The retention of Daly Cherry-Evans, the arrival of some key recruits and the emergence of an impressive young prop are the big Fantasy talking points from Manly this season.
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Fantasy gun
Daly Cherry-Evans: The departure of Sea Eagles five-eighth Kieran Foran is bad news for Manly but it's potentially good news for his old halves partner's Fantasy prospects. DCE is already a top-line Fantasy player – combining a dominant kicking game with a solid defensive game, the ability to split the defensive line and regular try assists. But with Foran gone, Cherry-Evans may take on even more playmaking responsibilities at Manly – particularly if paired in the halves with new recruit Dylan Walker, who is likely to focus on running the ball. At $482,000 he's expensive, but a little cheaper than the top-priced Fantasy halves.
Wild card
Martin Taupau: The Kiwis enforcer is one of several big-name Manly recruits this season, having been one of the Wests Tigers' brightest stars last season. Handed the lock position at the Tigers, Taupau crashed his way to four and a half tackle breaks per game and scored just shy of 50 points a week. It's hard to predict exactly what role Taupau will play in a new-look Manly pack but if the Sea Eagles get him firing on all cylinders he could be a more than handy pickup.
Value buys
Jake Trbojevic: One of two talented Trbojevic brothers at the Sea Eagles, while brother Tom grabbed plenty of headlines with his try-scoring feats at NYC and NRL level last year, Jake went about becoming one of the NRL's most promising young big men. He earned more game time as the season progressed – in the first 19 rounds of the year he averaged 43 minutes and 35 points; in last seven games averaged 54 minutes and 48 points. He's playing under a new coach this season with Trent Barrett replacing Geoff Toovey, but it's fair to expect that larger game time will continue in 2016.
Matt Parcell: A member of the Ipswich Jets side that won the Intrust Super Cup and State Championship titles last season, Parcell also played half a dozen games as a bench hooker for the Broncos in 2015, averaging 21 points from about 25 minutes a game. He's since joined Manly and will be battling former Panther Apisai Koroisau for the starting hooker role. He comes very cheap at $165,000 so should be a steal if he gets a starting spot, but even from the bench would be capable of earning a few price rises.
2016 NRL Fantasy prices
Daly Cherry-Evans ($482,000)
Martin Taupau ($446,000)
Apisai Koroisau ($385,000)
Jamie Lyon ($363,000)
Blake Leary ($351,000)
Jake Trbojevic ($348,000)
Nate Myles ($340,000)
Jamie Buhrer ($335,000)
Dylan Walker ($332,000)
Tom Symonds ($322,000)
Feleti Mateo ($319,000)
Lewis Brown ($309,000)
Jorge Taufua ($283,000)
Tom Trbojevic ($265,000)
Luke Burgess ($257,000)
Darcy Lussick ($253,000)
Brett Stewart ($236,000)
Brenton Lawrence ($202,000)
Jayden Hodges ($198,000)
Josh Starling ($197,000)
Nathan Green ($170,000)
Steve Matai ($166,000)
Matt Parcell ($165,000)
Siosaia Vave ($161,000)
Brayden Wiliame ($144,000)
Tim Moltzen ($134,000)
