NRL teams analysis round 4: SuperCoaches are missing top cheapies amid injury crisis

On any normal week, this is one of the better batches of cheapies we’ll see this season. But this is not a normal week, writes TOM SANGSTER.

On any normal week, this is one of the better batches of cheapies we’ll see.

But this is not a normal week, with at least SEVEN very popular players out (more below) and SuperCoaches scrambling to find replacements.

In other words, some of the better cheapies we’ll see this year will go under-appreciated. Except in the column space below. 

CHEAPIES

* Lachlan Galvin 5/8 $204,300 - The most popular buy this week and for good reason. Set for an $84,000 price rise, Galvin is almost a must anyway so why not use all the injuries as an opportunity to get him in?

* Samuela Fainu 2RF $263,000 - Somewhat lost in the hype of Galvin is this seriously talented Tigers young gun. SuperCoach Plus predicts a $63,200 price rise after this week.

* Solomona Faataape CTW $204,300 - Strangely nowhere to be seen in the most-purchased list. When we look at cheapies we generally look at two things - price rise potential and job security. Job security is usually the column hardest to fill, but that’s not the case for Faataape given the long-term injury to Starford To’a. The predicted price rise of $20,400 is not the greatest, but he’d be one of the most purchased players on many other weeks.

The Tigers celebrate the try of Samuela Fainu. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

* Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2RF $322,100 - Like Faataape, he has great job security for a cheapie given Luciano Leilua has left the Cowboys and Heilum Luki is out until round 9. Finefeuiaki is an absolute beast in actual NRL but it doesn’t quite translate to SuperCoach. He’s still well under-represented this week.

* Blaize Talagi CTW $204,300 - It was somewhat of a shock to see Talagi named at five-eighth for the Eels following the injury to Mitchell Moses, with the likes of Daejarn Asi heavily-backed pre-TLT. But Talagi scored the gig after making his debut at centre over the weekend for an impressive 67 points, smashing the eye test on the process. We are told fullback and five-eighth - not centre - are Talagi’s best positions and Moses is out long-term so we have a serious cheapie on our hands here. But next week is the time to buy.

* Kayal Iro CTW/FLB $219,900 - Six - yes SIX - Sharks forwards are out. So Siosifa Talakai moves into the pack which gives Iro a crack at centre. Iro was the most purchased SuperCoach player at one stage during the pre-season and his selection no doubt pricks the ears of many. But for now, he is only there due to injury and the Sharks have the bye next week, so hold fire.

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Nathan Cleary HFB $883,600 and Mitchell Moses HFB $681,700 - Cleary is out for four weeks with a hamstring injury - that’s three SuperCoach rounds given we’d already factored in the bye. Moses is out for 8-12 weeks with a foot injury. And with those two injuries the halfback position is wide open. With Jahrome Hughes on the bye and Nicho Hynes set to drop mass cash, for me the best replacement in the position is Luke Brooks. See my full analysis here, but at the very least Brooks will make decent money while you wait for Cleary’s return.

* Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 2RF/FRF $791,500 - Out for the season with an ACL injury and a definite sell. Addin Fonua-Blake (more below) is by far the best replacement at prop.

* Reece Walsh FLB $750,600 - Set to miss four weeks with a facial fracture and James Tedesco is the best replacement. Also, Tom Trbojevic is strangely low on the buy this list week despite horrible luck in the opening rounds. He’s set for a whopper.

* Taine Tuaupiki FLB/CTW $324,400 - Popular cheapie is out this week through concussion. And with Charze Nicoll-Klokstad set to return from a hamstring injury next week, his prices rises are over. Sell.

* Brendan Piakura 2RF $414,500 - The popular mid-ranger is out for four weeks with an ankle injury in a serious blow for SuperCoaches.

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Apisai Koroisau HOK $572,200 - Huge purchase this week given great base stats, great attacking stats, great minutes and goalkicking (although he did hand over some kicks last week to Aiden Sezer due to cramp). Set for a $75,000 price rise but I’ll be waiting until next week for Harry Grant, who is on the bye this week.

* David Fifita 2RF $832,100 - SuperCoach weapon named 18th man for the Titans as he makes his way back from injury. A big option down the track as our forward options dwindle.

* Roger Tuivasa-Sheck CTW $577,200 - Making big money as a centre and now moves to his favoured fullback position this week with Tuaupiki injured.

