NRL teams round 6: SuperCoach cheapie bonanza as injuries and suspensions hit

There are three certainties in life – death, taxes and SuperCoach cheapies emerging from an injury crisis. TOM SANGSTER reveals the player to target.

There are three certainties in life - death, taxes and SuperCoach cheapies emerging from an injury crisis.

James Tedesco (concussion), Dom Young (suspension), Taylan May (bye), Latrell Mitchell (suspension) and Zac Laybutt (ACL) are all out and many SuperCoaches are no doubt in defcon mode.

But there is a silver lining with a host of cheapies hitting the buy list over the coming weeks.

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* James Schiller CTW $238,900 - Our cheapie of the week has been confirmed. The Canberra revelation wins selection for at least another week with Albert Hopoate (burns) out for another round. SuperCoach Plus predicts Schiller will earn almost $150,000 this week so he’s worth a crack even as a one-week play. But it may be much more than that. Schiller has been sensational in his two games this year and may well hold the spot ahead of Hopoate going forward. In that case, SuperCoach Plus predicts Schiller’s gains to eclipse the $250K mark.

James Schiller is the cheapie of the week. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

* Kayal Iro CTW/FLB $219,900 - Huge cheapie alert here. After a strong season debut, Iro looms as a must-have bargain for next week. He ticks all the boxes required from a cheapie. The job security is good with Iro retaining the centre spot ahead of Siosifa Talakai, who is on the bench this week. He also has huge price rise potential after his 97 against the Raiders. The wise move is to wait until next week when he’s available for the same price, but plenty will move this week given he’s a serious top 17 option against last-placed Rabbitohs.

* Chevy Stewart FLB/CTW $204,300 – Set to be the most popular buy in SuperCoach in a fortnight. The young gun has been named to debut at fullback for the Raiders and has more than enough time for price rises given Jordan Rapana (knee) is out for 6-8 weeks.

* Ben Trbojevic 2RF/CTW $318,700 - Reuben Garrick’s concussion sees Burbo, still the second most popular player in the game, move from back row to centre. This is good news for SuperCoach given it guarantees 80 minutes and increases his potential for big attacking stats (he’s not a big base stat player anyway). Burbo has only made $41K so far but he’ll activate another round of rises with a try or two. The match-up against the Warriors in Auckland is not ideal this week but he has the struggling Titans next week.

* Peter Mamouzelos HOK $243,000 - Huge news at the Rabbitohs with former Origin star Damien Cook dropped and Mamouzelos to start at hooker. Is this just a rev-up for Cook from coach Jason Demetriou as he fights to save his job? Potentially, so we wait and see how the situation unfolds. But at cheapie price, Mamouzelos is definitely a player to keep an eye on as SuperCoaches look to cash in Joey Lussick and Danny Levi.

* Jye Gray 5/8 $204,300 - Named to replace Latrell Mitchell at fullback for the Rabbitohs and a definite young gun to watch.

Jye Gray will debut for the Rabbitohs. Picture: NRL Photos

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Blaize Talagi CTW $275,000 - Huge blow for SuperCoaches with last week’s most popular buy axed by the out-of-form Eels. But with a BE of just 5, he’s a hold for now in the hope he can get back in the 17 soon.

* Joe Chan 2RF $238,900 - Craig Bellamy has left us hanging yet again. With a BE of -11, the popular cheapie needs just one more game to activate a price rise. But after returning from a hand injury in reserves last week, Chan has been named 18th man and now also has the return of Nelson Asofa-Solomona to deal with. In other words, Chan may now be two injuries off another NRL start.

* Samuela Fainu 2RF/FRF $334,700 - Won dual position status on Monday but misses out this week due to concussion. There’s plenty more cash to be made here, even after last week’s injury-affected score.

* James Tedesco FLB $782,000 - Out with concussion this week and therefore the most sold player. Break even of 184 and predicted to drop $80,000 after this week.

* Dominic Young CTW $642,700 - Produced the second lowest SuperCoach score of all time on the weekend due to his early send-off and is now suspended for two weeks. Definite sell.

* Latrell Mitchell FLB $707,400 - Suspended for three games and a definite sell.

