NRL 2026, NRL Fantasy, Lone Scout's Fantasy Q and A, round 19, trades

Author: Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
Timestamp: Fri 10 Jul 2026, 06:08 PM

We step back to 13 scorers again this week and many Fantasy favourites are unavailable.

For those still with trades it may be best to hold your fire and play short, or look at some cash down options to assist with bringing in the top fantasy players that we will need to get in for the run home.

Let’s have a look at what is troubling you with your team and as always be sure to check my trade in trade out tier list found at the bottom of this article.

Another Origin series is in the books and now we are onto the last 13 scoring round left until we are back to normality and the final stretch of the 2026 NRL Fantasy season.

With limited green dots available this week and more potentially not backing up from rep duties, let’s go through the questions that have come through and these may also assist those who missed out. And sure to check my trade tier list found at the bottom of this column.

NRL Fantasy Podcast - Episode 20

Q: Is it worth trading Erin Clark still a hold despite his recent run of low scores? - Diego

A: With Jackson Ford now out you will likely see an uptick in Erin Clark scores as they will be missing Ford’s effort areas. Given the Warriors’ position on the ladder, I expect Clark to play for a longer period than he has been, although James Fisher-Harris and Leka Halasima do return from injury this week so that could put a fly in the ointment. Best thing to do would be to wait a week on him given Clark’s pedigree from last year but if you have to go now I won’t hold it against you. For trade in targets, if you wait a week you could go straight to Payne Haas or if you are moving now, consider upgrading him to Dylan Lucas and get Haas another way.

A timely double for Haumole Olakau'atu ahead of Origin III

Q: Who are your top EDG players for the run home? I currently have Xavier Willison, Ryan Couchman, Isaiah Papali'i who are all on bye. My only other EDG is Tony Sukkar who is benched. I have seven trades left and $148k salary with Latrell Siegwalt also likely to cash out or trade to a non-playing red dot for looping. Who should I sell and who should I get of Haumole Olakau’atu or Dylan Lucas, Hudson Young and one of Simi Sasagi, Tallis Duncan, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki or Connelly Lemuelu. - Peter

A: I would be holding Ryan Couchman out of these four, while the other three can be moved on from. Xavier Willison has been playing well, but the expectation is he will lose minutes with Pat Carrigan back, he is the one I would be willing to hold after Couchman. Isaiah Papali'i’s scoring has been too up and down to hold till the end with his early exits in games a key factor in his slightly lower scoring. Tony Sukkar might catch a break and end up starting, even if he doesn’t, I would try and hold due to the low break even and hope things fall your way on game day. If you must move early to helps your trades that is fine too. I definitely advise getting one of Dylan Lucas or Haumole Olakau’atu and one of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Simi Sasagi as my top two options in your lists here, each will be set for big minutes this week and all solid scorers to hold till the end. One other to consider is Noah Martin, especially if you could hold Sukkar one more week so you get a look at the rookie edge’s return to the top grade. Martin was elite at the start of the year and could be a great cut priced option for the run home.

Duncan is a doer

Q: Do you think Tallis Duncan gets dual position added and become a EDG/CTR? If so, what round will this happen? - Jim

A: The next and final set of dual position updates in the week of Round 21. Tallis Duncan is very likely to pick up the CTR position given this week will be his fourth placement there with the chance of a fifth next week.

Q: One trade left! Looking at trading Latrell Siegwalt or Heamasi Makasini and bringing James Tedesco back and with his great price, but keep the other as a back-up. How is Latrell Siegwalt’s job security and do you think he will get the dual position CTR added with the next update? I don’t necessarily need a WFB this week as have three (one is Kalyn Ponga however), but worried Tedesco’s price might go up. - Steve

A double on debut

A: With James Tedesco out, you could run with your current options and grab Tedesco on his return, likely in Round 20. Otherwise there are some other options like Tom Trbojevic, Isaiah Iongi or even Mark Nawaqanitawase. I have Latrell Siegwalt as a trade out since he was dropped this week despite the fact Latrell Mitchell isn’t set to return for another couple of weeks. Additionally, the Rabbitohs are playing the first of the three games on Sunday so it will be too late to move on him unless you fancy another player in those three Sunday match-ups.

Q: I am one player down thinking of trading Dylan Edwards for Kalyn Ponga. No obvious sell for me but playing head-to-head and need a full team. - Harry

A: There is no doubt that Kalyn Ponga is likely to outscore Dylan Edwards on the run home, but the amount of benefit may not be worth the cost. I would only make that move if you had plenty of trades and even then, you need to be sure Ponga will back-up this weekend after a gruelling Origin game on Wednesday night. My best advice is to hold your trade until Sunday and see how your head-to-head match-up is faring. If you need a boost then you can switch to Ponga that morning, or if Ponga is out, you have options like Tom Trbojevic, Scott Drinkwater, Sualauvi Fa’alogo and Keano Kini who all play later that day.

Q: Who is the best cheapie trade in option to bring in? - Finn

A: Joey Walsh is definitely top of the list after a nice showing in his first game at five-eighth for Manly. Brad Schneider also performed well deputising for Isaiya Katoa but the Dolphins have a bye in a couple of weeks. I really like Owen Pattie as he has now won the starting role at hooker over Tom Starling. Cody Hopwood is also an intriguing option considering Jacob Saifiti is now hurt and Hopwood seems to have the trust of coach Justin Holbrook.

Lone Scout’s Trade In, Trade Out Tier List – Round 19

With Origin now completed, my trade in and out tiers focus on those playing just this week, in particularly tiers 1 and 2 below. Do look to hold your gun keepers and avoid burning your team just to get a full team or near enough this week as we still have another 8 rounds to follow on with after this week. Do look at the tier lists below as a guide to help with your trades.