KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 6: Take money and run with Paul Alamoti

Trent Copeland reveals the cheapies to target in Round 6 – and gives his verdict on the best time to offload early season bargains as they start to peak in price.

Jacob Preston take a bow!

Whilst he no longer resides in the Cheapie Bible, the Bulldogs’ young gun posted a two-try masterclass on his way to 108 points – notably taking his price rises to a total of $275,400 so far, and still sitting with a -3 BE!

Quite incredible, and thanks to Brad Arthur, could have leapfrogged J’maine Hop-GOD as Cheapie of the Year!

Our focus this week turns to ‘Schuster watch’ after the injury late-out last week, the MANY traps with established players returning, along with some massive incoming price rises to well-owned cheapies like Khan-Pereira, Warbrick and Nicoll-Klokstad.

A cheapie by definition is any player under $350k. We will cover off on all of the most important cheapies and deliver a final 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!

Jacob Preston (left) has been a revelation for the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty

Paul Alamoti | CTW ($392,700 | BUL) - 40 points

Despite the dreaded down-dates, Alamoti delivered yet another 40 points without any attacking stats of note. So that’s 48, 78, 41 and 40 points the past four rounds respectively with no tries – good for a 51.75PPG average and a tick under $200,000 in earnings for KFC SuperCoaches. The Bulldogs have a good thing going and a rookie playing with superstars like Josh Addo-Carr and Viliame Kikau on either side of him is a dream role, when added to his great work rate. The problem is the BE is now up to 40, and there are such great purchases in the CTW/FLB area like Garrick, Lachy Miller, Reece Walsh etc that it makes sense to at least explore the option of selling despite there being no rush given the job security/scoring output.

VERDICT: SELL. I am sure there’s a double coming at some stage, but for now the time is right to move.

Paul Alamoti has peaked for now. Picture: Getty

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

A late OUT with injury burned many KFC SuperCoaches. But thankfully it seems as though it was only a precaution. So it’s the same memo as before… I laid out the ugly truth after round three with the great score of 59 points comprising four try assist/contributions and taking that out we would be staring at a lowly 11-point game. Well, we had it, no attacking stats bar one effective offload (4 points) and whilst the tackles improved to 22 the score of 26 points is evidence that Schuster is by no means a lock for a cheapie purchase, let alone a lock for the starting 17 each week that many had hoped. Hugely important dual position flex for trading and has great round 13 bye coverage also.

VERDICT: BUY. Expecting Schuster to be named so despite the flags, I’m a huge fan, and still advocating as a purchase. But I’d be playing him only in ‘plus’ matchup scenarios. Eg. not this week against the Panthers.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira | CTW ($372,000 | GCT)

Here we go. This is why you hold try-scoring freaks regardless of scores like the five-point dud in round one. Because at the drop of a hat in two weeks (even in ‘BAD’ matchups of the Storm and Cowboys on paper) AKP scored 65 and 117 points, jumped $170,000 so far and possesses a -67 BE following his bye with a matchup against the Dragons! Almost 10% of teams who started with AKP sold after round one and watched on from the bleachers whilst the try scoring machine scored five tries in three weeks. The game before the bye against the Cowboys he had 18 points in tackle busts, FIVE line breaks and upped his work rate big time.

VERDICT: BUY/HOLD. Many will have forgotten given the bye, but AKP is still a great buy for the impending price rises with the 117-point monster score in the rolling average. Could be $550k in two weeks.

Jonah Pezet made $95,300 last week. Picture: Getty

Jonah Pezet | HFB ($296,100 | MEL) - 36 points

Make no mistake, Pezet looks an absolute superstar in waiting. But despite that, last week I advocated an ‘avoid’ even with the likelihood he would make $100,000+ in cash mainly due to the fact Jahrome Hughes returns to the Storm lineup this week. With Schuster a late out, many jumped to Pezet as the replacement and whilst it did pocket $95,300 after his 31 points, you’re now stuck with a HFB only at $300k, and as of next week HAVE to be on your way to owning both Nathan Cleary and Nicho Hynes.

VERDICT: AVOID/HOLD. Likely to be dropped with Jahrome Hughes’ return, so you can hold for a week then sell to Nicho Hynes.

Jackson Ford | 2RF ($340,700 | NZL) - 43 points

What a strange game this was! The Sharks were out to what looked an unassailable lead early on, with Ford having minimal impact understandably before half time. Then when the SJ masterclass happened, somehow Ford wasn’t on the end of any of it. Nevertheless, the full 80 minutes were there again, with 43 points the result and a -10 BE heading into a match up with the Knights. There is a real watch this space with Ford, though. Mitch Barnett and Tohu Harris likely return this week, Josh Curran came in as a late inclusion and scored a crucial try, Jazz Tevaga is fully up to speed and Marata Niukore could be suspended for two weeks. Someone is losing minutes here, hopefully not Ford.

VERDICT: HOLD. Hopefully through to round 13 coverage then a sell prior to round 16.

Jack Johns | 2RF ($234,800 | NEW) - 72 points

Johns has been very impressive, much like Matt Croker in a time of need for the Knights’ pack in the absence of Adam Elliot, Daniel Saifiti and Kurt Mann. He’s played 40 minutes the past two weeks, this time scoring a try against the Sea Eagles. I think Croker and Johns have both earned roles moving forward, but the competition for game time is strong and price rises might be limited.

