KFC SuperCoach NRL Cheapie Bible: Round 13 bargain buys for bye

Resident bargain bin browser Trent Copeland tips his best bye buys and throws in some bonus ‘buff nuff’ analysis.

KFC SuperCoaches, to quote the great Al Pacino … We are in hell right now, gentlemen (and ladies!).

Suspensions, injuries, Origin selections, and even surprise axing of star players at the worst possible time – yes, we’re looking at you Fergo – means we are tasked with fielding a severely understrength team this week.

Our normal Cheapie Bible takes a back seat given there are many players like Reece Walsh, Joseph Suaali and Aaron Schoupp that will not take the field this round, so I will highlight those money makers worth delving into, and also a couple of players who fall into a category we talk of for the first time this season, “Playing Nuff”.

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Quite simply, a Playing Nuff is a player that is bottom dollar (so you make the most possible initial money from the trade in), is only selected this round in the absence of Origin players but importantly contributes crucial points this week, then from this round onwards disappears to not become an auto emergency worry. Got it? Good.

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!

Keenan Palasia of the Broncos is a bit of a bye trap. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

KEENAN PALASIA 2RF (BRONCOS) $186,800 – 39 POINTS

This. This is why you wait, KFC SuperCoaches. After the stellar 81 points in 80 minutes on debut against the Roosters, the Cheapie Bible urged patience on the back of the matchup with the Storm in his second game (most crucial for money-making) and the impending returns of Alex Glenn, Jordan Riki and Matt Lodge. Well, Palasia scored just 39 points in 70 minutes against the Storm and now has been demoted to the bench, with Alex Glenn taking his place. The BE is still huge at -51 and the points he scores this week will be crucial – but the negatives significantly outweigh the positives in this case.

VERDICT: AVOID! Don’t be sucked in! Price rises will come to a halt veeeeery quickly and Palasia will likely be an AE nightmare moving forward.

BRODIE JONES 2RF (KNIGHTS) $242,200 – 51 POINTS

Let me just say, if coach Adam O’Brien doesn’t give Mitch Barnett 80 minutes in the absence of Tyson Frizell (for up to 6 weeks following ankle surgery), then, well, he just doesn’t have eyes. I digress … As it’s currently named, the Knights have Connor Watson at five eighth, with Barnett at lock, Jones starting on an edge with Clifford on an extended bench. What I see happening (in a rational world) is Clifford coming in to start at halfback, Watson to lock, Barnett on the edge and Jones on the bench. But, Brodie Jones is also deserving of game time along with Jacob Saifiti as the most impressive bench players for the Knights this season. Let’s for a second assume that Barnett somehow stays at lock, and Jones gets the full 80 for 6 weeks. In games where Jones has played more than 30 minutes, he has scores of:

* 38 points in 32 minutes,

* 78 points in 74 minutes,

* 45 points in 45 minutes,

* 51 points in 46 minutes.

Good for an average of 53PPG in 49 minutes of action, and very nice 1.1PPM. KFC SuperCoach LEGEND Barry Toohey suggests Jones will in fact start, so I’ll let you be the judge here. If you see 80 minutes, he’s an absolute STEAL and buy of the week. If not, then he’s a solid 35-40 points for the next month or so.

VERDICT: BUY, If you’re feeling frisky, my genuine cheapie of the week.

If Brodie Jones can win an 80-minute role at the Knights he could be a handy stepping stone to a keeper. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

HAZE DUNSTER CTW (EELS) $173,700 – 0 POINTS

Here we go! Blake Ferguson was talked about by some pundits to be missing this week for the Eels through origin selection. Well they were right about the ‘missing’ part, but that is at the hands of the selection axe by coach Brad Arthur! Huge. With that comes a huge opportunity for Haze Dunster, who many forget came in to debut for the Eels in last year’s semi final loss to the Rabbitohs at Bankwest Stadium. Dunster has played twice this season but both of those games have been off the bench for scores of 7, and ONE point in 11 and four minutes respectively. What I can tell you is that he has been ON FIRE in the NSW Cup, scoring 7 tries in 8 matches with a gazillion tackle busts. The problem, as always for the right winger outside Waqa Blake is what an absolute ball hog he is, and the ball barely sees the wing. Still, Dunster is a great option if you are after points and prospective

cash rises (and not concerned about being an AE concern).

VERDICT: BUY. The Eels play the understrength Knights, Tigers and Bulldogs the next three weeks … Yes please!

KOBE HETHERINGTON 5/8 | HOK (BRONCOS) $173,700 – 56 POINTS

Hetherington looked electric last week off the bench against the Storm, scoring a try, bouncing off a heap of tackles and increasing his minutes from 28 against the Roosters on debut to 41 against the Storm. But, much like Palasia, the fact that Hetherington is looking at bench minutes at best and is only available at five eighth or hooker means the opportunity cost (over playing a gun at these positions) is far too great to even consider it.

VERDICT: AVOID. Really like Hetherington long term for the Broncos, but not for KFC SuperCoach.

Phoenix Crossland’s 22 points will put the brakes on his cash creation. Picture: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

PHOENIX CROSSLAND 5/8 (KNIGHTS) $344,800 – 22 POINTS

Not his best game, that’s for sure. Crossland looked tentative with ball in hand for the first time this season, with only two runs and very little offensive impact despite the dogged win. I worry a little that Blake Green’s absence changed how freely Crossland played his game, more organising and kicking in general play than the previous weeks. Given Mitch Pearce will return in the next two or three weeks I’m not overly concerned about that, but the 22 point score in his rolling average will stop the price rises almost immediately (BE 56 this week). So, take the upside of nice points in round 13 in the crucial bye week, then plan to ship him off to an underpriced gun at the position like Jarome Luai or Shaun Johnson.

