NRL SuperCoach 2019: Tom Sangster’s top 10 cheapies
Cheapies are the cornerstone of any SuperCoach team and you’ll need approximately 10 in your initial side. Check out Tom Sangster’s FINAL list.
SuperCoach
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperCoach. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Cheapies are the cornerstone of any SuperCoach team and you’ll need approximately 10 in your initial side.
Below are the 10 I’m running with, as it currently stands, fully updated following round 1 team announcements.
Luke Garner
Club: Tigers
Position: 2RF
Price: $265,100
Job security is an enormous factor for cheapies and this is where Garner has the edge over rivals. He appears locked in until the return of Chris Lawrence (broken jaw), who is out long-term. Garner started the week as the 109th most popular player. He is up to 39th and rising fast.
Tom Opacic
Club: Cowboys
Position: CTW
Price: $265,100
Again, job security is the key factor, with the former Bronco winning a centre spot at the Cowboys ahead of Ben Hampton. Opacic managed just 10 games at the Broncos last year, spending plenty of time on the bench and only averaging 42 minutes. The lack of game time has kept him in the cheapie range for 2019. As a guide of potential output, Opacic averaged 42 in 2016 over 64 minutes per game, almost double his average from last season.
Tevita Tatola
Club: Rabbitohs
Position: FRF
Price: $224,200
Named to start at prop for the Rabbitohs and should therefore score 40 minutes, well up on last year’s average of 24, at least until George Burgess returns in Round 4. This should be enough time to score a decent rise before trading to Payne Haas.
Mikaele Ravalawa
Club: Dragons
Position: CTW
Price: $168,100
The most popular player in SuperCoach, Zac Lomax, is a shock omission for Round 1. Thankfully he has been replaced by another cheapie in Ravalawa. What’s more, the Fijian flyer is almost $30,000 cheaper, which provides extra cash to upgrade elsewhere. Ravalawa certainly has the attacking game to make some serious SuperCoach cash, scoring a freakish try in the trials where he beat at least four defenders.
Dylan Brown
Club: Eels
Position: HFB, Five-eighth
Price: $168,100
Deserves his spot as the most popular player in SuperCoach. Confirmed to start the year at five-eighth and at bottom dollar, Brown is simply a must-have. The New Zealand product is so highly-rated the Warriors attempted to poach him to replace Cronulla-bound Shaun Johnson, which prompted a stern reaction from the Eels.
Briton Nikora
Club: Sharks
Position: 2RF, CTW
Price: $168,100
Confirmed the starting edge back row spot of Wade Graham (ACL), who will miss the first 2-3 months. It all adds up for Nikora, who is highly rated by new coach John Morris and has crucial dual position flexibility between the backs and forwards. Rightly the third most popular player.
Adam Keighran
Club: Warriors
Position: HFB, Five-eighth
Price: $168,100
He hardly banged the door down in the trials but still scored the Warriors’ halves spot vacated by Shaun Johnson and likely kicks goals. The 21-year-old led the Panthers NSW Cup side to the minor premiership last season as a playmaker. In the previous season, Keighran made the Team of the Year at centre. He comes into 2019 as one of the biggest halves in the competition, which means more runs than the average playmaker.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Club: Raiders
Position: CTW, FLB
Price: $265,500
Currently the 12th most popular player and rising. CNK is confirmed the Canberra fullback spot after moving across the ditch during the pre-season. At $265,500, he’s not quite a genuine cheapie but he still has huge room for improvement. As a guide to his potential output, CNK averaged 47 in five games as a winger in 2017, which equates to a price of approximately $450,000 and rise of almost $200,000.
Reuben Garrick
Club: Sea Eagles
Position: CTW
Price: $168,100
The former Dragon sat outside the top 100 players just a fortnight ago. However, he has surged to 11th after being named on the Manly wing for Round 1. The bustling centre turns 22 in 2019 and after five years in the St George system he opted to head to the Northern Beaches to seek a better chance of making his NRL debut. Garrick made 21 NSW Cup appearances last season, scoring 10 tries, assisting in eight more while making 12 line breaks and 55 tackle breaks.
Jordan Kahu
Club: Cowboys
Position: CTW, FLB
Price: $278,700
Yes this is probably cheating as he sits out of cheapie range at $278,700, but the lack of genuine bargains make Kahu one of the better cheap buys. The former Bronco has won the fullback spot for the Cowboys and likely kicks goals. He starts cheap after averaging just 30 last season playing injured, while he also gave up the kicking duties to Jamayne Isaako. Last year’s poor season appears an outlier — he has averaged 45, 44 and 39 in the past.
MORE SUPERCOACH:
Full SuperCoach News section / Cheapie Bible / Predicted round one teams / Sangster’s team / Champ’s team / Wilfred’s team / Tallis’s team / Copes’ team / Huge rule change / Top 10 rookies in NRL
NOTABLE OMISSIONS
* Corey Allan – Formerly the third most popular player, the Rabbitohs rookie has been benched for Round 1 and is therefore a sell.
* Zac Lomax, Bronson Xerri, Albert Hopoate, Taane Milne, Chanel Harris-Tavita - These popular cheapies missed Round 1 teams.
* Blayke Brailey, Kurt Mann - Named for Round 1 but bench hookers lack the minutes required for any meaningful SuperCoach contribution.
* Tui Kamikamica – Will struggle for minutes with Craig Bellamy naming four middle forwards on his bench.
* Bailey Simonsson - Canberra debutant appears a placeholder for Michael Oldfield (groin).
* Maika Sivo - Set to lose his spot to George Jennings, who is out with a knee injury.
* Paul Momirovski - Named at centre for the Tigers. However, he is a SuperCoach risk with Moses Mbye (knee) and David Nofoaluma (shoulder) due back soon.
* Lachlan Burr - Set to switch to bench or out of side once Isaiah Papali’i returns from a disciplinary suspension.
* Jacob Host and Blake Lawrie – Set for reduce roles once Korbin Sims returns from suspension in Round 3.
* Thomas Flegler – Likely to drop out when Payne Haas returns from suspension in Round 4.
Originally published as NRL SuperCoach 2019: Tom Sangster’s top 10 cheapies
SuperCoach trial scores: Rookie star proves he’s a must-have
One of the most popular cheap guns in SuperCoach justified his hype after a dazzling pre-season display. See all the SuperCoach scores and analysis from week three of trials.
NRL SuperCoach Draft: Expert consensus rankings revealed
To help you pick the right players on draft night, our experts have ranked their top players to come up with the 2025 consensus SuperCoach Draft rankings.