NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible round 13

FINALLY we have our first shock cheapie of the season fall into our laps at THE perfect time.

BLUE dots. Everywhere.

Did you just take a look at your team, not realise just how dire the situation of your franchise is — like Donald Trump not understanding the public perception of his frivolous tweets — and want to hit the ‘Delete Team’ button? Don’t fret, you’re not alone and between 12-17 players is an excellent result.

Each week the Cheapie Bible — presented by hipages — will take a long look at the money-makers, the players we all grow man crushes on, and even the ones who seriously let us down like being stood up on a blind date.

Ultimately, I will sift through who we should be buying, selling and holding of the sub $250k price bracket all season long. As players hike in price past the $300k mark (or start losing cash) I will give a final verdict before they exit this list.

Here we go with a bye-round shortened version…

Te Maire Martin HFB | 5/8 (NQC | $209,100) - 39 points

Te Maire Martin is a popular buy once again. Picture: Zak Simmonds

I dubbed Martin the ‘cheapie of the week’ last week and he didn’t let me down with the 39 points including a try assist and a jaw-droppingly high 30 tackles. Had it not been for -3 in missed tackles, -3 in kicks going dead, -4 in errors and -4 in penalties conceded (totaling -14) it would have been a very good score in a 7-6 low-scoring game against the Storm.

VERDICT: BUY. It’s not too late if you didn’t jump on last week, and anyone owning a Cartwright, Croker, JMK type at five-eighth … Do it!

Enari Tuala CTW (NQC | $177,300) - 25 points

Well, well, well. We have our first shock cheapie of the season fall into our laps at THE perfect time — the first big bye round with a price rise looming. Tuala played the last two weeks off the bench for scores of 28 (47 minutes) and 25 (42 minutes), but he has been named to START in the centres this weekend against the depleted Sea Eagles at the expense — surprisingly — of Ben Hampton.

Enari Tuala has been named to start at centre.

The starting centre role means I will forgive the poor PPM in his first few matches with the upside of more tries. Tuala has represented Queensland at every level since the under 12s, played for the Junior Kangaroos and debuted for the Cowboys in round 24 last season - so there is pedigree here. BE of just 5 and likely peaks before the round 17 bye, then sold at a profit.

VERDICT: BUY*. The proviso being that you do it with 19+ trades in the bank and if it’s cash you need to create with points this week in order to afford Fifita etc, as Tuala is one of the only options around.

Enari Tuala is surging up the SuperCoach rankings.

John Olive CTW (BUL | $177,300) - 52 points

Wow. To say I’m pleasantly surprised that Olive was able to notch 52 points without a try (after averaging a paltry 12PPG in five matches last season) is one of the great understatements. The 10 points in tackle busts are exciting, as is the speed he showed for his linebreak, along with the 22 points in hit ups. Ok, ok, I see you Olive… And I’ll see you likely as a member of the Copes’ Crusaders prior to his round 15 meeting with the Titans.

VERDICT: WAIT. Possibly even avoid Tuala above for the sake of creating cash in that CTW spot with Olive in two weeks instead.

Adam Doueihi CTW (STH | $189,300) - 24 points

Feeling frisky? I thought I would nominate Douehi again, given he is named to start at fullback this weekend in the absence of Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai, Alex Johnston and Richie Kennar to Origin and injury. Essentially Douehi is a one-week wonder play, with the high risk of being an AE nightmare off the bench moving forward.

VERDICT: NO. Not for me, but he is undoubtedly a higher upside play than Tuala for this week’s score. Congrats to those who held through the price drops.

Adam Doueihi will play fullback this week. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Alexander (AJ) Brimson HFB | 5/8 (GCT | $212,100) - 35 points

Brimson was the most purchased player in round 12 — despite the bye this week — and whilst he disappointed with only 35 points he looked likely once again and increased in price by $47,500. His spot in the side is seemingly safe and he has plenty more cash to make for the 23 per cent of teams who own the Titans youngster.

VERDICT: HOLD. Still a buy next week with the BE sitting at -18.

Campbell Graham CTW (STH | $260,800) - 39 points

After the 22-point dud last weekend, owners were no doubt praying for something to kick Graham on past this bye week coverage before selling in round 14. Well, 39 points led to a $12k price rise and kept the BE at just 25 this week meaning he will provide invaluable points and increase (hopefully!) a little more before the masses sell to John Olive.

