KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 7: Does Jarrod Croker have a fairytale ending?

Points in the bank and a rock-bottom price. What’s not to love? Trent Copeland reveals the cheapies to target in Round 7 – and gives his verdict on Jarrod Croker’s NRL comeback.

We need to talk.

Let’s take a seat on the couch, shall we?

Tell me why you keep going ‘back to the well’ with him, only for it to disappoint you time and time again?

“They told me it was just a cork this time”, how bad could it be?

You know EXACTLY who I’m referring to in my counselling session. As it turns out, it was yet another soft tissue tear and multi-week absence for Josh Schuster. Yes, the dual position and scoring upside is there, but is it time for us to dispel that lure of KFC SuperCoach gold that he possesses.

More on that (and others) below…

A cheapie by definition is any player under $350k with the rise in salary cap, 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 a KFC Supercoach’s ultimate headache. Picture: Getty

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

A late out AGAIN with the supposed quad cork, turned tear, that burned many KFC SuperCoaches against the Panthers. 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 for trading and great round 13 bye coverage. But, the tricky situation is that he’s named on an extended bench. So watch 24-hour roster cuts, and late mail so that If named, and you get confirmation one hour before kickoff on Friday night at 7pm then I’m happy to call it a go. But, you’ve been warned!

VERDICT: BUY (IF, big if, he plays). I’m a huge fan, and still advocating as a purchase in the event he plays – but I’d only be playing him in my 17 in ‘plus’ matchup scenarios eg. not this week against the Storm.

Soni Luke | HOK ($257,600 | PTH) – 59 points

Last week I advocated a ‘watch VERY closely’ on Luke following the return from concussion. Well, we saw 59 points, and importantly, 53 minutes of game time for Luke including two brilliant plays for try assists and playing with Mitch Kenny still on the field for at least 15 minutes to the naked eye. The Panthers absolutely tore the Sea Eagles to shreds, so the lack of tackles and only one run isn’t alarming to me. The eyeball test tells me Luke is in for big things.

VERDICT: BUY. I’m hanging my hat on the fact that Soni Luke is the buy of the week, and will be priced at $400k+ come the byes if the minutes stick at 50 or more.

Phoenix Crossland | HFB|5/8 ($274,200 | NEW) – 37 points

The horrific news of yet another dreaded ACL injury for Brailey opens the door for a big role at hooker for Crossland or Kurt Mann, and for KFC SuperCoach terms – let’s hope it’s the latter after being named to START! Priced at just $270k, dual position and covering the first two massive bye rounds in round 13 and 16, there is serious allure here. This week against the Panthers is not the week to buy with a BE of 28, but absolutely the perfect week to wait and watch intently on the minutes and role.

VERDICT: WATCHLIST/BUY. You could go now, but waiting a week to make sure it’s not 30 minutes of Crossland, and 50 of Mann. If Crossland sees 60 minutes or more at hooker, it’s game on!

Jacob Host | 2RF ($337,400 | STH) – 86 points

Don’t look now, but the left edge that Chee-Kam held down for the opening rounds does in fact have a truckload of points in it, and Host was the beneficiary over the Easter Weekend against the Bulldogs – scoring 86 points in 74 minutes in undoubtedly his best game as a Rabbitoh. In a normal scenario, an 80 minute back rower with that scoring potential, a -14 BE with a matchup against the Dolphins and no byes until round 16 would be a must have. Well, Jai Arrow was the dampener we were expecting to ruin the party. Arrow returns this week, but is named in the front row replacing Tevita Tatola who is out with a knee injury, so it’s a tricky one with minutes, and when Arrow may move back to the edge.

VERDICT: RISKY BUY. There’s definitely money to be made here, but probably not as much as it may seem. May play bigger minutes over Origin with Cam Murray absent but it’s not enough to get me on board.

Have we gone back in time? Is Jarrod Croker SuperCoach-relevant again? Picture: Getty

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

Is it 2009 all over again? What a story, this youngster really might have some KFC SuperCoach chops don’t you think?! In all seriousness, 40 points without doing anything in attack at $280k is exactly what the doctor ordered for our peaking cheapies that are almost ripe for the selling. The beauty of the timing here is the fact that we get one more look this week against the Dragons, before the bye in round eight meaning Croker is the perfect pre round nine purchase with coverage of the round 13 bye all going to plan. Keep in mind it’s important to wait and watch until then, as Cotric and Wighton return this week, and Savage and Rapana to follow that, which could affect Croker’s place in the side.

VERDICT: WATCHLIST. What a fairytale this is!

Paul Alamoti | CTW ($366,300 | BUL) – 11 points

Oh boy. Did you hold Alamoti last week? Despite the good signs to the eyeballs and role in the team, the Cheapie Bible strongly advised a sell last week. I certainly didn’t think it would be this bad against the Rabbitohs, but it was certainly going to be tough with the forward pack injuries and match-ups against the Rabbitohs, Eels and Sharks the next three weeks. Now after the 11-point bomb, Alamoti is in free-fall having lost $26,400 this week, and has a BE of 64. You have to jump this week, or ride it out all the way through the byes until he’s made his money back in my opinion.

VERDICT: SELL.

