Lone Scout's NRL Fantasy Q&A: Round 27

One final hit out before fantasy ceases for another year. We have quite a few players resting but not as many as in seasons past so hopefully you manage to field a full squad. 

\With some astute coaches holding final trades and captain options still on the table, let’s take a look into the remaining questions for Round 27.  

Q: I'm in a H2H Grand Final this week with four trades left & $256K spare in the cap. I have Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, Tallis Duncan & James Tedesco as red dots. How can I maximise my trades and any rogue POD options with high upside? P.S. I already have Damien Cook, Nathan Cleary, Jayden Campbell, Lachlan Galvin and Jacob Kiraz as fill ins for the few spots but will need a CTR or WFB. – Lukas

A: Well those four of Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, Tallis Duncan and James Tedesco will be your biggest cash raises so I would get rid of them to maximise your value. Latrell Mitchell, Cam Murray, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Jacob Preston and Haumole Olakau'atu are players you may not yet own but hopefully can afford at least three of them. As for any cheaper options – we will definitely see a few surprise scores in Round 27, I’d look at a team like Canberra or the Titans who may want to end the year on a high. Either way, check out the trade in trade out Tier list below for best options. Keano Kini or Tom Trbojevic may just fit the bill for you in the WFB position. 

Q: Last week I captained Tino which had a massive reward and after that I am very tempted to re-captain him. However with Herbie Farnworth and Payne Haas as other serious candidates I am torn between who I can trust, thoughts? – Leo

A: It will always be tough to know who will and won’t stay on the field this late in the year. My first choice would be Payne Haas as it’s his last game for the Broncos so he is less likely for an early rest and he should want to finish on a high note. Latrell Mitchell has a combination of reasons to go large if you have a trade left to bring him in and immediately captain him. Herbie Farnworth is another one to try but there is big risk here. Safer is Cameron Murray and one I am tempted to do myself.

Q: I've got my grand final this week & need to trade out Tedesco for another WFB, who's your top three to bring in for $618k? – Evan

A: Besides Latrell Mitchell, most WFBs are in your price range. I like Scott Drinkwater this week with the only concern is the Cowboys may not be able to move out of eighth so he may be a late exclusion or get fewer minutes. Both Keano Kini and Dylan Edwards could go well this week. My only fear with Edwards is an early shower but I think he should get the full 80 minutes. Finally players like Jamayne Isaako, Tom Trbojevic and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad are high risk, high reward types that could pay off for you. 

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, I know we answered this the other week but heading into the final round I thought I would revisit. At present Lone Scout is situated in 956th spot with an overall score of 24,054. The team is Owen Pattie, Cam Murray, Payne Haas, Tyrrell May, Jacob Preston, Helium Luki, Nathan Cleary, Te Maire Martin, Herbie Farnworth, Euan Aitken, Sualauvi Fa’alogo, Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Kiraz, Toby Couchman, Hamish Stewart, Ryan Couchman, Tyran Wishart, Isaah Yeo, Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, Francis Manuleleua. I do have one trade left and need a WFB so will go Hynes to one of Scott Drinkwater or Keano Kini I dare say. If Yeo plays I’ll have 18, otherwise 17. Captain wise I’m leaning towards either Cameron Murray or Payne Haas as I am not sure how much of the game Nathan Cleary will play. VC will be Herbie Farnworth. Wish me luck!

Lone Scout’s Trade In, Trade Out Tier List – Round 27

It is all or nothing on this final round of 2026, those savvy enough to hold trades, go from the top to fill in those empty spots and if you have your starting 13 already filled get the best you can grab to bolster those numbers. 

Additionally there’s only one tier of sells this week, anyone not playing.  

Tier 1 – Must Trades

Buys

Latrell Mitchell 
Jacob Preston 

Sells

Highest priced players not playing

Tier 2 – Recommended Trades

Buys

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 
Cameron Murray 
Haumole Olakau’atu 
Tom Trbojevic 

Tier 3 – Luxury trades

Buys

Keano Kini 
Scott Drinkwater 
Salesi Foketi 
Lindsay Smith 
Jamayne Isaako

Thank you for all your input, questions and interactions throughout the season, best of luck for your Final Round of NRL Fantasy. I’ll still post my Winners and Losers next week as a season wrap up, and it won’t be long before I’ll be back and dropping my thoughts and analysis over the off-season. Enjoy your finals footy coaches and the World Cup which is not too far after the grand final.