Most of the Fantasy big guns saw game time in Round 2 of the Pre-Season Challenge, giving Fantasy coaches a clearer picture as they work towards finalising their initial side.
J'maine Hopgood and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck starred with huge outings, while unfortunate injuries changed things at a couple of clubs and lifted new players into relevancy.
Note: Due to the lack of NRL contracted players taking the field in the Rabbitohs v Roosters clash on Friday night, that game has been left out of the analysis.
Fantasy takeaways: Pre-Season Challenge Rd 2
Sharks 12 Bulldogs 6 at Belmore Sports Ground
Sharks: Royce Hunt ($355k) looked good and could be a low-level money maker if he can continue to score in the mid-30s, which would be around a 10 point per game improve on last year. Teig Wilton’s game-high 59 was good, but if you remove the 12 points he received for his try and line break the Sharks EDG scored right in the mid-40s, as was the case with him on a very consistent basis last year. That’s just below keeper territory, so at $642k he’s a stay away. Exercise caution on Cameron McInnes despite his 55, with his minutes are likely to drop come Round 1.
Teig Wilton Try
Bulldogs: At $330k Blake Taaffe will look a tempting prospect as a starting fullback. But there’s a fairly large sample size with him at this stage, including his 14 on Friday night, which suggests he isn’t a good Fantasy prospect. Jacob Preston topped the scorers for his side with 57 which included a try. Who knows if he will start or what sort of minutes he’ll command, but a 37 to go with a 38 the week prior means Jaeman Salmon (EDG, $289k) has serious cash cow potential and is one to keep an eye on come Round 1 team lists.
Storm 28 Knights 10, Churchill Park
Storm: Harry Grant got around the park nicely and scored a try for a Fantasy score of 55, which bodes well for his scores once the season proper kicks off. At $788k he’s the most expensive HOK in the game but likely to be the best as well. Shawn Blore was quiet in his first outing for the club and starts the year awkwardly priced at $518k. With Eliesa Katoa and Trent Loiero also in the back row mix, Blore is probably a stay away for now. Don’t read much into Ryan Papenhuyzen’s 10 points – he’s still very much a WFB to target in your initial squad.
Knights: While he only finished with 30 points, Kalyn Ponga looked as dangerous as ever down the left edge and justified why he’ll start the year as the most expensive WFB in the game. Young English EDG Kai Pearce-Paul looks like he has potential in Fantasy, but his current price tag of $520k should drop significantly across the first month unless he gets a big-minute starting role, so wait and watch for a while before moving on him.
Warriors 34 Dolphins 22, Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’ 67-point haul gave us a powerful reminder of what he is capable of in Fantasy and he’s looking more and more tempting, but it's important to remember he played half this game at fullback and racked up lots of stats there, which won’t be the case most of the time during the season. Until he gains dual position status as both a WFB and CTR (he’s only a WFB right now) he’s far less valuable for coaches. Shaun Johnson (52) Addin Fonua-Blake (51) and Tohu Harris (54) all showed they remain good Fantasy prospects for 2024, while some will like what they saw from HLF Luke Metcalf, with his running game giving him upside.
Dolphins: The big takeaway here is an unfortunate one, with Tom Gilbert suffering a suspected ACL injury which is likely going to open up a bigger minute role for another middle. Kenny Bromwich, Ray Stone and Connelly Lemuelu head up the list of players whose Fantasy scores could benefit if Gilbert is ruled out, while Euan Aitken, who had 43 against the Warriors, could come back into Fantasy thinking as well if it means he commands a starting back row spot each week. At $549k he’s reasonably priced and has the massive benefit of dual position status as a CTR and EDG.
Sea Eagles 14 Broncos 40, 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: With the big guns all in Vegas there wasn’t much to see from a Fantasy point of view here, but Brad Parker (CTR, $304k) remains a player of interest because he is set to play as a bench back-rower in 2024. After a very quiet game last week he scored 25 with a try, but will need a heap more involvement to become a proper option. Ben Condon and Dean Matterson, who will both probably see NRL game time at some stage, scored 31 and 37 respectively.
Broncos: Brisbane depth backs Delouise Hoeter (48) and Jordan Pereira (38) both looked good and could be called upon over the Origin period. They're ones to watch on the free agent list in Draft leagues for now. Young hooker Blake Mozer is a fair way back in the pecking order right now but could have some future potential in Fantasy after a tidy outing.
Dragons 34 Wests Tigers 18, Glen Willow Oval
Dragons: After he was a 46-point per game player by average last year, Jaydn Su’A ($633k) looks to be excelling under the game plan Shane Flanagan has in place, scoring 58 on Saturday night, and there’s some point of difference potential for him as an EDG. Zac Lomax bounced back with a 39 but is still a massive risk in his current role, while Kyle Flanagan showed what we can probably expect from him in his better games this season with a 36. That leaves him as a possible cash cow and a HLF who can get you through a week or two as a backup if needed, but not someone you want in your playing 17 each week.
Wests Tigers: Plenty of good stories in the pack for the Wests Tigers, led by MIDs Stefano Utoikamanu ($587k) and Fonua Pole ($472k), who hit 55 and 51 respectively. Pole finished last season averaging a touch under 40 per game and if he can take the leap to score consistently in the mid-40s this year then he’s underpriced right now. Fullback Jahream Bula had 41 with a try and he looks like being among the best <$550k WFB options around, provided you are ready to absorb his low floor every now and then.
Fonua Pole Try
Raiders 26 Cowboys 36, Seiffert Oval
Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes have both shown enough to suggest whoever gets the nod at No.6 can be a handy money maker. Neither is likely to be a consistently high scorer, but they're both dynamic enough to have breakout games which will ensure the cash keeps ticking over. Matt Timoko was excellent against Valentine Holmes, which included standing him up for a try, and at $602k he's well priced for someone who could be a premier CTR.
Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater assisted three of their seven tries on the day, so it's safe to assume he'll again be the key figure in attack and remain one of the best WFBs in Fantasy. At $509k Zac Laybutt isn't going to make you much money, but he might end up being a cut-price keeper at CTR, with his 60 against the Raiders giving us food for thought. If Coen Hess' knee injury ends up being serious then keep an eye on some of the fringe MIDs at North Queensland who could become relevant.
Drinkwater back in business
Titans 16 Eels 26, North Ipswich Reserve
Titans: A 45 for Tanah Boyd, who looks to have the halfback job nailed down and remains listed as both a HOK and HLF. If you don't love any of the other HOK options then you could do much worse than grabbing him at $635k. AJ Brimsom looked nice in the centres on his way to 43, but given he already has DPP status as a HLF/WFB he won't get designated as a CTR this year which makes him less appealing. With Jayden Campell targeting a Round 3-4 return, Keano Kini might not have quite enough time to be a money maker to start the year, but he performed well and had 30 points.
Eels: J'maine Hopgood went huge and topped the tackle count and run metre count in addition to scoring a try for 69 points. He's an excellent buy who is worth the $837k price tag, covering both MID and EDG, and he'll have some monster scores through 2024. Bryce Cartwright looked good and will be a solid EDG option if he gets a start in Round 1. Unfortunately, Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick might end up making each other bad Fantasy players if they share minutes at hooker.