NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible 2025: New must-haves after Vegas shocks

The team announcements for Las Vegas have created a huge shift in NRL SuperCoach cheapie rankings. We reveal the top bargains to target.

The NRL team announcements for Las Vegas have created a huge shift in NRL SuperCoach cheapie rankings.

Corey Horsburgh is the big mover after being named to start at prop for the Raiders.

However, the likes of Jesse McLean, Myles Martin and Jacob Laban have dropped out of contention.

CHEAPIE BIBLE RANKINGS

1 Isaiah Iongi FLB $232,600 (up one spot)

After all the chat (from myself included) about avoiding Iongi to run three gun fullbacks due to the new Flex position, Iongi blew it out of the water with 77 points in the final trial and proved the doubters wrong. Owned by over 50 per cent of SuperCoaches and rising after winning the vacated fullback spot of Clint Gutherson at the Eels.

Verdict: Buy. Impossible to ignore even with fullback the strongest position in SuperCoach.

Isaiah Iongi was great in the trials. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

2 Robert Toia CTW $198,800 (up one spot)

The injury-prone young gun has been patiently biding his time and the time is now. Has a centre spot locked in at the Roosters so job security is not a problem, which is rare for cheapies. Impressive in the first trial with 49 points in 59 minutes without a single big attacking stat. A bit more subdued in the final trial as the Roosters copped a battering but still notched 24 with no attacking stats.

Verdict: Buy. The Roosters look like they will regress in 2025 but Toia is impossible to ignore.

3 Sandon Smith HFB/HOK $237,600 (down two spots)

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. Only OK in the trials for the struggling Roosters.

Verdict: Buy. Job security is as good as it gets even if the Roosters look junk in 2025.

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

4 Jaxon Purdue CTW $257,000 (up seven spots)

Backline spots are open at the Cowboys following the exits of Valentine Holmes and Kyle Feldt. Purdue scored 91 SuperCoach points in the final trial and locked himself in as one of the premier cheapies of 2025. The job security isn’t perfect with Zac Laybutt waiting in the wings, but word is Laybutt will return from an ACL injury in reserves. Four games off the bench last year mean Purdue is underpriced – but he averaged 55 in games over 70 minutes last season.

Verdict: Buy. Brilliant in the final trial.

5 Peter Mamouzelos HOK $302,000 (down one spot)

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. South Sydney were soundly thrashed in the final trial but Mamouzelos is one player who can hold his head up high. The hooker wracked up 36 tackles without one miss and crucially added two linebreak assists while also making number of darts from dummy half - 76 points at his price is an outstanding return especially when his team was so well beaten.

Verdict: Buy. Set to play big minutes for the first round at least with his main competition Jamie Humphreys to play halfback in place of the suspended Lewis Dodd.

6 Tom Duffy HFB $198,800 (up four spots)

Chad Townsend has left the Cowboys and the halfback spot is up for grabs. Duffy couldn’t have done much more in the final trial and will no doubt surge in popularity, especially after kicking goals. Main rival Jake Clifford missed the match following recent hernia surgery but Duffy has been mooted as a threat all pre-season and may have locked himself in for round one. We hope.

Verdict: Buy. Is it worth sacrificing Cleary or Hynes for Duffy at halfback? Yes

7 Corey Horsburgh FRF $355,500 (up 18 spots)

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 43 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 has won a starting prop spot for round one.

Verdict: Buy. You could even start him at FRF2.

Corey Horsburgh is aiming to return to his best. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

8 Demitric Vaimauga 2RF $232,600 (down three spots)

The retirement of Tohu Harris creates some big SuperCoach opportunities at the Warriors. Ask any of the Warriors’ coaching staff to nominate their most promising rookie and they all simply answer: “Demitric.” He’s a point per minute beast and has talent to burn, so the round one bench spot isn’t a worry in this case, although it will likely be a slow burn.

Verdict: Buy. Showed plenty in the trials.

