With a bunch of leading players missing and the emergence of several potential cash cows, the Round 18 teams will give Fantasy coaches plenty to ponder as they approach the run home.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 18
Cowboys v Sharks, Friday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Popular rookie Jeremiah Nanai, who is owned by over 13 percent of all teams, has been rested by coach Todd Payten along with centre Valentine Holmes. Connelly Lemuelu ($375k), who is available as a CTR/WFB in Fantasy, is set to start in the back row. North Queensland’s top available Fantasy player, Reece Robson, starts at hooker after being in Origin camp as a wider squad member for New South Wales.
Sharks: Nicho Hynes, the best scorer in Fantasy this year and a player who is in almost half of all teams, returns after missing last week with COVID. Hynes shapes as one of the best captaincy options in Round 18 with Nathan Cleary missing from the Panthers. Forward Toby Rudolf ($570k) is back for the Sharks too and has a three-game average of 47 points. Centre Jesse Ramien was in fine touch last week, scoring three times to help himself to 76 points.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Eels v Warriors, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Mitchell Moses ($659k) bounced back from a poor score of 35 in Round 16 to register the top haul of any player last week, with 79 against his former club the Wests Tigers. Isaiah Papali’i continues to be a force and comes off a score of 67. After being named to start last week before being ruled out, Fantasy gun Ryan Matterson has been left out as he continues to suffer from a rib injury.
Warriors: Potential cash cow Ronald Volkman is out with a virus and replaced in the halves by cheapie Chanel Harris-Tavita ($285k), who comes off his best Fantasy outing of the year in Round 16, scoring 46 points thanks in part to a try, try save and 153 run metres at fullback. Euan Aitken ($636k) being named in the second row is good news for his owners, easing fears that he may be moved out to the centres to strengthen the Warriors’ edge defence.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Roosters v Dragons, Saturday at Central Coast Stadium
Roosters: All of the Roosters’ Origin players are named to play, with captain James Tedesco ($732k) averaging 41 in his last three outings. Joey Manu owners will be happy to see the Kiwi international named in the No.6 jersey again – with Luke Keary still out with concussion – after the powerful back managed 67 points in his last start there back in Round 16. Nat Butcher is named on the interchange and shapes as a sell.
Dragons: Fullback Cody Ramsey showed what he is capable of on his day with a score of 52 last week, boosted by a pair of tries and two line breaks. At $444k he is a reasonably priced WFB option if he can string together some consistent performances. Maroons star Ben Hunt, who averages 47.5 points per game across 2022, is named to start at halfback.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Sea Eagles v Knights, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: Daly Cherry-Evans is named to start at halfback and could be a decent captaincy option for those wondering what to do in the absence of Nathan Cleary. Second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu has been one of the best players in Fantasy over the last month or so, with a three-game average of 67.7. Centre Tolutau Koula should jump in value again with a break even of 11.
Knights: Traditional Fantasy heavyweight Jayden Brailey is into the starting side after scoring 36 points last week in his return from a long layoff with injury, which sees Chris Randall bumped to the bench. It means Randall is a sell, while Brailey ($715k) will probably still get cheaper in a week or two given his break even is 68. The Knights’ best Fantasy prospect, David Klemmer, will play after entering an early guilty plea for the Grade One dangerous contact charge which saw him sent from the field in Round 17.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Titans v Broncos, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Tanah Boyd gets his first start of the year after averaging 18 points per game off the bench. At $275k he’s an attractive option for those who think he can make the No.6 jersey his in the long run. The Titans’ top Fantasy player, captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui is named to start and Aaron Booth ($240k) gets the nod ahead of Eric Clark at hooker, after being a non-playing sub against the Rabbitohs in Round 14.
Broncos: Good news for those who took a punt on Zac Hosking ahead of his 55-point debut last week, with the back-rower retaining his starting spot for another game. However, not so good news for owners of gun forward Patrick Carrigan or high-ceiling WFB option Corey Oates, with both listed in the reserves following their participation in Origin III. Selwyn Cobbo, who boasted an average of 42 over his past three games, has been rested as well.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Wests Tigers v Panthers, Sunday at CommBank Stadium
Tigers: Cash cows Fa’amanu Brown ($354k) and Fonua Pole ($286k) look set to keep jumping in value, with Brown again the starting hooker and Pole named on the interchange, as he was last week before being promoted to the starting side. In an intriguing move for his dwindling Fantasy prospects, Jackson Hastings has been moved from the halves to lock, while rookie Justin Matamua ($220k) will start in the second row.
Panthers: A nightmare team naming for many Fantasy coaches, with Penrith resting all of their Origin players in Round 18. The absence of Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton, who are each owned by over 30 percent of all Fantasy teams, will be felt particularly hard. On a brighter note, those who picked up Kurt Falls ($256k) before his impressive 51 on debut in Round 13 will get another bite at the cherry when he starts in the halves.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Storm v Raiders, Sunday at AAMI Park
Storm: Provided there are no hiccups in his return from COVID, the Storm’s best Fantasy player Cameron Munster (798k) will return in the halves, while Maroons hooker Harry Grant ($727k) is named to play. Ryan Papenhuyzen is named to line up at fullback despite suffering a finger injury last weekend and should be set for a price drop or two going forward, with a break even of 75.
Raiders: Xavier Savage appears to have fended off the most significant threat to his job security, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad not named in the squad this week and Savage set to make some more cash with a break even of 11. Adam Elliot is again named on the interchange, not that it seemed to impact his Fantasy potential at all in Round 16 when he still managed 61 points in a 49-minute stint. Zac Woolford has probably peaked in terms of making money, but isn’t an urgent sell.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Sunday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: The presence of Matt Burton in the starting halves following his involvement in Origin III will be a relief to the 27 percent of coaches who have him in their team. Jake Averillo managed only 25 points in Round 16 despite scoring a try, while Raymond Faitala-Mariner ($418k) looks set to continue his slow rise in value off the interchange.
Rabbitohs: South Sydney have two players who average more than any other in their position in Fantasy, and both are named to back up from Origin III. Damien Cook, who is averaging 62.7 points per game in 2022, will start at hooker, while Cameron Murray is back at lock. Those who held Isaiah Tass are finally being rewarded, with the centre shaping as a late-season cash cow following scores of 48 and 46 over the past fortnight.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com