Spy Talk | Assessing the best Round 6 Trade Targets

Playbookers,



This weeks Spy Talk is going to touch on a few of the big trade in options this week due to there being a real plethora of options. 



I will run an eye test over the boys in question and add in some numbers to see if we can help with the decisions heading into round 6. Once we get through each player I&#8217;ll rank my top 5 trade in options in order.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thomas Cant </h2>



This guy has really spoken to me in his limited chances. Talk about passing the eye test. 2 games with one in the back row (2RF) and one at centre following injury dramas early for the Newcastle boys.



In game 1 he had 18 runs, 50 odd tackles and an offload. In game 2 in the centres he had 30 tackles and 14 runs from out wide.



Throw in his one NRL Cup (Reggies game) this year where he played *LOCK* (option to shift to the middle when Lucas returns) he had stats of 38 tackles, 18 runs, 4 TBs, a LB and a try.



Cant is a workhorse, a try scorer (8 in 15 games last year) and for good measure kicked 15 goals at 75% and had 3 repeat sets in 2024 NSW Cup. Dead set talent.



The downside of course is that he could and may well lose a starting spot when Lucas returns. Buyers will hope this is after at least two games and maybe even three. After that who knows but the points and price rises could prove invaluable and he is keeps a spot due to form or injuries then he will be a keeper until such time as that changes.



Verdict &#8211; Maybe we have found my number 5 in the top of ‘My boys’. Buy!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dylan Egan</h2>



He is a bloody hard running type of player and makes his tackles as well. Egan is averaging 50 across 2 games and I guess the expectation for owners is that this could continue. 



Personally I’m not sure of what the plans are for the St. George rotation so I’m happy to go off this and five games of 50ppg should get him to about $420k before this plateaus a little and slowly continues to around $480-500k. 



Egan had 9 runs and 39 tackles in his one NSW Cup game this season which he played at lock. He also had 7 tries and 11 LBs in 24 reggies games last season so he can find some attack on his day.



Verdict &#8211; I think he is a pretty good buy without being a great buy mainly because he is off the bench. However I also profess to now know a whole lot about him and whether or not his role has the potential to increase. 



A solid target it seems and if he allows you to downgrade someone and upgrade elsewhere then lock it in for sure and hope the minutes continue or even increase.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Siua Wong  </h2>



What can I say he has been very good. 119 last week but only a 54.5PPG average in the first 4 games before that. The question is simple &#8211; was last week an outlier or can we expect more attacking stats? 



Either way as long as he holds his spot and minutes of 70-80 he will be a good trade in but he certainly has potential to be a great trade in.



It is noted that in 12 or so games heading into last week he only had 1 LB and 1 LBA before unleashing on Souths (about 8 of those games were under 40 minutes).



Verdict – Ok, I’m no closer to knowing if he continues the attacking stats but it was a good piece of footy when he put Dom Young across last weekend. He looks a solid value bye who should make some money with both upside and some minutes risk thrown in. Potential keeper.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Melbourne Boys (Papenhuyzen/Munster/Eli/Harry Grant &amp; Hughes)</h2>



Personally I’d be happy to own all of them but if we were to delve in a little deeper my assessment of them each is as follows:



Ryan Papenhuyzen



Goal kicking (barring any niggles which does remain a concern for when Wishart comes on) until Meaney returns but could keep it even then as the boy can kick! Paps is an attacking maestro especially tries and line breaks but his base is down on earlier years which makes sense as he is chiming in more rather then doing the grunt work and he also has a lot of elite help. 



The reason I like him is purely because of how good Melbourne are and if things fall his way there is no reason he can’t score 3 or 4 tries and kick 10 goals on any given Sunday (yes hopefully this Sunday for SCers). He may base low, is an injury risk and the other boys take his points and he may give up the tee at any moment but I’m not really willing to risk it especially given Melbourne return to AAMI Park on a hot sunny day. In fact their next 5 games are at AAMI or Suncorp. Dead set gold. Stay fit my boy!



Cameron Munster



He looks healthy which is all we really need. He does have a tendency to let the ball do the work when the Storm are flying which can reduce his scoring but anytime he wants to run or set one up he can basically do it. With the next five games and the locations (AAMI Park &amp; Suncorp Stadium) he looks a quality option.



Eli Katoa



This guy is quite simply a gun. A true elite backrower of the comp and his had started to really improve his balling playing as well including running a sweep play out the back of his centre last weekend for a well executed tip on try. This = SC points! 



I don’t think he has even scored off a Hughes short ball yet which is coming. Basically set and forget as soon as you can get him in.



Harry Grant 



Harry has started slow on account of Melbourne decimating sides on the edges and him having to not only do less in attack but not having to make a heap of tackles himself as he is mostly watching his mates score tries after he starts the shift to the edges. 



An average of 70+ the last 4 years he will no doubt improve from his current 51PPG but by how much is the main query? I’d bank on at least 60+ heading into Origin but maybe another hooker who also plays the byes can average the same. Close watch this weekend.



Jahrome Hughes



This guy is simply unreal. Honestly he has probably been the best player in the comp since the start of 2024 (I know he got Dally M but that’s doesn’t always mean the best player gets it). Confidence is up and I’d love to own him. 



The two knocks on him are that he has a low score in him including a 22 and a 25 last year due to no goalkicking and a reliance on attacking stats which generally come but not always. He is also prone to getting a rest due to a sore calf/other niggle so he is a bit riskier however he is a genuine gun. Make sure you have cover in the position if you buy him. 



Verdict – Short term I&#8217;d opt for Lil Papi, Eli Katoa, Munster, Hughes, Harry in that order but I’d be happy with them all!



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">My top 5 trade ins this week</h2>



<ol>
<li>Thomas Cant</li>



<li>Ryan Papenhuyzen</li>



<li>Eli Katoa</li>



<li>Cam Munster</li>



<li>Christian Tuipulotu/Clint Gutherson combination</li>
</ol>



Special mention to James Tedesco and no knock at all on Egan and Wong if they suit your plans.



Good luck legends,



Spy

Spy Talk | Assessing the best Round 6 Trade Targets

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