NRL teams analysis Round 4: Tyrell Sloan a controversial choice for cheapie of week

The masses have got it wrong on the best SuperCoach cheapie of the week. Tom Sangster reveals his controversial selection.

Tim Sheens has overhauled his backline by naming Adam Doueihi at fullback and Brandon Wakeham in the halves and both switches have huge KFC SuperCoach implications.

I’m torn on how to feel about Doueihi’s move into the No. 1. In his last season at fullback Doueihi averaged 58 in 13 games. He kicked goals in only six of those matches, so let’s add another five points to that average and call it 63.

This is a handy number but not outstanding. One part of me says Doueihi benefits at fullback by being able to roam and inject himself on either side of the field, while fullback has been considered the prime position for SuperCoach for a number of years.

However, there are two huge issues with Doueihi that have me leaning towards a sell. Firstly, Daine Laurie is on the bench and could cut into his minutes.

And secondly, Doueihi has been diagnosed with turf toe and likely won’t train until captain’s run. He notched just 28 points with the injury last week. The likes of Dylan Brown and Cameron Munster are calling at five-eighth.

On Wakeham, he starts just above bottom dollar and has set up a handy price rise after 52 points in 28 minutes on the weekend. The Tigers looked a different side with Wakeham steering the ship against the Bulldogs.

He’s a definite cheapie option for next week – with Braydon Trindall and Isaiya Katoa both sell options – but definitely take another look this round.

Adam Doueihi is playing through a foot injury. Picture: Getty

IS WALSH WORTH THE RISK?

Reece Walsh is the most popular KFC SuperCoach purchase this week by a fair distance, but the purchase comes with plenty of risk and he’s far from an automatic buy.

First, the positives. After missing the opening round through injury, the star Broncos recruit has produced an average of exactly 100 in his first two games, leading to a projected price rise of $89,200.

He obliterated the eye test in both games and gives a classy extra number this week with James Tedesco on the bye.

He also has a great run against the Dolphins, Tigers, Raiders and Titans in the next four games, three of those at Suncorp Stadium.

Now, the negatives. While Walsh was no doubt brilliant in both games this season, it must be noted that he scored approximately 65 points in the last 10 minutes against the Dragons on the weekend. Before that he was on just 35.

The base of just 18 points (including negative stats) means he’ll barely trouble the KFC SuperCoach scorers if the attacking stats don’t come. But perhaps the biggest drawback is that you’d likely have to sell the great James Tedesco to make the buy work.

In summary, the upside is massive but the risks are real.

Reece Walsh is a risky purchase. Picture: Getty

WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Cameron Munster - Munster has been named to return from a finger injury and could be straight into the Sangster’s Paradise squad in place of Doueihi. The Storm haven’t won a game since Munster’s injury, and along with a couple of vintage blasts from coach Craig Bellamy, should be ready to get back on the winner’s list this week against the struggling Tigers, with Munster at the centre of the action.

* J’Maine Hopgood and Bryce Cartwright - Both popular cheapies and both should continue to make bulk cash. Even with Ryan Matterson (suspension) back, Hopgood (lock) and Cartwright (edge) retain starting spots and should continue to play decent minutes. Unfortunately for owners, cheapie option Matt Doorey drops to the bench and is in doubt with a knee injury.

* Nathan Cleary, Sunia Turuva and all Panthers - Penrith players are back after the bye and therefore definite inclusions in 17s. Turuva has averaged 41.5 over two games without any attacking stats and is a must-buy for those who missed the boat. Meanwhile, Cleary is somehow the seventh most sold player, which makes absolutely no sense. The time to sell was last week before his bye. Cleary is the best halfback in KFC SuperCoach over the last half decade and his average of 47 over the opening games isn’t that bad when you consider he produced basically no attacking stats in these games. In other words, this is the worst of Cleary and he’s still averaged half a ton.

Nicho Hynes returns from a calf injury. Picture: Getty

* Nicho Hynes - Came into the pre-season as the most expensive player but it didn’t deter SuperCoaches with Hynes in almost 40 per cent of teams before suffering a calf injury. He’s back this week and is one to watch. But do we buy? Plenty are happy to get on early with Hynes currently the sixth most purchased player. But surely the best option is to wait.

