Cheapie Analysis: Did you pick Kerrod Holland or Javid Bowen?

IF you took Bulldogs rookie Kerrod Holland over Cowboys centre Javid Bowen last week you’ll be laughing all the way to the bank

LAST week we had the Bowen or Holland conundrum.

Hopefully you chose the latter because he has excellent scoring potential every time he steps onto the field. Bowen on the other hand was locked in by many a SuperCoach before Thursday night’s opening match of the round, only to see Kane Linnett a late inclusion.

That on top of Parcell and Lawrence late outs at Brooky? Ouch!

This has nothing to do with cheapies, but man the SuperCoach gods simply aren’t being nice to us this season! Many will have been waiting one more week for Anthony Milford’s BE of 139 to see a big drop in price, only for him to score three tries and 153 points in a proper training run against a bunch of kids wearing Knights jerseys — and now he will RISE in price!

If you’re like me in that boat, chin up, we will buy him this week and no doubt he will score under 50!

This week’s crop of cheapies sees an interesting prospect ‘on the bubble’ from Melbourne, a young Penrith half seeing a fresh set of price rises after a try, and many Knights on the precipice of SuperCoach slaughtering (no players were harmed in the process of writing this article).

Freshies

Javid Bowen CTW (Cowboys, 9.2% owned) — 0 points

The worst part about this is the zero points and the fact he sits in the ‘Freshies’ column once again after being left out last minute. The best part is … Let’s look to the future and the all-important round 12. Bowen will likely come in when JT, Morgan and potentially Feldt vacate spots through origin, and now he will still be $113k (so we can create cash to bring in those guns) and ready to jump in price for us.

VERDICT: Disappointing for those 20,000 SuperCoaches that bought him, but bide your time knowing that he will play round 12 and by that point everyone will have him!

ROUND 8 SUPERCOACH PODCAST

Richie Kennar CTW (Storm, 1.3% owned) — 28 points

Kennar is slightly above cheapie price, around the Hymel Hunt/Dale Copley price range to start the season, he scored an impressive 77 points in his first game, and this week a 28 with two last touch assists. He is locked in to a strong Melbourne outfit with scoring potential and with Bowen missing out last week he is a strong candidate to be brought in this week. Main downside is that Kennar doesn’t play round 12.

VERDICT: I will be looking very hard at the Brenton Lawrence (via Duals) to Kennar trade this week, as he presents longish term job security in a quality team. No doubt a popular buy this week.

POD WATCH: Should you pick up Corey Norman?

LOWDOWN: How is your team faring?

Josh Addo-Carr CTW (Tigers, 3.2% owned) — 61 points

Nice debut from the Tigers young speedster. We saw his finishing prowess along with lightning speed in the pre season as he was in contention for Jordan Rankin’s left edge spot. A try on debut, a line break, 14 tackles an offload and 16 runs are all great signs. Fantastic to see him come in and do well, and is one to watch for sure as the Tigers play the huge round 12 bye!

VERDICT: Watchlist, could be a great downgrade option if he stays in the team.

Josh Addo-Carr scored a try on debut.

Suliasi Vunivalu CTW (Storm, 0% owned) — 72 points

Impressive debut for Vunivalu with two tries! He also registered 26 points in runs over 8m which was EVERY single time he ran it. Nice.

VERDICT: Hopefully he can hold his spot as we may have a cash cow on our hands.

Cameron Cullen HFB | 5/8 (Titans, 0.6% owned) — 0 points

Unfortunately as I warned last week, Cullen was impressive on debut but Tyrone Roberts was always just around the corner — a late inclusion this week as it turned out!

VERDICT: With only one game and no avenue to game time barring injury he is unfortunately off the list.

Abraham Papalii was left out of the Roosters side following his debut.

Abraham Papalii FRF (Roosters, 1.1% owned) — 0 points

Can you see a trend forming here? It’s not often we get cheapies that are great SuperCoach scorers and locks to stay in their actual NRL teams like the Kerrod Holland’s of the world, and Cullen, Bowen and Papalii are evidence of that. Papalii was left out of the Roosters team and is therefore a no go.

VERDICT: Next.

Luke Bateman FRF | 2RF (Raiders, 2.1% owned) — 33 points

Better performance from Bateman, as a result of more minutes which was nice to see. 16 tackles, and 16 points in runs over 8m was a far cry from the 14 points he scored last week. He will have a negative BE and plays round 12 but I don’t think he presents great value.

VERDICT: If you’re desperate for cash to afford a Milf, Teddy or Bromwich then he’s not the worst option. Definitely not the best option this week though.

Patrick Kaufusi FRF | 2RF (Cowboys, 1.1% owned) — 22 points

How on earth do 1.1% of you know about Kaufusi? Anyway, the big bopper made his debut for the Cowboys in a potentially promising sign for the origin period where the Cowboys cover two of the tough byes and will lose Matt Scott and James Tamou to origin. Nothing overly extravagant about his stat line this week but lets wait and see.

VERDICT: One to watch next week, although likely Asiata returns.

Nathan Davis CTW (Titans, 24.2% owned) — 0 points

We all know who he is and what we’re waiting for.

VERDICT: Broken record … Watch team lists.

