NRL SuperCoach POD watch: Players flying under the radar

ONE Manly star looms as not only superb bye coverage but a potential keeper, while is a red-hot Titan too pricey? It’s SuperCoach POD watch.

AS we head towards round 14 Dave ‘VK’ Von Kotze takes a look at the men pulling big numbers but low ownership.

It’s SuperCoach POD watch.

Jason Nightingale ($297,500/2.7 per cent ownership)

Nightingale is a decent POD at under $300,000 considering he will play every game until round 18, sits with a three game average of 59, has dual CTW/FLB positioning and is usually more effective at fullback where he is expected to play for at least the next two games with Josh Dugan racing the clock to return from injury in time for the next State of Origin battle.

Jake Trbojevic ($388,200/11.5 per cent ownership)

JTurbo (102) threw himself back into the mix to cover not only the middle of the bye period, but possibly the remainder of the season after cracking the ton and playing the full 80 minutes last Thursday. At just under $390,000, potential owners are getting great value for money from the Manly FRF who has averaged 73 in his last five games.

Jake Trbojevic has averaged 73 in his last five games.

Tuimoala Lolohea ($260,900/2.9 per cent ownership)

Lolohea is an exciting prospect with room to move at fullback. Throw in a four-game average of 65 (not including his injury-affected round eight) and a price tag around $282,000, Lolohea could be set for some big scores if the Warriors play like they did against the Broncos last Saturday. It is important to mention that we are talking about the Warriors who have been anything but a pillar of consistency this year and in his four-game average there is a score of 20.

Matt Moylan ($353,600/3.9 per cent ownership)

Moylan is one for our head-to-head players with many overall players to follow suit after the representative period. Moylan has averaged 72 in his last three games and has been in the thick of the Panthers’ attack with nine try assists and nine line break assists in his past eight games.

NRL SUPERCOACH PODCAST FOR ROUND 14

Ryan James ($353,500/4.9 per cent ownership)

James simply can’t be left out of this week’s edition of POD watch after his incredible 156-point effort against the Bunnies. Potential owners who missed out last week but are still considering him for this week could not be blamed for chasing last round’s points with the hulking FRF averaging 97 in his last three games. At around $410,000 prior to round 14, he certainly doesn’t come cheap.

Ryan James has been in superb form but doesn’t come cheap.

Issac Luke ($354,200/4.7 per cent ownership)

Still hasn’t returned to an 80-minute player but looked dangerous on numerous occasions and kept the Warriors on the front foot for his 51 minutes of game time. At around $330,000 and with a five-game average of 54, Luke could get the job done as a POD until the Warriors have their second bye in round 18.

Corey Norman ($323,700/9.6 per cent ownership)

Norman continues to be a rocks and diamonds option at less than 10 per cent ownership. Kieran Foran is set to miss the remainder of the season and Brad Takairangi is out with a hamstring injury so Norman will see plenty of ball and if he can continue putting out 83s as he did during the last bye round, he has the ability to make or break your season. Parramatta will play the Rabbitohs and the Roosters during big bye rounds 15 and 18.

Jake Friend ($419,700/10 per cent ownership)

Friend and the rest of the Roosters players have already had their first bye and will play big bye rounds 15 and 18. His game-topping score of 96 against the Tigers will see him only drop in value to $405,000 which could leave him out of reach but with Mitchell Pearce in doubt for next weekend, Friend’s 75 average without the regular No. 7 in the team is hard to ignore.

Jake Friend will play big bye rounds 15 and 18. Picture: Brett Costello

David Fusitua ($239,500/1.2 per cent ownership)

Fusitua relies heavily on attacking stats but the talented winger sure does know how to score a try and if the Warriors go large against the Knights this weekend, at around $234,000 he could be well worth the punt.

Apisai Koroisau ($384,000/0.7 per cent ownership)

If Daly Cherry-Evans’ injury keeps him in the rehab group for the next few weeks, Koroisau is a left-field smokey at less than 1 per cent ownership considering when DCE was out injured during rounds 5-7, Koroisau averaged 78 while playing in the halves. He will be on the market for just over $342,000 this week.