NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible 2025: Best 13 bargains ranked and rated

Cheapies are the most important players in any NRL SuperCoach side and here are the guys to target for 2025, via TOM SANGSTER.

NRL SuperCoach is back for 2025 and fantasy fans are madly searching through top 30 lists to determine the best bargains.

But research less and read more as below we’ve done the hard work for you.

There are a host of reasons why a player may start cheap including being a rookie, slumping in form last season or missing mass games through injury.

Note, we’ve limited the cheapie bracket to $330,000 (but you can find many more higher-priced bargains here).

1. Sandon Smith HFB/HOK $237,600

Luke Keary is gone and Sam Walker is rehabilitating an ACL injury, meaning Chad Townsend and Sandon Smith are set to start in the halves for the Roosters.

Smith only averaged 24 points in 33 minutes last year after playing 10 of 15 games off bench. He therefore starts just above bottom dollar. But in the five games he started last season, Smith averaged 54.8. That equates to a price rise of over $300,000 if he repeats the effort.

Also dual position which makes him a great option at hooker.

Verdict: Must-have

Sandon Smith is set to start in the halves for the Roosters. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

2 Isaiah Iongi FLB $232,600

Made his NRL debut for the Panthers in 2024 starting at fullback, making 19 runs with five tackle breaks and a try contribution. They are the sort of high-workrate stats we like to see from a fullback. And they were no fluke given Iongi also backed up those numbers in NSW Cup, where he started 59 times – 56 of those at fullback.

In 2024 he started 24 games and averaged 164 metres per game and almost five tackle breaks per game. Stuck behind the all-conquering Dylan Edwards, and perhaps even Daine Laurie and Blaize Talagi, Iongi has moved to the Eels and will likely start at fullback.

Verdict: No doubt an amazing cheapie but the new Flex position means running three gun fullbacks is a genuine option, which would require sacrificing Iongi, as Tom Sangster has done in his team reveal.

3 Josh Schuster 2RF $265,100

Schuster was a SuperCoach stud in 2021 when he averaged 61. That was a long time ago but shows the talent is there. He starts 2025 at close to basement price after some horror seasons on and off the field and is now at Souths under Wayne Bennett – a coaching great noted for bringing out every millimetre of talent.

Verdict: Buy. Has the talent and job security to be a serious cheapie this year. Should be higher than the 15th best player in SuperCoach.

4&5 Billy Smith CTW $317,200 and Robert Toia CTW $198,800

An unlucky rookie and an even unluckier ‘veteran’. Both sat out 2024 due to knee injuries and both are in the running to grab backline spots at the Roosters following the exits of Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Joseph Manu and Michael Jennings. Toia ruptured his ACL in 2022, fractured his jaw in June 2023 and then ruptured his ACL in September of 2023.

Toia did get on the field in reserves late in 2024 and scored four tries from six appearances (all at centre). Roosters faithful have been expecting big things from Toia for years now and all he needs is luck. Speaking of luck, Toia’s teammate Billy Smith has had none of it. Smith made his NRL debut in 2019 but has suffered injuries to his elbow, ankle, hamstring and ACL to name a few. Handed a discount of $234,000 on his 2024 starting price, Smith will be very popular if he stays fit.

Verdict: Highly likely one – if not both – are named for round one.

6 Peter Mamouzelos HOK $302,000, 56.65% ownership

Becomes the top hooker at South Sydney following the exit of Damien Cook (Dragons). Set for a significant rise in output after averaging just 36 minutes last year. It’s going to be a very slow burn.

Verdict: Buy for now but let’s hope a better option emerges. That may well be Blake Mozer (see below).

Jesse McLean is gunning for a backline spot at the Panthers.

7 Jesse McLean CTW $234,900

Sunia Turuva is off to the Tigers, which leaves a wing spot open at the attacking juggernaut that is four-time premiers the Panthers. McLean was a serious chance of an NRL spot last season before injury struck. That said, McLean’s biggest hurdle may be from his own family in bother Casey, who starred in seven games last year.

Jesse made his NRL debut (at fullback) in round 26 of 2023 and then played another game in 2024 (on the wing) scoring a try against the Dragons in round 13. A little over one year older than his brother, Jesse holds an edge when it comes to experience on the wing having made 22 starts (16 tries) playing on the flank for Penrith in the NSW Cup.

Verdict: Fingers crossed he scores the Penrith wing spot over his brother as the price difference is over $200,000.

8 Jaxon Purdue CTW $257,000

Backline spots are open at the Cowboys following the exits of Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt. Four games off the bench last year mean Purdue is underpriced – but he averaged 55 in games over 70 minutes last season. Other contenders for backline spots at the Cowboys include Zac Laybutt ($389,600) and Robert Derby ($214,000).

