KFC NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 1: Trent Copeland
Panic no more, KFC SuperCoaches, because Trent Copeland’s Cheapie Bible has landed and it’s an almighty feast of cash cows and underpriced potential. WRAP YOUR EYES AROUND THIS.
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CHEAPIE CARNAGE!
Never have we had a round one quite so scarce in the way of cheapies. But I’m here to help you fight through the pain, sit down, relax and take it all it.
This could be the most important article you read all season, and no, it’s not because I’ve written it, it’s because cheapies are the single most important ingredient to KFC SuperCoach success!
Without them, you cant afford the Cook’s, Taumalolo’s and Tedesco’s 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.
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A cheapie by definition is any player under $280,000, and this MONSTER round one edition will cover off on all of the most important cheapies with a verdict on whether to invest or not.
IMPORTANT: Remember during round one you have the luxury of unlimited* trades ALL the way through until the kick-off of the last game of the round. So, keen an eye on final teams for late changes – as you can still shuffle the pack. *Once a player has played, they are locked in.
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!
Blayke Brailey | HOK ($201,000 | Sharks)
The most popular player in all of KFC SuperCoach – in over 50% of teams – has been named to start at hooker for the Sharks, and given what we’ve seen from him in limited game time last season and the pre-season this year – if he can work his way up to becoming an 80 minute hooker as he says he wants to be, Brailey will be one of the cheapies of the year. Connor Tracey is named on the bench in the 14 jersey which represents some concern over early minutes, but back in the talent.
Verdict: BUY. A near must have for KFC SuperCoaches with so few other locked in options. Wouldn’t be playing him in my 17, though.
Jarome Luai | HFB|5/8 ($257,400 | Panthers)
Currently the fourth most popular player in KFC SuperCoach 2020, Luai will get first crack at replacing James Maloney in the halves for the Panthers. There was some banter that Matt Burton may displace Luai but he’s won the job, and should win your selection too. Luai played 13 games for the Panthers in 2019 but the majority were as a bench utility. In the previous two seasons, in games he has played the full 80 minutes, Luai has scores of 133, 48, 23, 50, 69 and 73 for an average of 66PPG. Certainly don’t expect that level of scoring, but somewhere near the 45-50PPG mark would be a delight.
Verdict: BUY. In good match-ups Luai has the upside for best 17, but bench him in round one against the Roosters. Dual flexibility also extremely handy.
Jamayne Taunua-Brown | FRF ($171,900 | Warriors)
Man, has this kid passed the eyeball test! Standing 194cm and 114kg, ‘JTB’ was only elevated to the top 30 NRL squad a couple of weeks ago. After a stellar preseason to go with the Frei and Afoa season ending ACL’s, Paasi’s injury picked up in the final trial and Sam Lisone’s departure to the Titans – we have ourselves a serious cheapie prospect with some nice season-long upside for minutes. Jazz Tevaga and Paasi will eventually return to the middle rotation, but at this stage the man who tore it up in the Indigenous All Stars clash looks a great early season option. JTB played as a half as a junior and idolises some of the best ball playing bigs out there, so expect to see a KFC SuperCoach friendly game.
Verdict: BUY. I’m on over Zane Musgrove, as this kid looks the real deal.
Toby Rudolf | FRF ($171,900 | Sharks)
Signed by the Sharks from the QRL Cup in 2018, the big prop tore his ACL the very next day. Forced to spend much of 2019 in rehab, Rudolf then came out and dominated for Newtown to finish the season. With Paul Gallen, Matt Prior and Kurt Capewell having left the club, there are big minutes up for grabs, and Rudolph smashed the door down in the trials – the last of which included a try, 11 runs for 89 metres, seven tackle busts and 28 tackles.
Verdict: BUY. My favourite FRF cheapie, but not a starting 17 player. Can he crack 40 minutes off the bench? Please!
Billy Walters | HFB/HOK ($201,000 | Tigers)
Walters wins the battle for the starting hooker role at the Tigers over Josh Reynolds, who is named on the bench. You cant possibly risk starting with Brailey AND Walters at hooker, so it makes sense to try to squeeze Walters in to your halves. Already over 25% ownership, Walters is potentially looking at 45-50 minutes, with some serious ball playing ability to go along with the Dragons, Knights, Bulldogs and Warriors in the opening four rounds – at just $201k, can we really pass that up?
Verdict: BUY. I worry a little about the mooted Harry Grant switch just ‘popping up’ at any given moment and ruining things, but we can only play the cards we are dealt.
