KFC SuperCoach Plus Article: Shocking stats that spike Jason Saab trade

Jason Saab is the most popular buy in KFC SuperCoach this week. But these stats show why Saab is a write-off.

Jason Saab is the most popular buy in KFC SuperCoach this week. 

But is he really worth it?

Tom Sangster weighs up the pros and cons.

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CASE FOR BUYING

* More than just a cash grab, Saab has claims of being a hold until the end of the season. The long-striding winger has averaged a keeper-like 70 since Tommy Turbo returned from injury. For reference, that’s up there with the best CTWs in KFC SuperCoach. Only Reuben Garrick (85.2), Nicho Hynes (84.6) and Brian To’o (77.1) have averaged more this year, and it’s ahead of Alex Johnston (68.7), Valentine Holmes (67.9) and Dane Gagai (67.3).

* The Sea Eagles have an amazing schedule and Saab can realistically be played in seven of the final nine games this season. The only games you wouldn’t play him are against the Storm (Round 21) and Eels (22).

Jason Saab is a try scoring machine.

* Even if you don’t see Saab as a season-long keeper, at the very least he’s a great quick cash grab. Saab has a BE of -52 and projected rise of almost $160,000 over the next fortnight, at which point he can be sold for a Valentine Holmes type at a PROFIT of $60,000. The other option would be to hold Saab until Round 20 and then re-assess before his tough games against the Storm and Eels. Either way, there is plenty of money to be made.

CASE FOR AVOIDING

* Take a deep breath and strap in for a rollercoaster. Saab can go as big as just about anyone, as evidenced in his 162 last week. But his floor is a massive worry with six scores of 30 or under this season.

* Like most Sea Eagles, Saab is heavily reliant on Tom Trbojevic to create his KFC SuperCoach points. And Tommy isn’t available this week (Origin) and is likely ruled out next week as well due to the tight 48-hour turnaround from Origin. This is particularly worrying for Saab given he’s averaged just 22.7 this season when Turbo has been sidelined.

* Pride is a strong emotion and particularly so in KFC SuperCoach. Once a player is sold, it takes some serious intestinal fortitude to buy him back. In Saab’s case nearly 8,000 have already sold this season and I for one am too stubborn to admit I may have got it wrong.

* By this part of the season teams are looking very similar so PODs are crucial to set your side apart. Saab will sit somewhere near 25 per cent ownership by the end of the week and certainly doesn’t sit in that category (although you could argue that a large chunk of that ownership is zombie players from the start of the year and he’s actually a POD among serious players).

CONCLUSION

* The risks are real and Saab is far from a slam dunk. His average of just 22.7 without Turbo doesn’t fill me with much confidence. And the six scores of 30 or under are equally worrying. Daniel Tupou is available for almost exactly the same price and is a much safer buy. Tupou’s base of 31 far outstrips Saab’s 18, while Tupou has done the business consistently over a long period, averaging 63, 71 and 59 over the last three seasons. In summary, it’s Tupou over Saab for Sangster’s Paradise.  

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Plus Article: Shocking stats that spike Jason Saab trade