SuperCoach NRL: Trent Copeland’s Buy, Hold, Sell verdict in Cheapie Bible

THERE’S one cheapie on everyone’s lips this week and a few others well worth the look — it’s all in Trent Copeland’s Cheapie Bible for round 11.

OH man. Not now!

Mahe Fonua and Connor Watson delivered cheapie heaven in round 10, before the former became public enemy number one after sensationally getting dropped (after a MOM performance) after turning up late to training! This week the name Rhyse Martin is on everyone’s lips, with a few tempters to boot.

Resident SuperCoach NRL stats nerd Trent Copeland.

Each week the Cheapie Bible 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 from the sub-$250k price bracket. 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 …

Rhyse Martin 2RF (BUL | $164,600) — 51 points

Booooooo. Martin loomed as the ‘must have’ cheapie for round 11 as the base-price 80-minute man who could potentially even kick goals. Well, none of that is true bar the base price this week as Martin (who still played very well) was named at lock, playing 67 minutes in his second game for 51 points. That 51 was comprised of 30 tackles, a line break and 10 H8’s while generally looking likely to offer something in attack. With a BE of -74 and SuperCoach Stats projected price rise of over $100,000 this week alone, even if the minutes settle around the 60 mark you’d be cray cray not to jump on.

VERDICT: BUY

No round 13 bye coverage hurts. But, hopefully this doesn’t end like the Sorensen, Gosiewski, Hass and Paseka trains all have.

Campbell Graham CTW (STH | $207,700) — 37 points

Two tries in two games for Campbell Graham, and had Rhys Martin not been ‘on the bubble’ this week he would certainly have been in the conversation as the cheapie of the week. With Rob Jennings out, and still no sign of Richie Kennar — Graham has been named to play his third match and is projected by SuperCoach Stats to make $50k this week even with a score of 34. Could it be a double downgrade week?

VERDICT: BUY

Kennar could come back at any time which is the danger, but the upside in a high scoring team like the Rabbitohs with bye coverage is pretty hard to pass up.

Rhyse Martin of the Bulldogs is the cheapie buy of the week.

Tyrone Phillips CTW (PTH | $205,200) — 17 points

Ugh. There’s the downside in SuperCoach terms for a winger who doesn’t score a try. 17 points, and the worst part about it is that with a high score of 80 in his first game and just 17 in the second, is that the 80 goes straight out of his rolling average after next week — meaning unless he goes massive in game three Phillips will likely only make around $50k and then start leaking cash.

VERDICT: AVOID

Yes he could score another try and make money, but I see Graham as the better CTW option mainly due to byes.

Brock Lamb HFB | 5/8 (NEW | $276,300) — 65 points

Lamb is very much in the Connor Watson mould as a speculative halves purchase with bye coverage and handy dual position swing with an injured SJ (that’s killing me!). The 65 points in his return to the side was a great start, but the fact he took over the goal kicking duties is the real kicker here. See what I did there? Old man jokes. Lamb is the buy of the week after Martin for mine, he doesn’t have the tackling base that Connor Watson does, but has far more avenues to put up points at $150k less.

VERDICT: BUY

There’s 20 point downside in bad games, but the upside is high enough to go in on this.

Moeaki Fotuaika FRF (GCT | $164,600) — 30 points

Fotuaika made some waves on debut for the Titans with 59 points, but came back to earth in game two, scoring just 30 points in 32 minutes of action. With the return of Jai Arrow this week at lock, it’s a good sign that Fotuaika holds his spot in the side, and the -33 BE is alluring but the likelihood of scores in the 30s and no round 13 coverage stops me from diving in.

VERDICT: AVOID

With Rhys Martin a higher priority, Fotuaika will be a low key trade in.

Brock Lamb will provide decent bye round cover and should make owners some money over next 3-4 weeks.

Taniela Paseka FRF (MNL | $214,500) — 18 points

Hopefully the regulars who read this article (and therefore avoided Paseka) aren’t going to be disappointed here, as Paseka copped a nasty ankle injury which will rule him out anywhere between 4-6 weeks — and miss the important round 13 bye coverage that most people who did buy him were counting on.