Braden Wiliame | CTW ($201,000 | Dragons)
If my mail is to be believed, it’s not ‘wow, Williame starts over Aitken’, it’s been Williame is LOCKED in, so who are we picking as the other centre between Lafai and Aitken. A seriously impressive pre-season following on from his form for the Catalan Dragons the past three seasons and particularly Fiji in their end of season Tests has forced Mary’s hand, and the connection alongside Pereira on the edge looks the real deal. Fingers crossed this one pans out as Williame could be one of the cheapies of the year.
Verdict: BUY. I’m in, and on the back of what I’ve seen so far in the trials/Charity Shield I’m starting him in my 17.
Zane Musgrove | FRF ($201,000 | Wests Tigers)
There are minutes up for grabs in the front-row rotation of at the Wests Tigers and Musgrove has earned this spot on the bench for round one with two big efforts in the trials. Wind the clock back to 2017 with the Rabbitohs and Musgrove was a nice PPM player, averaging a solid 40PPG in as many minutes. Currently in 10% of teams, and the upside is there for some early money making. All the mail out of Tigers camp is that he’s on for a big season. Keeping Matt Eisenhuth out of the 17 is no mean feat.
Verdict: BUY. I would have him below Toby Rudolph, but in the same mix as Jamayne Taunua-Brown. Ahead of Sean Keppie and Lindsay Collins.
Brandon Wakeham | HFB ($277,600 | Bulldogs)
Well, this one is somewhat of a surprise. Jack Cogger started both trial matches alongside Lachlan Lewis, and has some serious talent himself, but Wakeham gets the nod to start round one. In his two full 80 minute games last season, Wakeham scored 54 and 53 points respectively with some nice base stats in tackles/taking on the line to go with a try and a try assist. As we know with any Bulldogs player – you better buckle up for a rollercoaster.
Verdict: BUY. But, I’m sceptical. Below Luai and Walters on the pecking order, but the other upside is that the Bulldogs cover the first bye round. Will Dean Pay have chopped and changed his team eight times by then, though?
Kallum Watkins | CTW ($271,800 | Titans)
English centre Kallum Watkins had an underwhelming first season in KFCSuperCoach terms, averaging a pretty ordinary 32.5PPG across his six matches, with no tries or try assists and a high score of 39. But, all that tells me is that he’s due (hello glass half full man!). The positive is the offload is a feature of his game, and hopefully the other attacking stats come his way early this season.
Verdict: BUY. I like Watkins over most similarly priced CTW cheapies, bar Wiliame.
Josh Kerr | FRF/2RF ($233,000 | Dragons)
Kerr was one of the pre-season buzz buys after we heard the news he was to take on more of James Graham’s minutes, and then he tore up the All Stars game only to succumb to a knee injury which we thought would rule him out a few rounds into the season. But, named in jersey 21 this week there is a chance he could make the final team come Sunday. PPM wise, Kerr is a beast, and given the opportunity to play more he would make us some handy money. Not the ideal scenario given it’s the last game of the round.
Verdict: WATCHLIST. Don’t start with Kerr at this stage, but only because of his knee injury in the AllStars match where he was monstering! Hopefully after an interrupted start he kicks on to be a nice money maker.
Tyrell Fuimaono | CTW/2RF ($201,000 | Dragons)
Fuimaono was underwhelming last season at the Panthers, playing 7 matches off the bench and averaging a paltry 19.7PPG at a horrifically low 0.4PPM – along with 0.4PPM the season before, and 0.6PPM in 2017. Fuimaono’s pre-season has actually been fantastic, forcing his way in to Mary’s calculations, but with Tariq Sims and Tyson Frizell on each edge – where are the minutes coming from? Hopefully NO more of this centre-swapping that Lomax and Aitken were doing last year with Williame!
Verdict: AVOID. I know, most teams will be forced to start with Fuimaono, but bench edge back rowers typically don’t score well – let alone ones with a historically bad PPM.
Gehamat Shibasaki | CTW ($286,400 | Knights)
Shibasaki is priced in the cheapie range, but we must remember that two of his games last season were a total of 9 minutes and 15 minutes for scores of two and three points respectively. A more accurate representation of his season is a 35.5PPG average in his full games he played – still nothing to write home about.
Verdict: Low end buy, given the dearth of CTW cheapies. Bradman Best and Tautau Moga are returning in the early stages of the season – hopefully Shibisaki stays in the side when they do.
NOTE: I haven’t included Enari Tuala in Cheapie Bible as he will likely make way for Best/Moga in the short term.
Kurt Mann | CTW/FLB ($287,100 | Knights)
Mann gets the nod as the starting half alongside Mitchell Pearce, keeping Mason Lino out of the 17, and young Phoenix Crossland still a ways away with injury. Despite being shuffled around everywhere in the backline last season, Mann did start six matches in the halves for scores of 69, 29, 37, 34, 45 and 35 at an average of 41.5PPG. Available at centre with very few other options, is he worth a shot?
