SuperCoach POD Watch: Jack De Belin, Euan Aitken shape as top buys

THE bye rounds are approaching and that means it’s time to make the tough calls. SuperCoach expert Dave Von Kotze analyses the best players in POD Watch.

AS we return from the representative weekend and head towards Round 10, Dave ‘VK’ Von Kotze takes a look at the men pulling big numbers but low ownership.

It’s SuperCoach POD watch.

1. Elijah Taylor ($313,900/0.3 per cent ownership)

Taylor could be a genuine SuperCoach option going forward but potential owners should definitely wait until they see what role he will play for his new club. Wests Tigers’ new recruit is yet to play his third game for the season, averaging 27 for his first two games and will be set to lose plenty of cash due to a break-even of 104. Taylor should be pencilled into all watch lists.

2. Paul Vaughan ($334,600/1.6 per cent ownership)

Vaughan has found the try-line twice in his last two games which sees him set to increase in price significantly this round due to a break-even of -11. He may have inflated his scores with the recent run of tries but he has seen an increase in game time, averaging 50 minutes over the past two rounds. So if he can keep up these minutes and his season PPM of 1.3, the points and dollars could keep rolling in for the Raiders FRF/2RF.

3. Joseph Leilua ($409,800/3.8 per cent ownership)

Those who brought in BJ instead of Semi Radradra last week were laughing all the way to the bank. Leilua is having a sensational year averaging 98 in his last three games but more importantly 68 over the first third of the season. BJ is flying high with confidence and is showing the form that could see him remain in teams for the remainder of the season and not just the representative period in which the Raiders play rounds 12 and 18.

Joey Leilua has had a superb start to the year for the Raiders.

4. Ben Hannant ($253,600/1.1 per cent ownership)

Hannant averaged 53 for the two games that the Cowboys played last season during the representative period when Matt Scott and James Tamou were on representative duty. Hannant has scored with a handy PPM of 1.1 and could be an option to keep the points ticking over during the rep period with Tamou and Scott expected to retain selection and possibly play less minutes to recover after Origin games.

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5. Jack De Belin ($389,000/4.5 per cent ownership)

The time is drawing near for potential owners to make the move on the Dragons’ FRF/2RF. De Belin has averaged 64 in his last five games in the ‘Red V’ and has maintained an impressive PPM 0.9 despite receiving more minutes this season. With a break-even of 69 this round, his price isn’t predicted to deviate too much so those interested in bringing him in for bye coverage could hold off one more week.

Jack De Belin has averaged 64 in his last five games.

6. Euan Aitken ($275,800/0.9 per cent ownership)

Until Aitken posted his injury-affected zero in round seven he had maintained an average of 51. Aitken still sits with that zero in his rolling average and SuperCoach Gold predicts that he will lose another $14,000 this week due to a break-even of 75, meaning potential owners could give him a start for a discounted price next week to get them through until round 16.

7. James Graham ($377,900/ 19.4 per cent ownership)

The British Bulldog may sit just outside the percentage to be a genuine POD but for those looking weak in the forwards for round 12, there aren’t too many better options running around. Graham is an incredibly consistent performer sitting with a three-game, five-game and season average of 64 points and is a set and forget option that could see owners through until the end of the season.

8. Kenny Edwards ($285,100/ 1.1 per cent ownership)

Edwards has shown the ability to become one of the best POD players of the representative period, however, it all depends on the minutes he receives during rounds 12,15 and 18 as to whether or not he is worth the trade. Edwards currently sits with a five game average of 49 but has scored 63 and 57 in the two games so far this season in which he has played eighty minutes.

Parramatta's Brad Takairangi scores a try during the Bulldogs v Parramatta rugby league game at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. Pic Brett Costello

9. Brad Takairangi ($247,800/3.3 per cent ownership)

For those SuperCoaches looking to chance their arm on a smokey, the high-risk Takairangi could be your weapon of choice. Takairangi (88) combined well with Corey Norman in the halves last game to deliver his highest score of the year and with a break-even of 16, is expected to increase in value this weekend. Although he impressed in the halves against the Bulldogs, the risk lies in the fact that it is unknown how long Kieran Foran will be out for and should he make a return in the near future, with a season average of 43, Takairangi has the ability to burn those who take the plunge.

10. Ethan Lowe ($365,800/14 per cent ownership)

The attacking stats have dried up for Ethan Lowe over the past two games and the Cowboys’ edge forward dropped in value by $16,700 last week. Lowe was another one of the Cowboys who scored well during the representative period last year with 63 and 72 during the big bye rounds and with a break-even of 88, could come into calculations once again for those SuperCoaches looking to bolster their forward packs during this important time of the season.