Cheapie Bible Round 8: Jake Granville and Phoenix Crossland emerge as POD bargains

The only thing better than a cheapie is a POD cheapie. And the only thing better than a POD cheapie is TWO POD cheapies. Full cheapie analysis

It feels like groundhog day. ‘Josh Schuster is the buy this week’ etc etc.

Well, this time it actually is Schuster time upon his return to the Sea Eagles lineup for a dream matchup with the leaky Tigers. It’s like he owns himself and wanted his first price rise to be a monster in the best matchup possible.

I’ve got a sneaky POD buy of the week for you, and whilst Jarrod Croker and Haze Dunster shares are flying, are they worthy of investment this week in particular? More on that below.

A cheapie by definition is any player under $350k. We will cover off on all of the most important cheapies with a verdict on whether to invest or not.

As the season goes along we will give a running verdict on every cheapie that hits our radar, and give a final ‘Bon Voyage’ when they eclipse $350k – if a player is not on the list, we’ve determined they are not a viable selection.

Let’s go!

Josh Schuster is finally back from injury. Picture: Getty

Josh Schuster | 5/8|2RF ($241,200 | MNL)

*Control-C, Control V*

A late out AGAIN with the supposed quad cork, turned tear, that burned many KFC SuperCoaches against the Panthers. Now named to start on his return, it makes sense that Schuster is one of the most purchased players at the time of writing, because we’re all the same… we distract ourselves from the truth (injury) with that sexy negative BE, hugely important dual position flex and great round 13 bye coverage. It’s all been positive about a return this week, but make sure you watch 24-hour roster cuts, and late mail so that if you get confirmation one hour before kickoff you can hit that go button. But, you’ve been warned!

VERDICT: BUY. I’m a huge fan and he waltzes back into a beautiful matchup against the Tigers, definitely playable this week.

Jarrod Croker | CTW ($279,900 | CBR) - 40 points

40 points with no attacking stats, followed by 40 points with no attacking stats, not a bad re-start to Croker’s storied KFC SuperCoach career. And there is seemingly some serious money to be made here. BUT. This is crazy, 8% of KFC Supercoaches bought Croker last week after just one match, and he is currently the most purchased cheapie this week despite the fact the Raiders have a BYE. Yes, there aren’t a heap of other options and I’d much rather Croker than Dunster, but use Croker next week once you know he’s on the team sheet as there are a fair few moving pieces here. Cotric’s re-injury of that hamstring probably makes things safer, but Jordan Rapana and Xavier Savage are still to return.

VERDICT: WATCHLIST. One for NEXT week, the perfect Will Warbrick or AKP trade down.

Don’t go early on Jarrod Croker, says Copes. Picture: Getty

Jake Granville | HOK ($252,900 | NQC) - 52 points

Reece Robson is an absolute gun for KFC SuperCoach if afforded the opportunity to play 80 minutes at hooker uninterrupted. Well, the man that has often stood in the way of that is Jake Granville. Granville averaged between 44PPG - 54.2PPG over a five year period between 2015-2019, but in recent years has played solely as a bench utility. With Jason Taumalolo out last week he slotted into lock, played 67 minutes and scored 52 points. With the news Lolo is out for 4-6 weeks, we could be looking at a middle forward role playing 50-60(ish) minutes and an average in the 50PPG range – importantly covering the round 13 bye! The only caveat to this is that Jordan McLean is returning this week, which moves Reuben Cotter to lock and Granville back to the bench.

VERDICT: POD BUY. I don’t mind it if you’re running Tanah Boyd or someone else that has floundered at HOK2, I most definitely do not like it if you’re selling Harry Grant or Damien Cook.

Phoenix Crossland | HFB|5/8 ($296,200 | NEW) - 52 points

I’m torn here. 52 points is awesome in Crossland’s first game named to start at hooker, as were the 68 minutes of game time he saw. Tick, tick. Now, here’s my issue. Crossland scored a try from a kick, and had 35 points in tackles – outside of that, he didn’t make a SINGLE run. Not one. Kurt Mann was exceptional when on the field, largely at lock, but when Adam Elliot returns to that middle rotation I worry that Mann may cannibalise Crossland. Still, there’s coverage of round 13, very handy dual flexibility in the halves, and this role could well be his for the rest of the season.

VERDICT: BUY. BE is just 2, and much easier opponents are on the horizon than the Panthers, so despite a few flags it’s a green light from me!

Jake Granville and Phoenix Crossland are POD cheapies.

Haze Dunster | CTW ($234,800 | PAR) - 27 points

Dunster is, at the time of writing, the fourth most purchased player this week. I’m just going to say it now… craziness! Let’s start with the scoring issues. Dunster has scores of 7 points and 27 points respectively in two full 80 minute games where the Eels have put up 28 and 30 points in dream matchups against the Tigers and Bulldogs, the work rate and lack of usage is alarming, meaning there’s little money to be made (BE of 38!) unless we see something incredible. Next is the return of Bailey Simonsson from suspension this week (named on extended bench), who normally resides on the wing Dunster has been occupying. So who makes way? Sean Russell or Haze Dunster. We’ll find out Friday night at 7pm. Yes, there is coverage of round 13 here if he sticks, but that’s about it. 