VERDICT: HOLD. Graham has done his job, creating initial cash, making some of his own and making it all the way to the bye. Sell next week.

Trent Hodkinson HFB (MNL | $252,900) - 30 points

Hodkinson returned to starting in the halves on the weekend in the absence of Dylan Walker through injury, scoring 30 points and getting sin-binned to boot! The positives here were the try assist and 16 points in goal kicking (we knew he was a sharp-shooter!), the negatives were the obvious sin-bin detracting -8 points and extremely low base with ONE solitary run and just eight tackles.

VERDICT: AVOID. After watching for a week, I would much prefer TMM at $50k less.

PODCAST! Teams are in for the toughest round of the year so far. Get the lowdown with Tom Sangster and Tim Williams.

Corey Jensen 2RF (NQC | $309,500) - 45 points

Jensen was a left-field suggestion in last week’s Cheapie Bible due to his ‘Peni Terepo-ness’ — a low BE, likely increased role for the few weeks either side of the bye coverage and great PPM. Well, 45 points in 46 minutes was a great result, as was the $24k price rise and now BE of just 11 entering round 13 without the likes of Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess.

VERDICT: RISKY! Not for me, but if Jensen plays 55-ish minutes in the absence of the two Origin guns, he will score 50+ and make some nice cash.

Jack Gosiewski 2RF (MNL | $255,100) - 0 points

What a man! ‘The Gos’ has reappeared at the time of need for all SuperCoaches, and those who held through the treacherous 3-4 week timetable of his injury have been rewarded after the early-season cheapie was named on the bench for the Sea Eagles this week. Should he get through all final hurdles during the week at training he could even start in place of Frank Winterstein.

VERDICT: HOLD! What a gem, hopefully he can jag a 40+ score for us, but certainly don’t be buying him now!

Kotoni Staggs 2RF (BRO | $164,600) - 13 points

I WARNED YOU! Staggs is a talented young kid, but Wayne Bennett simply doesn’t give his rookies the minutes to be SuperCoach relevant (barring an injury/HIA). Over 3,000 SuperCoaches bought the young Bronco after just one game, and would have been drooping their chin in their beer all weekend after 13 points in 19 minutes.

VERDICT: AVOID. Take a look next week, but there’s basically no scenario where I see Staggs being a worthwhile buy.

FINAL VERDICT

Players who surpass $300k (or heaven forbid, start to lose cash!) will feature in this section with a summation of where they are at and what you should be doing in the future.

Rhyse Martin 2RF (BUL | $356,500) - 61 points

Here he is! The likely ‘cheapie of the year’ winner has dished up yet another 80-minute, 61-point gem along with a $75,600 price rise to total $192,000 in rises through just TWO weeks. Incredible. Martin hits his bye this weekend with an average of 68.3PPG and projected peak-price of over $600k! Martin is that good he is a best 17 caliber player and a MUST HOLD at this point all the way through his coverage of the round 17 bye week, and maybe the entire season. I mean, imagine if he added the accomplished goal kicking duties too… #GOD2.0! Bravo young man, bravo.

VERDICT: HOLD. What a star, do NOT sell due to the bye.

Tyrone Phillips CTW (PTH | $300,700) - 35 points

Phillips went try-less for the second of his four matches to date. Thankfully for owners this time around he managed to score 35 points which isn’t a disaster. Now pushing through the $300k barrier, and still having a BE of -6 Phillips is a hold this week, and plan to sell him down to John Olive in round 15 for a $180k (approx) profit.

VERDICT: HOLD. The negative BE is there, but so is the bye, have patience and hold until John Olive appears.

WATCHLIST

All of these players were in contention, but we can cross these guys off our starting team lists as they have either not been named/on extended bench, are injured or have a diminished role…

Sione Katoa CTW (CRO | $164,900)

Justin Olam CTW (MEL | $164,600)

Taane Milne 2RF | CTW (WST | $192,800)

Mitch Cornish HFB | 5/8 (SYD | $192,800)

Hame Sele 2RF (STG | $212,400)

Greg Leleisiuao CTW (PAR | $164,600)

Kyle Flanagan HFB | 5/8 (SHA | $164,600)

Nat Butcher 2RF (SYD | $192,800)

Lindsay Collins FRF (SYD | $177,300)

* If players aren’t anywhere on the above lists it is because we deem them irrelevant at least for the time being.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible round 13