Current Crop

Kerrod Holland CTW (Bulldogs, 13.4% owned) — 81 points

Did you buy Holland? If you’re one of the thousands that brought him in you will be laughing all the way to the bank. Eighty-one points in consecutive weeks for the young centre, albeit this time in a loss. The loss was nothing to do with him however as he notched two tries, 27 tackles, a line break and 8 points in conversions. I don’t think Chase Stanley comes back in even when fit, but that’s just me.

VERDICT: Start him on your field with confidence, every week that he is named.

Te Maire Martin HFB | 5/8 (Panthers 16.8% owned) — 64 points

A 64 to follow up his 66 from last week is everything Martin owners had hoped for, and the decision to bring him in I think now has well and truly been justified as he now cracks the $200k barrier and more importantly, the $100k earnt threshold. A try, 26 tackles, a line break and steady involvement throughout in this important win, it will be very interesting to see what happens upon James Segeyaro’s return this week or next.

VERDICT: Ride the wave people, be prepared for him to be dropped or play a different role as soon as Seggy is back, but at this point he is earning great cash.

Martin scored his second NRL try against the Roosters.

Latrell Mitchell CTW | FLB (Roosters, 60.8% owned) — 103 points

I love it when kids like this make me look like I know what I’m talking about! Last week I kept singing his praises despite many selling or just plain whining about his 40s. “There is another 40+ score in base stats with no try or try assist. Be patient, there is a big game coming” was the verdict, and man I hope you held firm. Two tries, 14 points in tackle busts, a line break in what was his first 100+ score of the season. Watch his price skyrocket!

VERDICT: There was the big game we were waiting for, hold him through the byes.

Edrick Lee CTW (Raiders, 2.1% owned) — 10 points

Big Edrick is a household name in the NRL with his lanky build and try scoring potential, he believe it or not has become a ‘cheapie’ in price alone. After several poor performances his price this week drops down to the $150k price range. For someone who started the season priced at $250k and plays the all important round 12, is he on your radar?

VERDICT: Not for me, but man that’s a cheap price.

Its been an unhappy season for Edrick Lee.

Jayden Nikorima HOK | HFB (Roosters, 43.2% owned) — 18 points

This is the last time I write about Niko. 18 points and now, he is back to base price again! Just in time for Pearce to return, the worst possible scenario.

VERDICT: Yuck. I feel sorry for the 50,000 owners out there!

Jacob Saifiti FRF | 2RF (Knights, 42.1% owned) — 22 points

Right, this week is decision week on the kids from Newy! 22 just surpasses his BE of 15 and a small rise this week, but the bench role he is playing is not worth hanging on to for round 12 in my opinion, so, if you can move him up to a gun like Bromwich, DeBelin or Lowe to cover the byes, or down to a Richie Kennar the I think go for it. I mean, the Knights are so bad I cant see any attacking stats on the horizon.

VERDICT: Even with no Rochow in the line-up, he is not scoring well enough to keep.

Daniel Saifiti FRF (Knights, 10.0% owned) — 29 points

Daniel is slightly different, given his lower price, still earning some price rises and his general workrate being great he is worth persisting with. 17 tackles, 14 points in hit-ups over 8m in minimal game time is useful.

VERDICT: Keep him for round 12, just don’t play him on your field until that week.

Pat Mata’utia (Knights, 38.2% owned) — 23 points

No attacking stats is no good for #PatMat and maybe it’s time we abandon that hashtag as the base stats have abandoned us as well! The great thing about his first three games was the 45-55 scores were through his general workrate. Mata’utia missed his BE by 22 points this week and will drop in price fast, but those overall players may want to hold in the hope he jags a couple more meat pies — particularly in round 12!

VERDICT: Overall players have a decision to make, I will be holding. H2H players, SELL!

UNEXPECTED: Matagi moment sums up Panthers intent

EARLY MAIL: All the latest team news

Jordan Rankin FLB | 5/8 (Tigers, 9.2% owned) — 32 points

Saw a big price rise last week, and the 32 points this week was including the goal kicking duties with Mitchell Moses still struggling with injuries. He will hang on to value for the round 12 bye then is a sell.

VERDICT: Hold tight and hope for a few more tries before a rd13 sell.

Josh Aloiai FRF | 2RF (Tigers, 18.1% owned) — 31 points

We were hoping for an increase in workload with Aaron Woods being out, but that didn’t eventuate. Aloiai is therefore a sell at any point a good cheapie pops their head up in the front row. Overall players may want to ride out the slow burn until after round 12.

VERDICT: No increase in workload, means no Aioli on my sandwich anymore. Sell.

Leivaha Pulu FRF (Titans, 2.0% owned) — 23 points

Pulu started this game in a late change against the Dragons and I thought he may be on for a biggie, however he let all of the 2% of owners down with just the 23 points. The offloads have gone missing in recent weeks and therefore Pulu is a sell prior to round 12.

VERDICT: Time to search for options like Aioli owners.

There we go, Richie Kennar and Luke Bateman appear this week’s best options (albeit not great ones), among a crop of players yo-yo-ing around team selection for their respective NRL sides! Hopefully we see someone pop their head up with season long prospects over the next few weeks.

Good luck this weekend.