9 Naufahu Whyte 2RF/FRF $367,100 (up 15 spots)

Terrell May, Sitili Tupouniua and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves have left the Roosters, while Spencer Leniu will miss round one through suspension. This all bodes well for Whyte, who is almost certain to improve on his average of 33 minutes from last year. Strong for the well-beaten Roosters in the final trial with 47 points off the bench, including 13 runs for 111 metres.

Verdict: Buy. Siua Wong is also a serious option given the dearth of middles at the Roosters.

10 Sione Finau CTW $279,000 (new addition)

The young Dragon scored 104 SuperCoach points in just 30 minutes in the Charity Shield before being taken off for an HIA. In terms of job security, it’s hardly water tight but he appears to have leapfrogged a few including Tyrell Sloan and rugby convert Nathan Lawson. Christian Tuipolotu (hamstring, TBC) missed the trials but it’s unclear if he’s ahead in the pecking order. Finau was also impressive in the first trial with 11 runs and a try for 46 points. Perhaps the biggest short term issue is the weekend concussion, but hopefully it’s not an issue with Vegas creating an ultra-long turnaround.

Verdict: Buy if named on the wing for round one.

11 Kobe Hetherington 2RF $338,800 (down 5 spots)

Seemingly nailed to start at lock under new coach Michael Maguire (with Pat Carrigan at prop), Hetherington did no harm to his cheapie credentials in the final trial with nine runs for 68 metres and 26 tackles (no misses) which added up to 37 points from one stint. He’s all potatoes and little meat but at $338K there’s still plenty of value here.

Verdict: Buy. Watch the Carrigan situation but very solid option if named to start at lock.

12 Isaiah Tass CTW $327,900 (up 12 spots)

The Rabbitohs are short on outside backs – Campbell Graham (hand, round 4), Alex Johnston (Achilles, round 4), Latrell Mitchell (hamstring, round 7) and Euan Aitken (pectoral, TBC). Tass could be the big SuperCoach beneficiary and he even kicked goals in the final trial.

Verdict: Borderline buy

13 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 2RF $368,200

Moves from the Cowboys to the Dolphins and is hopeful of nabbing a starting back row spot. Finefeuiaki put in a solid showing for the Dolphins in the final trial, with a linebreak, linebreak assist and 72 run metres contributing to his 60 points. Already owned by 16 per cent, that number could rise considering his low price of $368,200.

Verdict: Borderline buy. Hard to ignore if named to start in round one.

14 Jamie Humphreys HFB $341,800 (new addition)

Started the final trial as the backup hooker and understudy to English import Lewis Dodd at halfback. But when Dodd was sin-binned Humphreys grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, setting up one try and scoring another for 93 points. He’s not bottom-dollar after scoring 104 points from his one game in 2024, but at just a tick over $300K we may have another cheapie halfback to consider.

Verdict: Avoid for now. Could be an option later but not for round one given the presence of Sandon Smith and Tom Duffy in the position. His main rival for game time, Dodd, is due back in round two.

15 Savelio Tamale CTW $232,600 (no change)

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. Named for round one while Albert Hopoate is out for the birth of his child.

Verdict: Risky early buy given Hopoate returns in round 2.

16 Cory Paix HOK $232,600 (up one spot)

On the outer under former coach Kevin Walters, Paix is set to start at hooker in round one under new coach Michael Maguire. Paix’s job security is improved by the injury to Blake Mozer, who is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury, while Billy Walters appears to have dropped out of favour. Scored two tries in the first trial.

Verdict: Avoid. But only because there are so many other good cheap buys at hooker like Sandon Smith, Peter Mamouzelous and Phoenix Crossland. He’d be a top buy in most other seasons.

17 Phoenix Crossland HOK/HFB $341,800 (new addition)

With Jayden Brailey reportedly being shopped around, Phoenix Crossland will start at hooker in round one and play decent minutes (although likely not 80 as Brailey was on the bench in the final trial).

Verdict: Avoid. As per Paix above, the hooker position is stacked, but keep up your sleeve if there’s an injury.

