KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Cheapies emerge from the wreckage

Forget the “there are no cheapies” mantra being peddled this week, Trent Copeland has unearthed some absolute beauties.

Here we go again.

I mean, let’s celebrate (brag) after the Origin thumping NSW dished out at Suncorp for a second, but then we must dive into the turmoil that comes for us KFC SuperCoaches.

Nathan Cleary sounds like he is in some serious trouble with that shoulder (nooooo!) which filters down to a decision on selling or holding Matt Burton as well as delivering a smoky Panthers cheapie. Then there’s the inevitable Origin back-up drama that follows. Particularly with the Roosters playing the Storm in the first game of the round.

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Add to that an elbow injury to Cheapie Bible favourite Marzhew Mania after just one price rise, and the selection axe swinging on a Raider we all had our eye on.

By definition a ‘Cheapie’ will be referenced when under $300,000 and actually relevant for KFC SuperCoach purposes. Key word being relevant. Once players eclipse the $300k mark they will be given a final verdict in the ‘Bon Voyage’ section.

Buckle up, here we go!

TC Robati 2RF (Broncos) $277,300 - 51 points

BIG TC! Don’t look now, but after looking every bit the trap as a bench edge forward a couple of weeks ago, Robati is now starting on an edge, potentially for the remainder of the season. With Tevita Pangai Jnr suspended until round 20 (and potentially leaving the club) as well as Pat Carrigan and John Asiata out for the season, the opportunity is there. In the two games Robati has played more than 40 minutes this season he’s notched scores of 89 points (with two tries) and 51 points respectively. Just factor in the risk of AE nightmare off the bench, and also the bye next week.

VERDICT: HOLD/BUY. Happy to admit the early AVOID call has turned out to be wrong with suspensions and injuries around him, but still not for me.

Tyrone May CTW | 5/8 (Panthers) $262,300 - 0 points

Tyrone May is a left-field cheapie this week (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

Here’s my left-field brain working overtime for the Cheapie Bible faithful, and you may think — why May when he’s been a bench utility (aka AE Nightmare) for the vast majority of the season and has a bye next week? Well, the answer is based off a 4-6 week timetable for Nathan Cleary. meaning Burton plays halfback for that period, and Tyrone May plays in the centres for the best attacking team in the comp priced at $260k with a -3 BE whilst being eligible for the ever so tricky CTW position in KFC SuperCoach. Essentially he’s taking the spot Burton has done so well in. It’s a big risk, and will likely cost two trades once Cleary returns and May goes back to the bench, but at this point of the year it’s potentially a game changing move for those at the pointy end.

VERDICT: POD-BUY. I may well have talked myself into this…

Jackson Topine 2RF (Bulldogs) $226,300 - 0 points

It feels like we’ve ‘been there, done that’ with this talented youngster from the Bulldogs but let me stress to you we haven’t. No longer is Topine a bench utility getting 30-40 minutes, in the absence of Corey Waddell (biosecurity breach), Adam Elliot (cheekbone, round 21) and Raymond Faitala-Mariner (foot, round 19-21) we could be looking at 80 minutes in his preferred position on the edge. The defensive work rate is fantastic as we’ve seen earlier this season, but hopefully now we get to see some of that attacking upside we’ve witnessed in the lower grades. My sneaky under the radar Cheapie of the Week, but ideally we watch for a week to see the minutes with Joe Stimson lurking on the bench.

VERDICT: WATCHLIST/POD BUY. Ryan James to Topine seems like a beautiful move given the bye coverage.

Jackson Topine has switched to an edge. Picture: Brett Costello

Greg Marzhew CTW (Titans) $267,400 - 49 points

Oh man. Why can’t we have nice things?! Marzhew scored another two tries, whilst having a down game work rate wise (zero tackle busts was a huge outlier) but the risk was always in the fact that post-Origin break we would see the returns of AJ Brimson, Corey Thompson and potentially even Anthony Don. $100,000 as your first price rise is nice, and no surprise really given his KFC SuperCoach chops. Long story short, Marzhew has not been selected this week — some say dropped, some say elbow injury (despite no mention of Marzhew on the injury report), but I am holding through the bye to see what eventuates in round 18. If Marzhew is nowhere to be seen at that point you can use his equity to make a move for the run home. Best case scenario he just has a niggle, and in fact in the Titans starting side as a keeper for our sides.

VERDICT: HOLD. I’m hopeful, maybe blind optimism, but there’s a chance this works out.

Matt Timoko CTW (Raiders) $203,100 - 36 points

Reverse those trades! This is why we preach to WAIT until cheapies are named for their third game before jumping. There will be teams out there with all of the Zac Cini’s, Keenan Palasia and now Matt Timoko’s of the world who have played, and done well in their initial burst of games only to be injured or dropped prior to any cash generation. Watch late mail for Croker news the next two weeks as Timoko would be a handy number for round 17.

