KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible 2023: Jackson Ford most under-owned cheapie in game
He was a star of the pre-season and is set to play big minutes, yet is only owned by three per cent of KFC SuperCoaches. TOM SANGSTER ranks the top cheapies.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cheapies are the most important players in your KFC SuperCoach NRL team because they start at bottom dollar and have the most potential to increase in value.
While scoring points is where KFC SuperCoach is won and lost, in order to keep growing your team and trading in the gun pointscorers, you need cheapies to generate extra cash.
Below we rank the most popular early bargain buys.
1 J’maine Hopgood, Eels, $298,800, 2RF
Cheapie of the year. The departures of Isaiah Papali’I and Marata Niukore open forward spots at the Eels with Hopgood set to start at 13. Couldn’t get a look in behind a premiership pack at the Panthers last season, but looks set to come out of the blocks hard in 2023 after a brilliant pre-season. He was one of the best forwards on the field in the All Stars clash, notching 52 points including 10 runs, 29 tackles, four offloads and two tackle busts. He backed that up with 59 points in the final trial, essentially all in base.
VERDICT: Buy. Obviously.
2 Paul Alamoti, Bulldogs, $200,800, CTW
Locked in as Canterbury centre for round one. Very solid trial form with 34 SuperCoach points including a try last week on the back of 22 points the week before. Job security is as good as it gets for a bottom dollar player given he has earned the spot on merit and his point scoring potential is high considering Alamoti is considered one of the brightest young guns in Bulldogs’ history.
VERDICT: Buy. Contender for CTW cheapie of the year.
3 Stefano Utoikamanu, Tigers, $319,200, FRF
Coming off a strong pre-season and set for a starting prop spot at the Tigers. Absolutely brilliant in the first trial, notching 73 points including a try with linebreak. But perhaps more impressive was the work rate of 11 runs for 124 metres, 16 tackles and five tackle busts. He backed it up with 33 points in pure base in the second trial. One of the most-hyped young props in the NRL, Utoikamanu averaged 52 in 2021 but starts very cheap this year after an injury-ruined season.
VERDICT: Buy. A starting prop at borderline cheapie price. Sign me up.
4 Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Titans, CTW, $200,800
The breakout star of the pre-season, scoring six tries in two games including a few miraculous put-downs. This equated to 83 SuperCoach points in the first trial and 137 in the second. The Titans young gun is one of the fastest players in the competition (he clocked at 36.5km/h in internal testing) and scored 25 tries in 19 games for Burleigh last season. AKP is locked in to start round one but job security is a slight issue with Brian Kelly (suspension, round three) and Patrick Herbert (knee, indefinite) due back.
VERDICT: Buy. Looks like an absolute freak but keep an eye on Kelly/Herbert situation.
5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Warriors, $327,100, FLB//CTW
Another who saw plenty of bench time last year, averaging just 58 minutes a game at the Raiders. But he’s set to start at fullback for new club the Warriors, so expect him to play 80 minutes every week in 2023. Handy dual position flexibility between fullback and centre/wing.
VERDICT: Buy. Hardly the most pressing CTW cheapie given the awkward price, but job security and dual position status get him over the line.
6 Josh Schuster, Sea Eagles, $241,200, 2RF/5-8
Was the most popular player in KFC SuperCoach, and for good reason, but does the calf injury suffered in the final trial of the pre-season put you off him? With the bye in round two he’ll miss the first fortnight of the season. The exit of Kieran Foran (Titans) opens the door for Schuster to become a full time five-eighth at the Sea Eagles. Schuster played mostly as a bench utility last year as he battled fitness issues, averaging just 43 minutes for the season. He therefore starts very cheap, but should up his game time to 80 minutes every match in the playmaking hot spot. Only scored 17 points in the final trial but had a hand in a number of tries without getting the big attacking stats.
VERDICT: Buy. Provided your plan is to stash him in your non-scoring bench in the 2RF, not sure you want to carry an injured player as your backup five-eighth though. Other option is to avoid early and use Schuster as a round five downgrade. Either way, he’ll be an important cheapie at some stage.
7 Davvy Moale, Rabbitohs, FRF, $234,800
With doubt surrounding Hame Sele’s availability for round one due to injury, a bench prop spot is Moale’s to lose. Outstanding in the trials, scoring 56 SuperCoach points on the weekend including a try, linebreak and 14 runs for 123 metres. Also impressive in the opening trial with 30 SuperCoach points, including 106 metres from 13 runs.
VERDICT: Buy. Best of the prop cheapies alongside Stefano Utoikamanu.
