Draft Breakdown: Waiver-wire + trade targets, Rd 16

• ORIGIN RECAP: SuperCoach scores, stats, who will back up?
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Every week we will be looking at players still available in 65% of leagues. There may be better options still available in your league, but this article will be focusing on the players that are likely to be available in most leagues.

Best call last round –  Haumole Olakau’atu – Haumole is getting better with every game he plays and Dez Hasler will have an interesting choice when Schuster and Sironen return from injury. Haumole is playing good enough to keep his spot but I also can’t say anything bad about Lawton on the other edge.

Worst call last round– Siosifa Talakai – Scoring only 35 points in 46 minutes, Talakai looked great with the ball in hand but was shocking in defence. Talakai could still be amazing but I can see the reliable Teig Wilton taking his spot or at the very least some serious minutes.

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Hopefully you listened to Tim Williams who had the hot hand in trade targets last round, suggesting trading out Wallace, who scored only 31 points after four monster games, and trading in Murray for a massive 91 points.

After the NRL had the week off we could see some changes in today’s team lists with players coming back from injury and coaches reassessing their strategies.

Let’s have a look at some of the better options this round.

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WAIVER OPTIONS

Jeremy Marshall-King (HOK)

For the first time this year a Bulldog is at the top of the list and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Bulldogs have played their best football with him back at hooker.

He has scored 75 and 66 points in his two games since returning from injury and importantly playing 80 minutes.

He has always had good base and is worthy of a pickup when playing 80 minutes. In the past coaches have mucked around with his minutes but if he stays in this form, he will be a solid hooker choice for the Bulldogs and SuperCoach.

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Ronaldo Mulitalo (CTW)

Mulitalo was worthy of a Queensland debut and his Supercoach scores reflect that.

Since returning from injury in round 12 he is averaging 84 points and over 30 points in evade stats, which include tackle busts.

He is breaking tackles and is creating opportunities with his tough runs and the Sharks have a very generous draw coming up, playing the Broncos, Warriors, Raiders and Bulldogs in the coming weeks.

Teig Wilton (2RF)

Wilton is the first of three second rowers that all have potential on your waiver-wire.

Wilton’s workrate is unbelievable and he managed to score 41 points in base stats in 46 minutes on the edge last round.

He is a great footballer that won’t go nuts, but he will give you a great consistent score if he can takeover the Sharks left edge spot.

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Raymond Faitala-Mariner (2RF)

RFM is expected to return from injury in the next few weeks.

On his day he is a gun and he averaged 59PPG last year. However, the poor bloke has been plagued by injuries and may struggle to get an 80 minute edge spot.

A number of Bulldogs have been confined to quarantine, so if he is named this week it could be a great opportunity to hold an edge spot.

TC Robati (2RF)

Robati has great attacking potential to go with his solid base, but he plays for the Broncos.

Last round Robati played 74 minutes in the middle for 51 points.

If the Broncos continue to run a two-hooker system he will be a good option in the short-term.

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TRADE TARGETS

These are the under or overperforming players you may be able to pick up in a trade cheaply, or sell while peaking in SuperCoach form.

OUT

Paul Vaughan (FRF)

Vaughan is coming off a great 81 points where he won the game for the Dragons against his old club.

Vaughan’s workrate has been down this year scoring at only 1.06PPM compared to 1.16 and 1.14 of previous years.

Griffin has been mucking around with his minutes all year and with a number of troops coming back for the Dragons it can only get worse and not better for Vaughan.

Ryan Matterson (2RF)

Matterson hasn’t played 80 minutes since round 10! 

Matterson’s averages and scores don’t look that bad in that time as he has benefited from some attacking stats.

When you look into his scores you can see he is averaging 42 points in base points since round 10, which is a massive difference from the 56 points in base points he was averaging last year.

Brad Arthur is going to continue to rotate his edges and forwards, so now is the time to sell him before he puts up a real stinker.

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IN

Jarome Luai (5/8)

Luai has taken a back seat in the lead up to both Origin games, with a 3RA of 34 points and 5RA of 41 points.

He will need to be more involved with Cleary out for a number of weeks or even more.

Luai has the ability to go back to the 80+ average he was putting up at the start of the year and I expect some monster scores from him in the games he plays without Cleary.

Kodi Nikorima (HFB/5-8)

Kodi scored over 100 points three times in the first eight rounds and has since dropped off the pace.

Without CHT for 4-6 weeks, Kodi will need to have more responsibility and be involved in attack on both sides of the field.

The Warriors have a pretty easy draw to finish the season and importantly in Draft finals play the Sharks, Bulldogs, Broncos, Raiders and Titans.

SUPERCOACH TERMINOLOGY KEY

MPG = Minutes per game

PPG = Points per game

PPM= Points per minute

BPG = Base per game (point accrued in tackles + runs + missed tackles)

POD = Point of difference

3RA = Three round average

5RA = Five round average

BREAKEVEN (B/E) = The score a player must record to earn a price rise.

*Please note all our stats are taken from the geniuses at nrlsupercoachstats.com