Bargain buys: Cheapie backline 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 backline cheapies and ranked them in order of round 1 buy status in my view.



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.



<a href="https://scplaybook.com.au/blog/2025/02/13/bargain-buys-cheapie-forward-rankings-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="">PART ONE, CHEAPIE RANKINGS: BEST FORWARD BARGAIN BUYS</a>



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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.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Backline cheapies</h2>



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.



2. Isaiah Iongi I FLB I $232,600



Iongi will likely start at No.1 for Parramatta and should make some decent cash.



I’m hoping he’ll earn a relatively quickfire $200k where he can then be upgraded to a gun fullback who drops in value after a slow start to the season.



In his NRL debut last season he scored 47 points with 31 in base.



In NSW Cup last year he played 22 games of 80 minutes, scoring six tries and assisting 9, with 110 tacklebreaks at five per game.



He’ll need to pass the pre-season eye test of course, but all signs are positive so far following a good showing against the Knights which included a crafty try-assist.



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3. Tom Duffy I HFB I $198,800



Reports suggest Duffy will start at halfback for the Cowboys in round 1 making him an exceptional Supercoach prospect.



He’s also a chance to goal-kick, however it’ll come down to him and Scott Drinkwater.



If he were to goal-kick I think he’s an absolute must-have, if he doesn’t he’s still a quality buy.



In QLD Cup last season he played 22 games, scoring five tries and setting up 33. Yes, 33!!!



I had a Nathan Cleary-Nicho Hynes combination all pre-season, but Duffy will be in my team if starting in round 1.



4. Billy Smith I CTW I $317,200



Billy Smith is an exceptional talent that can’t catch a break when it comes to injury.



In 2023 he strung together 14 straight games in the top grade, averaging 54 points with a very strong 33 in base.



If fit and named in round 1 he’ll be in my team, however recent reports suggest he may not be fit for the opener and may be closer to round 2 or 3.



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5. Jaxon Purdue I CTW I $257,000



Purdue is a chance to start at centre in round 1 for the Cowboys, or potentially even in the halves.



In three 80 minute games last season he averaged 56.3 points per game, including two tries and an assist. This also included a sin-bin.



Primarily a halfback, he’s versatile and could play multiple positions.



The only potential risk is if he was named as a bench utility which would make him an avoid.



6. Robert Toia I CTW I $198,800



Toia is fighting for a starting centre spot at the Roosters, and like many on this list would be a certain buy if named.



The 20-year-old play six games in NSW Cup last season at centre where he had four tries, one assist and three linebreaks.



He busted 42 tackles at 7 per game which is incredible, while he also had six offloads in his final three games.



On those numbers he’ll be a very viable starting CTW in the 17 if named.



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7. Isaiah Tass I CTW I $327,900



Tass starts very cheap and is a decent enough worker.



At the price in what should be a lethal attacking outfit he’s a little enticing.



My major concern is that Cody and Latrell will attack plenty down the left edge you’d imagine, while Graham on his inside will run lots of hard crash balls.



I fear he’ll be a little starved of quality ball on the right wing provided that is where he lands.



I don’t mind him, but between him and Munro I don’t really want to own both, and I’d much prefer the left winger which has always been the gold mine at the Rabbitohs.



I’m not putting a line through him, but not for me right now as a probable Munro owner.



For those not starting Munro though, he’ll likely be a little more enticing.



His job security is decent enough so if there’s a lack of decent CTW cheapies to begin the season his stocks will rise.



8. Savelio Tamale I CTW I $232,600



Tamale looks set to start in Vegas, which may be short-lived as Albert Hopoate is unavailable with the impending birth of his child.



Regardless, he could hold the spot or be one injury away so he looks at the worst a decent cheapie prospect.



Watching the Raiders trial with the Sharks I am a little concerned he may not get much quality ball on the left wing outside Ethan Strange.



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9. Jesse McLean I CTW I $234,900



I don’t think McLean will play round 1, but he should be one centre or winger injury away from a start in the best team in the NRL.



The second that happens he’ll be a near must-have cheapie so I see no harm in starting with him if the cheapie stocks are low come TLT.



10. Jesse Arthars I CTW I $341,600



I’ve always been a fan of Arthars in actual NRL, however 2024 was a down year by his standards.



In his defence, the entire Broncos outfit had a down year.



He starred in the All Stars game claiming man of the match honours in an early sign of form.



He averaged just 35 points per game last season with a very ordinary 21 in base.



