NRL SuperCoach round 12 cheapies guide: The best players to pick up ahead of the byes
THE milking of SuperCoach cheapies picked up in the opening rounds is almost complete so onto the next batch: The rookies picking up game time due to the State of Origin bye schedule.
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DID anyone jump on board the Toutai train? Gee I hope you adhered to the warnings around Kieran Foran’s return as he was dropped last night in a Javid Bowen-like situation. Ouch!
Tyrone Phillips on the other hand was the same price as Toutai and a much less fancied option, however he delivered in spades against the hapless Roosters at ANZ Stadium with a hat-trick!
Huge! Sangster got on board, and his swagger this week around SuperCoach HQ will be unbearable.
One name on everyone’s lips this week … Starts with a Javid, ends with a Bowen!
All those who were burnt by the late recall of Kane Linnett earlier this season will be rewarded as he is likely to replace O’Neill on the Cowboys right side. Those who don’t own as yet, jump on!
Two young Tigers are also ripe for the picking, as are many others. Lets have a look at who’s on the horizon this week with Origin players out and many teams on a bye, cheapies will be hugely important when it comes to juggling your roster. Here we go …
Freshies
Javid Bowen CTW (Cowboys, 26.4% owned) — 0 points
The headline act when it comes to cheapies this week. Bowen should slot in to right centre with O’Neill having vacated that spot due to his QLD Origin call up. At base price, in a great side, coverage of round 12 and round 18 with no risk of being an AE nightmare, plus a SuperCoach GOLD predicted price rise of $70k this week you’d be mad not to bring him in. Those that already own him, now is when you reap the rewards while others burn a trade to get him.
VERDICT: MUST HAVE. I don’t say that often, but Bowen is a rare commodity, as sure to make cash as Sangster is to brag about buying Phillips last week.
Josh Addo-Carr CTW (Tigers, 8.4% owned) — 70 points
Addo-Carr was highly fancied to earn a starting wing spot for round one this year, and is going to be very hard to ignore this week. Scores of 61 and 70 in his two matches not only leave a HUGE negative BE, but show he has the try scoring ability to make huge cash for us. James Tedesco’s impending return is worrying, but he is not expected back until next week.
VERDICT: If named I think he’s a definite option despite the fact he may not play much for the remainder of the season. I’ll be looking hard at trading him in.
Jake Marketo 2RF (Dragons, 1.6% owned) — 64 points
While not in the ‘Freshies’ category by only having played 2 games, Marketo is in the category due to the fact that Jack DeBelin is injured, and Tyson Frizell has somewhat unexpectedly earned a NSW Origin squad call up. Marketo played the full 80 minutes against the Rabbitohs, scoring a try and that bodes well for his prospects over the origin period. At around $150k he looms as an interesting bye week purchase.
VERDICT: Could be a jump on option this week if named to start, with an eye to holding through the Dragons coverage of the round 15 bye then move him on to a Sharks/Panthers player who has finished their byes.
Vai Toutai CTW (Eels, 3.4% owned) — 0 points
While Toutai’s axing late yesterday when Kieran Foran’s return was confirmed will have been extremely upsetting for those that jumped on last week, the bright side is that he should earn a recall this week with Michael Jennings in the NSW Origin side. Toutai you would expect still offers great coverage of rounds 12, 15 and 18 which is what you bought him for. Sit tight.
VERDICT: Remains a solid buy as long as you only expect the three games out of him and not huge cash returns.
Michael Chee-Kam 2RF | CTW (Tigers, 6.1% owned) — 50 points
Chee-Kam was highly fancied in preseason after his move from the Sea Eagles, is this the time it finally all clicks? Playing 80 minutes in the centres, 50 points without a try or try assist is gold. The most impressive stat? 26 points in hit-ups over 8 metres. If he can keep his spot in the side, the dual 2RF | CTW flexibility will be priceless, but given Kevin Naiqama and Justin Hunt were late outs, it seems his job security is not great.
