Bargain Basement: All hail Suliasi Vunivalu, king of the cheapies after yet another double for the Storm

STORM tryscoring machine Suliasi Vunivalu is the lone shining star in a landscape all but devoid of quality cheapies as we head towards the bye period.

CHEAPIES have been everywhere for us this year, but in select positions for the most part — HOK, HFB, 5/8 and FLB.
Where we were crying out for a few has been the CTW position (aside from Kerrod Holland).

All hail the great Suliasi Vunivalu!

Three games, three doubles. Enough for SuperCoach crazy cats like many of you reading this article to jump off the couch when your loved ones and even some commentators wondered “Who is that?!”.

Suliasi Vunivalu crosses for yet another meat pie against the Titans. Picture: Adam Head

To which you respond with the perfect annunciation of his surname and dismay that they all haven’t heard of him.

Ah, the beauty of SuperCoach.

There are very few prime targets as we enter the rep round of matches, but this is a good chance for us to take stock and really work out what to do with a couple of the “Do I sell before byes?” conundrums. Here we go …

Freshies

Ryan Matterson 5/8 (Roosters, 1.8 per cent owned) — 31 points

Many a SuperCoacher will have been excited about the newest City Origin member after last week’s debut, it seems Freddy Fittler certainly was. However, despite many rumours circulating that Jackson Hastings would drop to the bench for Matterson to start, it didn’t eventuate. Bench minutes are a worry, but if you’re crying out for a 5/8 downgrade he seems the best prospect with 11 tackles, 4 points in tackle busts and 10 points in runs over 8m.

Verdict: Seems to be liked around the NSW level, which bodes well for his job security in clubland. Not the worst downgrade but don’t expect huge scores.

Ryan Matterson offers a few positives. Picture: Getty Images

Curtis Scott CTW (Storm, 5.9 per cent owned) — 0 points

Scott was all the rage at the start of the season when there was an opening in the Storm backline. It seems as though there is an endless line of cheapies down there! Well, news surfaced last week that Scott had trained with the first grade squad and was almost a late inclusion for their clash with the Titans, ending up playing in the under-20s. He will no doubt push for selection after the rep break and come into cheapie contention for all of us before his third game.

Verdict: Great that he has recovered from his broken leg, but with a BE of 15 (and the 3 in his rolling average for another two games) we can maybe wait and watch for a week.

Curtis Scott is back in a very muddled Melbourne Storm backline picture. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Cameron Cullen HFB | 5/8 (Titans, 5.2 per cent owned) — 0 points

We warned of the tempting negative BE and to look past that at the fact Ash Taylor was always a chance of returning, and he did! So the some 5000 coaches who brought in the cheap HFB|5/8 will be disappointed.

Verdict: Cross him off the list, Ash Taylor would need to miss significant time for Cullen to be relevant.

Cameron Cullen appears on the outer at the Titans. Picture: Getty Images

Vai Toutai CTW (Eels, 0.7 per cent owned) — 41 points

Well here’s an interesting one. Brad Takarangi’s unlikely move to the halves paved the way for Toutai’s return to the top grade in the centres. Cast our eyes back to 2014 and Toutai managed a 46.2 average when on the wing, add to that a try on his return, plus a stellar bye schedule and you would be silly not to ‘have a geez’ at his second game.

Verdict: Tough one to read, it all depends on how long Kieran Foran is out for but seems like a possibility.

Vai Toutai made the most of his recall. Picture: Getty Images

Brock Lamb HFB | 5/8 (Knights, 0.7 per cent owned) — 28 points

Lamb got first crack at replacing Jarrod Mullen’s vacant five-eighth spot. Unlike most cheapie halves we have seen this year, Lamb is in a team that literally struggles to score — I don’t mean score a lot, I mean AT ALL. In a 38-0 thrashing at the hands of the Roosters, there’s never going to be many positives but one promising sign was the 23 tackles. Round 12 bye may be a tempter?

