Updated bargain buys: Cheapie forward rankings, Supercoach 2025

Getting your cheapies right from round 1 is among the biggest factors in finding NRL Supercoach success.

Nailing them in your initial teams saves invaluable trades down the track to either get rid of deadwood from your squad, or alternatively getting the ones you missed into your team.

It’s far easier said than done…

For the most part we’re taking risks on rookie NRL players who could be dropped a week after getting named, or current players returning from injuries which come with risks of their I’ve own.

I’ve rattled through the list of forward cheapies and ranked them in order of round 1 buy status in my view.

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Note that this list is naturally extremely volatile, the first team list Tuesday of the year will tell the real story, while one injury or one decent trial performance could elevate a player off the list into the number one spot.

There’s a host of potential cheapies not listed below that with one injury to their club’s starting team would propel themselves into virtually every Supercoach squad.

I’ve deemed a cheapie to be any player under $350,000.

In coming up with my rankings, I’ve taken into consideration starting price and potential cash generation from that player.

Job security is also a major marker in the list, as is the position they play.

I’ll update this weekly as the pre-season unfolds and we learn more about the current crop of bargain buys.

PART ONE, CHEAPIE RANKINGS: BEST BACKLINE BARGAIN BUYS

CHEAPIE FORWARDS

1.Sandon Smith I HFB-HOK I $237,600

Smith should be near enough the first player picked for most squads this season provided he wins the goal-kicking duties.

He’ll get an extended stint in the halves at the Roosters and is dirt cheap, with dual position.

In two 80 minute games last season he had scores of 51 and 88.

If he does goal-kick he’ll be an easy play in 17s early on also, even if he doesn’t I’d still buy him.

The Roosters and Smith were very ordinary in trials, but the reason he remains number one is that there’s very little competition for his spot.

Verdict: Buy

2. Brendan Hands I HOK I $349,300

Yep, we’re here again…

If Hands were to win the starting hooker role under Ryles as the lone number nine in the 17 there’s a genuine case to be made.

In six games of 80 minutes last season he averaged 52.2 points per game.

He’s priced on a 36 point average from 55 minutes per game last season.

If Joey Lussick is named on the bench it’d put a line through Hands entirely.

Sandon Smith at hooker means we may not need to take a risk on him, but don’t be surprised if he seriously enters conversations should the round 1 team list fall in his favour.

Verdict: Consider, this one largely comes down to your team structure. An early double cheapie hooker player is viable, especially considering Smith should be very playable each week.

3. Royce Hunt I FRF I $249,000

I’m not sold on Hunt yet, but there are minutes to be won in the Tigers middle.

I feel he’s best utilised in a Spencer Leniu type role in exploding off the bench, but perhaps he’ll get bigger game time at his new club where he may even start.

He’s not a huge worker, but he is explosive and can find some attacking stats.

If he can increase his 25 minutes per game from last season to 35+, and find the odd attacking stat off Api, he can hopefully earn a bit of cash for an upgrade.

If there’s decent cheapies at FRF by round 1 I’ll avoid, but at this stage he does look a decent fourth FRF cheapie.

He’s high-ish up the list due to the lack of cheapie at FRF for now.

I don’t see him scoring as well as numerous players listed below, however the value comes in plugging that generally unused fourth FRF cheapie slot.

Verdict: Consider buying, likely as a fourth FRF for most, avoiding playing him

4. Cory Paix I HOK I $232,600

Mozer’s injury leaves Paix and Billy Walters in line to share the hooking duties to begin the season.

The minute split likely looks something like a 50/30 which wouldn’t warrant investing.

They could also switch between starting and bench at any point, while Mozer could return round 2 and thwart the plans even more.

He was impressive in both trials for Brisbane, so if he jags 60 minutes there could be some cash to be made.

There’s lots of red flags, and it’s tough getting stuck with a cheapie hooker on your bench that’s not generating cash.

Verdict: Potential buy

5. Kobe Hetherington I 2RF I $338,800

After initial interest, a deeper dive into Kobe Hetherington has me a long way from convinced he’s a good buy, in fact I think he’s a trap.

The lure of a starting lock role was enticing, but his PPM is very poor at 0.86 last year.

He offloaded three times in 23 games and busted just 22 tackles, not the greatest indicators for a Supercoach scoring increase.

Verdict: Potential buy if there’s a lack of early cheapie forwards

6. Peter Mamouzelos I HOK I $302,900

Minutes will be the concern for Mamouzelos who finally gets a starting opportunity with the departure of Damien Cook.