VERDICT: AVOID. Keep your eyes peeled.

Joseph Suaalii CTW | FLB (Roosters) $258,300 - 22 points

The unfortunate thing about the Panthers thrashing of the Roosters in round 15 was the timing for Suaalii’s price rise cycle. Yep, it’s really hit the skids. A matchup with the Storm this weekend would likely not be a great one for him either — if he was to again be a late inclusion. However, at this stage all reports are that Teddy WILL play, as will Sam Walker, meaning Joey Manu will play at right centre leaving Suaalii outside the 17 altogether. Owners shouldn’t be too displeased, though, as it takes away a tough matchup, and likely guarantees his healthy status to take the field in the all important round 17.

VERDICT: HOLD. At least until round 18 then reassess. DO NOT trade him out just because he hasn’t been selected this week.

Kieran Foran 5/8 | HOK (Sea Eagles) $319,900 - 96 points

I can’t believe I’m even sitting down to nut out a scenario where Kieran Foran is in the ‘most traded in’ list and there is actually some legitimacy to it. Credit where credit is due, his scoring since his return from injury has been great, with 60 and 96 points respectively, but do I really need to explain the injury risk here? Yes, the BE of -37 and KFC SuperCoach PLUS projected price rise of $60,000 this week would be nice, the dual flexibility is nice, as are the matchups with the Bulldogs and Raiders encompassing the coverage of the round 17 bye week. But, I simply cannot advocate the move, for your own sanity whilst watching the Sea Eagles’ games.

VERDICT: AVOID. Love seeing Foran back, but it’s a no-go zone for KFC SuperCoach.

Kyle Flanagan HFB | 5/8 (Bulldogs) $345,700 - 0 points

Ok, I know he’s been out of the Bulldogs side for the better part of two months now, but Flanagan has the ability to be a KFC SuperCoach asset at least for the next four or five weeks in Nathan Cleary’s absence. Not only an improved Bulldogs side itself, the goal kicking baseline for his scoring, but also the dual position HFB|5/8 that he has to go with the likes of Matt Burton and Shaun Johnson (if you own those two) to allow optimal matchup play and injury. The coverage of the round 17 bye week next week is the cherry on top, but with a BE of 63 you could definitely wait a week to see how he slots back in before making this move.

VERDICT: WATCHLIST. You could easily jump this week with the five trades, but the smart play is to wait and watch.

Aaron Schoupp CTW (Bulldogs) $234,400 - 18 points

Buying a Bulldogs outside back was always fraught with danger, but this is a disaster for Schoupp owners with the young centre ruled out until round 18 for a COVID-19 protocol breach after going to a pub in the Eastern Suburbs with Dylan Napa, Corey Waddell, Brandon Wakeham and Sione Katoa. Hope the beers were good, lads.

VERDICT: SELL. Using equity from some of the big guns you’re trading out elsewhere to get Schoupp to a gun, or even to Tyrone May as a flier.

Dominic Young CTW (Knights) $207,000 - 25 points

Young is an athletic freak, over six feet tall, and great footwork at the line with a nose for the try line, but the Knights have been a shadow of themselves in the last month dealing with injuries and suspensions galore. Young made an initial $33,300 after round 15, and holds a zero BE heading into a matchup with the Cowboys prior to the bye in round 17. Importantly, though, Kalyn Ponga is BACK and much like Turbo’s return for Jason Saab, you’d expect the impact on all around him will be immense. So, holding Young for the foreseeable future to hopefully make some big cash between rounds 20-25 when the Knights play the Raiders, Broncos twice, Sharks, Bulldogs and Titans could be a good play.

VERDICT: HOLD.

BON VOYAGE

Javid Bowen CTW (Cowboys) $311,900 - 56 points

Bowen has been a huge success story for the some 6,790 KFC SuperCoaches who jumped on at $186k way back in round 10, and particularly his past two games with scores of 65 and 56 points respectively as the Cowboys attack has found it’s groove. A matchup against the Knights this weekend looms as a nice one, followed by an Origin-depleted Rabbitohs in round 17. Plan for a sell to a fallen gun like Zac Lomax or similar in round 18 for a potential straight swap. How good.

VERDICT: HOLD.

Brodie Jones 2RF (Knights) $319,100 - 63 points

Jones ends his KFC SuperCoach relevance having covered the crucial round 13 bye week, producing scores of 51, 41, 47 and most recently 63 points whilst rising over $100,000 in that timeframe. A huge success as a mid-season bridging finance move, and even though he’s been named on the bench this week, with a BE of just 9 you can hold one more week outside of your playing 17 and make the best decision on who to see to next week.

VERDICT: HOLD. Then sell to a round 17 coverage gun, or gun for the run home in round 18.