Latrell Mitchell, Jackson Hastings, Te Maire Martin: Round 3 cheapie analysis

A COUPLE of new cheapies have emerged while some others continued to earn. TRENT COPELAND takes a look at how the SuperCoach staples fared in Round 3.

WHAT a high scoring weekend — particularly with popular gun SuperCoach players.

The Copes Crusaders are out of crisis mode, and have some positives to talk about, hallelujah!

Plenty of cheapies were affected over the course of the weekend, some killed it, some were dropped and some missed out with injury. Plenty to cover, so let’s get into it!

Jackson Hastings HFB | 5/8 (Roosters, 60.3% owned) — 22 points

It’s a shame that he saved his worst game for the game before price rises, but unfortunately for all SuperCoaches who started with a plethora of Roosters, they got flogged! In wet conditions up in Townsville, the young half struggled to find any sort of rhythm, but I’m not worried one bit. Should see a rise in excess of $35k.

Verdict: Don’t even think about selling. Stick with him, there will be ups and downs but he’s got plenty of cash to make for us yet.

Latrell Mitchell CTW | FLB (Roosters, 58.8% owned) — 42 points

Forty two points in a horrible loss where the chooks scored ZERO points is a pretty good effort for the kid. This fend of his is becoming very apparent (14 points in tackle busts) and Mitchell seems to have a foothold on that fullback spot for the time being. Should also see a rise of around $35k, keep that cash coming!

VERDICT: Mitchell is firmly entrenched in my best 17, and should stay there for a while yet!

Jayden Nikorima HOK | HFB (Roosters, 54.3% owned) — 22 points

Nikorima had averaged 48 points over the opening two rounds of the competition, however in a big loss, he was hardly going to score well in this one. He managed 25 tackles again which remains a positive, but that shows how bad the rest of the game was in the wet.

VERDICT: Despite the poor showing, Nikorima will still rise in price by $20k-ish, plan should be a round 8 upgrade to a bye round coverage/keeper.

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Cody Walker HFB | 5/8 (Rabbits, 13.2% owned) — 15 points

Walker would have made a lot of coaches overlook other tempting buys this week, only to be let down with a 15 point blunder! Not only did I trade him in, but I played him in my 17 … Not a great decision in the end given the downpour of rain at the SCG and scrappy contest that followed. Walker will still see about a $40k price rise nonetheless.

VERDICT: Has a clear run at the halfback spot, so plenty of cash to be made. The Rabbits wont be this bad, but do have a tough run of matches against the Bulldogs and away at Brookvale to the Sea Eagles so maybe sit him out of your 17 for the time being.

Cody Walker had his lowest scoring game of the season.

Jacob Saifiti FRF | 2RF (Knights, 40.5% owned) — 41 points

Who would’ve expected that from the Knights?! The first draw of the NRL season saw plenty of youngsters put their hand up which is great for us! Saifiti was solid as always, I have almost been able to leave his template unchanged in the points category — almost a guaranteed 40 points. 27 tackles, and 14 points in hit-ups over 8m is everything we want from our perfect slow-burner cash cow.

VERDICT: Has averaged 70 minutes per game over the first three weeks and obviously has the trust of Nathan Brown. Should be the perfect price to sell after he covers the first big bye round — Round 12.

Ashley Taylor HFB | 5/8 (Titans, 36.1% owned) — 80 points

This was the highlight of the cheapie performances over the weekend for me. Assumed the goalkicking duties and nailed every one of them, scored a try, 12 points in offloads, and an extremely accomplished performance which was the ‘norm’ in Holden Cup over the past two seasons. This is exciting.

VERDICT: Gun. Goal kicker. Scoring tries. You little beauty … Should see a $40k+ rise this week and continue to do so for some time given this 80 will stay in his rolling average for the next 3 weeks.