I don’t think his long-term job security is great and there’s no guarantee he’ll get 80 minutes.

He could quite easily play 50-60 minutes in a job share with Humphreys.

If we get word he’ll be an 80-minute hooker it’ll change my view on him entirely.

He did have one game of 80 minutes last season for a score of 73, with 53 in base which is excellent.

If this was the norm he’d be a must-have, but I do worry it’s a one-off.

In other big minute games last season he produced:

• 50 points in 55 minutes with 34 in base
• 68 points in 59 minutes with 34 in base
• 48 points in 63 minutes with 28 in base

The scoring is quality, but he had major attacking stats in all of these.

I’m certainly not ruling him out to begin the year, but with Sandon Smith already one high quality cheapie hooker option I’ll likely be looking elsewhere.

Verdict: Consider, likely an avoid pending minutes

7. Jack Gosiewski I 2RF I $232,600

Jack Gosiewski is pushing for a starting role with Brendan Piakura.

It looks more and more like he’ll gain the start.

Even if he does the minutes will be a question mark as Jordan Riki will play 80 on one edge, and Piakura would replace Gosiewski on the other.

A potential big minute backrower at $232k has appeal, I’m just not sure he holds the spot for long and he has very little upside.

Verdict: Consider, likely avoid

8. Demetric Vaimauga I 2RF I $232,600 & Leka Halasima I 2RF I $232,600

I put the Warriors pair as a duo as their credentials are very similar and you probably only want to start one of them max.

Vaimauga was devastating in limited opportunity late last year.

He’s likely to nab a bench role to begin the season and will warrant watching.

He may need an injury or two to get enough minutes to generate cash, but he looks a decent prospect.

Jacob Laban wasn’t named for Vegas, and the club named a four forward bench which isn’t ideal.

Verdict: Consider, a potential one for that sixth 2RF spot.

9. Siua Wong I 2RF I $318,100

There’s serious potential for Wong who was a popular cheapie to begin 2024, but it’s extremely hard to predict his exact role and minutes prior to trials and the round 1 team list.

If Radley stays in the edge role when Crichton returns, pushing Butcher to the middle rotation, both Wong and Naufahu Whyte will generate interest.

Poor trial performances from the Roosters place more uncertainty on roles of forwards moving forward, so I think I want to see how it plays out.

If he were named to start in round 1 it’d change a fair bit, but would still hold risk at the awkward price.

10. Coen Hess I 2RF-FRF I $327,000

Hess is an interesting prospect as he’s returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, but is likely to have one of the better Supercoach roles for a cheapie.

He’s may start in the front-row for the Cowboys potentially from round 1, depending how they manage his return, or he’ll play off the bench.

He’s also capable of playing on the edge where the Cowboys are a little weak since the season-ending injury to Heilum Luki.

He averaged 42 points in 50 minutes per game in 2023.

The dual position is very handy, however I’m concerned from trials they’ll really ease him back into minutes.

My gut feel says he’ll be a buy for a slightly increased price at about round 6 as he eases into bigger minutes.

Verdict: Big watch, likely an avoid to start

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11. Jacob Laban I 2RF I $232,600

Laban was named to start on the edge in the Warriors first trial clash in what was a very strong team.

Note also that one of his main edge rivals in Jackson Ford was named at prop in the second trial which is a great sign.

In limited games last season he averaged 24 points in 32 minutes, with next to no attacking stats.

He’s a devastating ball runner, so they’ll come.

Unfortunately he wasn’t named for the Warriors clash in Vegas, and while there may be an injury niggle he may be a little further down the pecking order than we first hoped.

Verdict: Avoid

12. Charlie Guymer I 2RF I $232,600

I think Guymer will factor in Supercoach at some stage this season for Parramatta, I don’t think it’ll be from round 1 though.

The Eels have plenty of middle and edge options, including the returning J’maine Hopgood who is a big minute lock.

Guymer played two games last season with output of:

• 43 points in 45 minutes, with 37 in base
• 37 points in 41 minutes, with 37 in base

He looks an excellent prospect, but he may need an injury or two to get the relevant minutes.

That first team list for the Eels could bolster his prospects.

Verdict: Avoid for now

Verdict: Likely avoid

13. Owen Pattie I HOK I $198,800

Pattie starred in the Raiders trial win over Penrith with two tries in short succession.

He’ll be a chance for a bench spot in Vegas in competition with Tom Starling and Danny Levi.