VERDICT: TRAP.

Haze Dunster's job security is shaky. Picture: NRL Photos

Jacob Host | 2RF ($392,600 | STH) - 49 points

After an 86-point outing in round six against the Bulldogs and Host returning to near 80 minutes on that left edge, he was screaming ‘BUY’ last week. But we were skeptical about the minutes sticking and the potential scoring output without tries and try assists. Well, despite $55,200 in price rises, a few of those concerns were justified. Even with the Koloamatangi mid-game injury, Host only played 62 minutes, scoring 49 points in base in the process. You would assume he likely goes back to bigger minutes now in Koloamatangi’s absence (pushing Chee-Kam to the right edge rather than taking Host’s minutes) and he will definitely play big minutes in the all-important round 13 bye week with Cam Murray playing Origin.

VERDICT: HOLD/AVOID. Money to be made here for current owners, but I’m advocating an avoid for non-owners.

Soni Luke | HOK ($276,300 | PTH) - 21 points

Just when we think we have seen enough to the naked eye to trust that Soni Luke is essential to everything good about the Panthers in attack, the minutes were up above 50 and the scoring was there… Wouldn’t you know it, we get a 21-point dud in just 35 minutes of game time against the Knights. Coach Cleary wasn’t happy about this game and said it was their worst performance of the year, so maybe we see a resurrection this week against the Rabbitohs. Still, the BE is just 5 and there’s plenty more money to be made here, so sit tight.

VERDICT: HOLD.

Soni Luke is coming off a down week. Picture: Getty

Paul Alamoti | CTW ($351,900 | BUL) - 45 points

After the 11-point stinker against the Rabbitohs on Good Friday, Alamoti was one of the most sold players last week and understandably so given the sky high BE. Against the Eels the Bulldogs’ youngster scored his first try in the NRL and notched another 45 points. The big issue here is the HUGE injury toll at the Bulldogs which has crippled the scoring upside for all players. I mean, Alamoti started the year with the Foxx (Addo-Carr) on his immediate left, and Vili Kikau on his immediate right. The BE is still at 52, well above his season average and there’s no round 13 coverage so it’s absolutely time to go.

VERDICT: SELL.

Lindsay Smith | FRF ($236,700 | PTH)

Following a very impressive 61 points in 36 minutes on debut which perked our interest, Smith came back to earth with 27 points in 28 minutes in his second match against the Sea Eagles. At a position which is bereft of great cheapie options, the big man was dropped an hour before kickoff last week (despite being named) with Liam Martin taking his place. Now, Martin has had a recurrence of his injury and is out again. James Fisher-Harris is out until round 10, and obviously Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin are likely Origin departures through the byes so there’s definitely merit here – just temper those expectations. Watch late mail on a final 17 and the make up of the Panthers’ bench before making a decision.

VERDICT: LOW END BUY.

LISTEN TO OUR KFC SUPERCOACH PODCAST!!!!

Isaiya Katoa | HFB|5/8 ($314,600 | DOL) - 39 points

Another score in the 35-45 point range for Katoa sees a further $20k in the kitty, and the BE has plateaued to 24 coming into a matchup with the Titans. Katoa really has taken the reins in the Dolphins attack since the injuries to Sean O’Sullivan and Anthony Milford, whilst it hasn’t amounted to a monster score yet, it certainly has accelerated his confidence and he looks much more like the player we saw at the World Cup. Upside is here, and I think the Titans, Raiders and Dragons matchups between now and round 13 could be just the ticket.

VERDICT: HOLD. Hasn’t set the world on fire, but I wouldn’t be selling just yet unless Crossland kills it.

BON VOYAGE

Jonah Pezet | HFB ($323,500 | MEL) - 28 points

KFC SuperCoaches who own Pezet got extremely lucky with one extra week of price rises last week (via a Nick Meaney absence) to eek out another $30k of price rises. But, was it really worth it? Whilst you own Pezet the opportunity cost is that you can’t own both of Hynes and Cleary which seems an absolute must at this point. Dropped this week and no more money to be made, so make it happen!

VERDICT: SELL. NOW.

Tyrell Sloan | CTW|FLB ($404,400 | STG) - 85 points

The nickname ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ is one of the more apt descriptors of a KFC SuperCoach player in years when it comes to Sloan. The last five rounds, his scores read:

53 points

15 points

67 points

15 points

85 points

I don’t have to tell you what’s coming against the Roosters this week, do I! Either way, Sloan is a hold for two weeks to squeeze every last dollar out of him, just don’t be playing him in your 17 this week, or buy based off last week’s points.

VERDICT: HOLD/AVOID. Current owners can plan a sell at hopefully $460k prior to round 10.

There you have it! Have we missed anyone?

Be sure to tweet us what you think @copes9 and @SuperCoachNRL. Good luck this week!

Originally published as Cheapie Bible Round 8: Jake Granville and Phoenix Crossland emerge as POD bargains