The Storm gave us some very handy cash cows last year, but in 2024 their bargain buy is a much more familiar name with a formidable Fantasy CV.
After being a 50-point player for three seasons in a row between 2020-22, Ryan Papenhuyzen's wretched run with injuries over the past 18 months has seen his price plummet to below $500k and the former Clive Churchill Medal winner has become a cut-price keeper candidate.
Melbourne also have keeper options at HOK and HLF, with Harry Grant, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes all averaging above 50 last year, although all but the latter will likely miss plenty of time due to Origin selection.
Eliesa Katoa, Shawn Blore and Trent Loiero start the year below $650k and have top tier EDG potential on paper, depending which two can earn (and keep) starting roles in coach Craig Bellamy's side.
Blore: 'I really want to give back to the club'
Storm 2024 NRL Fantasy guide
The big gun
The top scoring HOK in Fantasy last year and 14th highest overall player by average points, Harry Grant was a class above in his position despite actually taking a step back from his 60-point average in 2022. He shapes as being the safest bet among the elite HOK options again this season due to the Storm lacking a genuine back-up option who could take minutes from him, while his ability to impact games in attack means he will have some really big performances along the way. It's easy to see him returning to being a high 50s scorer if he can get his running going a bit more and cut down on missed tackle demerits, which cost him 214 points across the season in 2023.
The bargain
Things you love to see
A three-game stint at the back end of the year in which he averaged only 43 minutes has helped Ryan Papenhuyzen's Fantasy price drop down to $495k to start 2024, which makes him one of the biggest potential bargains around. At his best he's worth close to double that, but his true value will depend entirely on whether or not his body can hold up after a torrid run with serious injuries. Even if he misses some games throughout the year, he's still terrific value at that price and you need only look back to his 65-point performance in Round 27 to know he's still got what it takes to be an elite WFB.
Bye round outlook
Rounds 4, 13 and 19. It's a bad draw for overall Fantasy players, with Melbourne sitting out two of the three major bye rounds. At the same time that's actually perfect if you are in head-to-head leagues which don't play during those weeks and means the Round 4 bye might be the only week you have to go without your Storm talent. From Round 20 onwards you can load up on Melbourne players for the run home.
2024 full player price list
- Harry Grant: HOK, $788,000
- Cameron Munster: HLF, $754,000
- Jahrome Hughes: HLF, $715,000
- Josh King: MID, $671,000
- Eliesa Katoa: EDG, $639,000
- Nick Meaney: WFB, $619,000
- Christian Welch: MID, $615,000
- Trent Loiero: EDG, $601,000
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona: MID/EDG, $564,000
- Marion Seve: CTR, $550,000
- Chris Lewis: EDG, $536,000
- Shawn Blore: EDG, $518,000
- Tui Kamikamica: MID, $495,000
- Ryan Papenhuyzen: WFB, $495,000
- Jonah Pezet: HLF, $452,000
- Will Warbrick: WFB, $447,000
- Young Tonumaipea: CTR, $437,000
- Reimis Smith: CTR, $395,000
- Xavier Coates: WFB, $395,000
- Alec MacDonald: MID, $369,000
- Aaron Pene: MID, $349,000
- Tepai Moeroa: MID, $334,000
- Jack Howarth: EDG, $300,000
- Bronson Garlick: HOK/MID, $298,000
- Grant Anderson: CTR/WFB, $289,000
- Joe Chan: EDG, $261,000
- Tyran Wishart: HLF/WFB, $250,000
- Dean Ieremia: WFB, $250,000