* Zac Laybutt CTW $437,500 – The popular early-season buy is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Zac Laybutt has an ACL injury. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

BUY

* Kalyn Ponga FLB $889,400 - Those 16,000 SuperCoaches who sold in round 3 are red-faced. Ponga is now the second most purchased player at essentially the same price he started at. Rocking a three-game average of 106, a captaincy option every week and doesn’t have a bye until round 12.

* Joseph Manu CTW $689,400 - Manu at fullback is SuperCoach heaven. After a slow start at centre last week, he scored 100 points at the back when Teddy went off concussed in the 23rd minute. Manu has averaged close to the ton in the position over his career. He has been named at fullback again this week and Teddy is due back next week so he likely only gets one week in the position for now. But Manu also has a bye schedule to die for given he won’t play Origin and he covers the first two big byes - so this is also a long-term play regardless of what position he plays going forward.

* Angus Crichton 2RF $414,300 - A quick history lesson. Crichton averaged mid-70s over 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was one of the most valuable players in SuperCoach over that time (when injuries allowed). The last two seasons haven’t been nearly that good due to a variety of reasons including mental health issues, but we know Crichton is a gun when given big game time. And that he was given over the weekend with 83 points in 80 minutes and many SuperCoaches of older ilk are no doubt reminiscing. Yes, we have a potential full-season gun available for just $414,300 this week and that is no doubt tempting. But the Roosters’ back row rotation has been an absolute lottery all year and last week’s 80 minutes may have been a product off the injury crisis at the Roosters with Teddy, Sam Walker (both concussion) and Young (send off) all failing to finish. With a BE of 24, you are only sacrificing a predicted $18K by waiting a week.

* Josh Curran 2RF/FRF $518,900 - Won FRF dual eligibility this week and is therefore the ninth most popular buy.

Damien Cook has been named 18th man. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

NRL teams wrap: Souths wield axe on Cook

No Damien Cook, no Latrell Mitchell and no Campbell Graham.

And no, it’s not the middle of the representative season for South Sydney.

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou has shown little fear in making the major call to blood a trio of rising stars ahead of a must-win clash with the Sharks at Accor Stadium on Saturday night.

The under-pressure Demetriou has dropped NSW Origin hooker Cook from the side and promoted eight-game rookie Peter Mamouzelos into the No.9 jersey.

Cook has been named as the 18th man.

With Mitchell suspended, small but fast NSW Cup fullback Jye Gray has been named to make his NRL debut against Cronulla.

Flying winger Tyrone Munro will play his first game of the season following a pre-season shoulder injury.

The Rabbitohs coach is hoping the trio’s speed and youthful energy will help save the club’s season.

Back-up hooker and capable middle-forward Siliva Havili backed the selection of Mamouzelos amidst mass pressure on Demetriou.

Meanwhile, Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has dumped strike winger Maika Sivo as part of a reshuffle designed to ignite his side’s stuttering season.

Arthur has gone with a new halves partnership for Saturday’s clash against North Queensland, with Daejarn Asi to come in at five-eighth alongside halfback Dylan Brown.

Rookie Blaize Talagi drops out of the side for Morgan Harper with Bailey Simonsson being moved to the wing for Sivo, whose surprise omission is a certain sign Arthur is becoming fed-up with his side’s modest and inconsistent results this season.

Parramatta have won two from five games this season and sit in 14th place.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has had to shuffle his backline with Dom Young suspended and James Tedesco and Sam Walker both missing under the NRL’s concussion protocols.

It means Joseph Manu shifts to fullback, Michael Jennings starts at centre and Junior Pauga gets another crack on the wing for the trip to Newcastle where the hosts could get Greg Marzhew back from a wrist injury.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been listed in the reserves for the Storm who face a Bulldogs side that has named skipper Stephen Crichton at fullback in place of Blake Taaffe who was knocked out last week.

Kurt Mann is also out with a hand injury, but former Storm premiership winner Josh Addo-Carr returns from a head knock on the wing.

The Warriors get Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Kurt Capewell back for their game against Manly, with the visitors shifting Ben Trbojevic to centre to replace Reuben Garrick (concussion).

