It's the penultimate round of the NRL Fantasy season with some key ins and one or two big outs that could define some head-to-head finals.
Round 24 team news
Match: Knights v Titans
Round 24 -
home Team
Knights
7th Position
away Team
Titans
10th Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Knights: Sauaso Sue starts at prop for David Klemmer (suspended), Tyson Frizell returns in the second row and Brodie Jones goes back to the bench.
Newcastle are on a winning streak but they continue to grind teams down rather than really firing in attack, so busy forwards like Connor Watson (68 last week) and Mitch Barnett (55) are outperforming attacking weapons Kalyn Ponga (35) and Bradman Best – although that could still change against the Titans or Brisbane next week.
Titans: Plenty of changes here, including David Fifita reverting to the bench again with Beau Fermor starting in the back row. Meanwhile Tyrone Peachey replaces Ash Taylor at five-eighth, Phillip Sami replaces Greg Marzhew on the wing, Mitch Rein starts at hooker, Erin Clark goes to the bench, and Moeaki Fotuaika replaces Sam Lisone on the interchange.
David Fifita was averaging 73 points a game heading into round 20 but his impact has declined since then, with scores of 43, 69 (with a try), 26 and 30 – although those last two scores came against powerhouses Souths and Melbourne. Tyrone Peachey (53) helped his score with a try against the Storm while Jamal Fogarty (57) impressed in his return.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 24 -
home Team
Warriors
11th Position
away Team
Raiders
9th Position
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Warriors: Matt Lodge returns from suspension while Sean O'Sullivan replaces Chanel Harris-Tavita at five-eighth. Wayde Egan starts at hooker, Jazz Tevaga and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown move to the bench, and Kodi Nikorima replaces Jack Murchie on the interchange.
Reece Walsh (66) missed a couple of match-winning chances last week but still finished with a big score against Brisbane, while Euan Aitken (57) grabbed a try and continues to be a terrific late-season scorer since his move to the back row. Addin Fonua-Blake (65) has also been in great touch recently with a three-game average of 59.
Raiders: Matt Frawley replaces Sam Williams at halfback, Corey Horsburgh and Siliva Havili return on the bench and Dunamis Lui drops out of the 17.
Centre Matthew Timoko (80) had a try assist and 11 tackle breaks in a huge score against Manly, while Hudson Young (67) has a five-game average of 60.6.
Match: Roosters v Rabbitohs
Round 24 -
home Team
Roosters
6th Position
away Team
Rabbitohs
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Roosters: With Adam Keighran (HIA), Dale Copley and Nat Butcher (knee) joining the Roosters' injury list Lachlan Lam starts at centre, Brad Abbey is on the wing, Sam Walker starts at halfback, Egan Butcher is in the second row and Ben Marschke and Naufahu Whye join the bench.
James Tedesco (108) cracked the ton without a try against the Dragons, with three line breaks, four try assists and a dozen tackle busts. After a quiet patch in the middle of the year he's averaged 83 across his past five games. Drew Hutchison (92) had his career-best game against the Dragons while Sam Walker was benched before kick-off and still managed 42 points in 38 minutes.
Rabbitohs: Josh Mansour (knee) is out for the season, with Jaxson Paulo replacing him. Keaon Koloamotangi (suspended) is replaced by Jaydn Su'A. Damien Cook is named to play despite concerns over a possible quad injury.
Cook (77) was Souths' best against the Panthers, ahead of Cameron Murray (63), while Latrell Mitchell only managed 30 points including a try. He has scored five tries in his past five games though.
Match: Dragons v Cowboys
Round 24 -
home Team
Dragons
12th Position
away Team
Cowboys
14th Position
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
Dragons: Tyrell Sloan replaces Matt Dufty at fullback, Kaide Ellis (shoulder) is out with Blake Lawrie starting at prop, Jayden Sullivan is the new hooker with Josh McGuire at prop, Tyrell Fuimaono moves to the bench and new loan signing Freddy Lusick replaces Josh Kerr on the interchange.
Zac Lomax (53) outscored fellow centre Jack Bird (34) last week and is looming as a value buy next season, as is rookie five-eighth Talatau Amone (71) who had five tackle breaks and 27 tackles against the Roosters.
Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo returns from a hand injury, this time at prop in place of Francis Molo. Kyle Feldt and Murray Taulagi return on the wing, with Daejarn Asi and Laitia Moceidreke dropping out and Val Holmes switching to centre. Reuben Cotter starts at lock and Mitchell Dunn goes to the bench, while Griffin Neame replaces Coen Hess on the interchange.
Halves Scott Drinkwater (63) and Tom Dearden (56) have both scored well lately and will be interesting prospects next year, although both look too risky for Fantasy coaches looking for a reliable scorer this week.
Match: Sharks v Broncos
Round 24 -
home Team
Sharks
8th Position
away Team
Broncos
15th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sharks: Ronaldo Mulitalo (broken jaw) is out with Mawene Hiroti on the wing, and Aiden Tolman replaces Billy Magoulias on the bench.
Braydon Trindall (70) has been a gem of a buy in the last few weeks, averaging 61.6 across his past five games, while his new halves partner Luke Metcalf (69) was also excellent in the win over the Tigers.
Broncos: Unchanged. Tyson Gamble was already suspended and will now miss the final couple of rounds of the season due to hand surgery.
Payne Haas (75) keeps pumping out terrific numbers and is a solid captaincy pick, while Anthony Milford (83) had a try and two assists against the Warriors for his best Fantasy score in a couple of years.
Match: Storm v Eels
Round 24 -
home Team
Storm
1st Position
away Team
Eels
5th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Storm: The return of Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith means Harry Grant and Nicho Hynes revert to the bench. Dean Ieremia replaces George Jennings (knee) on the wing and Justin Olam replaces Marion Seve at centre, while Tepai Moeroa and Cooper Johns drop out.
Ryan Papenhuyzen (63) was just about back to his best against the Titans in his first 80-minute game since round 5 and is still great value at $455k, while Cameron Munster (83), Josh Addo-Carr (84) and Harry Grant (93) all collected big scores.
Eels: Blake Ferguson returns for the injured Maika Sivo (knee) and Ray Stone and Keegan Hipgrave replace Will Smith and Oregon Kaufusi on the bench.
Mitchell Moses (69) had a nice score in a much-needed win for the Eels and bargain hooker Joey Lussick stepped up with 52 points in 73 minutes. Isaiah Papali'i (43) played a season-low 46 minutes against the Cowboys.
Match: Sea Eagles v Bulldogs
Round 24 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
4th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic is back, while Tevita Funa is suspended. Brad Parker returns in place of Moses Suli at centre.
Daly Cherry-Evans (81) stepped up in Turbo's absence last week with a try assist, a line break and 608 kick metres, while Haumole Olakau'atu (70) scored his second try in as many weeks and Jake Trbojevic (65) and Josh Schuster (54) also scored well.
Bulldogs: Luke Thompson and Corey Waddell are suspended and Adam Elliott is stood down, while Ryan James and Corey Horsburgh have returned to the Raiders after short-term loan deals.
Ava Seumanufagai, Jack Hetherington, Matt Doorey and Joe Stimson move into the starting pack. Bailey Biondi-Odo replaces Jackson Topine at hooker, and Brandon Wakeham, Ofahiki Ogden, Chris Patolo and Sione Katoa form a brand new bench.
Josh Jackson (50) remains a reliable scorer with the since-departed James (59) and Biondi-Odo (56) both producing good numbers against Newcastle.
Match: Panthers v Wests Tigers
Round 24 -
home Team
Panthers
2nd Position
away Team
Wests Tigers
13th Position
Venue: Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe
Panthers: James Fisher-Harris returns at prop in place of Matt Eisenhuth, while Viliame Kikau is named to start with Liam Martin to come off the bench.
Nathan Cleary (106) scored a try and kicked for a staggering 844 kick metres for his fifth hundred of the year, with Isaah Yeo (68) the only other Panther to score more than 50 against Souths. Centres Matt Burton or Stephen Crichton are both a great chance to grab a try or two against a struggling Tigers side.
Wests Tigers: Adam Doueihi (knee) is out, with Jock Madden at five-eighth. Tom Mikaele and Jacob Liddle return to the starting side with Joe Ofahengaue and Jake Simpkin and Alex Seyfarth to come off the bench, and Kelma Tuilagi, Tui Simpkins and Billy Walters drop out.
Joe Ofahengaue (53), Luciano Leilua (52) and Jake Simpkin (52) were the Tigers' best scorers last week, with popular buys Doueihi (31), Shawn Blore (35) and Luke Brooks (40) underwhelming.