting positions in SuperCoach and Fantasy this year — so many options. Add Fletcher Hunt — available in 40% of leagues. It's not often you get a fullback available at centre, and with Ponga out for an extended time, he's worth an add.
Add Robert Toia — bounced back with an 89, and we know he had that run of form. Said it last week: Toia should not be on your waiver wire, particularly when he's playing like this and the Roosters are running into Manly this week. The Roosters have to bounce back.
Add Taumalolo (Tamale) — going to score some tries this year, don't mind him at all. Shouldn't be on waivers particularly in 4x10 leagues — even in 10 or 12-team leagues, you should have a spot on your bench. He'll be one of the most-added players this week.
Add Taine Tuaupiki — great handcuff for when Chanel Harris-Tavita or Chance Nikorima are injured. Add Metuisela Jenkins — always loved him as a SuperCoach prospect, scored a 57, shouldn't be on waivers. Shout out to Dion for bringing him into our draft league. Add Mat Feagai ("Sully") — also shouldn't be on waivers. Scored a 68. St George has got a good four-week stretch and they've got the Titans this week. I think we'll see the best of him.
Fullback — Thinnest Position
Fullback gets skinny — really only relevant for 12, 14 and 16-team leagues. Watch Tommy Chester — my understanding is he's out next week. Wasn't on my injury report, but I've just remembered — either suspended or injured, can't remember which, but he's definitely out. You may need a replacement.
Add Connor Tracey — still available in 30% of leagues. If you need a fullback replacement this week, go grab him right now. If you picked the wrong Connor replacement last week, or you had Tommy Turbo on a bye, grab him.
Hold Taine Tuaupiki — handcuff position. Don't trade a full forward too early to get to him. Wait until about three weeks out from Origin — that's the right time, because you want to jump the gun on everyone else when The Hammer is away on Origin duty.
Waiver Wire Priority List
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.