SuperCoach Plus article: Is Junior Tupou a sneaky solution to cheapie crisis?
Cheapies are few and far between this week so KFC SuperCoaches are being forced to take big gambles – but there’s an alternative.
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Tom Sangster reveals the key stats to get you over the line in Round 8.
From sneaky VC and C choices, to those tricky final reserve spots, to what the best SuperCoaches are doing.
These are numbers that matter.
SNEAKY SOLUTION TO CHEAPIE CRISIS
Cheapies are few and far between this week so KFC SuperCoaches are being forced to take big risks on Jarrod Croker (who doesn’t even play this week) and Haze Dunster (who has serious job security issues). Which is why 2,700 SuperCoaches have upped the budget a touch to buy Wests Tigers young gun Junior Tupou at $436,200. Of players under $750,000, SuperCoach Plus predicts Tupou will see the biggest price rise of anyone – a very handy $73,700.
ADD SHAUN LANE TO LIST OF BYE BUYS
From the biggest predicted price rise we move to the biggest predicted drop. That mantle this week sits with Parramatta’s Shaun Lane who is set to plummet by $70,400. Lane has been slightly below his lofty standards in two games back from a broken jaw, but was a genuine gun last year in averaging 69 for the season. Given the Eels have the best bye schedule in the comp, Lane could dip to a very juicy price for a pre-rep period purchase.
C ON GARRICK? IT’S NOT AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS
Reuben Garrick is extremely popular this week for many reasons – he had the best average of any CTW before his recent concussion, while his base attack average sits just a tick under 50. In other words, you’re getting the base of a gun forward with the attacking upside of a winger. But there’s one key stat that may prove the tipping point in buying or even captaining Garrick this week – in his last three games against this week’s opponent (the Tigers) he has scored 121, 113 and 105. He also averages 78.5 at Campbelltown Sports Ground.
LATRELL COULD COME BACK TO PACK
Latrell Mitchell has been on fire, averaging 111.3 over the last three rounds. He’s been a valuable VC loophole candidate for many and plenty will use the same tactic this week given Latrell plays early in the round yet again. But ... here’s a word of warning. He faces a tough task against the Panthers, who have conceded the least SuperCoach points to opposition fullbacks this season. Then again, it’s Latrell and he can go big against anyone if he wants to.
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WHY JOSH SCHUSTER SHOULD BE IN YOUR 17
One of the big question marks on Josh Schuster this year (other than injury issues) is whether he’s better for SuperCoach at five-eighth or in the back row. Well, turns out he’s just as good in either position. Schuster played almost solely in the forwards in 2021 and averaged 60.9. His career average at five-eighth is almost exactly the same – 59.8 (removing two games where he played limited minutes). He’s a huge chance to beat that number this week against the leaky, winless Tigers. Add to that the fact the Tigers have conceded the most points to five-eighths this season and Schuster is a genuine option for 17s.
THE POD VC YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED
Those looking for a very POD-ish VC or C this week should at least take a look at Valentine Holmes. He has a career average of 85.91 against this week’s opponent the Knights and an average of 71.16 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
WHAT THE TOP DOGS ARE DOING
One of the great features of SuperCoach Plus this season is the ability to sort stats by the top one, five and 10 per cent of SuperCoaches. In other words, you can see what the best players in SuperCoach are doing just with the click of the button. So who are the best players in SuperCoach captaining this week? It’s Nicho Hynes at almost 50 per cent with Tom Trbojevic second at 21 per cent. Those stats change when we look at all SuperCoaches with Hynes at 22 per cent and Turbo at dramatically 10 per cent.
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Originally published as SuperCoach Plus article: Is Junior Tupou a sneaky solution to cheapie crisis?
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