KFC SuperCoach NRL Cheapie Bible: Round 14 bargain buys

He’s been hyped as a KFC SuperCoach gun for years, but should we buy Marzhew? Trent Copeland runs through all the cheapies for Round 14.

The bumps, bruises and inevitably low scores from cheapies during a bye round were out in force, but as all experienced KFC SuperCoaches know, the pain inevitably does not stop there.

We have Origin injury (thankfully most seem to have come through unscathed) and backing up uncertainties that filter down to cheapie availability, such as the Tedesco equation for Joseph Suaalii - who despite being named on an extended bench, could be a late-in and jumps in price the next time he takes the field. So can you afford to miss him?

Lots to consider, plus our regular season long cheapies with an eye on the next big bye week in round 17.

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!

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We’ve been talking up Greg Marzhew for years, and he didn’t disappoint on debut. Picture: Getty Images.

Greg Marzhew CTW (Titans) $173,700 - 82 points

Yessssss! Marzhew mania finally! I’ve been raving about this guy for what feels like a decade, as has Rob Sutherland, and numerous others - now you all know why! He’s not just your average young winger that needs to jag a try every week to be relevant. He’s one of the strongest players at the Titans, a tackle-busting, offloading and work rate machine! The best part is, all of that translated exactly as we had hope to the NRL even against the Storm. A try, TWELVE points in tackle busts, three offloads, a line break and a mammoth 31 points in runs (18 in H8’s). The astonishing thing is how Marzhew hasn’t cracked the Eels or Titans side before this. Now comes the tricky part… Despite being named to start again, Anthony Don (hip, round 14) has been named on an extended bench, and Corey Thompson (ankle, round 15-16) isn’t far away - so the question of job security remains. Has he done enough for Holbrook to keep him in the side over more experienced regulars? Watch this space, and boy the KFC SuperCoach community hope so!

VERDICT: WATCHLIST. If he keeps this spot, he’s a Brian To’o-lite potential keeper for the run home he’s that good.

Joseph Suaalii CTW | FLB (Roosters) $173,700 - 0 points

Here’s the trickiest decision facing KFC SuperCoaches ahead of round 14, and it all rides on James Tedesco, Trent Robinson, and most importantly, 2pm on Saturday when late mail is finalised. Here’s why. Suaalii is named on an extended bench, and while the likelihood normally is that he wouldn’t play, word is that he will in fact be a late inclusion. With a -41 BE and KFC SuperCoach Plus projected price rise of $70,000 if you’ve already locked in other trades and miss Suaalii you’ll be regretting it. Two equations see him playing, Teddy rests after Origin, meaning Manu moves to fullback and Suaalii plays at centre. The other equation which has been rumoured for the past two weeks is that he takes Ikuvalu’s place on the wing permanently - which would be HUGE. Either way, I suggest holding a trade and waiting ready to pounce on Saturday, if he doesn’t play, then you can pivot to other plans. One thing is for sure, Suaalii will play (health permitting) round 17 and is a must have for that round.

VERDICT: BUY. The moment you hear he will take the field he becomes Cheapie of the Week.

Aaron Schoupp CTW (Bulldogs) $173,700 - 0 points

TC Robati, Joseph Suaalii, Karl Lawton, Greg Marzhew and even Albert Kelly sit (at time of writing) as significantly more popular buys than Schoupp, who is nowhere to be seen in the top-10 most purchased list this week despite owning a -25 BE coming off a 60-point outing against the full strength Panthers in round 12. The impending price rises along with the Bulldogs’ coverage of the all-important round 17 bye sings out for a little more respect in the trade-in stakes. But, it is the Bulldogs so I get it.

VERDICT: BUY. Corey Allan returns in round 15 from his shoulder injury which could shuffle the backline around, but, if things break right Schoupp could be the perfect mid season cheapie.

He might be playing for the Bulldogs, but Aaron Schoupp could be a great mid-season cheapie. Picture: Getty Images.

TC Robati 2RF (Broncos) $173,700 - 89 points

Big TC is a monster! 89 points in 45 minutes including two tries, coming on for Alex Glenn who departed early with a HIA. He could hardly have played better and the eyeball test has Robati leaps and bounds ahead of the likes of Jordan Riki or Keenan Palasia that have played on the edge before him. But, while TPJ and Glenn are healthy (both named this week) the upside is very limited given the bench role and likely limited game time. IF, and it’s a big if, things break right then the -50 BE and 89 points in the rolling average for three rounds could see Robati eclipse the $350k mark prior to round 17. If I were to put it in real terms for likelihood? That’s about as much chance of happening as me doing a running session in my off-season… Slim to none.

