KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 13: Josh Schuster from NRL outcast to bargain of week

Like a rocky relationship we all had when we were 15, our topsy-turvy love affair with Josh Schuster is most definitely back on. Full cheapie analysis here

The Josh Schuster resurgence we all needed! It’s like a rocky relationship we all had when we were 15, you tell yourself it shouldn’t happen, your parents tell you they know better, but every now and then there’s just that irresistible moment.

In this case, a 106-point masterclass alongside the KFC SuperCoach monster that is Tommy Turbo.

Oh, and that juicy bye coverage.

Ok, Josh, the relationship is back on.

PSA! Round 13 is a big bye round (I’m sure you’ve seen the blue dots everywhere!), with ‘Best-13’ scoring, so make sure you factor that in when trading!

A cheapie by definition is any player under $350k, we will cover off on all the most important cheapies with a verdict on whether to invest or not.

As the season goes along we will give a running verdict on every cheapie that hits our radar, and give a final ‘Bon Voyage’ when they eclipse $350k – if a player is not on the list, we’ve determined they are not a viable selection.

Let’s go!

Josh Schuster is back in form. Picture: NRL Photos

Josh Schuster | 5/8|2RF ($331,800 | MNL) - 106 points

THERE it is. That’s the upside we all know Schuster possesses, and thankfully a little bit of Tommy Turbo Origin motivation helped the Sea Eagles fly against the Raiders in Canberra. 106 points with a try and FOUR try assists helped KFC SuperCoaches fall back in love, whilst adding $60k to the hip pocket and hitting round 13 bye coverage against the Knights with a -26 BE. A dream result, and at the price with his upside – you could argue that Schuster is (remarkably) the Cheapie of the Week!

VERDICT: BUY/HOLD. Those 42% of KFC SuperCoaches that held through the tough times have been rewarded! From the clouds to Cheapie of the Week.

Valynce Te Whare | CTW ($200,800 | DOL)

Wayne Bennett, eh.

I think the quote was “Despite the incredible debut, and me being his biggest fan, Wayne Bennett is the coach, and is renowned for the tried and tested (risk of bringing Brenko Lee back) so as crazy as it would be, that could happen.”

Well, it did last week. Now we get Te Whare in jersey 17 on the bench for the Dolphins in round 13. Despite the tantalising scoring upside at base price, it’s very hard to advocate a ‘BUY’ having only played one game, and when all the Origin players are on deck next round we know Te Whare won’t be there.

VERDICT: RISKY BUY.

Valynce Te Whare scores one of two tries on debut. Picture: NRL Photos

Jahream Bula | FLB ($452,400 | WST) - 124 points

I have to leave Bula here front and center rather than in the ‘Bon Voyage’ section, as the 124-point masterclass we witnessed in one of the greatest Wests Tigers performances (maybe ever?!) put him right alongside Cheapie Bible sensation J’Maine Hop-GOD for the buy of the year. Bula’s monster game included a try, two genuine try assists and two other try contributions, to go with 34 points in runs and 10 points in offloads. Add to that a further $103,800 in cash and we have found ourselves a keeper through the bye period (the Tigers cover rounds 16 and 19). Bula will hit round 14 with a BE of -31 and potentially rocket past $600k in value. You beauty!

VERDICT: HOLD. Don’t you dare sell Bula to a Gutho/Ponga.

Billy Smith | CTW ($363,300 | SYD) - 24 points

As a chooks fan, I’ve watched a lot of Billy Smith (and the Roosters in general) over the years, and this was up there with the worst I’ve ever seen him/them play. A real shame given just one more good score would’ve seen a humungous price rise. My main concern is the performance being bad enough that coach Trent Robinson swings the axe and drops Smith, but given his track record and how well he played in previous matches I’m hoping that isn’t the case. Still, $73,800 in his initial price rise and matchups with the Bulldogs and Knights (round 16 big bye week coverage) means you absolutely hold and hope for a few more big scores.

VERDICT: HOLD. Just remember the scores of 71 and 80 points the previous two weeks came with just one try assist and no tries, the scoring upside is massive.

