NRL SuperCoach Buy, Hold, Sell round 5: ‘Cheapie of year’ Tom Jenkins arrives in time of need

SuperCoaches copped an injury battering over the weekend, but there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a cheapie of the year contender.

SuperCoaches copped an injury battering over the weekend, but there is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of reborn Panther Thomas Jenkins.

In an incredible rise, the 24-year-old has gone from the lowly Ron Massey Cup to SuperCoach cheapie of the year contender in a matter of months.

The biggest issue now is who to sell to bring him in.

Many SuperCoaches had that decision taken out of their hands on Sunday by injuries to Tom Trbojevic and Adam Doueihi, while popular cheapie Isaiah Iongi is also on the chopping block after a string of poor scores.

Meanwhile, a host of early-season cheapies have hit their peak and are ready to be cashed in, including Jesse Arthars and perhaps even Sandon Smith and Robert Toia.

BUY

* Thomas Jenkins - The resurgent Panther has everything we want from a cheapie. His price rise potential is as good as it gets given scores of 69 (at centre) and 91 (at fullback).

Base isn’t a problem given he notched said 69 without a single big attacking stat, his score including 22 tackles and 16 runs. Job security is also great given he won his spot ahead of Casey McLean, with his role further solidified by Friday night’s hamstring injury to Brian To’o.

Tom Jenkins has cheapie of the year potential. Picture: NRL Images

* Lachlan Hubner - Already a popular cheapie at 36 per cent ownership, the young Rabbitoh will attract more interest this week. Hubner averaged 48.5 over the opening two weeks before being suspended for a fortnight. But now is the time to jump on before his first price rise of around $50K, according to SuperCoach Plus. One important note though, Hubner’s minutes of 55 over the opening two games were likely inflated due to injuries - Tyrone Munro in round 1 and Jai Arrow in round 2.

* Payne Haas - Put simply if you don’t yet own the star Broncos prop, you have to find a way to buy him. Yes, even at around $160,000 above his starting price.

* Reece Walsh - When lockout opens on Monday morning, Walsh will have essentially bottomed out $130-140K below his starting price. Given his history as a SuperCoach weapon (he averaged 80 in 2023 and 75 last year), he’s an absolute steal. Especially with easy upcoming match-ups against Tigers, Roosters and Warriors, and especially following the injury to Turbo.

* Ryan Papenhuyzen - Will be a very popular replacement for Turbo after scoring 65 in a monsoon at Kogarah. With his ankle on the improve, he hopefully wins back the kicking duties this week and has a great month of match-ups.

CHEAP GUNS FOR SALE

A host of proven SuperCoach performers have dipped to juicy prices following poor starts and must come under consideration.

* Valentine Holmes, Harry Grant, David Fifita, Jeremiah Nanai and Nathan Cleary - Keep these guys up your sleeve as targets for coming weeks. All five are a week behind the price rise cycle due to a number of reasons including byes, injuries and axings. But all are set to drop to juicy prices for round 6 and beyond. Holmes is predicted by SuperCoach Plus to drop by around $80K in this time. Grant will drop by close to $100K, Fifita by $130K and Nanai by $135K. Cleary is set be $140K cheaper for round 7.

Nathan Cleary returns from concussion this week. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

AVOID

* Robert Derby - Has pricked the ears as a cheapie but his numbers don’t stand up compared to Jenkins. His scores of 43 (including a try and 12 runs) and 34 (including 16 runs) are decent without standing out. Job security is the main issue with the man whose spot he took, Braidon Burns, due back from a hamstring injury in round 6.

* Trey Mooney - Catapulted onto the cheapie watchlist last week with a massive 89 in 44 mins with no big attacking stats. And it looked great an hour before kick off on Saturday when Mooney was promoted to the starting side. Alas, with Joe Tapine back from suspension, Mooney played only the first 19 minutes for 23 points and not returning.

* Matty Nicholson - This week’s cheapie of the week did his job in scoring 51 points in pure base, leading to a price rise of around $74,000. Great figures. But should you jump on this week? In short, no. He’ll now cost over $400,000 and the price rises will flatten out, not to mention his main competition for a spot Jack Hosking (hand) is due back in round 7.

