NRL SuperCoach: The POD cheapies who should be on your radar for 2024

If picking the right cheapies is key to SuperCoach NRL success - then picking the right cheapies that your mates have slept on is even better.

A good cheapie is a good thing, a good cheapie that your competitors slept on is even better. We run the rule over some of the lesser-owned cheapie options for 2024.

Some of are round one contenders, others are black bookers who need just one injury to become must-haves. All are worth some thought and we’ve done that to save you the effort.

If there are others you’d like to tip your SuperCoach family into then please let us know in the comments section.

Kyle Flanagan ($310,500) 5/8

This is an interesting one. After going rather gosh darn well for the Roosters in 2020 (18 games, average of 59PPG) Flanagan’s NRL, and SuperCoach, career kind of flatlined at the Bulldogs. He did play 17 games for the Dogs in 2023 with nine starts (averaging 40.2PPG) and eight games off the bench – most of which saw him play very limited minutes. Now at the Dragons, Flanagan is expected to nab a starting spot as five-eighth alongside veteran half Ben Hunt. Priced at 30PPG Flanagan offers upside if starting in the halves. But there’s a kicker – literally – Flanagan is a rather excellent goalkicker and the Dragons 2023 kicker Zac Lomax can be erratic (analysis of each NRL team’s goalkicking options for 2024 here). If Flanagan lands a starting role (let’s say 40PPG) AND the kicking role (add 10PPG conservatively) then you’re getting a 50PPG player at a 30PPG price. That’s nice.

St George Illawarra Dragons recruit Kyle Flanagan during pre season training. Picture Dragons media

Brendan Hands ($342,300)/Joey Lussick ($313,700) HOK

Newcastle’s awfully unlucky Jayden Brailey (a proven 60PPG hooker available for peanuts due to an ACL injury causing him to miss all of the 2023 season) is deservedly the most popular cheapie hooker. But those who wish to follow a different path could do well to check out Parramatta rakes Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick. But which one you ask? Well, we don’t know – yet. Hands began 2023 as Josh Hodgson’s understudy, then when the Englishman injured himself he stepped up to become an 80 minute hooker and averaged 49.8PPG over six games. Then the Eels called up Joey Lussick (who had been playing in the Super League) and he closed out the season as the preferred hooker at the club playing three 80 minute games and averaging 47PPG. Neither has the historic upside of Brailey, but equally neither has the injury history of Brailey, and whichever wins the starting job has genuine upside at their price – provided there’s no bench hooker in the 17.

Brendan Hands in action for the Eels in 2023. Picture: NRL Imagery

Kobe Hetherington ($298,600) 2RF

The departure of Tom Flegler means there are minutes up for grabs in the Broncos middle rotation, and while I think other contenders might be the most likely, young Mr Hetherington is a contender worth mentioning. Undersized to play prop, Hetherington is more of a natural lock and his path to more minutes would require regular Brisbane No. 13 Pat Carrigan to move into the starting prop role. I’m not sure that happens but if it does you can be sure we’ll write up a piece detailing the merits of selecting the Brisbane utility.

Kobe Hetherington would appeal if he can nab a starting role. Picture: Getty Images

Jack Bostock ($314,500) CTW

Bostock’s stock is on the rise in SuperCoach and rightly so after coach Wayne Bennett indicated that the strapping winger was likely to start on an edge for the Dolphins in 2024. Bostock is not a true rookie – he played four games in 2023 three on the wing and one at centre – for an average of 39PPG. That’s pretty solid and I think he’ll only get better, but it should be noted that in one game Bostock scored a try and still finished with a total of just 29 points. A versatile type who played wing, centre and fullback, Bostock scored four tries and also kicked eight goals for the Dolphins in the QCup. He’s a far better SuperCoach prospect on the wing and luckily for us that’s where he’s expected to play after the club strengthened its centres considerably with the off-season acquisition of Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo.

Kade Dykes ($219,900) FLB

It feels like we’ve been talking about young Dykes as the next big thing at the Sharks for a while now. Having earned his debut in 2022 (two games at fullback), Dykes then missed the entire 2023 season due to an ACL injury. Capable of playing almost any position in the backline I expect he’ll add to his two NRL games at some point this year. However, barring pre-season injuries at Cronulla, I do not expect those games to come soon as the Sharks have a very settled backline. Another to watch but not to own for round one.

Savelio Tamale playing for the Dragons in the NSW Cup.

Savelio Tamale ($204,300) CTW

A star rugby union player as a schoolboy, Tamale was poached by the Dragons late in 2022.

Tamale hit the ground running in rugby league impressing in the SG Ball Cup before being earning his NSW Cup debut in round eight of 2023. In 12 games against the men Tamale, playing centre, scored eight tries (including four against the Eels in round 23), assisted two more, made seven linebreaks and busted 61 tackles. His tackle efficiency (74%) was not great and he’ll need to work on that area of his game if promoted to first grade.

Mavrik Geyer ($204,300) 2RF

The son of Penrith legend Mark Geyer, Mavrik has been attracting rave reviews for a few years and seemingly been on the brink of an NRL debut for a couple of seasons without ever breaking through. Hopefully 2024 will be his year. Geyer played 23 games in the NSW Cup in 2023 the majority of those 80-minute efforts in the second row. Averaging just under 100 metres and 30 tackles per game, Geyer also busted 63 tackles and threw 16 offloads. He would need to be a starter to have any real SuperCoach value and it’s hard to see that happening in the short term but would be good to see him finally crack through for his debut.

Liam Henry is slated for big things at the Panthers. Credit: NRL Images.

Liam Henry ($238,900) FRF

The departure of Spencer Leniu means there are minutes available in the middle at the Panthers and Blayney-born big bopper Henry already has three NRL appearances to his name (one in 2022, two in 2023) as well as 47 NSW Cup games. In 2023 Henry played 21 times in the NSW Cup often playing 60+ minutes in the middle and averaging over 150 metres and 40 tackles per game. Barring injuries to the starters he won’t play huge minutes in the NRL, but the optimist in me is hoping that Henry follows the career path of his teammate Lindsay Smith who began 2023 with four games to his name and priced at $236k and 20 games later finished the season priced at $397K.

Viliami Vailea ($357,800) CTW

The departure of Peta Hiku means there is a centre spot up for grabs at the Cowboys and SuperCoaches will be hoping it is the former Warrior who nabs it. Injuries limited Vailea to just the five games at the NRL level in 2023 and he averaged a healthy 44PPG in that time. But there’s a wrinkle in the stats, Vailea scored 104 points against the Dogs in round four; if you take out that game his average across the other four games is a more pedestrian 28.8PPG.

But a new club can create new opportunity and Vailea is on the record as admitting he did not get the best out of himself at the Warriors in 2023. Slightly awkwardly priced at $357K – thanks Dogs! – Vailea would still be of interest were he to win the starting role AND show the benefits of his hard work in the pre-season. Not a lock, but one to watch.

Krystian Mapapalangi ($219,900) CTW

There’s opportunity at the Knights with the departure of Dom Young leaving a large hole on the right wing. Mapapalangi, like Dykes above, debuted in 2022 and then missed the entire 2023 season due to an injury (shoulder in this case), has the ability to capitalise on that chance. Unfortunately for SuperCoaches – and Mapapalangi – Enari Tuala is said to have his nose in front in the race to replace Young but there’s plenty of time between now and round one so watch this space.