KFC SuperCoach NRL 2021: Experts reveal Round 8 trades

It’s a crazy week in KFC SuperCoach land with our experts going in completely different directions with their trades including one late reversal.

Our team of experts reveal their KFC SuperCoach trades for Round 8.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

TOM SANGSTER

Connor Watson to Jake Simpkin

I’ve been tossing and turning over this all week but I’m finally ready to pull the trigger. I don’t usually like the double cheapie move as it generally leaves your top 17 short for a round. But with two such great cheapies on offer, this week is an exception.

Simpkin and Curran are two of the best-credentialed money-makers this year, so I’m banking on short-term pain for long-term gain. It makes absolute sense, by the maths at least.

Simpkin is set for a $65,000 price rise after averaging 50.5 in 76 minutes, while Watson has peaked after a $180,000 price rise (BE 56). In other words, I’m selling a fattened cash cow for a star cheapie. Tick.

However, Watson has claims as a bit more than a cash cow given his average of 63 sits in borderline keeper territory. The base of 44 is amazing and I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him in 2021 once the natural attacking mojo kicks in. A very reluctant sell.

Clint Gutherson is a popular purchase this week. Picture: Brett Costello

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to Josh Curran

I’m much happier with this trade. Tino is serving his second week of suspension this week and will likely see a huge price drop when he returns (BE 111). Then we hit the Origin period, where Tino will almost certainly be used for the Maroons, while the 54.5 average places him a fair way below keeper level.

Meanwhile, Josh Curran looms as one of the best cheapies this year after setting up a first-week rise of $67,000 and playing every available minute of his two games this year with an extraordinary pure base of 55. For reference, teammate Tohu Harris is considered one of the game’s best base stat beasts and he averages 60 in pure base.

But it gets better. Curran has received -14 points in deductions and missed 10 minutes on the weekend due to the (dubious) sin bin. That’s approximately 24 points gone begging. In summary, Curran and Simpkin are amazing cheapies and both should be in your side. Even if it means a rankings drop this week, I’ll take solace in starring at the bank of $635,000 (read in Dr Evil voice).

ROB SUTHERLAND

James Tedesco to Tom … nope I’m holding Teddy so instead it’s Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to Tevita Pangai Jr

I was all set to sell Tedesco to Tom Trbojevic despite listing the reasons why the trade had flaws …

1. Teddy is a proven gun, his extended pedigree all but guarantees a bounce back in form will occur

2. Teddy’s price has dipped horribly, selling him realises that loss and diminishes any bank gain I have made via cheapies

3. Turbo’s hammies – there is history there and it isn’t good

4. Penrith – Turbo is playing them and they have conceded an average of just over six points per game this season and less than 40PPG to fullbacks in KFC SuperCoach

And then I had a light bulb moment and decided to take my own advice.

I’ll hold Teddy even though I do not expect him to play this week and instead I will trade a somewhat underwhelming (and still suspended) Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for the X-factor that is Tevita Pangai Jr.

TPJ is rolling along with a 71PPG average – but he’s actually going better than that because if you exclude the one game where Kevin Walters inexplicably opted to start his arguably most damaging forward off the bench Pangai’s average jumps to 77PPG. No base stat monster, TPJ has been shifted to an edge where he is averaging 43PPG in base in 80 minutes, he more than makes up for that with offloads and tacklebusts averaging 16PPG in those two stat areas combined. TPJ brings handy DPP (FRF/2RF), a terrific ceiling (he’s cracked triple figures twice already this season), provides first bye round coverage and is priced at just $534,600 – that’ll do me.

Fanitesi Niu to Josh Curran (via duals)

On top of dwindling trades and a limited bank another issue in my team is too many NPRs (non-playing reserves). This trade goes some way to fixing the latter two issues. Niu seems on the outer with Brisbane coach Kevvie Walters — a position Kevvie might be finding himself in soon I suppose if the Broncos continue to produce such substandard efforts – and so has to go.

Curran has been nothing short of a revelation since given the chance to replace Eliesa Katoa on the edge for the Warriors producing just shy of 110 points in base in the 150 minutes he has been on the ground so far. I have been assured by those who know better than me that his job security is solid and should that be the case, and his form continue, then it’s easy money for the Beasts baby!

WILSON SMITH

Damien Cook to Jake Simpkin

Unfortunately Damien Cook just hasn’t delivered for me to start this year and is seriously starting to lose cash. So for me now is the time to move on before he loses too much value, and I’m cashing in to bring in Jake Simpkin who has scored just seven points less than Cook over his first two games despite being around $400k cheaper.

With Jacob Liddle remaining on the bench and with Jayden Brailey as my other hooker I feel safe enough to make this move, especially considering South Sydney’s tough upcoming schedule and Cook playing Origin and missing the Round 13 bye. Unfortunately the Cook experiment has failed in 2021 and while I normally wouldn’t consider selling a gun, I feel like I have no choice this time.

Ryan Papenhuyzen to Clint Gutherson

My biggest dilemma all week has been whether I move on from Teddy or Papenhuyzen, and with Tedesco named this week (despite being in significant doubt) I have decided to sell Papi. The biggest factor for me is just how much cash Teddy has lost, and I just can’t bear to sell someone who has already lost over $250k.

Papenhuyzen could be back next week, but is not playing this week, firming for Origin selection, has a breakeven of 132, and being able to make a tonne of cash means Papi to Gutho is a no-brainer for me! I thought about him last week but missed out on his 124 points against Brisbane … I don’t want to miss out on his score against the Bulldogs this week. Plus did I mention he’ll likely cover the Round 13 bye?