Verdict: AVOID. It’s possible he eclipses Shibasaki for early cash generation, but I think he’s the first to go should things not start well in Knight-ville.
Will Kennedy | CTW/FLB ($242,600 | Sharks)
Man, if only we knew just how long Moylan and Dugan would be out for. All we know at this stage is that Moylan (calf, early rounds) isn’t too far away, and Dugan doesn’t have a timetable but has started training the house down. Xerri will miss round one, but his return will cause a reshuffle. JMoz is off to the roosters which helps, but ultimately there’s a LOT of question marks here. Round one, I think Kennedy is a great play in your 17, but after that it’s a lottery.
Verdict: Watchlist. We took a similar punt on Maika Sivo last season despite it being seemingly a one-week thing and it panned out, so why not on Kennedy? Wishful thinking.
Ben Hampton | CTW/FLB ($237,000 | Cowboys)
Somewhat of a surprise to see Hampton pop up in the number 5 jersey for round one, but at $237k and very few other locked in options we have to consider. Last season on the wing was, well, lets call it underwhelming to be nice. Five full 80 minute matches, for scores of 39, 13, 55, 36 and 20. If things don’t start well expect Opacic to take his place, and in coach Green’s own words – Hampton in the team gives us utility value with the amount of HIA’s. That’s not a good thing.
Verdict: AVOID. I don’t like it, but you could have Hampton on the bench only because of price. If you can avoid it, do it.
Haumole Olakau’ata | 2RF ($171,900 | Sea Eagles)
With injury clouds over Jake Trobjevic, Addin Fonua-Blake (both named to start after off-season shoulder surgery) and Taniela Paseka and Jack Gosiewski out a few weeks, the Sea Eagles get the chance to give one of their most exciting young prospects. Standing 196 centimetres and weighing in at 113kg, Olakau’atu is a monster of an edge second rower who played 16 Canterbury Cup appearances last season (nine in which he played the full 80 minutes), Olakau’ata scored four tries, busted 68 tackles, threw eight offloads and averaged over 100 metres per game with a season high of 165 against Penrith in round 12. In the Sea Eagles’ only trial match Olakau’ata dished up a try, 10 runs for 82 metres, six tackle busts and 16 tackles.
Verdict: Watchlist. I would have him over all the other sub $200k 2RF’s on talent alone, but there’s not many minutes to go around in that back row with perennial 80-minute men Joel Thompson, Jurbo and Curtis Sironen.
Eliesa Katoa | 2RF ($171,900 | Warriors)
Remember John Palavi? Or Isaiah Papali’i in his first season? The Warriors are famous for playing a young back rower in one game to start a season, then we never see them again! Lachlan Burr was a different story last season, and certainly the teenage sensation that is Eliesa Katoa has played well enough in pre-season that hopefully we DO continue to see him. Named on the bench, I fear that this spot would have been Josh Curran’s (starred in indigenous All Stars – see below) had he not been racing the clock with a calf injury. Jazz Tevaga (ankle, round 4) will also command big minutes upon his return.
Verdict: AVOID. As tempting as a bottom dollar cheapie in the 2RF is, I’m calling this one a Curran-sized spot. Watchlist for sure, we can always pounce come round three if he’s on fire.
Sitili Tupouniua | 2RF ($267,000 | Roosters)
Tupouniua played 16 games in 2019, averaging 29 PPG at 0.97 PPM and started on an edge in the World Club Challenge with Crichton playing at centre, but had a bit of a mare! Don’t be fooled ladies and gents, Tupouniua is starting this week and the green tick looks enticing at the price, but that is Boyd Cordner’s (rested) 80 minute left edge that he will fill most weeks. Leaving Sitili on the bench as an edge backrower. We have heard news that Josh Morris will be joining the Roosters too, so Angus Crichton will be back to an edge with Mitch Aubusson. All this tells me is – steer clear of both Roosters’ cheapies at this stage.
Verdict: AVOID.
Lindsay Collins | FRF ($201,000 | Roosters)
The departure of Zane Tetevano frees up some minutes in the middle rotation, and having been named on the bench – Collins is a steady option, but, Boyd Cordner will return shortly in his 80 minute role on the left edge, pushing Tupouniua back to the bench and could have a direct impact on Collins’ spot. Collins played 13 games in 2019, averaging 19 MPG and 20 PPG at a PPM of 1.04 which is solid, but I don’t see any more minutes coming his way.
Verdict: AVOID. But keep Collins on your Watchlist.
Josh Curran | 2RF ($216,900 | Warriors)
The former Rooster Curran looked impressive playing for the indigenous All Stars, making the most of his limited minutes and scoring a try. Across his three games in 2019, Curran averaged 26 MPG and 23 PPG at a PPM of 0.91. All the mail out of the Warriors camp is that he was in the mix to start on an edge, with Adam Blair moving to the middle rotation in the absence of Jackson Frei and Bunty Afoa. That remains to be seen as Curran is out with a calf injury he picked up in the final trial, and he has not been named even on an extended bench this week.
