KFC SuperCoach NRL Cheapie Bible Round 9
KFC SuperCoaches have been waiting for this moment for months and now it’s finally here. Full lowdown with our cheapie connoisseur Trent Copeland.
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Stefano is here!
That’s right, if you’ve never seen or heard of him before… Do yourself a favour and Google Stefano Utoikamanu highlights. The $171,900 base price beast of a front rower is set to debut, and boy are footy fans in for a treat.
Finally, a week with no (KFC SuperCoach relevant) injuries, specifically cheapies.
The Hammer was a late scratching, but Tommy Talau found the ‘pay dirt’ once again, Xavier Coates delivered and a few forward cheapies appeared.
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Cheapies are the single most important key to KFC SuperCoach success, without them, you can’t afford the Mattersons, Taumalolos and Tedescos of the world, and picking the WRONG cheapies can ruin your entire season burning trades to resurrect, or no cash generation if you choose to hold.
A cheapie by definition is any player under $280,000. As the season goes along we will give a running verdict on when to sell, sit, buy or hold every cheapie that hits our radar — if a player is not on the list, we’ve determined they are not a viable selection.
Here we go!
Tommy Talau | CTW ($269,100 | Tigers) - 55 points
Talau crosses the try line yet again, that’s three in the past two matches for the most traded in cheapie last week. The base stats are a serious concern if the tries dry up, but with an initial price rise of $60,900 and -30 BE heading into round nine, literally two more decent scores and he will be $350k+ and will have done his job. The hapless Broncos are on the horizon next round too, giddy up.
Verdict: BUY/HOLD.
Beau Fermor | 2RF ($171,900 | Titans) - 76 points
A ‘star in the making’ were the plaudits for Fermor after a 75-minute debut in the back row for the Titans, who were down to 15-men early on after Mitch Rein (knee) and Tanah Boyd (shoulder) went down. It wasn’t just the 76 points that caught the eye, his pace, elusiveness and work rate in defence were of the highest order. Two line breaks, 34 tackles, 16 points in hitups and a juicy 12 points in tackle busts in the 75 minutes is niiiiiice Gary, real nice. No mean feat for a guy who was signed during rehab from a knee reconstruction earlier this year from the Knights. Named to start in the centres this weekend in his second match, that’s exciting, but at time of writing over 11% of KFC SuperCoaches have traded Fermor in… All I will say is, you’re playing with fire!
Verdict: WATCHLIST. Risky play to go early in a team with so many moving pieces like the Titans, but next week could be the PERFECT timing on selling JTB or Fuimaono etc.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | CTW/FLB ($247,400 | Cowboys) - 0 points
Woah, after being left out an hour before kickoff upon Val Holmes’ return to the lineup last weekend, the Hammer is now named to start at FULLBACK. Yep, Val Holmes the big time money man, and importantly, the man who was on fire in the opening rounds at the back — has moved to the wing. It seems Paul Green is adamant Hamiso can’t play on the wing, but for KFC SuperCoach terms we couldn’t care less! Whilst this is amazing news for owners (as is the -6 BE), the Roosters are the matchup this weekend and have been incredibly stingy to opposition fullbacks. Fingers crossed.
Verdict: HOLD. But, beware there are likely some bumps in the road ahead.
FULL TEAMS: Pommy import one to watch
CASUALTY WARD: Four key players out long-term
10 THINGS: Is it time to sell Ponga?
MEET THE WINNER: Eels fan takes cash
TEAMS ANALYSIS: Time to anoint King GUN-therson?
Tesi Niu | CTW ($192,200 | Broncos) - 53 points
I listed Tesi as a POD-BUY last weekend with all the focus on Tommy Talau, and despite the Broncos dishing up an extraordinarily underwhelming performance on the whole, Tesi passed the eyeball test and popped up regularly on both sides of the field. A hand in one try, two line break assists and impressively 24 points in hitups is a promising sign. I think his spot is safe (as safe as it can be amid the turmoil going on at the Broncos), and a matchup with the Bulldogs this weekend to go with the -14 BE and sub-$200k price tag and you are looking at the cheapie of the week in my opinion.
Verdict: BUY. There’s huge risk, but, YOLO.
Xavier Coates | CTW ($282,600 | Broncos) - 90 points
After last week’s flop of just nine points, Coates bounced back with his typical lightning speed and intercept ability to score two tries in the first half against the Warriors, going on to score a massive 90 points and kick on those price rises his 33,552 owners will have been hoping for. Quite simply, Coates needs tries to survive for us, but most CTWs who aren’t ‘elite’ are in the same boat so hopefully he can snag a few more this weekend against the Bulldogs.
Verdict: HOLD. For at least three weeks until the nine-point blunder rolls out of the average. Could top out at $400k with a bit of luck.
Jack Hetherington | FRF ($201,000 | Warriors) - 44 points
OF all the cheapies that took the field last weekend, arguably Hetherington was the most impressive in just 42 minutes of game time. 44 KFC SuperCoach points, with 10 tackles, four offloads, and 21 points in hitups — plus a hell of an eyeball test rating. With three weeks (at a minimum) remaining on his loan deal from the Panthers, Hetherington presents as a nice downgrade from Taunoa-Brown or Toby Rudolf either this week or next. Whilst this was his Warriors debut, Hetherington did play limited minutes for the Panthers in round one, so his price will be going up THIS week against the Titans. If you’re worried about the ‘loan’ arrangement, let me put it this way… The worst that can happen is he gets recalled, and becomes a non-player on your bench that you can use to loophole captain.