The Alamoti gravy train has pulled in at the station for repairs. And it’s time to get off. Picture: Getty

Jack Johns | 2RF ($292,600 | NEW) – 32 points

TRAP was the call last week, despite being named to start, as the impending returns of Kurt Mann and Adam Elliot to the middle rotation would stifle any money making prospects – and certainly diminish the 40-plus minutes Johns had been seeing in his first two matches. Well, 32 points in you guessed it… Just 22 minutes. Good for a $57,800 initial price rise and great PPM but absolutely not what those jumping on were hoping for. The BE is still juicy at -13 but the money will disappear just as quick as it arrived.

VERDICT: TRAP/AVOID.

Lindsay Smith | FRF ($236,700 | PTH) – 27 points

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 the thrashing of the Sea Eagles. At a position which is bereft of great cheapie options, and big Stefano Utoikamanu ripe for the selling on his bye, is now the time to jump on board? James Fisher-Harris is out until round 10, and obviously Isaiah 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.

Tyrell Sloan... who are you? We just can’t work out this SuperCoach Jekyll and Hyde. Picture: Getty

Tyrell Sloan | CTW|FLB ($354,700 | STG) – 15 points

“So, here’s our 2023 KFC SuperCoach Jekyll & Hyde of the Cheapie Bible” was the call last week, and boy isn’t it on the money. 15 points, 67 points, followed by 15 points the past three rounds and that last abomination has accounted for a $16,300 loss on the balance sheet – and that was against the Titans! Quite simply, you have to move, and move quickly here. Jump off regardless of bye coverage in my opinion.

VERDICT: SELL.

Isaiya Katoa | HFB|5/8 ($295,800 | DOL) – 34 points

Katoa is delivering a nice floor with at least one try assist in every game this season, and around 15 points from tackles – with scores of 42, 45, 27, 40 and 34 points thus far. Unfortunately, the missed tackles column is stacking up (-19 points in five matches) and the fact that Katoa isn’t taking the line on like we know he’s capable of. With no O’Sullivan and no Milford, Katoa is holding the fort, but there’s untapped upside here we must at least be patient for. I’m advocating a hold through round 13 coverage then a sell to a gun.

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

Traaaaaaaaaaaap. Kaeo Weekes can look great on the ball – but not on your SuperCoach teamsheet.

Kaeo Weekes | HOK|5/8 ($269,900 | MNL) – 24 points

I called Weekes a trap last week, and that was before he was named to start at five eighth and play the full 80 minutes there in Josh Schuster’s (painful!) absence. Well, even with the increased opportunity it still did not fall in place for Weekes, scoring just 24 points and only increasing $33k. Now it’s likely bench utility time again and a matchup with the Storm is not fruitful at the best of times.

VERDICT: AVOID!

Jonah Pezet | HFB ($296,100 | MEL)

As expected, Jahrome Hughes returns, and Jonah Pezet (as good as he’s been!) dropped out of the squad altogether last week. Owners get a one-week reprieve with Meaney out with concussion, meaning Munster goes to fullback and Pezet returns to partner Hughes in the halves, but make no mistake, following the cash injection this week it’s definitely time to go.

VERDICT: HOLD/SELL. Even with the extra week of cash generation, you probably should sell now, as you have to have Cleary and Hynes at HFB, STAT.

BON VOYAGE

Jackson Ford | 2RF ($412,100 | NZL) – 75 points

Ahh, the patience is rewarded. Well done to all KFC SuperCoaches who showed faith in Ford through the concussion and back in our suggestion that he loomed as a very successful Cheapie in the making. Playing alongside SJ who is arguably in career best form (so good!) and hitting holes late in games with power showing why the coaching staff referred to Ford as the ‘fittest player at the club’ in pre-season. It was another 80 minutes, another 75 points and $130,900 in earnings thus far. The BE is now at 11 but there is significant money still to be made here, along with round 13 bye coverage – so I urge you to resist temptation and hold past until round 16 barring injury.

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

Sunia Turuva has been a money-making machine. Picture: Getty

Sunia Turuva | CTW|FLB ($404,400 | PTH) – 44 points

Somehow, remarkably, Turuva watched 44 points scored by his actual NRL team, and managed to knock out 44 points himself – avoiding every single attacking stat along the way. Nevertheless, Turuva added another $35,700 in price rises this week, and hits the juicy matchup with the Knights with a very manageable BE of just 19. There is undoubtedly a 100+ point score coming at some point for Turuva, the talent + work rate + opportunity combination he possesses cannot be denied forever, and it could well be this week.

VERDICT: HOLD. Playable in your 17 every week, and looks like the perfect CTW cheapie that will peak right before the byes. There more I think about it, there more I am considering an indefinite hold as a 5th CTW for the run home.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira | CTW ($441,900 | GCT) – 16 points

Ugh. We just needed one more 50-point score against the leaky Dragons, and we would’ve been looking at a $550k AKP ripe for the selling in three weeks time. Now, with the 16-point dud besmirching the prior 117 point game in the rolling average, we’re looking down the barrel of a 5 BE, a matchup against the Broncos and the very real possibility of needing to sell next week before the money we’ve made falls off a cliff. We know at the drop of a hat AKP can score a hat-trick, so I urge you to hold at least through this week and then make a call.

VERDICT: HOLD. Is it the year 2009 again? Youngster Jarrod Croker will be ripe for the picking next week potentially as an AKP trade option.

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)

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 7: Does Jarrod Croker have a fairytale ending?