NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 8
Trent Copeland has his eye on a ton of cheapies as SuperCoaches prepare for the all-important bye season.
Move over Payne Haas, how about some love for Corey Waddell!
The cheapie that everyone seems to have missed just keeps on delivering, with scores of 77 and 104 in his last two matches off the bench and a MASSIVE $100k price rise this week. The Sea Eagles’ youngster is projected to eclipse $450k come round 13, question is… is it too late to get on?
Cheapies are the keys to SuperCoach success, and each week I will give a verdict on the most popular and relevant names under the $280k bracket. Once a player eclipses that price we shall say bon voyage with a final verdict.
We’re looking at minutes played, relevant injuries, torrential rain affected scores and an outlook of the prospects moving forward.
Settle in for a HUGE edition of the Cheapie Bible. Here we go…
Corey Waddell 2RF (MNL | $356,100) - 104 points
Wow, 77 points followed up this week by 104 points. MAN CRUSH alert!! Waddell deserves to be at the top of this list despite eclipsing ‘cheapie’ value. Two try assists from exceptional ball playing skills, along with 34 tackles and 25 points in hit ups across his 62 minutes bodes extremely well for owners. Seemingly it’s 43 minutes at worst, with this as the upside. How good. Can you tell I’m one of the mere 8,520 teams who own the Sea Eagles’ youngster? #theonethatgotaway
VERDICT: HOLD. Too late now to jump on unless you can make Ravalawa into him via duals, despite the extremely low BE. A further $82,000 is on the way this week with a projected top price of $483k and coverage of the first big bye round. Heavenly.
Payne Haas FRF (BRO | $284,000) - 51 points
Haas, Lodge, TPJ, Ofa, Fifita, Gillett, Glenn and Flegler… The first time this season all of the Broncos’ big men took the field together and we were very interested to see what sort of minutes Haas could earn after playing the full 80 last week. The answer? 63 minutes - an amazing result meaning Haas will likely be a season-long keeper - with the 51 points coming entirely in base stats once again. Haas’ initial price rise was $102,900 and there’s plenty more where that came from! Saddle up, and play Haas with confidence in your 17 most weeks.
VERDICT: BUY/HOLD. Still worth buying if you missed the boat last week. A best 17 player at just under $300k with a BE of -27? Yes please.
Zac Lomax CTW (STG | $220,300) - 48 points
“Pounce if there are ANY injury or selection changes to that Dragons backline, as some whispers to me suggest may happen, as Lomax will kick goals full time” was the line in the Cheapie Bible last weekend, and wouldn’t you know it, McGregor pulled the last minute switch with Ravalawa moving back to the bench (a must SELL immediately) and Lomax starting on the wing. A try (could have been two!), line break and the goal kicking duties locked in bodes extremely well for Lomax - but, the Dragons don’t play in round 12.
VERDICT: BUY. But, if you have no pressing issues to get rid of, it’s certainly not the end of the world to miss Lomax.
Jai Whitbread FRF (GCT | $222,800) - 34 points
An initial price rise of $41,700 is nice, so too were the 35 minutes of game time Whitbread saw. Solid base stats, solid work rate once again. Now comes the REAL test for those who jumped on, with Jarrod Wallace’s return to action - will Whitbread hold his spot? And if so, how many minutes will he play. One thing to remember is that Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace will both (almost assuredly) be missing come round 12 due to Origin - so even if Whitbread is dropped in the meantime, he remains a hold until then.
VERDICT: HOLD. Watch his role this week closely, but he’s a hold until round 12 regardless. I wouldn’t be jumping on if you didn’t go last week.
Bronson Xerri CTW (SHA | $285,400) - 47 points
In a match dominated by the Broncos and Shaun Johnson (half on his side) going down injured, it was to be expected that Xerri wouldn’t go berserk. But, 47 points without a try or try assist is a great result. Tackle bust points of 10, 4, 8 and 8 in his four matches thus far is super impressive, as is the work rate. Xerri gets another tough matchup this week against the Storm.
VERDICT: HOLD. Xerri seems like he has the spot long term, and hopefully Nikora’s return this week alongside him can only help the attack.
Moeaki Fotuaika FRF (GCT | $291,600) - 43 points
Fotu saw 47 minutes of game time this week, quite simply, if that were to continue he is a $400k+ player with his PPM and offloading/tackle-busting game style. 21 tackles, 8 points in offloads, and 20 points in hitups went with -8 in penalties and errors (which would have seen his score over 50!). This week is the likely return of Jarrod Wallace from injury, which will test the minutes allotment of the Titans middle rotation.
VERDICT: WATCH. BE is still at 21, so you can afford to watch one more to see how things shake out. Flegler to Fotuaika is a slam-dunk trade if Fotu sees 40-ish minutes again this week.
