SuperCoach NRL: Wilfred Zee identifies three under the radar cheapies

If cheapies who make you money are SuperCoach gold then money-making cheapies with low ownership are diamonds. Former champ Wilfred Zee unearths three glittering gems.

• Cheapie Bible: Bargains who will make or break your season

• NRL Physio: Casualty ward from final trials

• Predicted teams for round one

We all like to make money, and we know there isn’t a magic formula to do it. Buy low, sell high.

To do that effectively you need to cash in on the right cheapies. Sometimes though, a sneaky purchase can make a world of difference – even a $50,000 difference – if you start with a sneaky POD cheapie that carries risk, but can give you both good points and also a jump-start to the finances when you cash him in.

These are the types of decisions that can make or break your season!

Wilfred 'Catfish' Zee identifies three under the radar cheapies.

1. BAILEY SIMONSSON ($168,100 – CTW/FLB – 2.9%) RAIDERS

Simonsson is officially part of the top squad now after only just having been signed on a one-year development contract in December 2018 (after previously having been given a train-and-trial contract with the club). His preseason has impressed the Raiders so much that he has been upgraded to the top squad and also given a two-year contract, and most recently played fullback ahead of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the trial against the Eels.

Bailey Simonsson is battling Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for the fullback job at the Raiders.

There are whispers that he may be a surprise inclusion for round one – especially if Michael Oldfield isn’t fit – although the shadow of Oldfield and even Rapana looms. Still, that progression over the preseason is seriously impressive and he is surely ticking a LOT of boxes in Ricky Stuart’s book.

2. LIAM KNIGHT ($249,500 – FRF – 0.4%) RABBITOHS

Perhaps more well known for his unintentional endorsement of Aeroguard rather than his football, Knight finds himself at his third club despite just the 10 first grade appearances in his young career. The talent and ability, as well as his obvious physical gifts (Knight stands 191cm tall and weighs in at around 106kg) aren’t lacking but it has been his struggle between the ears that has held him back.

Liam Knight (C) has the chance to revamp his NRL career with the Rabbitohs. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

Knight is in a prime position to get that sorted out though, and the SuperCoach himself has a proven record of figuring out what makes these type of players tick, and getting the most out of them. Knight could find himself on the bench in Round 1 but there is some risk as George Burgess will be out with suspension in the opening rounds. The question is (if Knight is named for round one) whether or not he will drop out or whether it will be one of the other bench forwards. Round 12 coverage is certainly appealing too, if he’s still around by then!

3. CONNOR TRACEY ($168,100 – HFB – 0.6%) RABBITOHS

Staying with the Rabbitohs, Tracey has waited a long time for a first grade debut, with three consecutive ACL injuries in a short span of time threatening to end his career before it had fully begun. Tracey made a successful comeback in the ISP competition last year, ending up as the ISP five-eighth of the year.

Connor Tracey is the next half up at the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Given the chance to play in the Charity Shield last week but was unsurprisingly overshadowed by his more senior halves partner in Cody Walker. Tracey is most likely the first cab off the rank in the event of an injury to either Walker or the “Glass Man” himself, Adam Reynolds. Adam Doueihi is in line for a halves spot too when he returns from his own injury, but for now Tracey is first drop.

Originally published as SuperCoach NRL: Wilfred Zee identifies three under the radar cheapies