Nathan Cleary's return provides a massive boost to a quarter of all Fantasy teams this week, while injuries in Round 9 have paved the way for a couple of cash cow contenders to take on starting roles.
Here's the big team news from a Fantasy point of view ahead of Round 10 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 10
Dolphins v Sea Eagles, Thursday at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: Trai Fuller keeps the job at fullback after enduring a tough day at the office in Round 9 (but still scoring 44). The backline is boosted by the return of Herbie Farnworth from a shoulder injury and with the Dolphins having the best bye schedule in the competition for overall Fantasy players – with games in all of the major bye rounds – plenty of Wayne Bennett’s men will be traded in over the next couple of weeks.
Sea Eagles: Ben Trbojevic, who is currently the most traded out player in all of Fantasy following his layoff with a hamstring injury, is back and starts in the second row, but his track record this year tells us he’s a stay away despite being a CTR eligible player who lines up in the pack. Reuben Garrick (CTR/WFB, $588k) is a good buy this week after averaging 57.3 over his past three games. He kicks goals and the Sea Eagles love going to him in good-ball situations, so he’s a pretty safe bet right now. HOK Lachlan Croker is missing after failing a HIA last week.
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Panthers v Bulldogs, Friday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: Almost a quarter of all Fantasy players can now breathe a sigh of relief, with Nathan Cleary named after being rested last week due to his dodgy hamstring. Paul Alamoti (CTR, $462k), who has averaged 50.5 points across his two games to date in 2024, gets another shot in the backline thanks to a one-game suspension for Izack Tago.
Bulldogs: While they're going well on the field, there's not much to like about the Bulldogs from a Fantasy point of view right now, with a lack of elite options at any position, with the exception of HOK Reed Mahoney, who is borderline. Jaeman Salmon continues to make money though after scoring 35 last week and setting himself up with a break even of 21.
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Eels v Broncos, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Very good news for the almost 11 percent of teams who have held onto Blaize Talagi, with the $318k CTR named to take over from the injured Clint Gutherson at fullback. Rookie Ethan Sanders gets another run in the halves after hitting 35 on debut in Round 8. Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson both keep starting spots for now, with Bryce Cartwright on the bench.
Broncos: Josh Rogers gets the nod to replace Adam Reynolds at halfback, but he’s one to avoid with Jock Madden likely to reclaim that spot as early as next week when he returns from injury. Xavier Willison (MID/EDG, $459k), who is the third most owned player in the game, might have reached his peak in terms of money making, with a 29 break even this week which is exactly what he managed to score in Round 9.
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Wests Tigers v Knights, Saturday at Scully Park, Tamworth
Wests Tigers: John Bateman moving back to the second row, after a strong recent run of scoring at lock, isn't what his owners wanted to see. His partner in the second row, Samuela Fainu (MID/EDG, $443k) continues to go well and had 44 last week. Aidan Sezer's suspension means a new halves partner for Lachlan Galvin, but it shouldn't impact the impressive rookie's scoring too much either way.
Knights: After a nice period of good scores as a starting back-rower, a drop-off awaits Dylan Lucas who is back to the bench due to Tyson Frizell’s return from injury. Plenty traded in Jayden Brailey last week only for him to play half an hour less than he had in the previous fortnight and register his lowest score since Round 4. While it was a fall from grace compared to his debut a week earlier, David Armstrong’s 26 was to be expected given the torrential rain he played through in Round 9 and it was more than enough to ensure he keeps rising in value.
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Dragons v Rabbitohs, Saturday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons: A huge defensive effort last week, which saw him make 66 tackles with just one miss, saw Tom Eisenhuth (EDG/MID, $601k) hit 78. Jacob Liddle continues to flirt with being a keeper option at HOK, and if you take away the 12 he scored in the thrashing at the hands of the Roosters on ANZAC Day he’s a 48-point player this season.
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell returns from suspension at fullback, taking the place of the injured Jye Gray, while Siliva Havili (HOK/MID, $398k) looks like he could experience an uptick in scoring after being named to replace Cameron Murray at lock. Gray is a hold for now until you see whether he commands a spot back in the 17 once he returns from injury in the middle of the Origin period. There could be some value in rookie HLF Dion Teaupa, who starts at halfback this week and could keep the spot long-term, with both Lachlan Ilias and Dean Hawkins sidelined with long-term injuries.
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Storm v Sharks, Saturday at AAMI Park
Storm: Those looking to replace popular WFB Ryan Papenhuyzen, who will be out until at least Round 14 with an ankle injury, might not have to look too far, with his replacement Sualauvi Fa'alogo (WFB, $394k) having a heap of upside. He only scored 24 with a try last week in a 52-minute cameo, but the eye test tells you he’s got a very high ceiling, albeit with a low floor. Jahrome Hughes is out with a calf injury this week but is a hold for now in Fantasy.
Sharks: Nicho Hynes continues to dazzle and in his past three games has averaged over 18 points more than the next best player in Fantasy. He’s projected to score 73 again this week so will be the overwhelming choice as captain. While you don't want him in your scoring 17 most weeks, and he won't play the full year in the NRL side, the Sharks' other playmaker Daniel Atkinson shapes as a decent cash down prospect at $264k, with dual position status as both a WFB and HLF.
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Roosters v Warriors, Sunday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Angus Crichton can't put a foot wrong right now and if you got on him early then you have made a mint so far, with the EDG having now gone up a whopping $209k on the back of last week's 97. Two tries helped Terrell May to a 68 which rewarded those who held onto him after a run of bad scores, but with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Spencer Leniu back this week you can expect his minutes and score to drop back down.
Warriors: Addin Fonua-Blake continues to hit elite scores up front and is the third best MID based on last three game average right now. Shaun Johnson is keeping on scoring well despite his team really struggling in attack, while Dylan Walker (MID, $560k) is coming off back-to-back scores of 50 and is a good chance of getting big minutes again this week due to Mitch Barnett shifting to the second row.
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Titans v Cowboys, Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Chris Randall has been called into the halves to cover for Tanah Boyd (wrist), which probably won’t be good news for his scoring potential. David Fifita’s days of coming off the bench appear over now, and with a last three game average of 73.7 – and under four percent ownership right now – he looks a point of difference option (for a few weeks anyway before everyone jumps on him).
Cowboys: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who has a break even of 21 and should make money again in Round 10, looks like he might keep a starting role for at least another week, with Heilum Luki again named on the bench. The signs are there that Jeremiah Nanai (EDG, $614k) might be on his way back to being an elite scorer, with his 56.7 average over his past three games being the fifth best among players in his position.
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