NRL 2021: NRL Fantasy, Winners and Losers, Round 11

Author: Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
Timestamp: Mon 24 May 2021, 02:45 AM

Rugby league's burgeoning Don Bradman raised his bat for another century while a series of lopsided wins produced a string of low scores - even from normally productive players on winning sides.

Winners

Rugby league wizard Nathan Cleary may not have set another record, his 115 falling well short of his 144-point Magic Round extravaganza, but he continued to cast a spell over the NRL with a double and pair of try assists against Souths.

Cleary continues to do his job as a playmaker but he's picking up extra points thanks to his hard running and drive after contact which are producing tries that are more will than skill.

Nicho Hynes (101) also put together back-to-back big scores, filling out the stats sheet in the comeback win over Canberra to improve on his Magic Round 73 while Manly's Tom Trbojevic (99) conjured another signature performance in the emotional win over Parramatta.

Angus Crichton (66) and James Tedesco (55) regressed somewhat in the Roosters' shock loss to Brisbane as did Newcastle's Tyson Frizell (41) but Warriors sensation Reece Walsh (64) continued his fine run of form.

Cleary beats Walker and Mitchell for his second

A number of lesser lights had their day in the sun (or evening in the spotlight) with Mo Fotuaika (94), Murray Taulagi (93), Reuben Garrick (83), Luke Garner (73) and Wayde Egan (69) all going big with ownership rates of between 0.7% and 3.3%.

Daly Cherry-Evans (57) was another popular pick who continued to score well while halves partner Josh Schuster (50), the game's eighth most-owned player, probably didn't get the return his real-world performance suggested.

Bulldogs playmaker Jake Averillo continues to shine in a losing side, improving on last week's performance with 64 points against the Titans.

Hynes releases Smith as Storm turn the screws

Losers

It was a tough night for the Roosters at the SCG and Fantasy's second most-popular player, Sam Walker, felt it as much as anyone.

The halfback had to cope with Tevita Pangai jnr running at him all night while his lavishly praised appetite for risk-taking repeatedly blew up in his face, resulting in a paltry six-point return that fell well short of his 43.1 season average.

Adam Doueihi was another who left his recent hot form in Brisbane, delivering only half his season average of 55, while Melbourne's red-hot left edge pairing of Josh Addo-Carr (11) and Justin Olam (2) caught cold in chilly Canberra while their Storm teammates sizzled.

The Forbes Ferrari, Charlie Staines (8), was another who couldn't cash in during a one-sided rout.

Mead races away off Walker intercept

The ongoing high-contact crackdown continued to cost Fantasy coaches points but Victor Radley's almost six per cent of owners would have been pleasantly surprised with "The Inflictor's" 25 points given his dual sin-binnings and running battle with both Pangai jnr and the refs.

Popular early season rookie Jake Simpkin got a game which would have been pleasing for those who held - until they were confronted with his measly six-point return.