Verdict: Watchlist. Had a cracking pre-season, so could make some noise when fit again.
Sam Lisone | FRF ($242,500 | Titans)
A $240k starting front rower? Surely we’re on. Not so fast… Lisone made the dash from Auckland to Cavill Ave in recent weeks and has seemingly made every post a winner. Named to start for the Titans in round one, with a historical PPM of 1.1 he is absolutely worth a close look. However when we delve a little deeper, both Moeaki Fotuaika (wrist/knee, round 2) and Shannon Boyd (shoulder, round 2) should return next week – meaning Lisone may well be looking at 20 minutes off the bench, or even out of the squad altogether. I think he stays, but Rudolph, Musgrove and JTB are better options with less uncertainty.
Verdict: AVOID. It could pan out, and the Titans cover the first bye round. But at this stage it’s watch list for Lisone.
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui | 2RF ($217,500 | Storm)
“Big Tino” Fa’asuamaleaui is a NAS-clone in size and style. The Storm giant showed why he was one of the hottest properties of the off season in the trials, and has forced his way onto the Storm bench for round one – likely in the Kamikamica type role from last season. At just 19, the Queensland under-20s forward is already 113kg and at 195cm, he was a frightening sight for NRL rivals at the Nines. Fa’asuamaleaui played five first-grade games last season and will be looking for a huge 2020 before he joins the Titans next year.
Verdict: Watchlist. Despite the HUGE upside, NAS on an extended bench likely means Big Tino sees under 25 minutes, or is out of the squad as of round two. Lets hope he can stick.
Harry Grant | HOK ($184,900 | Storm)
The 21-year-old has been linked with a 12-month loan to the Wests Tigers but the Storm have high hopes for Grant, and at this stage he’s in their squad for round one on the bench – with Brandon Smith (facial fracture, round four) out a few weeks. Grant’s stats in Queensland Cup last year are simply insane. In 22 games (playing the full 80 minutes in 20), Grant scored 14 tries, assisted 21 more, made 18 linebreaks, busted 61 tackles and threw 20 offloads — all while averaging close to 40 tackles and 100 metres per game. No wonder Grant is being compared to Damien Cook!
Verdict: AVOID. But, if that trade with the Tigers did go through – GET ON!
Sean Keppie | FRF ($201,000 | Sea Eagles) & Morgan Boyle | FRF ($201,000 | Sea Eagles)
Two big-men, both named on the Sea Eagles’ round one bench. In a normal situation with Jurbo and AFB fully healthy and playing their huge minutes I would say there’s no chance either of these two make any noise. But, given both the big guns are coming off shoulder surgery – there could be some hidden upside until Taniela Paseka and Jack Gosiewski return.
Verdict: AVOID. There’s just not enough minutes to go around, plus at the position there are far better cheapie prospects.
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.
Tom Eisenhuth | CTW/2RF ($184,900 | Storm)
Caleb Aekins | FLB ($258,100 | Panthers)
Xavier Coates | CTW ($203,500 | Broncos)
Bradman Best | CTW ($240,700 | Knights)
Jack Hetherington | FRF ($201,000 | Panthers)
Keaon Koloamatangi | FRF/2RF ($171,900 | Rabbitohs)
Stephen Crichton | CTW ($252,800 | Panthers)
Jake Averillo | CTW/HFB ($171,900 | Bulldogs)
Jamil Hopoate | 2RF ($171,900 | Broncos)
Jacob Saifiti | FRF/2RF ($208,400 | Knights)
Billy Magoulias | 2RF ($221,700 | Sharks)
Greg Leleisiuao | CTW ($171,900 | Titans)
Stefano Utoikamanu | FRF ($171,900 | Eels)
Jason Saab | CTW ($271,100 | Dragons)
Oregon Kaufusi | FRF ($255,600 | Eels)
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | CTW/FLB ($171,900 | Cowboys)
Tommy Talau | CTW ($208,220 | Wests Tigers)
Tristan Sailor | CTW ($247,200 | Dragons)
Cody Ramsey | CTW/FLB ($171,900 | Dragons)
Phoenix Crossland | 5/8 ($184,900 | Knights)
Matt Burton | HFB/5/8 ($211,900 | Panthers)
Tex Hoy | 5/8 ($171,900 | Knights)
Pasami Saulo | 2RF/FRF ($184,900 | Knights)
Tautau Moga | CTW ($245,400 | Knights)
Jaimin Joliffe | FRF ($171,900 | Titans)