Verdict: It’s highly likely value options will emerge in the backline at the Cowboys this year. But will it be from round one?

9 Demitric Vaimauga 2RF $232,600

The retirement of Tohu Harris creates some big SuperCoach opportunities at the Warriors. While Dylan Walker and Erin Clark now become serious SuperCoach options, they are out of cheapie range. But ask any of the Warriors’ coaching staff to nominate their most promising rookie and they all simply answer: “Demitric.” He will play plenty of NRL in 2025. Full analysis in our rookies analysis here.

Verdict: Watch pre-season very closely. He’ll be a cheapie at some stage barring injury.

10 Savelio Tamale CTW $232,600

Has been lighting up the lower grades for two seasons now and gets a fresh start at the Raiders. A proven metre eater who busted over eight tackles per game in NSW Cup last year at the Dragons. He’s not yet in our predicted Canberra team for round one 2025 but word is he’s had a strong pre-season.

Verdict: It will happen at some stage in 2025 but may need an injury for round one.

Royce Hunt has joined the Tigers from the Sharks. Picture: Tigers

11 Royce Hunt FRF $249,000, 38.65% ownership

Moves from the Sharks to the Tigers. In other words, he goes from a low-minute prop at one of the better sides in the competition to one of the key recruits at the cellar dwellers, who have game time open in the pack following the departures of Stefano Utoikamanu, John Bateman and Isaiah Papali’i. He’s therefore the most popular cheapie prop in SuperCoach. But can Hunt really step up the minutes?

Fellow recruit Terrell May will no doubt attract plenty of game time, while Hunt has never averaged over 29 minutes a season in his entire career. Can Hunt transform from impact bench player to long-minute starter?

Verdict: Cheapie props are SuperCoach poison but he’s the best of the bunch for now.

12 Tom Amone FRF $232,600

While Canterbury’s game plan of playing small middles got them to a commendable sixth spot last season, they bowed out rather meekly in the finals. Amone adds size after spending three seasons with Leigh Leopards in the Super League. The price is good but it will be a slow burn.

Verdict: Repeating that quality cheapie props are hard to come by. Make a decision closer to round one.

13 Blake Mozer HOK $312,000

Dummy-half dynamo Blake Mozer has bolted into contention for Brisbane’s No. 9 jersey as the Broncos fight to retain the Queensland Origin prospect. Mozer has made a cracking first impression on new coach Michael Maguire after blitzing his teammates in the early stages of pre-season training. If he starts, he’ll challenge Peter Mamouzelos as top cheapie at hooker.

Full story here by Travis Meyn

Verdict: Keep an eye on the battle with Billy Walters for the Brisbane hooker spot. Could challenge Mamouzelos.

BORDERLINE CHEAPIES

Corey Horsburgh FRF $355,500

Creating plenty of buzz in SuperCoach circles after receiving a price discount equal to around 10 points per game off his previous average, and therefore owned by a massive 35.5 per cent. Horsburgh had a falling out with coach Ricky Stuart last year and only played five games. But after seeking the help of a therapist, Horsburgh is in the midst of a huge pre-season and looking fit as a fiddle.

Corey Horsburgh is aiming to return to his best after the help of a therapist. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Carter Gordon CTW $336,000

Another player piquing the interest of SuperCoaches after joining the Titans from rugby union. Gordon, who played eight games for the Wallabies, is currently 21.26 per cent of teams and gunning for a spot in what can hardly be called the best backline in the NRL.

Naufahu Whyte 2RF/FRF $367,100

Terrell May, Sitili Tupouniua and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have left the Roosters, which leaves game time open in the pack. More here

Coen Hess 2RF/FRF $327,000

Coming back from an ACL injury. Didn’t play last season and therefore gets decent discount of close to $100,000 on his 2023 average of 42. More here

Coen Hess is back from an ACL injury. Picture: Shae Beplate

Isaiah Tass CTW $327,900

Placeholder for now but he could snag the wing spot of Alex Johnston (Achilles). More here

Lewis Dodd HFB $336,000

Super League star joins the Rabbitohs and is set to play halfback at a good price. More here

BEST OF THE ROOKIES

Loko Junior Pasifiki Tonga FRF $198,800

Weighing 120kg, Loko is a tremendous talent with raw power, leg speed and huge development to come. More here

Jacob Halangahu 2RF $198,800

Basement price rookie creating plenty of buzz at the Dragons. He has a fair bit of claim to being the best schoolboys league player in the country, and Halangahu backed up the hype in 2024. More here

Cody Hopwood FRF 198800

He’s only played one game of NSW Cup and that was from the bench but note the name Cody Hopwood down in your little black book. Almost 200cm and weighing in well north of 100kg, Hopwood is an absolute unit. More here

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible 2025: Best 13 bargains ranked and rated