HOLD

* Gehamat Shibasaki - The revelation of the season in both NRL and SuperCoach. Notched a big ton against the Dolphins to make around $90K for the week, plus set up a string of future rises. He could easily hit $600K given Brisbane’s friendly schedule. Not bad for a bloke who played just six games from 2021-2024.

* Peter Mamouzelous - Even with a sin bin in the dying moments, Mamouzelous still notched 64 points, taking his price rises so far to almost $150K. Should top out perfectly next week at the same time Harry Grant hits his floor, with the trade to cost only $150K.

* Tom Starling - Will add around $55K to his price when lock out opens but a relatively low score (for him) of 44 against the Cowboys means his price rises will flatten out quickly unless he notches another whopper. Another candidate to sell to Grant next week.

* Naufahu Whyte - Produced consecutive scores of 87 (with a try) and 77 (with no big attacking stats) to hit $130K in total price rises so far, with plenty more to come. Now the question must be asked: Is he just a cash cow or a long-term keeper? I’m leaning to the latter.

* Savelio Tamale - Notched 70 points against the Cowboys to initiate another round of price rises. He’s on track to make at least $150K.

* Clint Gutherson - Was best on ground in the Dragons’ upset win over the Storm but it didn’t quite translate to SuperCoach, only scoring 47 points. Still, he made almost $80K and he should add to that significantly given upcoming match-ups against the Eels and Titans.

* Luke Metcalf - Plenty of SuperCoaches were looking to sell this week due to the bye. But the glut of injuries may negate that, plus his try and match-winning penalty goal in 55 points against the Tigers were enough to keep the faith for now.

* Jamie Humphreys - His first “down” score of the season with 36 points. But he still took his total earnings to around the $130K mark and again sits with a low break even.

* Jaxon Purdue - Still has a negative break even - just - after being upgraded to 51 against the Raiders. Looked dangerous with every touch in the first half.

SELL

* Tom Trbojevic – Set to miss 4-5 weeks due a knee injury and will therefore be the most sold player come end of lockout. After an early try assist and try contribution, he took just three runs for the match.

* Isaiah Iongi – The price rises appear to have come to an end for one of the most-owned cheapies in SuperCoach. After just 29 points, he’ll be a popular sell, especially with Jenkins ripe for the picking.

* Adam Doueihi (DNP) - Huge blow for almost 30,000 SuperCoaches with Doueihi injuring his groin in warm-up and failing to take the field. Another popular sell.

* Sitili Tupouniua - The POD purchase from a few weeks ago is set to cop a one game ban and therefore a sell after making minimal cash.

* Jarome Luai - Showed why he has been one of the most traded out players over the last two weeks with just 20 points. While he’s making the Tigers look good in attack, he’s not running the ball and was also placed on report for a high shot.

Tom Trbojevic is set to miss 5-6 weeks with a knee injury. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

* Jesse Arthars - Scintillating over the opening three rounds, Arthars came back to the pack with 37 on the weekend. He’s all but peaked at a rise of over $150K and will be a popular out for Jenkins.

* Kobe Hetherington - The popular early-season cheapie just isn’t getting the minutes and will actually lose cash this week after 22 points.

* Sandon Smith - Scored 57 on the weekend but the BE is getting very close to his average, which means the rises will end soon. Could be worth another week.

* Robert Toia - A score of 45 against the Titans means the Roosters centre now sits with a BE in the teens. The rises have flattened out and will stop altogether soon unless he has a big one in the local derby against Souths.

WATCHLIST

* Jaylen De Groot - All eyes were on De Groot on Friday and if he could work his way into SuperCoach teams as a (future) dual-position cheapie. JDG could only muster a score of 21 as he struggled to get into the game at times. With only nine runs, he certainly isn’t the high workrate fullback we were hoping for. It would pay to forgive, especially given the conditions. Let’s take another look this week against the Dolphins.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Buy, Hold, Sell round 5: ‘Cheapie of year’ Tom Jenkins arrives in time of need