He’s coming back from a tricky calf injury and has a more than capable back-up in Braydon Trindall (more below), so surely won’t be risked if not right and may even play reduced minutes. There’s also the aforementioned massive price tag, but the main reason to avoid is the upcoming bye in round six. In other words, even if Hynes comes out of the blocks hard this week, he will be available for the same price in round seven.

* Davvy Moale - The Rabbitohs have six forwards out in Tevita Tatola (knee), Hame Sele (concussion), Liam Knight (knee), Shaq Mitchell (foot), Siliva Havili (foot) and Jai Arrow (hamstring). Surely this means increased minutes for popular cheapie Moale, so expect scores more in line with his 42 points in 39 minutes from round one as opposed to his 25 from 23 minutes last week.

* Isaiya Katoa - The popular cheapie has been named for the Dolphins and is hopeful of playing, although he must pass a fitness test on Thursday on an injured elbow to take part in the Battle of Brisbane. In any case, he’s not a play this week, but he does still have price rises coming given the BE of 6.

* Jackson Ford and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad – The popular Warriors cheapies both missed last week due to concussion but have been named to return this round. What’s more, both will start with CNK slotting straight back in at fullback, while Ford has won back his starting edge spot.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returns from concussion. Picture: Getty

LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Reuben Cotter – The Cowboys prop was already a popular sell due to rapidly reducing minutes and now he’s a definite sell after being ruled out for 2-4 weeks with a meniscus issue in his knee.

* Egan Butcher, Sam Walker, Brandon Smith and all Roosters but James Tedesco - The Roosters are on the bye and in the main underperforming for KFC SuperCoach, so the decision to sell is pretty simple.

* Wayde Egan - As happens so often with SuperCoach, the most popular buy of the week gets injured straight away – and so it unfolded for Egan who has been stood down for 11 days under the NRL’s new concussion policy. The good news is though that Egan made $92,800 last week. With a break even of 20, he’s done his job and can be moved on to the keeper of your choice (hello Harry Grant).

* Braydon Trindall - Moves to the bench for the Sharks to accommodate the return of Nicho Hynes. But with a BE of -39 he merely needs to step on the field to score another handy price rise before being sold to Wakeham or Schuster next week, or updated to a keeper.

* Brayden Wiliame - The popular early season cheapie again misses out due to a calf strain, which saw him withdraw late from last week’s clash against the Cowboys.

BUY

* Payne Haas - Churning out a 79 average in 63 minutes, 55 of that in pure base. Haas is as safe as they come in the FRF. With a BE of 53 there are probably more urgent trades this week, but Haas won’t let you down.

Payne Haas’s base stats are as good as they come. Picture: Getty

* Josh Schuster - Proved why he was the most popular pre-season buy in notching 59 including three try assists and a try contribution. Schuster will be in well over 50 per cent of teams by next week, but big question is whether it’s safe to move a week early. There were a few heart-in-mouth moments on the weekend as he struggled with cramp and the pure base of just nine points is a worry, so ideally take another look this week. That said, if he’s your ticket to Trbojevic, Grant, Haas or any other keeper, moving this week is a defintie option.

* Tom Trbojevic - Turbo is the best player in KFC SuperCoach when fit, yet costs $700,000 less than his starting price from last year and therefore looms as a must-have. Averaging 100 over his first two games, it’s now or never given his predicted price rise of $90,100 after this week.

* Jacob Preston - If you missed the boat last week, you simply MUST get on this week, albeit for $101,300 more than his starting price after a huge rise. The Canterbury young gun, described by Phil Gould as a Josh Jackson clone, looms as one of the cheapies of the season after averaging almost 60 in the opening three weeks. Seems locked in for 80 minutes or close to it on the Bulldogs’ edge.

* Tyrell Sloan - This may sound a little controversial given the extreme popularity of Schuster, but Sloan is the cheapie of the week for mine. His main advantage over Schuster is that his price rises after this week (by a predicted $64,500), while Schuster owners need to wait another round for a cash injection. That said, Sloan is hardly a must-have cheapie. The pure base of just 20 is a worry and he relies on attacking stats for big scores – but attacking stats certainly haven’t been a problem this year with three tries in two games.

