Playing NRL Fantasy Draft? There's no salary cap to deal with but there's still plenty of strategy involved in which players you should take when in the live draft.
We've broken down every position by tiers, identifying the elite scorers in each position worthy of an early draft pick, as well as which positions you can wait to fill late in the draft.
Today it's the forwards – traditionally the dominant scorers in Fantasy and the players you can build a league-winning team around.
Second-rowers
Top tier
Jason Taumalolo, John Bateman
The two standouts scored around 60 points a game last year and should be right up there once again in 2020. Taumalolo is a metre-eating machine and Bateman was one of the standouts of last season, regardless of whether he was playing at lock or on an edge. Grab one of these guys if you miss out on Payne Haas, James Tedesco and the top three hookers in the first round.
NRL Fantasy player in focus - Jason Taumalolo
Second tier
Cameron Murray, Jake Trbojevic, Jai Arrow, James Fisher-Harris, Ryan Matterson, Jazz Tevaga (injured), Nathan Brown, Angus Crichton, David Fifita
There are quite a few mid-50s scorers in the back row, making it a position you can hold off on filling if you miss out on one of the two elite players. Nathan Brown, Angus Crichton and David Fifita were a little off the pace last season but Brown and Crichton have been terrific scorers in the past and Fifita could take a leap this year.
Third tier
Kenny Bromwich, Briton Nikora, Tohu Harris, Josh Jackson, Isaiah Papali'i, Viliame Kikau, Kevin Proctor, Curtis Sironen, Dale Finucane, Josh McGuire, Mitch Barnett, Tevita Pangai jnr, Wade Graham, Lachlan Fitzgibbon
The list of second-rowers capable of scoring between 45 and 55 points per game is a long one, and there will surely be players I've missed in this list who will finish within that bracket. It means you should be able to get a decent scorer or two in the second row even in the later rounds of your draft.
Front-rowers
Top tier
Payne Haas
Last year's breakout Fantasy sensation should really be the No.1 Draft pick. Head and shoulders above the competition in his position – and most other Fantasy scorers – Haas's combination of endurance, work rate, and tackle-breaking and offloading ability in attack makes him a player made for NRL Fantasy.
NRL Fantasy player in focus - Payne Haas
Second tier
Martin Taupau, Andrew Fifita, James Fisher-Harris, David Klemmer, Josh Papalii, Addin Fonua-Blake, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Jordan McLean
These guys should get you 50 points a week, a good return in a position where the average player scores around 30.
Third tier
Matt Lodge, Aidan Tolman, James Tamou, Alex Twal, Paul Vaughan, Josh McGuire, Trent Merrin, Liam Knight
Plenty of players are capable of scoring between 40 and 50 points a game, at close to a point per minute of game time.
Hookers
Top tier
Damien Cook, Cameron Smith, Cameron McInnes
The three big guns are all 60-point players – around 10 points a game better than the competition – and should be taken with your first pick if they're on the board and you can't get Payne Haas.
NRL Fantasy player in focus - Cameron Murray
Second tier
Jazz Tevaga (injured), Reed Mahoney, Josh Hodgson, Jake Friend, Apisai Koroisau, Harry Grant
Hooker is one of the stronger positions in Fantasy and these guys (and potentially players from the next tier) should deliver you around 50 points per game. Jake Friend was limited by injury last year while Api Koroisau looks like getting a big-minute role at the Panthers after sharing the hooker role at Manly in 2019. Harry Grant – if his proposed move from the Storm to the Tigers goes through – is the dark horse here, a star at Intrust Super Cup level who could be an instant Fantasy success if he gets a starting spot and big minutes. Beware though the move hasn't been approved yet and if it doesn't go through Grant won't see any game time at Melbourne. The good news for Draft is he's well down the list for most players so you should be able to snap him up in the later rounds.
Third tier
Nathan Peats, Jake Turpin, Jeremy Marshall-King, Danny Levi, Brandon Smith, Jayden Brailey, Blayke Brailey, Reece Robson
Any starting No.9 outside the top two tiers is likely to score between 40 and 50 points a week in Fantasy, making them a handy acquisition. With only 16 starting hookers in the league it's a crucial position for your Draft team – if you can't get one of the elite scorers make sure you're not stuck with a bench player as your squad's primary hooker.
