NRL 2026, NRL Fantasy, Round 25, Lone Scout's Fantasy Q and A

Author: Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
Timestamp: Thu 20 Aug 2026, 01:08 PM

Just three weeks to go and some thankful returnees mark our rosters this week.

With potential rests incoming over the next couple of weeks, make sure your team is set to cover all scenarios positionally when you make your final trades or instead choose to hold your last one for an emergency next week.

Let’s now take a look at those all-important questions that have come through and ensure to go through the trade in trade out tier list at the end of this article.

NRL Fantasy Podcast - Episode 25

Q: From the disastrous week after I brought in both Luke Metcalf and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and now trading them out the next week. I still have trades left so was going to go all in on Sam Walker with a favourable match up this week however the other trade is tough. Have around 600k to spend on either a bench spot or outside back, who would be a good target? – Jonathan 

A: Depending on how many trades you have left and how many players you have taking the field this week. If you had less than 16 available this week or if you had three or more trades this week I would make two. As for who to aim for, I would be looking at players we know have done the job in the past. That includes Lindsay Smith when given elevated minutes, Siua Wong or James Tedesco. Tedesco has been a late out the past two matches and the fact he plays the last game makes him even riskier. Samuela Fainu, Euan Aitken, Dylan Egan and Tom Jenkins are others I believe will have elevated games over the next three weeks. As for Sam Walker, he may have a good match up this week but after that play the Dolphins and Rabbitohs, who will be fighting for a better spot for Finals. I prefer Mitch Moses or Isaiya Katoa who may give you a better three round average.

Q: Ive got two trades left and are going to sell Herbie Farnworth but don't know who for thinking of Simi Sasagi and I'm also going to sell Reece Walsh thinking of Sua Fa’alogo. – Reese 

A: I’d hold off on the Farnworth trade as he had a lot of demerits last week and it was a game the Dolphins won comfortably. I think he will bounce back this week and besides, trading out a green dot with so few trades remaining seems too luxurious. Sua Fa’alogo in for Reece Walsh, a player not coming back this year, is an amazing trade if you have the funds. If you can’t do it without the second trade then instead check out my tier list at the bottom of the article.

First take: Dolphins v Eels

Q: Who is a good CTR / WFB replacement for Reece Walsh? I have no cash in the bank (salary) and 4 trades remaining. Since it is finals this week, I want to get a good line-up. I already have Setu Tu, Jesse Arthars, Sua Fa’alogo, Kalyn Ponga, Jack Bostock, and Herbie Farnworth. Should I sell Joey Walsh since he is injured as well. Is Latrell Mitchell worth the risk this week if he moves to starting position? – Cooper 

A: With four trades left making trades this week is worth it, especially with your first two backs not starting. You could move on from Setu Tu and use Jesse Arthars as a looper while Joey Walsh is also a sell although I’m not sure that gets you to Latrell Mitchell. James Tedesco, Tom Jenkins, Keano Kini, Billy Smith and Jamayne Isaako are options for you and considering Latrell’s enormously high break even and the fact he has only been named in the reserves, gives you the option to wait a week on him and make a huge double trade next week if Trellmit does comes back.

Te Maire Martin guides the Warriors home

Q: What are your thoughts as I have three trades left, $130k in the bank and four out injured (Joey Walsh, Reece Walsh, Te Maire Martin and Zane Harrison), I’m therefore missing a EDG and WFB. Would it be worth trading Reece Walsh and Te Maire Martin out for Jacob Preston and Kalyn Ponga? It leaves me with 16 players with one trade remaining for just in case, the concern is Martin has a chance of returning while Joey Walsh and Zane Harrison don’t. – Diego 

A: I like your thinking but have two concerns. One is Te Maire Martin is due back next week and could easily average 60 over the last two rounds. The other is Kalyn Ponga will miss Round 27 with a bye. Personally, I would look at a cheaper option like James Tedesco, Tom Jenkins, Keano Kini, Billy Smith or Jamayne Isaako. The other option is to get a cheaper EDG like Salesi Foketi or if you can shift a starting MID to edge, go for Lindsay Smith.

Q: I have Scott Drinkwater, Joey Walsh, Francis Manuleleua and Luke Metcalf. Two trades left but am happy to use them both, with $64K in the bank what should I do? – Gus 

A: Scott Drinkwater is back next week and Francis Manuleleua is in the concussion protocols so I’m hoping both are back next week. If you have 17 green dots this week save the trades or just move on from Luke Metcalf as more chaos will come in the next two weeks.

First take: Storm v Panthers

Q: For captaincy wildcards is Jamayne Isaako and/or Herbie Farnworth worth the gamble with a favourable match-up or do I stick with the Couchmans and Haumole Olakau'atu to be safe? – Leo 

A: With captaincy I generally stick safe options of Nathan Cleary, with the Couchmans or Haumole Olakau'atu more left field. This week I feel like Nathan Cleary could have a big game and getting the captaincy out of the way on the Thursday is always a good feeling. My advice is to stick to the classics and let others take the risks!

Kiraz back in the blue!

Q: I want to trade out Jacob Kiraz for his low scores in a must win H2H semi-final. I have around 550k in the bank and can go for any position, I have three trades left… who would you recommend? – Finn 

A: For a must-win and three trades remaining I would be looking at Jacob Preston or Lindsay Smith. You probably will need to downgrade one of your other non-scorers to get to one of those two, so check the tier list at the bottom of the article for which cheapie is best.

Q: Could you show us your Fantasy team at the end of Round 27 and could you show us at the start of next season the best possible team to start the year with. – Jake 

A: Hi Jake, without wanting to showboat too much, it’s been a great year for the Scout, almost permanently positioned either inside or just outside the top 1000 and with still a few trades left, I am hoping to get even closer to the top over the next three weeks. Am more than happy to share the team in an article post-season – remember as a “celebrity team”, you can always choose to add me to a league and then you can follow along every week.

Lone Scout’s Trade In, Trade Out Tier List – Round 25

Head-to-Head Only Players: Those playing head to head are now in the business end of their competitions with sudden death match-ups. Therefore feel free to bump up the tiers a little, ie: recommended becomes must and luxury becomes recommended. I’ve also added an emergency tier this week that is mainly for head to head players.