Tyrell Sloan (left) has scored two tries in three games. Picture: Getty

HOLD

* William Warbrick - Warbrick and the Storm in general have been disappointing to start 2023. Starved of opportunities, the former Olympic Nines silver medallist has averaged just 26.7. But that’s with no big attacking stats and it only takes a try or two to initiate mass rises for backline cheapies. The fact remains that Warbrick is a winger in what is historically a great attacking side and he is all but guaranteed some meat pies soon.

SELL

* Tanah Boyd – The Titans halfback was a popular early-season buy in the hope he’d make quick cash. Unfortunately, he’s dropped by $9,000 and is now one of the most sold players. He hasn’t been helped by Gold Coast’s main attacking man David Fifita switching to the other side of the field. Only four runs in the opening three rounds.

* Christian Welch – A big mid-range hope at FRF, but a strong start from Welch petered out with just 25 points last week. While we were hoping for big rises, his price stayed basically the same and with a BE of 65 is predicted to drop by $16,400 after this week. The likes of Tohu Harris, Payne Haas and even Josh Schuster (via duals) are calling.

FULL TEAMS FOR ROUND 4

EELS v PANTHERS

Thursday, 8pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Ryan Matterson 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Matt Doorey 15. Brendan Hands 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur 19 Jirah Momoisea 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Toni Mataele 22. Haze Dunster

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 18 Matt Eisenhuth 19 Zac Hosking 20 Tyrone Peachey 21 Jack Cogger 22 Tom Jenkins

Nathan Cleary and the Panthers are back from the bye. Picture: Getty

STORM v TIGERS

Friday, 6pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tariq Sims 17. Bronson Garlick

Reserves: 18. Tom Eisenhuth 19 Grant Anderson 20. Aaron Pene 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22 Jonah Pezet

Tigers

1. Adam Doueihi 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole

Bench: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Alex Twal 16. Shawn Blore 17. Alex Seyfarth

Reserves: 18. Star to’a 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Justin Matamua 21. David Nofoaluma 22. Jake Simpkin

DOLPHINS v BRONCOS

Friday, 8pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Kodi Nikorima 10. Kenny Bromwich 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert

Bench: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Mason Teague

Reserves: 18. Poasa Faamausili 19. Kurt Donoghoe 20. JJ Collins 21. Anthony Milford 22. Robert Jennings

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Kobe Hetherington 21. Jock Madden 22. Xavier Willison

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COWBOYS v TITANS

Saturday, 5:30pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Tomas Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Coen Hess 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Heilum Luki 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. James Tamou

Reserves: 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Riley Price 20. Mitchell Dunn 21. Laitia Moceidreke 22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu

Bench: 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Jo Vuna 16. Erin Clark 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui

Reserves: 18. Klese Haas 19. Sam McIntyre 20. Toby Sexton 21. Keano Kini 22. Treymain Spry

RABBITOHS v SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 7:35pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Davvy Moale 17. Jed Cartwright

Reserves: 18. Ben Lovett 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Tallis Duncan 21. Taane Milne 22. Peter Mamouzelos

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai

Bench: 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie

Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns 20. Morgan Harper 21. Karl Lawton 22. Ben Condon

WARRIORS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 2pm, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale

Reserves: 18. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Rocco Berry 23. Demitric Sifakula

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Bench: 14. Jayden Okunbor 15. Corey Waddell 16. Jayden Tanner 17. Fa’amanu Brown

Reserves: 19. Braidon Burns 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Karl Oloapu 22. Jackson Topine 23. Kurtis Morrin

KNIGHTS v RAIDERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Brodie Jones 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Mathew Croker 17. Jack Johns

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Adam Clune 20. Thomas Cant 21. Enari Tuala 22. Tyson Frizell

Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Emre Guler

Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley 19. Brad Schneider 20. Trey Mooney 21. Semi Valemei 22. Peter Hola

DRAGONS v SHARKS

Sunday, 6:15pm, Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird

Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Aaron Woods

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braydon Trindall

Reserves: 18. Jack Williams 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Thomas Hazelton 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Connor Tracey

BYE: ROOSTERS

Originally published as NRL teams analysis Round 4: Tyrell Sloan a controversial choice for cheapie of week