Caleb Aekins FLB | CTW (PTH | $217,100) - 38 points
Aekins won the fullback jersey last weekend for the Panthers, but with DWZ switching to centre due to Whare’s hamstring injury (likely round 10-11 return), can we be sure that Whare’s return wouldn’t spell the end for Aekins - with DWZ going back to fullback? Well, all of that is out of our control and one thing is for sure, the kid passed the eyeball test! As he did on debut last season, Aekins ran the ball incessantly (26 points in hitups) with 6 points in tackle busts and two offloads. Given he is dual position CTW | FLB, will likely have plenty of cash to make and covers round 12, Aekins looms as a very popular purchase.
VERDICT: WATCH. Do NOT buy early on this one. Yes, there’s every chance Aekins keeps this spot and does very well, but at this time of year, don’t go wasting trades when you don’t need to.
Corey Allan FLB | CTW (STH | $247,300) - 41 points
After Allan found his feet last week with 54 points without a try, he finally got across the try line against the Panthers on Friday night! Given Allan isn’t really involved other than attacking raids, 41 points with a try and line break means we are likely going to have to sell quick smart after round 12. Or, if the mooted James Roberts switch to the Rabbitohs happens, his spot may even be in jeopardy!
VERDICT: HOLD. BE is still at -10, so with any luck Allan will get up over the $300k mark by the time he covers round 12 for us.
Thomas Flegler FRF | 2RF (BRO | $263,900) - 33 points
With the ‘cattle’ in Lodge and TPJ returning this week, the Broncos pack was at full strength for the first time this season - thankfully Flegler still scored 33 points in an impressive 43 minutes! If those minutes were to maintain there is still a bit of money to be made here, but I wouldn’t hesitate to jump on a gun like Sam Burgess or Marty Taupau if you have the cash ready to go. With almost $100k in the kitty from his starting price, along with providing priceless dual flexibility, Flegler has been a success to this point.
VERDICT: HOLD. BE of 13 is manageable this week against the Rabbitohs, but Flegler is definitely a sell prior to round 12.
Jaeman Salmon CTW | 5/8 (PAR | $232,300) - 27 points
After a rare Salmon sighting last weekend, the Eels and their young five eighth came crashing back down to earth against the Knights. Salmon scored 27 points and registered an $18k price rise, meaning he carries a -3 BE into this round. But, coming up against the Dragons and Storm the next two weeks will likely halt those price rises quick smart, so a plan to sell in two weeks is in order.
VERDICT: HOLD/AVOID. He’s worth holding for now, but do NOT jump on looking at the BE and round 12 coverage. Thank me later.
Sitili Tupounuia 2RF (SYD | $181,100) - 20 points
Sitili impressed all of us on season debut with a huge line break in golden point to set up the win against the Storm, but as we flagged in the Cheapie Bible last week this pack is star-studded, and minutes were always going to be hard to come by. Herewith 20 points in 23 minutes in game two for the youngster, to go with the impending return of Isaac Liu and it’s alarm bells for SuperCoaches.
VERDICT: AVOID.
Kotoni Staggs CTW | 2RF (NZL | $243,700) - 7 points
In the DWZ-mould of smoky options, Staggs could well be the beneficiary of the mooted ‘James Roberts to the Rabbitohs effective immediately’ rumours. Given he’s currently playing as a bench utility and scoring under 10 points, the great thing for SuperCoaches is that he’ll be available at close to bottom dollar if/when that happens.
VERDICT: WATCHLIST. The upside is huge if he was to get Roberts’ spot full time, with dual CTW | 2RF and very friendly SuperCoach game.
Wade Egan HOK (PTH | $212,400) - 43 points
ATTENTION: Brailey owners.
Wade Egan is now starting for the Panthers, playing 53 and 67 minutes respectively the past two matches, and covers the all-important round 12 bye week. After Brailey rides out his cash increases the next two weeks, this one could be a straight swap. Just a thought.
VERDICT: WATCHLIST. Not relevant for most.
Kyle Flanagan HFB | 5/8 (SHA | $213,300), Thomas Dearden HFB (BRO | $168,100) & Sean O’Sullivan HFB (BRO | $228,300)
All three of these young halves are worth whacking on the watchlist, as the Shaun Johnson-sized hole for the Sharks is filled by Flanagan whilst the Broncos’ Kodi Nikorima mid-season switch to the Warriors would open up the halfback spot for one of these two youngsters.
BON VOYAGE
Players who eclipse the $280k cheapie cut-off, or plateau in price are given a final verdict for owners moving forward.
Chanel Harris-Tavita HFB (NZL | $314,700) - 47 points
CHT has come back to earth a little in recent weeks, but, scoring 44 and 47 points is hardly a disappointment from a rookie half in matchups against the Cowboys and particularly the Storm in Melbourne this week without RTS, Blake Green etc. This week CHT gets the leaky Knights at Mt Smart Stadium, maintaining a BE of just 17 and likely plenty more price rises to come. Fingers crossed he can jag some attacking stats in the coming weeks.
VERDICT: HOLD. Until round 12 when you can either jump on a Dylan Brown (or gun) or wait until after the bye to nab Shaun Johnson or Matt Moylan.
If a player is not on this list, they are deemed not relevant either because of role or price. Let us know if you think we’ve missed anyone @SuperCoachNRL or @Copes9.
Let the cash roll in!
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