Verdict: Watchlist. Let’s all have another look this week, but in a position that is stuffed full of guns (JT, Milford, Hunt, SJ etc) and plenty of other rookies it will be hard to fit him in.

Brock Lamb showed some potential. Picture: AAP

Clay Priest 2RF (Raiders, 0 per cent owned) — 25 points

A costly error late in the golden point loss won’t help his cause with Sticky at the selection table, that’s for sure. As for SuperCoach, scores in the mid-20s won’t help us either.

Verdict: It’s a no from me.

Michael Chee-Kam CTW | 2RF (Tigers, 6.3 per cent owned) — 24 points

As you can see with the ownership percentage, Chee-Kam was touted to have a role from the outset this season with the Tigers. It’s taken him some time and a few injuries to get a run but he’s there. While 11 tackles and 14 points in runs over 8m is steady there is a serious lack of minutes.

Verdict: With the enticing round 12 bye coverage there he is a watch next week, but it’s not looking likely he becomes a trade-in option.

Michael Chee-Kam needs more minutes to make him a viable trade-in option. Picture: AAP

Herman Ese’ese FRF (Broncos, 0.2 per cent owned) — 14 points

No, no and apostrophe no. Ese’ese is not an option in a strong Broncos outfit even for the Origin week where Parker, Gillett and McGuire et al will be out.

Verdict: 19, followed by 14 is not enough. No-go zone people.

Current Crop

Nathan Davis CTW (Titans, 22.8 per cent owned) — 26 points

Did you catch the mail coming in that Davis firmed as a likely starter late in the week at training? This was Davis’ third game and, as I mentioned like a broken record about Davis and Javid Bowen, you have to be ready to pounce when they get the call-up. This one was a tough game given the Titans didn’t score a single point, but the next two games against the Roosters and Panthers should tell us all if he’s worth keeping past round 12.

Verdict: Hold until round 12. Hopefully you were like me and were able to jump at Davis to secure his first price rise on the weekend, if not, unfortunately it’s too late.

Nathan Davis finally rewarded his patient owners. Picture: Getty Images

Kerrod Holland CTW (Bulldogs, 40.6 per cent owned) — 42 points

So he is human. In what was a disappointing performance for the Bulldogs all around, Holland didn’t see the regular attacking stats we have gotten used to seeing. Only the 14 tackles (down from mid 20s normally), and only eight points in hit-ups over 8m. He’ll be back bigger and better next week when the Bulldogs meet the Tigers who are conceding lots of points.

Verdict: This will be the last time I cover Holland. Keep him through the byes, and potentially a 5th/6th CTW option season long in my opinion.

Kerrod Holland had a rare off game for the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Suliasi Vunivalu CTW (Storm, 26.99 per cent owned) — 76 points

From 0.1 per cent owned, to 26.9 per cent in one week. That’s a lot of T buttons hit! Man, what a start to an NRL career. Three games, three doubles plus two linebreaks, six points in tackle busts, an offload and 10 hit-ups. Well played son, more of it! An $80k rise to $193,700, a BE of -42 and a projected $58k rise after R10. Keep going son!

Verdict: There was a big backline reshuffle last week, and Curtis Scott on the horizon, but surely he’s done enough to hold his spot, so much $$$$$$$.

Patrick Kaufusi FRF | 2RF (Cowboys, 1.9 per cent owned) — 15 points

Thank goodness Vunivalu popped up last week to distract us from Kaufusi, as I’m sure many would have jumped on otherwise. As we shouted on the LIVE Countdown show last week, Kaufusi was a trap in my opinion. Fifteen points doesn’t cut it, and is one to avoid.

Verdict: I hope you didn’t jump on, as amazingly he missed his BE and will drop in price! Remarkable.

Warnings that Patrick Kaufusi was a trap were spot on. Picture: Zak Simmonds

James Fisher-Harris FRF | 2RF (Panthers, 5.5 per cent owned) — 36 points

Man, the highs and lows of professional sport. JFH was elevated to the starting back row in a late change to the line-up in Bathurst. Hallelujah! An early try assist for Bryce Cartwright’s runaway try plus 17 tackles, eight points in offloads and nine hit-ups all before half time where he succumbed to a rib injury. It’s a shame as he was on pace for 50+ to follow up the 103 from last week. Hopefully the injury isn’t too bad!