VERDICT: SELL

A sell for a tiny profit to Rhys Martin is the way to go this week.

Payne Haas FRF (BRO | $164,600) — 8 points

Well, the injury didn’t keep Haas from taking his place in the Broncos side, but it did stop him scoring — just 8 points in 8 minutes before succumbing to a dislocated shoulder (and making an unbelievable defensive effort while it was still out!). Despite that being his third game, Haas didn’t increase in price at all. What a shame.

VERDICT: HOLD

You simply have to, unless you trade to Rhys Martin this week.

Karl Lawton HOK | 2RF (NZL | $259,00) — 45 points

After the two-try debut for the Warriors, Lawton had the opportunity to start in the hooker role with Isaac Luke on the shelf with the shoulder dislocation. Unfortunately the second outing wasn’t as fruitful (for any of the Warriors really!) getting smashed by the Roosters. Now, with Isaac Luke named to return Lawton drops back to the reserves making him a no-go.

VERDICT: AVOID

Fantastic to see him back in the NRL, but there’s no time for being sentimental in SuperCoach.

Alexander (AJ) Brimson HFB | 5/8 (GCT | $164,600) — 30 points

Brimson starts with a 30 point score, but there were signs there he has what it takes to be a useful NRL player, but also a nice SuperCoach cheapie in the process. The quickness of feet at the line is very much in the Connor Watson mould, and while the Titans aren’t scoring many points, it looks as though his spot is safe for the short term. However, unless he goes massive this weekend I would anticipate him being an ‘avoid’.

VERDICT: WATCH

For at least another week before price rises.

Jack Williams CTW | 2RF (CRO | $164,600) — 59 points

With the injuries to Scott Sorensen, Luke Lewis and late-out of Paul Gallen, Jack Williams made his debut for the Sharks — scoring 59 points in 50 minutes with a try! With Capewell-like handy dual position and potential to cover round 13, the great thing is we can sit back and watch this week and then make 100% sure that he plays in round 13 and makes money.

VERDICT: WAIT!

FINAL VERDICT

Players that 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 looking to do in the future.

Connor Watson 5/8 | FLB (NEW | $416,600) — 75 points

How good is he!!! Watson has been my pump-up purchase in the halves for three weeks since returning from injury, and has delivered big time! This week’s gem of a game included a try, another 20 tackles, 14 points in tackle busts and two line breaks. That’s now five games uninjured for Watson, putting up 57, 57, 67, 68, and 75 for an average of 64.8PPG. Don’t expect THAT average to keep up, but it says a lot about how good he is going that even priced at $416k this week Watson is the third most traded in player (at time of writing).

VERDICT: HOLD

This is best case scenario for those that jumped on the week Lachlan Croker went down. Hold until he plays round 13 then sell as a low priority moving forward.

#BRINGBACKMAHETHEMULLET

Mahe Fonua CTW (WST | $343,200) — 71 points

Oh man. Not now! Just when you thought the carnage was surely over … Mahe misses training! I was without a doubt not the only SuperCoach throwing out texts to mates bragging about how good #MAHETHEMULLET was going against the Cowboys — racking up tackle busts, line breaks and offloads for fun, scoring 71 points without a try. There is no question in my mind that Mahe is a keeper in the CTW — provided he makes a prompt return to the lineup. Sit tight.

VERDICT: HOLD

Hopefully this is just a statement thing and he comes back next week. Pretty please?

Kurt Capewell CTW | 2RF (SHA | $341,400) — 50 points

‘A safe 50 for your CTW, with upside of much more’ was the tagline the Cheapie Bible had for Capewell a couple of weeks ago when he became an 80-minute man in Luke Lewis’ absence. Well, scores of 50, 54 and 50 points the past three weeks have seen a little over $100k cash earnings and great dual position flexibility. Watch for the impact of Gallen/Bukuya/Lewis returns from injury, but Capewell possesses a low BE of just 12 and owners should be safe as houses until after the first big bye round. Great result.

VERDICT: HOLD

Sell in round 14 to a Tim Lafai/Tohu Harris type keeper for round 17 coverage.

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 …

Stone 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 SuperCoach NRL: Trent Copeland’s Buy, Hold, Sell verdict in Cheapie Bible