VERDICT: AVOID. Yep, no coverage of round 17 along with the game time concerns and I’m out.

Joey Lussick HOK (Eels) $265,000 - 0 points

This one is a ‘watch this space’ given the BE is 84 and Reed Mahoney is listed ‘indefinite’ with the shoulder injury sustained in the 40-4 win over the Knights on Sunday. In his two matches this season Lussick has played 10 minutes in each game for scores of 13 and 4 points respectively, so there isn’t much of a sample size but lets see how this role plays out over the next two weeks. If we’re looking at a long term 80 minute role for an in form Eels team it will be worth delving into.

VERDICT: WATCHLIST.

Javid Bowen CTW (Cowboys) $261,100 - 29 points

Bowen was all the rage a few weeks ago, and while he has kept his spot he has come back to earth with scores of just 28 and 29 points respectively in his last two games - and the BE isn’t pretty at 42. But, at just $262k, with match-ups against the Sea Eagles, Sharks, Knights and then coverage of the round 17 bye against the understrength Rabbitohs… Should we take another look?

VERDICT: AVOID/HOLD. My answer is no, given the other options at the price. Hold on for sure if you’re already an owner, though!

Brodie Jones 2RF (Knights) $256,400 - 41 points

Let me start by saying, wow, the Knights are REALLY really bad. So yes, Jones did in fact start and play huge minutes (75 to be exact), but there was zero attacking opportunity and very few tackles actually completed on their way to a 40-4 thumping by the Eels. Jones’ 41 points with 29 tackles, an offload and 14 points in runs was a tad underwhelming - particularly the runs - but it has reset the price rise cycle and if he gets 70+ minutes for the next five weeks in Frizell’s absence this will have been a very good investment.

VERDICT: HOLD. Was a POD purchase, and if you jumped on, sit tight and trade to a gun with round 17 coverage.

Brodie Jones was a POD buy last week but is one to avoid for now. Picture: Getty Images.

Haze Dunster CTW (Eels) $173,700 - 38 points

Dunster scored a try in this one, and given the 40-4 scoreline it was a disaster he didn’t score more than 38 points to be honest! Such is life with right edge players for the Eels, a LOT of their attack heads left with Gutho and Sivo profiting the most in this one. Looking ahead the Eels have the Tigers and Bulldogs the next two weeks before the Panthers heading into the bye. Despite the good match-ups, with his BE lingering at 27 and the impending round 17 bye when you’d need to trade him out I don’t think there’s much value here.

VERDICT: AVOID/HOLD. Plan a sell at hopefully $250k+ in three weeks.

Keenan Palasia 2RF (Broncos) $237,600 - 22 points

The exact quote in the Cheapie Bible last week was “Don’t be sucked in! Price rises will come to a halt veeeeery quickly, and Palasia will likely be an AE nightmare moving forward”. Well, unfortunately some 13,599 KFC SuperCoaches got exactly that, and now have an issue moving forward. There was an initial burst of $50,800 and an important 22 points in a bye round, but now the BE is already up at 29 with prospective LOSSES coming.

VERDICT: TRADE! It hurts given you likely bought him a week or two ago, but Palasia has to go to a Suaalii via duals if possible.

Moses Mbye CTW | FLB (Tigers) $295,200 - 36 points

Mbye has been great for his owners, and was on for another 45+ score before succumbing to a knee injury limiting him to only 56 minutes of game time. Try assists in three consecutive games and the Tigers winning games has been great to see, and at a tick under $300k you can either sell to Suaalii now or wait a week with his BE still at an achievable 27.

VERDICT: TRADE.

BON VOYAGE

Albert Kelly HFB | 5/8 (Broncos) $362,500 - 93 points

Kelly’s return to the NRL has been somewhat triumphant in a KFC SuperCoach sense, despite the thrashing at the hands of the Dragons he was a lone hand in attack scoring 93 points with three try assists and making 30 tackles. An initial $58,100 goes alongside a BE of 12 (projected by KFC SuperCoach Plus to be -6 BE next week too) which means there’s still a fair bit more to be made. Sit tight for a few weeks then pounce on an underpriced Cody Walker.

VERDICT: HOLD.