A hefty injury toll for several clubs in Round 8 means there are plenty of Fantasy-relevant changes to teams this week.
Injury and suspension will keep a couple Fantasy big guns out, but on the whole it's shaping as a week full of potential positive trade-ins.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 9
Sharks v Cowboys, Thursday at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: For the first time this year Nicho Hynes (shouldn’t) go up in price this week, and things are starting to stabilise for the game’s best scoring and most expensive player. MID Jack Williams has had his minutes go up over the past fortnight and has back-to-back scores in the 30s, with a price tag of just $301k.
Cowboys: Jake Granville is named to come off the bench, but as has been the case the last couple of weeks he is a good chance of being promoted to a starting middle role come kick-off. Granville costs just $312k and has a last three-game average of 35.3. After an up-and-down start to the year Scott Drinkwater ($504k) had his best performance with a 63 and is owned by only 2.1 percent of teams.
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Eels v Knights, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: High-performing MID Reagan Campbell-Gillard is out after suffering a hip injury last week, so Wiremu Greig ($248k) starts at prop. If you've still got J'maine Hopgood, he's a definite hold after being named at lock again with Bryce Cartwright on the bench and Ryan Matterson moving to the edge. Bailey Simonsson's absence due to a head knock opens the door for Haze Dunster (WFB, $220k) to get another run at centre.
Knights: After dropping to the bench before kick-off last week, Kalyn Ponga is named to start at five-eighth after scoring 41 in his return game, but with a break even of 46 isn't an urgent trade. Those who had Leo Thompson from the start of the year have now made a cool $226k in profit, with the Kiwi named to start at prop again this week.
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Broncos v Rabbitohs, Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: The leading MID in Fantasy, Payne Haas, is out on a one-game suspension which will be a big blow this week for the 27 percent of teams who own him. He is replaced by $260k Keenan Palasia in the starting side. With Corey Oates gone for at least four weeks with a knee injury, Jesse Arthars ($385k, CTR/WFB) is back on the wing.
Rabbitohs: Tevita Tatola returns at prop, and after two HIA-impacted scores in three games this year the MID is underpriced at $481k. Jai Arrow is the other prop and is a borderline keeper based off his scores so far. Latrell Mitchell ($758k) has a whopping last three-game average of 74.3.
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Raiders v Dolphins, Saturday at McDonalds Park
Raiders: Jordan Rapana (WFB, $443k) returns from a head cut and replaces Nick Cotric in the only change for coach Ricky Stuart out of last week's bye. MID Joseph Tapine is their best performing Fantasy player, with a season average of 51.8.
Dolphins: Kenny Bromwich returns from suspension at prop, which is huge news for the 11 percent of teams who own Connelly Lemuelu, with the EDG/CTR looking safe in his starting back row role. Positive news too for Isaiya Katoa, with Anthony Milford left in the extended reserves for now and Kodi Nikorima remaining his halves partner. Katoa's scores have improved alongside Nikorima, with 40s in the past two weeks.
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Sea Eagles v Titans, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic has been named to start at fullback but is far from a certainty to actually take the field as he battles a groin injury. Josh Schuster is gone and replaced by Cooper Johns (HLF, $295k) at five-eighth. The return of Christian Tuipulotu sees $557k WFB Reuben Garrick move to the centres. There is still no room for popular rookie Kaeo Weekes, with Karl Lawton (EDG, $302k) the preferred bench option for now. Kelma Tuilagi returns in the back row, so Ethan Bullemor reverts to the bench after scoring 43 last week.
Titans: The bench has been shaken up, with Kruise Leeming and Thomas Mikaele dropping back to the extended reserves and Joseph Vuna and Klese Haas coming in. In a move that could have a Fantasy impact, Jojo Fifita and Phillip Sami have swapped places, with the latter moving to the wing and the former at centre.
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Panthers v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Carrington Park
Panthers: Izack Tago is out injured, which opens up an opportunity for Tyrone Peachey ($368k) to start at centre. Nathan Cleary continues to be the game's best captaincy option on a week-to-week basis for those without Nicho Hynes.
Wests Tigers: As Tim Sheens indicated after the game last week, Jahream Bula ($247k) retains the fullback spot and could be a popular buy ahead of Round 9 after scoring 32 in his NRL debut. David Nofoaluma replaces Charlie Staines on the wing and Brent Naden (CTR/WFB, $388k) returns at centre.
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Warriors v Roosters, Sunday at Mt Smart Stadium
Warriors: More pain for those who held onto Tohu Harris during his stint on the sidelines earlier this year, with the club captain out again with a knee issue. WFB Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who is owned by 11 percent of all teams, is out after failing a HIA in Round 8 and replaced by Taine Tuaupiki. In better news Wayde Egan ($665k), who averages 50.4 this season, is back at hooker. Jazz Tevaga is out with an Achillies injury and Dylan Walker faces a 2-3 match ban for Dangerous Contact, meaning Ronald Volkman (HLF, $311k) could come into the 17.
Roosters: Joey Manu keeps the No.6 jersey after hitting 70 points there last week, with Sam Walker again left out of the 17 for the time being. After scoring 28 in his first NRL game of the year last week, Angus Crichton ($763k) will come off the bench and should drop significantly in value after Round 9. Corey Allan replaces the injured Daniel Tupou on the wing.
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Dragons v Bulldogs, Sunday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: After a handy couple of Fantasy games, spurred on by five tries in two games, a shoulder injury will keep Tautau Moga out, with Max Feagai his replacement on the wing. The move from lock to the second row looks to be helping Jack Bird's Fantasy prospects, with a 66 last week giving him a last three-game average of 62.
Bulldogs: Kyle Flanagan has been dropped and is replaced by Josh Reynolds ($228k) in the halves. Reynolds could be a popular cash-down option this week, but it's hard to know what his scores could look like given his role off the bench has seen him play under 25 minutes in his last two games, for scores of eight and nine. For now at least, highly touted rookie Karl Oloapu remains in the extended reserves, along with Fa'amanu Brown who could return from injury this week. A 73 last week means starting second-rower Corey Waddell is starting to make some nice money.
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