Corey Denniss CTW (Knights, 0% owned) — 82 points

This was the slot we have been talking about Jaelen Feeney in for almost the entire off-season and first few rounds. Denniss comes on to the scene and scores two tries on debut! Eighteen points in hit-ups over 8m is a great sign, and hopefully he can grab another couple of games somehow. Oh, by the way, if you didn’t catch the news … Feeney got dropped — SELL!

VERDICT: Akuila Uate will return at some point, so temper expectations.

EARLY MAIL: Moylan return expected

KENT: Radradra would change Origin

Nathan Davis CTW (Titans, 21.51% owned) — 0 points

Had a niggling injury, which meant he was replaced last minute by John Olive (who didn’t play well), hopefully for those that jumped on board last week he will return to the line-up this weekend.

VERDICT: Watch team lists this week, anyone still with Ben Henry, Dale Copley or Nathan Green should pounce once he is named again.

Leivaha Pulu FRF (Titans, 0% owned) — 46 points

Nice debut performance from the big, burly forward. Sixteen points in offloads, and 10 points in hit-ups over 8m, but only the 9 tackles in limited game time.

VERDICT: Put him on your watch-list, Pulu has a SuperCoach friendly game.

Jordan Rankin FLB | 5/8 (Tigers, 10.08% owned) — 49 points

Don’t you just love ‘Garbage Time’. Rankin looked likely for much of the first half in this one, but hadn’t managed to find the line. But after the Titans had switched off in the last eight minutes, Rankin scored a try in the left corner. They all count! This game will be very helpful in his rolling average and money making over the coming weeks.

VERDICT: Should see a rise of approx. $40k this week, and may even stick around for the tough bye rounds, of which the Tigers cover very well.

Jordan Rankin scored another try for the Tigers.

Craig Garvey HOK (Bulldogs, 2.3% owned) — 56 points

Another 39 tackles and a try assist helped his score this week in a big loss for the Bulldogs. However the Garvey issue remains Michael Lichaa’s imminent return. Do you dare take the risk that he stays in the team? I won’t be.

VERDICT: Will see a nice price rise this week, but that could be it.

Pat Mata’utia (Knights, 27.14% owned) — 78 points

Man I wish I jumped on board the #PatMat train last week. He scored 78 points, on top of his already superb 57-point average is fantastic and he looked the most dangerous Knight on the field without doubt. I would be shocked if he didn’t keep his spot all season now Gagai is playing at fullback. His try was all about strength and quickness of feet. I may even jump on this week even though I’ve missed one price rise, that’s how good he is.

VERDICT: Wow. Turns out #PatMat is the man, if you don’t own him, seriously consider getting him somehow.

Curtis Scott CTW (Storm, 4.14% owned) — 38 points

I had hoped this was the perfect trade for Nathan Green this week, only for him to be a late exclusion on Sunday. Damn. Watch the team lists this week, but it seems Scott is still not quite a regular first grader.

VERDICT: Watch team lists, and as he’s played only one game you have the chance to wait and watch him play one more time before jumping on.

RATINGS: Young guns star for Manly

TWIST: Eels salary cap turns again

Te Maire Martin HFB | 5/8 (Panthers 2.3% owned) — 90 points

Round of applause to the 2.3% of you out there who owned this superstar from the get go. Even in your wildest dreams, would you have expected the late inclusion to dominate against the premiership favourites in the Broncos? To score a try, make 22 tackles, 12 points in tackle busts and kick the winning field goal — yeah that’s some debut! I have no doubt Anthony Griffin will want this kid to stay in the team, but for whom?

VERDICT: Ah, I’m impressed! If he stays in the team then make sure you have room as he looks a star of the future.

There you have it, some notable exclusions this week in Jaelen Feeney, James Fisher-Harris, Daniel Saifiti and Nathan Green as they should be being moved on, and Brenton Lawrence just misses out due to his price of $166k but should be in your calculations.

Good luck this weekend!

Originally published as Latrell Mitchell, Jackson Hastings, Te Maire Martin: Round 3 cheapie analysis