Verdict: Eclipses the $200k barrier this week, and hopefully after the rep break can make us even a little more yet, before being a sell in round 12.

James Fisher-Harris was on track for another good score before injury struck. Picture: Getty Images

Luke Bateman FRF | 2RF (Raiders, 3.1 per cent owned) — 40 points

That was a nice game from Bateman, particularly when it got close toward the end in crunch time. This sees increases in minutes, tackles (22), and points for runs over 8m (14). Scores of 33, 32 and 40 in the past three weeks is in the Daniel Saifiti mould, worth keeping for round 12, but not for buying now.

Verdict: Keeps his BE at bay for another week and still has some cash to make.

Luke Bateman is earning his keep but isn’t a buy option. Picture: AAP

Jacob Saifiti FRF | 2RF (Knights, 42.1 per cent owned) — 0 points

Rested, and that’s a godsend for those that couldn’t trade him out last week. Went for me to Vunivalu last week (via Henry). Has to go to Curtis Scott, Javid Bowen or any of the other cheapies that arise.

Verdict: Sell. Quickly. Hopefully for his owners’ sake he doesn’t get back in the team so that he doesn’t leak any more cash.

Jacob Saifiti should be sold as a matter of urgency. Picture: Getty Images

Daniel Saifiti FRF (Knights, 10.0 per cent owned) — 33 points

Last time I speak about Saifiti, he’s the definition of a slow burn. Another score in the low 30s will just about kick him over the $180k barrier but is a sell as soon as possible after round 12.

Verdict: Hold until round 13. Then ship him out quicker than you can say #Sanga’sStalwartsSuck. I know, it’s a tongue twister …

Daniel Saifiti is a hold for now. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Kirisome Auva’a CTW (Rabbitohs, 5.4 per cent owned) — 54 points

Did you jump on board? It would have been a gutsy call but for those that did, well played! A centre spot locked down in a Rabbitohs team that you would have to think is going to improve is promising, as were the 54 points against the Tigers! Scored a try, 13 tackles, four tackle busts, and 16 points in runs over 8m. Nice. The downside is that he is in a struggling side, and even in his breakout season Auva’a only managed to average 46.1 PPG over the course of 2014.

Verdict: Auva’a is well worth a look, mainly after round 12, but not for everyone.

Kirisome Auva'a will catch the fancy of some. Picture: Mark Evans

Josh Aloiai FRF | 2RF (Tigers, 18.1 per cent owned) — 29 points

Again the minutes were there for Aloiai, but unfortunately the Tigers are leaning on Tim Grant, Ava Seumanufagai and Suaso Sue more than the youngster.

Verdict: Wait for a cheapie to arise, then sell, sell, sell.

It’s also time to get rid of young Tiger Josh Aloiai. Picture: AAP

Addin Fonua-Blake FRF (Sea Eagles, 1.9 per cent owned) — 29 points

Seriously big man is Fonua-Blake. He didn’t seem a great SuperCoach prospect and, like Kaufusi, showed us all why bench big men are generally a no-go zone. His 29 points to go with the 33 and 15 in previous weeks is not enough, and given he doesn’t play round 12 is off the list.

Verdict: Noooooooo.

Addin Fonua-Blake is a big dude but has little else to recommend him. Picture: Gregg Porteous

There we have it, I have deliberately left off the Warriors cheapies from last week’s six-man axing that McFadden handed down because I think the team will change this week — so let’s wait and see on that one! Jazz Tevaga, for example, scored 64 and played big minutes but is normally a bench utility with an average of 28. Dust to settle over the rep round.

This week’s best prospects lie in Matterson and Curtis Scott (if named next week) so that tells us it may be upgrade week!

Good luck.

Originally published as Bargain Basement: All hail Suliasi Vunivalu, king of the cheapies after yet another double for the Storm