The season prior he averaged 37 points per game with only 18 in base, in a team that went within minutes of winning a grand final.



While I won’t start with him, he may be relevant at some stage if the Broncos fire.



Reece Walsh is the key, if he’s dishing tries up on a platter for Arthars he can go on runs and earn some cash.



If you bought you’d be very reluctant to play him in your 17 due to the low floor.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Anyone considering starting the NRL Supercoach season cheap at halfback with the new Rabbitoh from the UK Lewis Dodd? 🤔 <a href="https://t.co/DhkHAfCVFM">pic.twitter.com/DhkHAfCVFM</a>&mdash; SC Playbook &#8211; NRL (@scplaybook1) <a href="https://twitter.com/scplaybook1/status/1872180972508324164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



11. Lewis Dodd I HFB I $336,000



I’m putting the English recruit down to a pre-season watch.



With Jamie Humphreys and Jayden Sullivan lurking I’m not convinced there’s much job security for an untested NRL halfback.



Further, the fact he’s only available at HFB and not as dual HFB-5/8 isn’t ideal.



I think that Walker and Latrell will get all the attacking ball in this side, with Dodd steering them around the park which tends not to be a great Supercoach role.



He wasn’t overly impressive in the trial with Manly.



Not for me, he’d have to dominate the Charity Shield to even enter my radar.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WATCHLIST</h2>



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.



Either they’re unlikely to get named, or I’m simply just not that interested.



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



Robert Derby I CTW I $214,000



Robert Derby was named on the wing for the Cowboys trial in what is a very weak side.



It doesn’t mean he won’t play round 1, but it isn’t a good sign.



Tanah Boyd I 5/8-HFB I $329,600



I believe Metcalf and TMM will get first crack in the halves, but Boyd is very much in the frame.



For argument’s sake let’s say he does get named in round 1.



In his eight 80 minute games for the Titans last season he averaged just 36.87 points with the addition of goal-kicking duties in several games.



With his numbers I don’t love the buy, but at $329k with potential goal-kicking duties and dual HFB-5/8 positioning he does look enticing enough.



The 5/8 position is relatively weak in terms of finding early value, so he may loom as a decent option for the backup 5/8 slot if named to start at all.



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Will Pryce I 5/8 I $310,100



Pryce probably doesn’t start the season, but if he does nab the five-eighth slot (or fullback if KP goes down) he’ll be the perfect reserve five-eighth for teams.



In his three starting games last season he averaged 60 points per game with an outstanding 37 in base.



Lachlan Ilias I HFB I $348,500



Ilias to me will be a watch early on to see his dynamic with new halves partner Kyle Flanagan.



In two games last season prior to injury he had scores of 20 and 40.



In 2023 he averaged 42 point per game.



Not for now, but monitor him early in the season.



Latu Fainu I 5/8 I $248,000



Fainu likely plays as the bench utility for the Tigers making him an avoid.



If either Jarome Luai or Lachy Galvin go down injured he’d start and become a terrific cash cow.



In two extended minute games last season he scored 71 points in 69 minutes and 44 points in 56 minutes.



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Luke Laulilii I CTW I $288,400



Laulilii is a chance to play in round 1, but may start the season in NSW Cup.



He averaged 38 points per game last season, but is priced on a 30 point average due to limited games played.



Minus the game that he played 50 minutes he bumps up slightly to 40PPG.



I don’t really want the winger that lands on Luai’s edge, but regardless he’ll be a reasonable cheapie play if winning a starting spot.



Moses Leo I CTW I $214,000



It’s unlikely there will be any cheapies at the Storm to begin the season, however Kiwi Rugby Sevens recruit Moses Leo is in the frame for an NRL debut at some stage.



He’s impressed throughout the early stages of the pre-season and will heap pressure on Jack Howarth and Nick Meaney for starting spots.



If he gets a start he’ll come into a red-hot backline and will loom as a near must-have if the job security were to strengthen.



Monitor how the pre-season unfolds.



Jamie Humphreys I 5/8 I $304,500



Humphreys is likely to land a bench utility role where he’d primarily spend time at hooker.



However, he’s in a genuine battle with Lewis Dodd to start at halfback.



If named he’d be an outstanding reserve 5/8 option.



OTHERS TO MONITOR



Carter Gordon, Chevy Stewart, Kade Dykes, Liam Ison, Ethan Sanders

Bargain buys: Cheapie backline rankings, Supercoach 2025

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