VERDICT: HOLD.

MOSES MBYE CTW | FLB (TIGERS) $277,800 – 49 POINTS

POD-buy of the week last week Moses Mbye was very serviceable yet again, scoring 49 points, rising $30,000 in the process and importantly is named to start in the halves for round 13 … You beauty! The rug could be pulled out from under this one at ANY stage, but possessing a BE of just 8 and playing a hugely understrength Panthers side this one seems to be a happy ending kind of story for those that jumped on at $230k. Plan for a sell to Aaron Schoupp or Suaali next week.

VERDICT: HOLD. I wouldn’t be buying now, as there are better, cheaper options at the position.

JAMES ROBERTS CTW (TIGERS) $246,100 – 82 POINTS

Deja vu? Still in 14% of KFC SuperCoach teams, Jimmy the Jet made a triumphant return to the Tigers’ side in Indigenous round, scoring two tries against the Dragons and notching 82 points in the process. So yes, while that is great news and the BE of -10 looks enticing let me just remind you of the previous three scores – 14, 16 and 18 points respectively.

Yep, that’s in three full 80 minute games and in real NRL terms some of the worst defence you’ll come across. If you already own, fingers crossed for one or two more big outings including the all important bye round this week and then ship him on.

VERDICT: AVOID/HOLD.

Copes isn’t keen on on boarding Jimmy ‘The Jet’ Roberts. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

ALBERT KELLY HFB | 5/8 (BRONCOS) $304,400 – 33 POINTS

After a debut 71 points against the Roosters, many would have been locking in Kelly as a purchase this week with his super-valuable HFB|5/8 dual position swing with the likes of Matt Burton. But after his 33 point dud against the Storm in game two, many are second guessing it. My thoughts? Second guessing is the right call. Kelly may well score OK this week, but there’s not enough upside to make the move points wise and/or financially beneficial. If you’re looking at a move in the halves, it’s either Matt Burton, or go up to a Douehi or Jahrome Hughes – or, keep your guns (Cleary/Munster/Walker) intact and strengthen other areas.

VERDICT: AVOID.

TYSON GAMBLE HFB | 5/8 (BRONCOS) $227,000 – 0 POINTS

Boy, are you 25,200 KFC SuperCoaches who own Tyson Gamble extreeeeemely lucky right now that the Broncos have been so poor in general, but particularly in the halves.

Tyson Gamble put up two of the worst (both from a performance, and discipline perspective) games you’ll see from a halfback, scoring 8 and 22 points, with a combined total of 12 missed tackles, five penalties conceded, getting sin-binned in both games and serving a one-week suspension in round 12. But, straight back in you go says Kev Walters. From a pure KFC SuperCoach perspective, though, we don’t really care about all of that and at his best there is absolutely points to be had – as evidenced by his 60 and 55 points in his first two games. Fingers crossed it’s the latter that owners see this week.

VERDICT: HOLD/AVOID.

CODY RAMSEY CTW | FLB (DRAGONS) $250,400 – 30 POINTS

What a disaster this has turned out to be. Hand up on my part for leading some five per cent of you down the garden path to a HIA two weeks ago, followed by a game that just did not go his way against the Tigers for 30 points in the full 80 minutes at fullback. Now, Matt Dufty returns from his shoulder injury at the worst possible time. Owners have to hold tight and hope for a couple of meat pies against the understrength Broncos this week, followed by a matchup with the Bulldogs which should prove profitable before being sold to a Suaali or Schoupp type.

VERDICT: AVOID/HOLD.

Mood: Cody Ramsey’s SuperCoach owners when Matt Dufty was named on TLT. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

PLAYING NUFFS

DEAN IEREMIA CTW | FLB (STORM) $173,700 – 0 POINTS

Ieremia has been talked about all the way back to pre-season with the vacant right wing slot as a chance to start the season. He missed that position, but has played twice so far this season, once on the wing for the full 80 minutes for a paltry 17 points, the other as 18th man coming on to the field for Ryan Papenhuyzen scoring 34 points in just 13 minutes of action, scoring his first ever NRL try in the process. The benefit here is the upside of this week, then with Papenhuyzen, Addo-Carr and Brenko Lee to return Ieremia sits well down the pecking order and is not an AE concern each week.

VERDICT: BUY. Expect Ieremia to play this week, then not take the field again for the Storm this season barring significant injuries.

SELWYN COBBO FLB (BRONCOS) $173,700 & JAYDEN CAMPBELL FLB (TITANS) $173,700

Both undoubtedly talented, Cobbo playing on the wing for the Broncos in place of Xavier Coates and Campbell in place of Alexander Brimson for the Titans. Both may score well, but, given the fullback-only eligibility it makes it extremely hard to bring them in as you HAVE to have two guns at the position at all times to be competitive.

VERDICT: AVOID.

BON VOYAGE

TOM FLEGLER FRF (BRONCOS) $347,800 – 44 POINTS

Flegler makes it to round 13 coverage – named to start yet again – having averaged a very nice 50PPG in 45 minutes of game time, making $100,000 in the process over the past four weeks. The BE is sitting at just 31, so he will peak perfectly after this week’s coverage of the all important round 13 against the Dragons then become a low-priority sell to a round 17 gun. I mean, you’re going to be able to trade him to Sio Siua Taukeiaho for UNDER $30k. Just ridiculous, and well played to those that took the plunge.

VERDICT: HOLD. A very handy number for the big bye round.