NRL 2026, Fantasy, Lone Scout, Q & A, teams analysis, buy and sell

Author: Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
Timestamp: Thu 7 May 2026, 11:15 AM

A bench cheapie finally gets his starting jersey, a few fresh faces to team lists and a couple of cash cows reach market value and are at the time to sell.

As always don’t risk missing out, when team lists drop get those conundrums cleared up by shooting through a query to thelonescout@nrl.com.au.

Those who missed out, don’t fret. Check the bottom of this editorial for my trade tier list to help navigate the “do I? or should I?” puzzlements facing your Fantasy squad this week.

NRL Fantasy Podcast - Episode 11

Q: Is it time to drop Helium Luki due to underperformances these last few weeks? - Ayden

A: I would hold off at least one more week, with an incredibly good match up this Friday night. By next week we’ll also have some idea if he is due a Maroons call up also.

Q: Is there any POD (point of difference) mids that you would recommend with Origin coming up? – Lachlan

A: Great question Lachlan. As reliable MIDs are proving to be thin on the ground for Round 12 and 15, much like the last few years, in a way all available high powered MIDs are good PODs. The top four are Jackson Ford, Joe Tapine, Toby Couchman and Erin Clark, the only risk with Ford is he is now a chance at an Origin jersey. The Raiders and Warriors play the first four major and minor bye rounds and the Dolphins and Dragons aren’t too bad over the Origin period either.

Mighty Helpful player of the round: Jackson Ford

Q: I got Adam Doueihi last week and wondering If I should keep him? Also is Isaiah Papali’i a sell and who for? – Gus

A: When just bringing in someone new it can feel like you need to hold to gain some type of value, but with word Doueihi is facing 6-8 weeks in the stands that makes him a must sell. Isaiah Papali’i is in an outfit that should see a greater output from such a talented and experienced player, while he has had his big games, they are becoming a rarer so it may be time to cut the loses and move to Toby Couchman. Couchman has the same dual positioning and unlike Papali’i, he covers that first Bye round nicely.

Q: “If you're not playing major bye rounds is Kulikefu Finefeuiaki or Harry Grant (even with Phoenix Crossland) a pick up - if not then who? – Riley

A: Firstly, if you aren’t playing bye rounds in your H2H comps and that’s your focus then look for the teams that have the last of their byes on those rounds, so Roosters and Bulldogs players are your best options as their byes won’t impact you at all. Next look at players with teams that have most remaining byes during a bye round like Cowboys, Storm, Dragons, Knights. In the case of Grant and Finefeuiaki, while they are great holds for H2H players, it is still a risk to buy them as their real-life coaches may choose to manage their minutes over the Origin period. That is, if Billy Slater does what we all expect and picks Finefeuiaki to make his Maroons debut this year.

Q: Thinking of trading out Isaiah Papali’i and Arama Hau and bring in Cooper Bai and Ryan Couchman, making a little cash? Is Brandon Wakeham worth a shot as a cheapie? – Steve

A: Those trades are great trades for this week as they cash out players on the downturn and get players good for the bye rounds that are on the up, great options there. Wakeham is too risky though as he wasn’t able to back up his Round 8 score of 60 with an even remotely decent output last time out. I understand there weren’t a lot of great HOK options for the first bye round but now Oliver Pascoe has been named to start for the Titans and Jeremy Marshall-King will return via the bench for the Dolphins, it gives coaches a couple of better options when it gets to Round 12.

Mighty Buy Round 10: Cooper Bai

Q: My WFBs at the moment are James Tedesco, Matt Dufty, Setu Tu, Enari Tuala, Siale Faeamani and Fletcher Hunt. I’m thinking of trading Hunt for Ativalu Lisati and holding the other trades for now. – Huey

A: A couple of players are not doing much for you there. Fletcher Hunt to Lisati is an easy win, but I’d look at maybe one more like a Faeamani to Cooper Bai or Oliver Pascoe to get some more cash flow moving. Faeamani is reported out for a month and isn’t guaranteed to make much more money anyway. This way you could place Dufty in a non-scoring or looping spot this week and watch how he goes off the bench unless he is a late call-up come Souths gameday.

Brian To'o Try

Q: I had a few under performers this week like Casey McLean as well as Mitch Moses, Jarome Luai and Tallis Duncan. I do have Hamish Stewart, Setu Tu and Toby Couchman but what would you recommend for me? – Sam

A: Penrith seem to be favouring the right side now after predominately focusing on the left in the first several rounds, it may change but for now I’d think about moving on McLean, especially as Penrith have Byes in both Round 12 and Round 15. Ideally you would get a top-tier centre like Herbie Farnworth, Simi Sasagi or KL Iro but you may need to downgrade another position to afford that (see tier list at the tail of this article). Jarome Luai is the obvious one to move on from in the halves, you should target Dylan Brown who is coming into form and has a very low break-even.

Lone Scout’s Trade In, Trade Out Tier List – Round 10

With Origin now firmly on the horizon, our trade ins and outs tiers will start to be influenced by team’s major and minor bye schedules over the State of Origin period.

Please Note: Those focusing on just Head-to-Head competitions, especially those not playing bye rounds be mindful some of these trades will not apply to you. During this period the best trades and options will depend more on the normal predicted price rises and falls fluctuations. However beware when bringing in Origin players, there is a greater injury risk or at least a chance their real life coaches manage their minutes during this time.