VERDICT: A good option if he can keep his spot, but that’s a big if. I will be steering clear.
Jack Gosiewski 2RF (Rabbits, 0.6% owned) — 15 points
As expected, the minutes dropped back to 29 off the bench for Gosiewski, resulting in a low score of 15. The work rate simply isn’t there, and while he looks a decent actual NRL prospect, he’s not in the mix for a trade in for SuperCoach.
VERDICT: Don’t even think about it!
Curtis Scott CTW (Storm, 5.9% owned) — 0 points
Cameron Cullen HFB | 5/8 (Titans, 5.2% owned) — 0 points
These guys are on the bye this week, but keep them in the back of your mind.
VERDICT: Decent prospects given an opportunity, but not named for their respective sides. Watchlist.
Current Crop
Tyrone Phillips CTW (Bulldogs, 1.1% owned) — 101 points
Raise the bat son! A triple from Phillips, notching over the 100 point mark while having a field day with an inexperienced left edge defence of the Roosters will not only have rewarded those that jumped on board this week, but will carry his price rises through to coverage of the difficult round 18 bye. Round of applause to those that took the plunge. Josh Morris and Will Hopoate not being named for Origin is a worry for his prospects in round 18 however.
VERDICT: Ride the wave for many weeks to come. His price will jump up close to the $200k mark, and the low score of 16 will drop out of the rolling average this week so expect huge rises in near future.
Brock Lamb HFB | 5/8 (Knights, 3% owned) — 39 points
Lamb delivered a solid performance in his third game, a try assist, 14 tackles, a forced drop out, and a line break assist in another defeat for the Knights. Those who jumped on Lamb will see a reasonable first price rise, but anyone who didn’t get on last week don’t be tempted. Lamb has been sidelined by an ankle injury that requires surgery and will see him out of action for eight weeks.
VERDICT: If you bought last week you have a decision to make. If not, sit tight on the halves you’ve got.
James Fisher-Harris FRF | 2RF (Panthers, 7.3% owned) — 13 points
Poor old JFH was the headline act for Bargain Basement last week and like all my other players he must be cursed! Every time he has looked like skyrocketing in price he’s been hurt. The worst part about this dislocated thumb was that it came in the first 20 minutes limiting him to 13 points and halting the money making. Now a decision has to be made as JFH doesn’t play this week, or in round 15, will you sell? Or ride it out as he is obviously a gun in a good side.
VERDICT: At this stage I will be holding as he looks to have earned the trust of Anthony Griffin elevating him to the starting side in each of his last three games. However, if you don’t own James Graham he could be a sell if that’s your only avenue to him.
Will Matthews 2RF (Dragons, 1.5% owned) — 63 points
Followed up his 64 from last week with a try and 63 more points. 31 tackles and a distinct change in role and responsibility have been impressive. Matthews saw a potentially inflated 63mins off the bench in this one due to Tyson Frizell’s concussion test, but still presents value for money even in 50 mins.
VERDICT: HOLD through round 15. As I mentioned in last week’s bargain basement, he was a BUY last week, but not now that his price exceeds $230k. Those that jumped on were rewarded.
Nathan Davis CTW (Titans, 21.9% owned) — 24 points
Davis was denied a try by a bees you know what on the weekend which would have elevated his score well in advance of 50. Hasn’t made the initial cash that his 21.9% of owners will have wanted, but if you can muster the courage to keep him through this bye, he covers round 15 and just needs one meat pie to kick off a price rise or two.
VERDICT: Could be a sell to Javid Bowen/Addo-Carr but doesn’t make you a lot of cash. Hold through round 15 ideally.
Suliasi Vunivalu CTW (Storm, 32.8% owned) — 99 points
A few were selling Vunivalu this week. Well didn’t he just go and smack you in the face for doing so. Another double for Vunivalu in what must be one of the greatest try scoring starts to an NRL career. Vunivalu will be well in advance of $250k after this week and a negative BE he is a hold through round 15 for sure.