Verdict: BUY. In the right circumstances. Personally, I’ll be waiting for this guy…
Stefano Utoikamanu | FRF ($171,900 | Eels)
Here we go! The beastly pre-season and signing for the Wests Tigers feels like a distant memory, but let me remind you Freddy Fittler, yes, the NSW Origin coach was talking of this young superstar in the making as a potential Origin bolter THIS season before he had even strapped up the boots in the top grade. “He’s a bit like a [David] Klemmer, Payne [Haas], maybe not as mobile as Payne, but he’s a good player. He was the best player, as they were coming through,” Fittler said. I mean, wow. Let’s hope he gets a good run with Ray Stone and Oregon Kaufusi out for some time.
Verdict: WATCHLIST.
Lachlan Croker | HFB|5/8 ($251,500 | Sea Eagles) - 23 points
Well that didn’t exactly go to plan! Those beautiful base stats present in round six and seven just flat out disappeared against the Knights. The tackles were solid at 25 (amazing given he scored just 23 points!) but the hitup points of 12 and 17 the previous rounds went down to a paltry TWO. So, all we can hope for is that the matchup this weekend against the Dragons can kickstart a big price rise run.
Verdict: HOLD. You can’t jump on now, but if you did last week, hold on for hopefully two or three more weeks.
Siosifa Talakai | CTW/2RF ($211,400 | Sharks) - 27 points
I hate to say I told you so, but, I told you so … 27 points, and that was with a lay-up minutes wise with the early injury to Matt Moylan shifting Dugan to fullback and Talakai playing the remainder of the match. Some nice runs and often carrying defenders with him after contact unfortunately doesn’t make a KFC SuperCoach cheapie, so the some 3% of coaches have themselves an AE problem… Will rise in price this week slightly, but that will disappear quick smart even with some great matchups looming for the Sharks. Not a good situation.
Verdict: AVOID/SELL.
Tom Eisenhuth | CTW/2RF ($212,500 | Storm) - 59 points
Two things. Firstly, a tip of the cap some incredibly impactful plays the past two weeks. Secondly, a PSA for KFC SuperCoaches to NOT go there. Incredibly, Eisenhuth is already owned by over 12% of teams!! A -26 BE is nice, as is the dual CTW/2RF eligibility, but let me remind you Eisenhuth played minutes TOTALS of seven, three, five and six in his first four matches this season.
Verdict: DON’T DO IT.
BON VOYAGE
When cheapies eclipse the $300k mark, they will receive a ‘final verdict’ as they bid farewell to the Cheapie Bible superstardom.
Tevita Funa | CTW ($302,600 | Sea Eagles) - 56 points
Funa has really turned it on in his rookie year, with incredible consistency in his first four games — scores of 44, 59, 52 and 56 points to date have equated to a massive $130,700 in his first two price rises. A BE of 1 is still very juicy, as is the matchup with the Dragons so a plan moving forward will likely look like a $400k player to cash out to a gun in round 12. The one that got away…
Verdict: HOLD. Bravo to those that got on.
Herbie Farnworth | CTW ($293,900 | Broncos) - 50 points
Amongst some pretty ordinary Broncos performances, Herbie just keeps on keeping on. Two tries the past two weeks have really helped, despite losing the goal kicking duties as predicted there is $60k currently in the kitty — and likely another $40-$60k on the way. But, that’s likely where it stops as Kotoni Staggs is named on an extended bench this round, who makes way we don’t know but it could be Herbie so watch this space.
Verdict: HOLD. One more round.
Jack Murchie | 2RF ($294,900 | Warriors) - 40 points
Murchie has been solid as a rock for KFC SuperCoaches making $60,700 to this point, and is named to start once again this weekend for the Warriors. But, the scores and minutes have slowly been declining, while Eliesa Katoa returns next week from his ankle injury. So, with a BE of 23 it’s likely this week then sell to Beau Fermor.
Verdict: HOLD. Sell next week.
WATCHLIST
All players here were fancied for spots and just missed out, or had great preseasons and could make an impact at some stage this season.
Tex Hoy | 5/8 ($171,900 | Knights)
Josh Curran | 2RF ($216,900 | Warriors)
Chris Randall | HOK ($171,900 | Knights)
Troy Dargan | HFB ($171,900 | Rabbitohs)
Billy Magoulias | 2RF ($221,700 | Sharks)
Tom Eisenhuth | CTW/2RF ($184,900 | Storm)
Haumole Olakau’ata | 2RF ($171,900 | Sea Eagles)
Keaon Koloamatangi | FRF/2RF ($171,900 | Rabbitohs)
Greg Leleisiuao | CTW ($171,900 | Titans)
Stefano Utoikamanu | FRF ($171,900 | Eels)
Jason Saab | CTW ($271,100 | Dragons)
Oregon Kaufusi | FRF ($255,600 | Eels)
Tristan Sailor | CTW ($247,200 | Dragons)
Cody Ramsey | CTW/FLB ($171,900 | Dragons)
Pasami Saulo | 2RF/FRF ($184,900 | Knights)
Tautau Moga | CTW ($245,400 | Knights)
Jaimin Jolliffe | FRF ($171,900 | Titans)