VERDICT: TRAP. Not the type of risk you want to be taking if he was to lose his spot.

Jack Johns crosses for the Knights. Picture: Getty

Sunia Turuva | CTW|FLB ($368,700 | PTH) - 63 points

Finally! Turuva found the try line for the first time, and did it twice in the one game in the absolute riot against the Raiders. Both tries were without line breaks – one a bit of individual brilliance with a grubber and regather, but the score could have been massive! Naturally, given it was a one-way whitewash, his traditional 30-40 points in runs weren’t required. Let’s just be thankful Turuva got the attacking stats he deserves and the Panthers started to click. With a BE of just one, hopefully we get the hybrid between the two (tries and work rate) and he could go massive!

VERDICT: BUY/HOLD. Playable in your 17 every week, and looks like the perfect CTW cheapie that will peak right before the byes.

Tyrell Sloan | CTW|FLB ($371,000 | STG) - 67 points

So here’s our 2023 KFC SuperCoach Jekyll & Hyde, and it goes hand in hand with the Dragons in general being so hot and cold. When they’re cold, my word they’re cold – and so is Sloan as evidenced by his 15-point dud against the Sharks. But when they’re hot, Sloan has scores of 78, 53 and now 67 points in the thumping of the Dolphins. A try, two line breaks, two effective offloads highlighted the performance and earned his 18,772 KFC SuperCoach owners $25,000 and set his BE to a much more manageable 33 for two delightful matchups against the Titans and Raiders the next two weeks.

VERDICT: HOLD. With any luck, should get to $430,000 by round eight for a sell.

Isaiya Katoa | HFB|5/8 ($285,800 | DOL) - 40 points

40 points in a thrashing at the hands of the Dragons, we’ll take that. And with Anthony Milford going down with a hammy, added to the pec tear for Sean O’Sullivan and Katoa’s job security couldn’t be stronger. Likely partners Kodi Nikorima in the halves, and should continue to develop/lead the offence in last play situations moving forward. BE is still very manageable at just 21, handy dual position and covers the all important round 13 bye.

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

Soni Luke | HOK ($257,600 | PTH)

Sit tight here and watch on his return this week. As we likely get a second wave of price rises after the HIA affected nine point score comes out of his rolling average.

VERDICT: HOLD. Unless you have the luxury of switching Tanah Boyd to hooker, and buy Schuster.

Kaeo Weekes | HOK|5/8 ($237,600 | MNL) - 68 points

Added dual position this week given he’s been playing off the bench in the hooker role, which makes him much more relevant if the role was there. Well, simply put, it’s NOT. Yes, Weekes was unreal scoring a try and setting one up for the Sea Eagles against the Knights, but take a look into the minutes played in Weeks’ four games so far:

16 minutes, 13 points.

21 minutes, 9 points.

23 minutes, 20 points.

23 minutes, 68 points.

VERDICT: TRAP! You know what Sanga says about bench hookers…

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BON VOYAGE

Michael Chee-Kam | 2RF|CTW ($381,300 | STH) - 42 points

Now, the skid is on. No more late inclusions to the edge just before kickoff and the full 80 minutes, this time it was 42 points in 48 minutes – with Jacob Host the spoil-sport, and again with no attacking stats. KFC SuperCoaches that own Chee-Kam can take solace in the fact you’ve earned almost $150,000 already, but with Host seemingly favoured and Jai Arrow rumoured to be back in the next two weeks its a hard sell this week or next, barring injuries.

VERDICT: SELL. Chee-Kam to Schuster is on if you have him in the 2RF.

Brandon Wakeham | HFB|5/8 ($267,800 | WST) - 33 points

Oh boy. It’s not good, not good at all at the Tigers. Thankfully the Cheapie Bible called ‘AVOID’ last week and most KFC SuperCoaches steered clear. To the 3% of teams that do own him, you get a 24 BE this week for one last look/pray/luck into points before having to sell ASAP.

VERDICT: AVOID.

Matt Croker | FRF ($357,100 | NEW) - 39 points

Croker knocked out another 45 impressive minutes for the Knights pack, this time scoring only 39 points. The tackle numbers were similar, the work rate was similar, Croker just had far less impact with those runs (barely any H8s). The rib injury he came from the field with could well have been the issue as we know that limits the big men particularly as far as post-contact metres.

VERDICT: HOLD. You’ll get one, possibly two more price rises then its a sell to Payne Haas or similar ASAP (after you rob a bank).

WATCHLIST

Valynce Te Whare | CTW ($200,800 | DOL)

Viliami Fifita | FRF|2RF ($200,800 | MNL)

Siua Wong | 2RF ($200,800 | SYD)

Jack Howarth | CTW|2RF ($200,800 | MEL)

Haze Dunster | CTW ($234,800 | PAR)

Jack Bostock | CTW ($200,800 | DOL)

Trey Mooney | 2RF ($234,800 | CBR)

Luke Metcalf | 5/8 ($250,400 | NZL)

Brendan Hands | HOK ($200,800 | PAR)

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

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 KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 6: Take money and run with Paul Alamoti