The Tigers have lost John Bateman and the Fainu brothers to injury while the Dragons have dropped Blake Lawrie to the bench after there were reports he was set to be axed.

And the Raiders will unleash Chevy Stewart for his NRL debut in place of fullback Jordan Rapana who is out for 6-8 weeks with a knee injury, while Corey Horsburgh (groin) is also facing up to two months on the sidelines.

NRL ROUND SIX

KNIGHTS v ROOSTERS

Thursday, 7.50pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12 Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mat Croker

Reserves: 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Brodie Jones 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Will Pryce 22. Greg Marzhew

Roosters

1. Joseph Manu 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 5. Fetalaiga Pauga 6. Connor Watson 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Nat Butcher 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Egan Butcher 19. Lewis Murphy 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Hugo Savala 22. Siua Wong

STORM v BULLDOGS

Friday, 6pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 18. Joe Chan 19. Jack Howarth 20. Marion Seve 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Bulldogs

1. Stephen Crichton 2. Connor Tracey 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Bronson Xerri 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Chris Patolo 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Josh Curran 13. Jaeman Salmon

Bench: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Samuel Hughes 17. Kitione Kautoga

Reserves: 19. Toby Sexton 20. Liam Knight 21. Jake Turpin 22. Jeral Skelton 23. Harry Hayes

BRONCOS v DOLPHINS

Friday, 8pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Fletcher Baker 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Tristan Sailor

Reserves: 18. Martin Taupau 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Jordan Pereira 21. Blake Mozer 22. Josiah Karapani

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Euan Aitken 13. Ray Stone

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Anthony Milford 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Jarrod Wallace

Reserves: 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Mason Teague 21. Valynce Te Whare 22. Lachlan Hubner

WARRIORS v SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 3pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klkstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Chanel Harris-Tevita 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Jacob Laban

Reserves: 18. Adam Pompey 19. Taine Tuaupiki 20. Zyon Maiu’u 22. Edward Kosi 23. Ali Leiataua

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula. 4. Ben Trbojevic. 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Corey Waddell 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Toafofoa Sipley 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Aaron Woods 20. Brad Parker 21. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

EELS v COWBOYS

Saturday, 5.30pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi

Reserves: 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Blaize Talagi 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Maika Sivo

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves: 18. Jake Clifford 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Semi Valemei 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Viliami Vailea

RABBITOHS v SHARKS

Saturday, 7.35pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray, 2. Tyrone Munro , 3.Jack Wighton, 4. Isaiah Tass, 5. Taane Milne, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Dean Hawkins, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Peter Mamouzelos, 10.Thomas Burgess, 11. Keaon Koloamatangi, 12. Jacob Host, 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Michael Chee Kam, 15. Saliva Havili, 16.Shaquai Mitchell, 17. Davvy Moale

Reserves: 18. Damien Cook, 19.Jacob Gagai, 20. Sean Keppie, 21. Tallis Duncan 22. Dion Teupa

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Billy Burns 15. Jack Williams 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves: 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Jayden Berrell 20. Toby Rudolf 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Braden Hamlin-Uele

WESTS TIGERS v DRAGONS

Sunday, 4.05pm, Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Fonua Pole

Bench: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Twal 16. Justin Matamua 17. Asu Kepaoa

Reserves: 18. Solomon Alaimalo 19. Josh Feledy 20. Tony Sukkar 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Brandon Tumeth

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Jesse Marschke 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jack de Belin 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Reserves: 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Christian Tuipulotu 20. Michael Molo 21. Toby Couchman 22. Mathew Feagai

RAIDERS v TITANS

Sunday, 6.15pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Chevy Stewart 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Pasami Saulo

Reserves: 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Zac Woolford 21. Nick Cotric 22. Emre Guler

Titans

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Harley Smith-Shields 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas

Bench: 14. Sam Verrills 15. Erin Clark 16. Isaac Liu 17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves: 18. Joe Stimson 19. Keano Kini 20. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 21. Tony Francis 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Originally published as NRL teams round 6: SuperCoach cheapie bonanza as injuries and suspensions hit