NRL SuperCoach: Tom Sangster’s top 10 cheapies for 2020

The KFC SuperCoach cheapie landscape is changing daily. These are the 10 cheapies in Tom Sangster’s side as it currently stands.

The KFC SuperCoach cheapie landscape is changing daily. These are the 10 cheapies in my side as it currently stands.

Keep this page bookmarked and I’ll update regularly during the pre-season.

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1 Blayke Brailey

The most popular player in KFC SuperCoach at 52 per cent ownership, Brailey looms as the cheapie of the year. The younger Brailey averaged just 30 minutes last year but the Sharks have given every indication he will get first crack at filling the 60 minutes per game his brother Jayden, now at the Knights, played for the Sharks in 2019. Will make plenty of money and be an easy stepping stone to Damien Cook or Cameron Smith.

Tom Sangster has named his top 10 cheapies of 2020.

2 Jarome Luai

Already the fourth most popular player in KFC SuperCoach 2020, Luai is heavily tipped for first crack at replacing James Maloney in the halves for the Panthers. Luai played 13 games for Penrith last year but the majority were as a bench utility with limited minutes. In the four games he started at five-eighth, Luai averaged 46.75 and he is priced at a $180,000 discount to that average, with handy dual-position eligibility to boot.

Jarome Luai is set to start at five-eighth for the Panthers.

3 Bradman Best

Owned by 47.7 per cent of KFC SuperCoaches, Best is tipped to score a left centre spot in a Newcastle side missing backline players Jesse Ramien and Shaun Kenny-Dowall. Weighing a hefty 103kg, Best showed in three games last year that he won’t be physically intimated by playing against men — very rare for an 18-year-old.

4 Billy Magoulias

Perfect example of everyone’s favourite rugby league term “skilful big man”. Normally a lock, the Greek international sent Marrickville into meltdown as a five-eighth for the Jets in last year’s Canterbury Cup grand final, producing a matchwinning chip kick in the final moments. Also capable of playing hooker, Magoulias has long been touted as heir apparent to Paul Gallen at lock, although versatility could make him a better fit for a bench spot. Currently the ninth most popular player in KFC SuperCoach at 33.3 per cent ownership.

5 Phoenix Crossland

He is the New Zealand-born playmaker being compared to Darren Lockyer and putting his hand up to partner Mitchell Pearce in the halves for the Newcastle Knights next season. After getting a taste of NRL last year, Crossland is in the midst of an impressive pre-season and could leapfrog experienced Mason Lino and Kurt Mann into the five-eighth spot for round one. The 13th most popular player in KFC SuperCoach at 31.3 per cent ownership.

Phoenix Crossland is gunning for a Round 1 halves spot. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

6 Xavier Coates

Got a taste of first grade at just 18-years-old last year and was immediately compared to Greg Inglis following an incredible leaping try on debut. There will never be another Greg Inglis but this kid is a serious athlete. Coates has impressed many good judges at the Broncos this pre-season and our spies tell us he’s in the running to play round one due to an injury to Corey Oates, who is behind the eight-ball after being hospitalised during the Christmas break with a serious infection in his lower leg. Coates is just the 25th most popular player in KFC SuperCoach, which is massive unders.

Xavier Coates could earn a wing spot for Round 1.

7 and 8 Tristan Sailor/Jason Saab

The Dragons are almost certain to blood a rookie on the wing in round one. Sailor and Saab are the top candidates and KFC SuperCoaches will get a bargain either way, with both sitting in the cheapie range. Sailor, son of Wendell, starts at $247,000 after being blooded for three games last year. Rangy winger Saab notched three games in 2019 but is slightly more expensive at $271,100.

Tristan Sailor is gunning for a wing spot at the Dragons.

9 Greg Leleisiuao

Written up as a potential cheapie last year, Leleisiuao got stuck behind 2019 breakout candidate Maika Sivo at the Eels. Rather than mope about his lack of NRL opportunity, the winger went on a tear in the Canterbury Cup. In 26 games he put up incredible stats including 196 tackle breaks (the most in the competition and close to double the player who came second in the stat), 4513 run metres – of which 1535 were post-contact metres (the most of any player in both stats), 12 tries, 15 linebreaks and 43 offloads (equal most). Now back on the Gold Coast, Leleisiuao is a ‘buy’ should he be named in the starting team for round one.

Greg Leleisiuao has joined the Titans from the Eels. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

10 Tommy Talau

The young Tiger sat near the top of this list only a few days ago but his KFC SuperCoach credentials have plummeted following Joey Leilua’s confirmed move to the Tigers. Talau was heavily-backed for a starting centre spot in Round 1 in place of the departed Esan Marsters, but Leilua is now expected to fill that void. That said, Talau is just one injury off a first grade berth and may even slide in for a wing spot.

Also keep an eye on ...

* Sebastian Kris at the Raiders following Curtis Scott’s off-field woes

* 19-year-old Stefano Utoikamanu is one of the most talented young props in the game. Recently signed a three-year deal with the Tigers worth about $800,000 from 2021, but will remain at the Eels in 2020.

CHECK OUT MORE EXPERT KFC SUPERCOACH NRL ANALYSIS

Cheapie Bible | Positional Changes | Tom Sangster’s team | Wilson Smith’s team | Rob Sutherland’s team | Bounce Back players | Mid-Rangers vs Guns | Mr Reliable | Trial Guide: Players to watch | Round 1 selection strategy | Round 1 Team Predictions

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach: Tom Sangster’s top 10 cheapies for 2020