If he’s off the bench he probably gets 30 minutes at most which wouldn’t warrant buying, but watch this space, the kid can play.

If the starting opportunity arises at any stage he has the potential to become the cheapie of the year.

Verdict: Avoid for now

WATCHLIST

The below players would need very favourable team lists for round 1 of the competition, while also bearing close monitoring in the weeks leading into the season.

They’re only in a general order in terms of ranking as I won’t consider based on their current standing.

Bailey Hayward I 2RF I $300,900

Hayward probably isn’t an option for round 1, but I do think he’ll be relevant at some stage this year.

He’s highly touted at Belmore and may only be one or two injuries away from a starting spot and big minutes.

Barring an unlikely starting role, avoid for now but don’t be surprised if he becomes a familiar name in teams at some stage.

Josh Schuster I 2RF I $265,100

Schuster is highly owned as it stands, but I’m not convinced he’ll be in the 17 for round 1.

Another major trial watch and TLT watch.

12. Tevita Tatola I FRF I $343,600

Tatola returns from a lengthy injury lay-off that has him at a reduced price based on a 35 point average.

Removing his injury impacted game last season he averaged 45.4 points per game.

Head back a couple of seasons to 2022 and he averaged 51 points per game in 46 minutes per game.

As a likely starting prop, he may be one sneaking under the cheapie radar at some stage in 2025.

Personally I just want to see how he returns from the injury, but if he looks good he could rocket up this list.

Tom Amone I FRF I $232,600

Amone is currently in 27% of teams but may not play in round 1.

The 29-year-old returns from an English stint with the Leigh Leopards.

In a small sample size back in 2021 at the Tigers he averaged just 18 points in 21 minutes at a poor rate of 0.83 points per minute.

Even if given a bench role which may happen, it’s hard to see him getting enough minutes to warrant selecting even at the price.

The round 1 team list will be a key watch on what the bench looks like most importantly, but I don’t think it’ll change my mind too much unless we’re extremely void of cheapie FRF options.

It smells like a bit of a Franklin Pele, Poasa Faamausili vibe to me…

Matty Nicholson I 2RF I $336,000

The latest English recruit to Canberra may start on the edge in the Vegas opener, with Zac Hosking in doubt.

An 80-minute back-rower at $336k is a steal, however Hosking isn’t expected to miss many games if any.

Nicholson then becomes a bench forward at an awkward price.

In 21 Super League games for Warrington last season he had:

• Nine tries
• 30.86 tackles per game
• 8.04 runs per game
• 24 tackle busts
• Three offloads

Not overly enticing numbers unless he gets an extended run as an 80-minute edge, in which case he’d be a buy.

Ben Te Kura I FRF I $232,600

Te Kura may not make the bench for round 1, and if he does the minutes will be limited.

Monitor and reassess if greater minutes look like they’re on the radar.

Cody Hopwood I FRF I $198,800

Guru likes the look of young Cody Hopwood. He’d probably need an injury or two in the pack to warrant picking him early on, but we can reconsider closer to the season with more information around his potential selection.

Lazarus Vaalepu I FRF I $232,600

Not one to consider for now, but the immediate retirement of Christian Welch opens up a bench spot at the Storm.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona will return early from a suspension, so don’t be tricked into starting with Vaalepu, Joe Chan or whoever nabs a spot.

However as inevitable injuries and suspensions hit throughout the season there will be minutes opening up for a cheapie.

Jake Simpkin $318,100 and Gordon Chan Kum Tong $232,600

Lachlan Croker is out until approximately round 4, opening up cheapie hooker slots for Simpkin and Chan Kum Tong.

The issue is they’ll likely share minutes in the role, but there is merit in either if they were to get the sole hooking role in the team.

The issue remains though that Jazz Tevaga could spend time at hooker from the bench, and Croker could also return early.

Tevaga actually started at hooker for Manly in a recent scrimmage.

Three big minute games for Simpkin last year were:

•  64 points in 68 minutes including 43 in base and one try-assist
• 45 points in 80 minutes with 45 in base
• 46 points in 67 minutes with 50 in base

Essentially, either would have to be starting without any sign of the other, and we’d need confirmation of Croker missing at least the first month.

Blake Mozer I HOK I $312,000

Mozer injured his shoulder at training and is expected to miss the early stages of the season.

OTHERS TO MONITOR

Phoenix Crossland, Loko Pasifika Tonga, Myles Martin, Jamie Humphreys, Blake Steep, Karl Lawton, Egan Butcher, Tom Starling, Oryn Keeley, Thomas Fletcher