HOLD

* Nicholas Hynes HFB $862,000 - Hynes has a BE of 126 and is set to drop mass cash again on top of the $108,00 he’s already leaked, then has the bye next week.

Could be a bargain buy in round 6.

A popular sell at the start of the week, but the injuries to Cleary and Moses mean Hynes is now the best halfback in the game, even accounting for mediocre recent form.

* Harry Grant HOK $712,600 - Even with the bye this week and Origin coming, Grant again looks to be a clear leader at hooker this year.

Harry Grant has the bye this week. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

ROUND FOUR TEAMS

ROOSTERS v PANTHERS

Thursday, 8pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Terrell May 11. Nat Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Connor Watson 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Egan Butcher 17 Angus Crichton

Reserves: 18. Michael Jennings 19. Siua Wong 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Dylan Napa

PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Matt Eisenhuth16. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer

Reserves: 18. Soni Luke 19. Jack Cole 20. Ativalu Lisati 21. Paul Alamoti 22. Tyrone Peachey

RABBITOHS v BULLDOGS

Friday, 4:05pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

RABBITOHS

1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3.Jack Wighton, 4. Isaiah Tass, 5. Taane Milne, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Dean Hawkins, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10.Thomas Burgess, 11. Keaon Koloamatangi, 12. Jacob Host, 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Michael Chee Kam, 15. Tallis Duncan, 16. Shaquai Mitchell, 17. Davvy Moale

Reserves: 18. Saliva Havili, 19. Lachlan Ilias, 20. Sean Keppie, 21. Peter Mamouzelos 22. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson

BULLDOGS

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Connor Tracey 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Liam Knight 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Josh Curran 17. Kurtis Morrin

Reserves: 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Toby Sexton 21. Jake Turpin 22. Kitione Kautoga 23. Josh Addo-Carr

BRONCOS v COWBOYS

Friday, 8pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

BRONCOS

1. Tristan Sailor 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Fletcher Baker 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench:

14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Corey Oates

Reserves: 18. Benjamin Te Kura 19. Jock Madden 20. Delouise Hoeter 21. Martin Taupau 22. Jordan Pereira

COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 4. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Jack Gosiewski

Reserves: 18. Tomas Chester 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Semi Valemei 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Jake Clifford

DRAGONS v SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 5:30pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

DRAGONS

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Jesse Marschke 15. Jack de Belin 16. Hame Sele 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Reserves: 18. Christian Tuipulotu 19. Michael Molo 20. Viliami Fifita 21. Connor Muhleisen 22. Matthew Feagai

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Tommy Talau 20. Aaron Woods 21. Brad Parker

TITANS v DOLPHINS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

TITANS

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Keenan Palasia 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Jaimin Jolliffe

Bench: 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Joe Stimson

Reserves: 18. David Fifita 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Harley Smith-Shields 21. Thomas Weaver 22. Josiah Pahulu

DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone

Reserves: 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Tesi Niu 22. Mason Teague

WARRIORS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland

WARRIORS

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Marata Niukore 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Dylan Walker

Reserves: 18. Tom Ale 19. Jazz Tevaga 21. Chanel Harris-Tevita 22. Te Maire Martin 23. Ali Leiataua

KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12 Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Bench : 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mat Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Jed Cartwright 20. Thomas Cant 21. Will Pryce 22. Jackson Hastings

SHARKS v RAIDERS

Sunday, 6:15pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Siosifa Talakai 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Billy Burns 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves: 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Blake Hosking 20. Samuel Stonestreet 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Max Bradbury

RAIDERS

1. Jordan Rapana 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Zac Hosking 17. Pasami Saulo

Reserves: 18. Trey Mooney 19. Corey Horsburgh 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Trey Mooney 21. Nick Cotric

EELS v TIGERS

Monday, 4pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

EELS

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Blaize Talagai 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi

Reserves: 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Wiremu Greig 20. Brendan Hands 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Bailey Simonsson

WESTS TIGERS

1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

Interchange: 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Asu Kepaoa 17. Samuela Fainu

Reserves: 18. Justin Matamua 19. Latu Fainu 20. Alex Lobb 21. Brent Naden 22. Tallyn Da Silva

Originally published as NRL teams analysis round 4: SuperCoaches are missing top cheapies amid injury crisis