18 Ben Te Kura FRF $232,600 (new addition)

Cheapies at prop are few and far between, but this is the man SuperCoaches should be cheering for. Unlike other low-minute bench props, Te Kura has the attacking upside many backs can only dream of. He scored 67 points in the first trial with a try and five tackle busts, then backed it up with in the final trial with a try and four tackle busts for 64 points.

Verdict: Has the attacking upside to be the best cheapie prop in SuperCoach 2025 (in a rough field). He’s in my side if named in the 17 for round. That’s a significant if, but certainly not out of realms of possibility.

19 Royce Hunt FRF $249,000 (down 10 spots)

In theory, this buy makes sense. Hunt moves from the Sharks to the Tigers, so 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 second most popular cheapie prop in SuperCoach. But he scored just 13 points in the final trial and appears set to be used as an impact player yet again. Fellow recruit Terrell May will no doubt attract plenty of game time, while Hunt has never averaged over 29 minutes a game in his entire career.

Verdict: Last resort buy. Cheapie props are SuperCoach poison but we’ll need at least one. Hopefully we don’t have to go there.

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

20 Loko Junior Pasifiki Tonga FRF $198,800

Weighing 120kg, Loko is a tremendous talent with raw power, leg speed and huge development to come. Coach Shane Flanagan says he will debut this season, but will it be from round one?

Verdict: Cheapie props are hard to come by. This will be the slowest of burns but we must consider if named for round one.

21 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. But he hardly lit it up in the trials.

Verdict: Last resort cheapie.

22 Jack Gosiewski 2RF $232,600 (new addition)

Has surged to 13 per cent ownership due to speculation he could start in the back row for the Broncos. Strong showing in the final trial with 42 points including 14 runs and 21 tackles.

Verdict: Avoid: Yes, even if he starts. While Michael Maguire has been glowing in his praise, The Gos has a career PPM of just 0.65.

CHEAPIE NO GO ZONE

While appearing in previous editions of the Cheapie Bible, the following players have bowed out of SuperCoach contention.

Jesse McLean CTW $234,900

There was hope the popular cheapie would replace Brian To’o (hamstring) for round one but Luke Garner has instead been named in the backline.

Josh Schuster 2RF $265,100

The reports out of South Sydney aren’t good. May not play this season and certainly not in the near future.

Popular cheapie Josh Schuster is yet to be seen in action for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Billy Smith CTW $317,200

The injury-prone centre was gunning for a backline spot at the Roosters but is now out indefinitely with a hip injury.

Myles Martin 2RF/FRF $198,800

One of the buzz buys of the pre-season at 22 per cent ownership, but he has missed the Canberra squad for Vegas.

Tom Amone FRF $232,600

Still extremely popular after big pre-season hype, Amone played reserve grade in the final trial.

Blake Mozer HOK $312,000

Bolted into contention for Brisbane’s No. 9 jersey, but is now out indefinitely with a shoulder issue.

Jacob Laban 2RF $232,600

Was nipping at the heels of Demitric Vaimauga (above) for much of the pre-season but missed the Warriors squad for Vegas.

Trey Mooney 2RF $317,500

Named on the extended bench for the Raiders in Vegas. Not an option for now but will surely play plenty of NRL in 2025.

Trey Mooney takes a charge in the trial against the Sharks.

Matty Nicholson 2RF $336,000

Nicholson’s reputation from the Super League precedes him with the word from the UK that the lock/second row is a tackling machine who averaged close to 40 tackles for Warrington last season. But he’s missed the Canberra squad for Vegas.

Edward Kosi CTW $324,200

Kosi was mooted as a replacement for injured Dallin Watene-Zelezniak but lost out to Taine Tuaupiki.

Tanah Boyd HFB|5/8 $329,600

Was tipped as a bolter for a halves spot at the Warriors at stages during the pre-season but missed the squad for round one.

Jonathan Sua CTW $232,600, Ratu Rinakama

These two rookies were spoken about as replacements for the injured Jacob Kiraz (back). But Blake Wilson has recovered from a pre-season niggle and will win the spot.

Originally published as NRL SuperCoach Cheapie Bible 2025: New must-haves after Vegas shocks