VERDICT: Suliasi just keeps on giving. The Storm are in some seriously good form, and he is a definite hold.
Ryan Matterson 5/8 (Roosters, 10.8% owned) — 73 points
Honestly? He was poor, the whole game, particularly in the opening 20 minutes making two easy handling errors. Deficiencies in defence saw the Bulldogs target the left edge and score with relative ease which will concern Trent Robinson no doubt. The positive news was the ‘junk time’ try he scored, adding 27 points in the closing stages, and the two forced drop outs. No doubt hes a star of the future but with no game this weekend I think we see how the bye works out for the Roosters before buying him. Those who bought last week, he remains a hold as the Roosters cover round 15 and 18 tough byes.
VERDICT: Not a good one from Matterson but with great bye coverage and a knack for scoring tries he is a definite hold for current owners, those who don’t, wait until round 13 to make a decision.
Luke Bateman FRF | 2RF (Raiders, 3.5% owned) — 49 points
Bateman was named to start at lock and didn’t disappoint his owners with 49 points in base stats, easily beating his BE of ZERO meaning more $$$. 32 tackles, 12 points in hit-ups over 8m in 65mins is exactly what we like to see. Josh Papalii’s QLD Origin selection opens up some minutes this week, but, that will likely be filled by the return of Shaun Fensom and Sia Soliola from their respective injuries.
VERDICT: HOLD for coverage of round 12, and potentially through to round 18 if you’re game. If you don’t own Bateman, I would advise against buying him now though as the ship has well and truly sailed.
Daniel Saifiti FRF (Knights, 10.0% owned) — 58 points
Saifiti explosion! Well, compared to the steady 30-40 points he was normally locked in for. Saifiti was actually demoted to the bench in a late reshuffle, but his impact when he came on was profound. 20 hit-ups, 2 offloads (one nearly created a try), 19 tackles and 6 points in tackle busts. Huge game for the youngster.
VERDICT: Go you good thing. Saifiti is peaking nicely for owners in time for a round 13 sell. Another 50+ score this week will reward those that held through the lower scores with a view on round 12 coverage.
Kirisome Auva’a CTW (Rabbitohs, 5.7% owned) — 35 points
35 points is a worst-case scenario really for Auva’a and still sees a big price jump back over the $200k mark. Scoring around the 50 points range the previous two weeks is more the ‘norm’ and his BE of -11 last week shows how the bench utility role left him severely underpriced.
VERDICT: HOLD as Auva’a covers the important round 15 bye, then ship off to a keeper in the CTW.
Lewis Brown 2RF | CTW (Sea Eagles, 2.2% owned) — 59 points
This one is for the memory bank as Brown and the Sea Eagles don’t play this weekend, but guess who played 80 minutes in the back row for the first time this season?! Brown has never averaged over 50 in his career and minutes this season have been up and down like a rollercoaster but he’s one to keep an eye on.
VERDICT: Whack him on the watchlist and have a look come round 13 or 14 as he’s now priced under $150k.
Isaac DeGois HOK (Eels, 1.3% owned) — 38 points
Scratch him off the list. Only the 54 minutes, and despite the better PPM, if the minutes aren’t there he simply isn’t an option.
VERDICT: Pass.
Josh Aloiai FRF | 2RF (Tigers, 17.4% owned) — 34 points
Despite starting in this one, Aloiai only played 48mins, and after last week’s low score he will actually drop in price after missing his BE by 2 points this week. Elijah Taylor’s arrival has hurt the youngster, but hold him for this week’s points in a tough bye round, then move him on.
VERDICT: Plan for a trade out next week.
This week’s best prospects are definitely two young CTW cheapies, although they are certainly not in the Kerrod Holland mould in playing every week.
This week’s trades are all about initial money-making and bye round coverage.
Good luck this weekend.
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