A couple of traditional Fantasy big guns are in line to return in Round 8, while the Wests Tigers have named a bolter at fullback with cash cow potential.
From Angus Crichton's first outing of the year, to Kalyn Ponga's return and Jahream Bula emerging as the new No.1 for Tim Sheens, here are the key takeaways from Team List Tuesday.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 8
Rabbitohs v Panthers, Thursday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: After scoring 66 off the bench last week, Jai Arrow is named to start at prop but could be a late switch to the interchange again. At $639k and with the ability to play MID and EDG, Arrow could be a popular trade in this week. A leg injury to second-rower Keaon Koloamatangi means Michael Chee Kam has a starting role again and is potentially good value at $461k. Four tries in his last two games has seen Latrell Mitchell's price jump back up, with scores of 82 and 66 in the past fortnight.
Panthers: Even with Liam Martin suffering another hiccup with his hamstring, Luke Garner can't get back into the 17 and right now is named as Penrith's replacement player. Lindsay Smith is back on the bench after missing out on a spot last week, and could have some more money to make over the next few weeks with a break even of 15. Matthew Eisenhuth starts at prop, with Scott Sorensen taking Martin's spot in the second row.
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Eels v Broncos, Friday at TIO Stadium
Eels: After dropping to the bench before kick-off last week, Bryce Cartwright is named to start, which means Ryan Matterson remains at lock and J'maine Hopgood is on the bench. It's a situation worth keeping an eye on if you own Cartwright, with another bench stint, which last week meant he scored just 28 points, making him a possible sell. The return of Josh Hodgson means Brendan Hands drops back to the bench, with last week's 31 setting him up with a break even of 15.
Broncos: Corey Oates is back from a broken jaw, which means Jesse Arthars drops off the wing and out of the 17. MID Thomas Flegler returns to start at prop, so Corey Jensen is back to the interchange. Jordan Riki ($577k), who averages 42.9 points per game this year, looks set to play after suffering a groin issue last week.
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Bulldogs v Sharks, Saturday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Declan Casey comes in for his first game of the year on the wing, replacing the injured Jacob Kiraz. Casey ($277k) averaged 24 points across three games last season. Tevita Pangai Junior scored 51 in 47 minutes in his return to action from a calf injury last week, with 16 points coming just from offloads to hands. Corey Waddell looks like being a decent money making in the second row, with a 42 last week which has him on a break even of 25 for Round 8.
Sharks: Boasting an average of 80 points across three games, million dollar man Nicho Hynes is a chance of going up in price again this week but should level out from there on. MID Oregon Kaufusi ($382k) starts again at prop after scoring 40 last week.
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Cowboys v Knights, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Plenty of changes in the pack, with Reuben Cotter moving to lock to cover for the injured Jason Taumalolo, who faces at least a month on the sideline with a knee injury. Jordan McLean returns from a hamstring problem to start at prop, while Jack Gosiewski ($267k) gets a start in the second row.
Knights: Kalyn Ponga is back after missing five rounds due to concussion and will start in the halves. With a break even of 64 and a price tag of $471k, he's set to get significantly cheaper in coming weeks. Kurt Mann starts at lock after scoring 60 in a 57-minute stint last week, and at $521k shapes as a cut-price option who is set to benefit from the reshuffle required after the loss of Jayden Brailey to a season-ending injury. Mat Croker is back to the bench and has scored 31 in consecutive weeks after a run of 40s.
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Dolphins v Titans, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: Popular MID Ray Stone reverts to the bench after registering a season-high 39 last week in a starting prop role. HOK Jeremy Marshall-King ($704k) has scored 66 and 56 over the past two weeks. Tesi Niu will miss at least another week with his knee issue, so Robert Jennings keeps his spot on the wing, with Edrick Lee in the extended reserves.
Titans: AJ Brimson has been included in the extended reserves and could be a late inclusion at fullback after time out with a hamstring injury, which would bump Jayden Campbell back to the bench. Aaron Schoupp is out, which opens the door for Jojo Fifita to return on the wing and moves Phillip Sami back to centre. Klese Haas, the younger brother of the game's top Fantasy MID Payne Haas, is set to make his NRL debut off the bench.
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Wests Tigers v Sea Eagles, Sunday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Wests Tigers: Out of nowhere Jahream Bula has been named at fullback and will now be added to Fantasy ahead of what shapes as shock NRL debut. In three reserve-grade games this year he's averaged 190 run metres and averaged what would be 40 Fantasy points. With Daine Laurie and Tommy Talau on the bench, plus David Nofoaluma in the wider squad, there is every chance the backline changes prior to kick-off though. $364k HLF Brandon Wakeham is the new five-eighth, and with Adam Doueihi gone for the season with a knee injury he is a good chance of nailing down that spot on a permanent basis now. Shawn Blore's resurgence as a cash cow looks set to stall, with the $373k EDG not included in the 17 for the time being.
Sea Eagles: Josh Schuster will play his first game since Round 4 after being named at five-eighth, and he could steal some stats off Daly Cherry-Evans who was Fantasy's top player last week with 92 points. WFB Reuben Garrick, who averages 49 when you take away his HIA-impacted Round 6 score of 10, is back in action. With Kelma Tuilagi out with a head knock, Ethan Bullemor (EDG/MID, $409k) starts in the second row. Young gun Kaeo Weekes, who is in over eight percent of teams, drops out of the 17, with MID Samuela Fainu set to debut off the bench.
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Roosters v Dragons, Tuesday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Good news for Joey Manu owners, with the Kiwi named to play in the halves following the dropping of Sam Walker, who at this stage is in the extended reserves. Manu tends to score well in the halves and could have a big day out against a Dragons side who leak 25 points per game this year on average. Angus Crichton is back for the first time in 2023, but with his break even at 59 prospective buyers can probably afford to wait a week.
Dragons: As was the case last week, Jack Bird is step to play in the second row with Jack de Belin the preferred starting lock. It didn't have a negative impact on Bird's score last week with the popular Fantasy CTR option hitting 56. After a stunning first outing of the year last week which ended in a score of 65, $464k CTR Tautau Moga is again named on the wing.
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Storm v Warriors, Tuesday at AAMI Park
Storm: Nick Meaney returns from a week off with delayed concussion symptoms, which means Cameron Munster is back in the halves. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is back and is a straight swap for the suspended Tui Kamikamica. Harry Grant had easily his worst score of the season last week with 36 and could be available at a nice discount in a week or two given his break even is 82.
Warriors: Wayde Egan has been left out of the squad altogether after missing last week under concussion protocols, which means $371k HOK Freddy Lussick gets another start. Marata Niukore is back from suspension in the second row and has a season average of 44. Jazz Tevaga is scoring well on the Fantasy front, with a last-three game average of 53.3 and will start at prop. Interchange MID Tom Ale has back to back scores in the 40s and is available at $328k.
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