8 Sunia Turuva, Panthers, FLB/CTW, $275,000
Two big occurrences in the last 24 hours have brought Turuva to prominence. Firstly, Taylan May (ACL) was ruled out for the season, which essentially assures Turuva a wing spot for as long as he can retain it. Secondly, his SC positions have been updated from FLB only to also include CTW. Starred for Fiji at fullback in the World Cup and was solid without being brilliant at right centre in two pre-season games. Faces competition for his spot from Jesse McLean, who is also a cheapie.
VERDICT: Buy. Could emerge as one of the buys of the season. Currently owned by just six per cent, but his ownership will soar following May’s injury.
9 Jackson Ford, Warriors, 2RF, $281,200
After playing only bit-parts for the Dragons over four seasons, Ford joins the Warriors and is tipped to win a starting edge back row spot. Scored 42 SuperCoach points almost entirely in base in the final trial. That followed on from an impressive 58 the week before, which included a try, linebreak and three tackle busts.
VERDICT: Buy. Big-minute starting forward at cheapie price. The most under-owned cheapie in the game at just three per cent.
10 Isaiya Katoa, Dolphins, HFB/5-8, $216,000
Had some great touches in the trials and while the scores of 26 and 21 SuperCoach points were hardly outstanding, he looked more than up to NRL standard. Will start in round one with veteran Anthony Milford dropped.
VERDICT: Buy. Bottom dollar cheapie starting and may even kick goals. That’s too hard to ignore, even though the Dolphins are hardly an attacking powerhouse.
11 Reimis Smith, Storm, $316,800, CTW
Only scored 14 and 13 SuperCoach points in the two trials, but the fact is that Reimis is a borderline cheapie in one of the best attacks in the competition and must be considered. Missed much of last season with a pectoral injury, playing just nine games, and therefore starts at a reasonable price. He averaged just 30 for the year, but has significant upside given he averaged 51 the season before.
VERDICT: Buy. Price is awkward but he has huge attacking upside at the Storm. Under-owned at 13 per cent.
12 William Warbrick, Storm, CTW, $200,800
Justin Olam (round six), George Jennings (round four) and Ryan Papenhuyzen (round eight) are all unavailable for the Storm, meaning Warbrick is favourite to score a wing spot for round one. Job security is an issue given he has earned his spot due to injuries, but he seems set for a decent run for at least three weeks. And going on his weekend form – where he scored 73 SuperCoach points including a try, linebreak and a massive seven tackle busts – the Olympic Nines silver medallist may well play his way into the spot full time.
VERDICT: Borderline buy. Has job security issues but extremely impressive in the final trial.
13 Tommy Talau, Wests Tigers, $301,600, CTW
Talau produced a promising performance in the final trial with 49 SuperCoach points including a try. There are backline jobs up for grabs at the Tigers and Talau is all but confirmed for a centre spot. Talau played 22 games in 2021 (scoring 11 tries and averaging 41PPG) but an ACL injury meant he missed the entire 2022 season.
VERDICT: Borderline buy. He’d be a must-have at a better club but the Tigers’ point-scoring could be limited this season and the price is slightly awkward.
14 Izaac Thompson, Rabbitohs, $336,700, CTW
The NSW Cup tryscoring machine was solid in two NRL games last year and appears set to start the season on the wing for the Rabbitohs given the absence of Taane Milne, who is suspended for the opening round. Mail out of Redfern suggests Thompson may even hold the spot even when Milne returns, which would make him a very tempting buy given he’s on the end of one of the best backlines in the competition.
VERDICT: Watch. Need more info on the Milne/Thompson dynamic come round two. But definitely keep him on your radar.
15 Harley Smith-Shields, Raiders, CTW, $300,300
This kid is a serious player but hasn’t had a solid run at first grade due to a string of injuries. Back from a season out due to a knee reconstruction, Smith-Shields appears to have a solid run in NRL for at least a month or so due to the injury to Xavier Savage (broken jaw). From there his role is a mystery, but he has the talent to play his way into the spot full-time. Scored only 13 SuperCoach points in the final trial in limited minutes.
VERDICT: Borderline buy. Risky given Savage is due back before any major price rises are due, but the talent is there.
16 Franklin Pele, Bulldogs, FRF, $216,100
The young gun did everything possible in the first trial to earn a bench spot for round one, terrorising the Raiders from the interchange, making 88 metres from 10 runs and producing five tackle busts, an offload, linebreak assist and try assist. But his role was far reduced in the final trial with just 19 SuperCoach points from five runs and 13 tackles. He’s set to earn a spot in the 17 for round one but minutes are a worry.
VERDICT: Borderline buy. Bench props are notoriously slow burns for KFC SuperCoach so don’t expect the world right away. I have Utoikamanu and Moale ahead for now.
