With a number of big-name internationals in their ranks, the Melbourne Storm have a number of strong NRL Fantasy options – including arguably the best in the business.
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Fantasy guns
Cameron Smith: Regular NRL Fantasy coaches need no introduction to the Storm, Maroons and Kangaroos captain. Smith begins yet another season as the highest-ranked hooker in NRL Fantasy, with an irresistible mix of high tackle counts, good run metres out of dummy half, goals, tackle breaks and try assists. If you want to splash out on a reliable captaincy option for your team, there aren't many better available.
Jesse Bromwich: Arguably the best prop in rugby league, Bromwich averaged 52 points a game last season and has been steadily improving in the past few years. With 33 tackles and 160-odd metres a week, Bromwich's base stats are rock solid and he didn't miss a game last season. He's not cheap at $470,000, but for a safe bet who still has some room to improve in terms of attacking stats Bromwich looks a good option.
Wild cards
Cooper Cronk: 2015 was a surprisingly quiet season for Cronk in Fantasy terms, with his average score slumping to 43 after averaging 48 in 2014 and 47 the previous year. Part of that could have been due to the surprising impact of his new halves partner Blake Green, who produced 10 try assists compared with Cronk's 13. The Cronk-Green combination will continue this year so those scores may well continue, but if the Queensland and Australia No.7 can get back to his old self he could become a cut-price keeper in the halves at $390,000.
Billy Slater: Slater is in a similar boat to Cronk – his average dropped from almost 44 points a game to 36 last season – but he's been given an extra discount at the start of this year after playing just seven games in 2015. That means his starting break even is set to be around 33, meaning he's got a lot of upside if he can return to his 2014 scores. He's not a noted tackle breaker so his game isn't as suited to NRL Fantasy as some other fullbacks, but he did manage two scores over 50 in his seven appearances last year and could be a bargain if he starts the season strongly.
2016 NRL Fantasy prices
Cameron Smith ($548,000)
Jesse Bromwich ($470,000)
Tohu Harris ($428,000)
Kevin Proctor ($397,000)
Cooper Cronk ($390,000)
Cameron Munster ($383,000)
Dale Finucane ($369,000)
Blake Green ($358,000)
Will Chambers ($352,000)
Marika Koroibete ($329,000)
Billy Slater ($295,000)
Ben Hampton ($282,000)
Tim Glasby ($276,000)
Jordan McLean ($275,000)
Kenny Bromwich ($265,000)
Matthew White ($250,000)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona ($218,000)
Mark Nicholls ($196,000)
Young Tonumaipea ($180,000)
Cheyse Blair ($168,000)
Felise Kaufusi ($166,000)
Jeremy Hawkins ($145,000)
Richard Kennar ($135,000)
Christian Welch ($134,000)
Slade Griffin ($130,000)
