NRL Fantasy legend Corey Parker may have retired but Wayne Bennett still has a star-studded team at his disposal at the Brisbane Broncos. Parker's replacement at lock looms as the value Fantasy buy in this squad while a trio of backline stars will also be pushing for keeper status in 2017.
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Fantasy guns
Ben Hunt (HLF, $468,000): He may not have matched his 2015 breakout season but Hunt was still the Broncos' best in NRL Fantasy in 2016, matching now-retired Fantasy legend Corey Parker with 49.5 points a game. He ranked third in the league for try assists and kicks in play behind Kangaroos halves Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, and made more tackles, tackle breaks and offloads than both of those players. Hunt is a safe bet most weeks with the bulk of the Broncos' kick metres, and can thrive when Brisbane wins big.
James Roberts (CTR, $390,000): Only 10 centres scored more than 40 points per game in 2016 – including makeshift centres Manu Ma'u, Tyrone Peachey, Josh Dugan and Tom Trbojevic – so Robert's 41.2 points a game puts him in elite company already. But the upside for the speedster is that he actually had a fairly quiet season by his standards. After scoring 16 tries in 24 matches for the Titans in 2015 Roberts scored just nine in 25 for Brisbane last year, so if the Broncos get the best out of Roberts in 2017 he could rival Fantasy's best centres Jarrod Croker and Joey Leilua.
Wildcards
Anthony Milford (HLF, $434,000): Just about the definition of an NRL Fantasy wildcard, Anthony Milford had probably the biggest spread of scores in the competition last season. He was one of just five players to score 70 or more points on five occasions, but was the only one of those players to score less than 25 in a game – something he actually did four times. When he's good, he's very, very good. But you have to take the good with the bad with Milford.
Josh McGuire (FRF, $457,000): The retirement of NRL Fantasy legend Corey Parker creates a big hole in the Brisbane Broncos forward pack this year, and fellow workhorse Josh McGuire could be the man to fill it. McGuire is no stranger to Fantasy coaches – he made more run metres than any other Bronco last season, scoring 48 Fantasy points a game including five 60+ scores from the front row. But a shift to lock could see McGuire's minutes climb and his tackle counts rise, which in turn could lift his Fantasy average into the 50s.
Cash cow
Jai Arrow (2RF, $218,000): Like McGuire, Brisbane young gun Arrow is another man who could wear Corey Parker's old No.13 jersey in 2017. Arrow gun started at lock in Round 19 last season when Parker was rested after Origin III. The other player to fill in at lock for Parker during the season was Jarrod Wallace, who is now at the Titans. Arrow scored 52 in 54 minutes that week, including 49 points in base stats (tackles and run metres) and no negative stats (missed tackles or errors). Considering his price tag is based on a season average of 23, he will be undervalued if he gets a starting spot in 2017.
2017 NRL Fantasy prices
Ben Hunt (HLF, $468,000)
Josh McGuire (FRF, $457,000)
Matt Gillett (2RF, $453,000)
Anthony Milford (HLF, $434,000)
Andrew McCullough (HOK, $428,000)
James Roberts (CTR, $390,000)
Benji Marshall (HLF, $335,000)
Sam Thaiday (2RF, $335,000)
Adam Blair (FRF, $313,000)
Corey Oates (WFB, $309,000)
Darius Boyd (WFB, $308,000)
Alex Glenn (2RF, $307,000)
Jaydn Su'A (2RF, $301,000)
David Mead (WFB, $292,000)
Travis Waddell (HOK, $266,000)
Jordan Kahu (WFB, CTR, $253,000)
Tom Opacic (CTR, $237,000)
Jo Ofahengaue (FRF, $236,000)
Jonus Pearson (WFB, $236,000)
Kodi Nikorima (HLF, HOK, $222,000)
Jai Arrow (2RF, $218,000)
Tevita Pangai Junior (2RF, $214,000)
Tautau Moga (CTR, $152,000)
Herman Ese'ese (FRF, $151,000)
Francis Molo (FRF, $143,000)
Joe Boyce (2RF, $138,000)
Salesi Funaki (2RF, $138,000)
Mosese Pangai (CTR, $138,000)
Marion Seve (CTR, $138,000)
More NRL Fantasy guides for 2017
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