17 Sean Keppie, Sea Eagles, FRF/FRF, $274,800
As The Mastermind points out, there are minutes up for grabs in the Manly pack with Martin Taupau’s exit, meaning Keppie is set to start at lock and has therefore won crucial dual position status between FRF and 2RF. Notched 34 points in his only trial, basically in base except for two tackle busts and an offload.
VERDICT: Borderline buy. Any cheapies at FRF are worth consideration, let alone cheapies with dual status. I have Utoikamanu, Moale and Pele ahead for now, but keep Keppie up your sleeve if any of these guys fall over.
LISTEN TO OUR KFC SUPERCOACH PODCAST!!!!
18 Haze Dunster, Eels, CTW, $234,800
Zac Cini, Eels, CTW, $200,800
Dunster and Cini are in a head-to-head battle for a centre spot in round one. However, with Waqa Blake due back from injury soon and Bailey Simonsson to also come back at some stage, time in first grade could be limited. Dunster missed the pre-season due to injury, while Cini scored a handy 38 points last week in base on top of 76 the week before, which included a try.
VERDICT: Watch: Definite potential but Waqa Blake’s impending return is a red flag.
19 Matt Doorey, Eels, $234,800, 2RF
Isaiah Papali’I and Marata Niukore have left the club, while Ryan Matterson (suspension, round four) and Shaun Lane (jaw, indefinite) will miss the start if the season. This means Doorey is all but assured a starting edge back row spot for at least three weeks and possibly longer. Strong in the final trial with 51 points, including a try.
VERDICT: Borderline buy. The return of Matterson is daunting but Doorey could still hold a spot ahead of Jack Murchie.
20 Tom Ale, Warriors, FRF, $256,700
The dynamic prop is set to score a bench spot at the Warriors for round one. He started the pre-season on fire with 49 points in the opening trial, including 17 runs, three tackle busts and an offload in the first trial. But his role reduced considerably last weekend with only 19 points.
VERDICT: Watch. Last-resort FRF cheapie.
21 Jacob Preston, Bulldogs, 2RF, $200,800
A name possibly unfamiliar to most, Preston has been singled out for a mention by Gus Gould himself as a real bolter for a round one bench spot, and we currently have him locked into our predicted team. His pre-season has been impressive and if given a shot it will be well and truly earned. Based on his reserve grade performances last season (12 games playing almost 80 minutes each week), Preston showcased a decent workrate with the ability to bust some tackles and free the arm for an offload too – all signs of a good KFC SuperCoach game. More in Wilfred’s left-field cheapie column.
VERDICT: Watch. Edge backrowers coming off the bench are hardly SuperCoach priorities so he’s a wait and see for now.
22 Viliame Fifita, Sea Eagles, FRF/2RF, $200,800
Heavily-owned with the young gun the third most popular cheapie in a tricky prop position. Dual positioning is handy and he was solid in the opening trial with 35 SuperCoach points including three tackle busts and two offloads, followed by 26 in base last weekend. However, we have him missing a spot for round one and the Sea Eagles have the bye in round two, so he’s therefore an avoid.
VERDICT: Avoid/watch. Unlikely for round one and definitely won’t play round two due to the bye. Keep for later.
23 Tyrell Sloan, Dragons, $298,600, CTW/FLB
Notched 35 SuperCoach points in the All Stars clash. However, that total was made up mostly of a try and linebreak. He only made two runs and four tackles, which highlights the main problem with Sloan – a lack of work rate. Sloan came into last season as a much-vaunted young gun, but didn’t last long in the top side, losing his spot to Cody Ramsey. But with Ramsey out for 2023 due to an illness called ulcerative colitis, Sloan is a genuine chance to start in the No. 1 jersey for 2023. In the five games Sloan started at fullback in 2021 he averaged 64PPG.
VERDICT: Watch. Work rate is a real issue. But he has good job security due to the injury to Ramsey plus handy dual position flexibility.
24 Ben Murdoch-Masila, Dragons, $234,800, FRF/2RF
One of the Dragons’ better players over the pre-season notching 49 points including a try assist with associated linebreak assist against St Helens, before 39 points last week including three tackle busts and two offloads. However, job security is an issue given Jack Bird is due back for the first game, plus the Dragons have the bye in round one.
VERDICT: Watch. Strong pre-season but job security issues and the round one bye are huge turn-offs. A great downgrade in round four if he fires.
25 Valynce Te Whare, Dolphins, $200,800, CTW
Only limited game time in the trials but made an immediate impact when he came on, running for 106 metres from eight runs across the two games, busting three tackles in the process. Standout in the Queensland Cup last season and likened to Konrad Hurrell. Won’t play round one but it’s a matter of time before he makes a mark in the NRL.