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Harrison Edwards | FRF ($385,200 | BUL) - 56 points

Much like Bula, Edwards deserves to stay in the limelight for the performances he’s putting up. Some KFC SuperCoaches backtracked and didn’t buy Edwards after late mail filtered through an hour before kickoff that he was moving back to the bench. Well, that proved to make NO difference. Edwards was immense, 63 minutes and another 56 points basically all in base and a massive $88,100 in cold hard cash. Forgetting the stats, the eyeball test tells me Edwards and Preston are going to be 10 year stalwarts for the club, and look genuine stars of the future.

VERDICT: BUY/HOLD. Coverage of rounds 16 and 19, Edwards is playing so well I find it hard to see him not playing 50 minutes every game now which should see scores in the 45-55 point range and top out at $450k-$500k.

Samuela Fainu | FRF ($200,800 | MNL) - 30 points

Burbo’s untimely injury opens the door for a bottom dollar FRF-eligible starting edge backrower who may potentially play big minutes covering a huge bye round. Talk about good timing. The problem I have with this is for a big man, the PPM in Fainu’s two matches so far this season has been poor. 40 minutes for 16 points (0.6PPM) against the Tigers in round eight, and 30 points in 52 minutes (0.6PPM) last week – not what we’re looking for, really.

VERDICT: AVOID. Yes it’s a good price, and valuable ‘enabler’ to make other big moves but I think the three trades available to us are too important elsewhere.

Karl Oloapu | 5/8 ($225,200 | BUL) - 33 points

After three matches from the bench to start his career under Cameron Ciraldo, Oloapu got the starting gig alongside Matt Burton for the Bulldogs, and played relatively well in patches in NRL terms. For KFC SuperCoach, though, 33 points in the full 80 minutes was underwhelming. That means Oloapu will come out of this week’s bye with a BE of 13 but we’ll need to see something monstrous to jump on – particularly given the opportunity cost, owning Oloapu would mean you could only own one ‘gun’ at 5/8 of Munster, Brown, Walker etc.

VERDICT: AVOID. On bye, but even next week its watch list at best.

BON VOYAGE

Tyrone Peachey | 2RF ($452,300 | PTH) - 53 points

Anyone who knows KFC SuperCoach, knew that six weeks of uninterrupted playing time at centre in one of the best teams in the competition for Tyrone Peachey was ALWAYS going to be profitable, so those that had room in the 2RF to wait on the CTW dual position update and brought ‘the Peach’ in, congratulations.

Scores of 50, 77 and 53 the last three rounds with just two tries and a lot of base stats has seen an influx of $163,300 and still a very juicy BE of 9 heading into the round 13 bye, with matchups against the Dragons, Roosters, Cowboys (round 16 massive bye week coverage) and Knights – four of the leakiest defences in the competition – IF he can stay in the side.

But, now for the bad news… Izack Tago, on the latest Panthers’ NRL Casualty Ward update is listed as a potential round 14 return from his pec injury. Barring other injuries to outside backs, Tago will take Peachey’s place, meaning we need to plan for a sell pretty quickly once we see that change happen.

VERDICT: HOLD. I don’t hate a sell to Reuben Garrick early if that’s your only avenue to him.

Jarrod Croker | CTW ($426,600 | CBR) - 32 points

Despite the Raiders continuing to score plenty of points the past few weeks, Croker’s renaissance has hit the skids with 36 and 32 points respectively and LOSING $4,000 last week as a result. The BE sits at 63 so normally you’d be selling, but this week and the great bye coverage was the entire purpose for buying in the first place. The perfect scenario would be a good score this week to sign off, cash in at $430,000 for almost a straight swap to a Jacob Kiraz, Nick Meaney or Ronaldo Mutalito.

VERDICT: HOLD. Plan for a sell next week.

There you have it! Have we missed anyone?

Be sure to tweet us what you think @copes9 and @SuperCoachNRL. Good luck this week!

Originally published as KFC SuperCoach Cheapie Bible Round 13: Josh Schuster from NRL outcast to bargain of week