VERDICT: Watch. Obvious selection as soon as he plays given his tackle busting is perfectly suited to SuperCoach.
26 Soni Luke, Panthers, HOK, $234,800
Mitch Kenny, Panthers, HOK, $310,200
The hooking spot at the Panthers is a position of interest for KFC SuperCoach. The exit of Apisai Koroisau to the Tigers creates 70 minutes of game time in a key spine spot in one of the best attacking teams in the competition. Mail suggests Mitch Kenny starts but doesn’t play big minutes, before Soni Luke comes on and plays the greater share of minutes against a tiring defence.
VERDICT: Watch/avoid. Luke missed the pre-season so it’s hard to gauge the rotation. There are better under-priced options in the position such as Brandon Smith and Tanah Boyd, although both miss this cheapie list as they sit in the mid-range bracket.
27 Ray Stone, Dolphins, $246,900, 2RF/HOK
Coming back from an ACL injury, Stone started at lock in the first trial and was a pillar of strength in defence, notching 27 tackles without a miss for 34 points in pure base. But he only played bit-parts off the interchange in the second trial and appears destined for a bench spot.
VERDICT: Avoid/watch. Hopes he would start at lock have been dashed with Tom Gilbert winning the spot. Definite option if injuries hit and he earns the 13.
28 Jayden Sullivan, Dragons, 5/8-HOK, $319,200
A chance for the five-eighth role following Talatau Amone’s police charges, even after a stunted pre-season due to a hamstring issue, but more likely for a bench spot. Produced a livewire showing in the final trial, scoring a flashy try with linebreak for 46 SuperCoach points in limited minutes. Sullivan played a mixture of bench hooker and halves last season at just 41 minutes a game and therefore starts cheap.
VERDICT: Avoid. Bye in round one makes him a no-go. But he could become an option down the track if he earns the No. 6 jumper.
29 Luke Metcalf, Warriors, $250,400, 5/8
Picked up an injury in the final trial and is out indefinitely. Which is a shame because he had serious promise as a round one cheapie. Metcalf will push hard for a halves spot at some stage in 2023 especially if Shaun Johnson or Te Maire Martin get injured. The former Shark dominated the Tigers in the first trial, notching 86 points including a try, linebreak, linebreak assist and three tackle busts. In 13 games at the Newtown Jets last year Metcalf scored 14 tries, assisted six more, kicked 30 goals and averaged 85 metres per game.
VERDICT: Avoid. Injured for round one but keep him up your sleeve as a mid-season downgrade.
30 Jack Hetherington, Knights, 2RF/FRF, $266,600
The fifth most popular cheapie with FRF availability, KFC SuperCoaches are banking on a Hetherington resurgence at the Knights. As mentioned, prop is the toughest position for cheapies and we’ll take just about anyone, but surely there are reservations given Hetherington scored at just 0.53 points per minute last year and is a constant suspension risk. It’s also hard to see him bettering his 59 minutes per game from last year.
VERDICT: Avoid. An off-season shoulder injury has stunted his progress and he’s never been a SuperCoach style of player even in big minutes.
31 Jack Howarth, Storm, 2RF/CTW, $200,800
Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi have left for the Dolphins and leave big openings on both Storm edges. Young gun Howarth definitely jumps up the pecking order, but it’s hard to see him in the final 17 ahead of Tariq Sims, Eliesa Katoa and Trent Loiero.
VERDICT: Avoid. Still very popular but no chance for round one and must be sold.
32 Karl Oloapu, Bulldogs, 5/8, $200,800
The Bulldogs were willing to pay a $500,000 transfer fee for the young five-eighth, so this kid can play. Disgruntled at the Broncos after being asked to change his body shape to play lock, the young gun has joined Canterbury and been promoted straight into the top 30. He’s been added to KFC SuperCoach at base price.
VERDICT: Avoid. Unlikely to play NRL early but one to watch for later in the year or even next season.
Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible 2023: Jackson Ford most under-owned cheapie in game
Join the conversation
$50K richer: SuperCoach champ’s first expense is shouting Kyle Flanagan
SuperCoach winner Blake Gentle is a groomsman at the wedding of Dragons five-eighth Kyle Flanagan and he knows exactly how he’ll have to spend the first part of his $50,000 winnings.
Read more
‘We’ve got to deliver’: No excuses as Sharks ready for finals charge
Craig Fitzgibbon knows few are giving his Sharks much hope in a week one NRL finals match-up with Melbourne, but the Cronulla coach is relishing the opportunity.
Read more