NRL Fantasy Winners & Losers: Round 1

Round 1 is in the bag and there were some massive scores to open the new season, with no fewer than 32 players hitting totals of at least 60.

It meant for some big scores all up and a bunch of coaches finishing with four-digit scores, something which has traditionally been rare so early in the season as cash cows occupy spots on most rosters. 

Here is the wrap of the action from Round 1 of the NRL Fantasy season. 

Round 1 NRL Fantasy winners

What an opening week it was for big gun MIDs, led by a round-topping 81 from Payne Haas and followed closely by Terrell May (76) and Panthers supremo Isaah Yeo's 68. Of that trio, Haas was actually the least owned for Round 1, with May selected in just over 41 percent of all teams and Yeo just under 30 percent.

All up 11 MID-eligible players finished with scores of 60 or above.

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans led all HLFs with 78 as he orchestrated a demolition of the Cowboys on Saturday night, but perhaps the bigger HLF result for Fantasy coaches was cash cow Jamie Humphreys hitting a massive 75 points. Only owned by just under seven percent of teams for Round 1, I'd now expect that to at least double as coaches jump on what will be a whopping negative break even. 

A hat-trick of tries propelled Christian Tuipulotu to 74, with just 0.27 percent of teams having picked him up ahead of Round 1, with Storm duo Nick Meaney (71) and Ryan Papenhuyzen (70) following close behind. 

The other big winners from a money-making point of view were Sitili Tupouniua, who had a double on his way to 66, Roosters CTR Robert Toia (61) and Storm DPP Jack Howarth (60).

Round 1 NRL Fantasy losers

In what will go down as one of the worst bench introductions ever, Brendan Piakura had been on the field for just a minute when he was pinged for a flop and then sent to the sin bin for a professional foul on the next play. 

The resulting demerits (-4 in penalties conceded and -5 for a sin bin) left the man once considered a promising cash cow with a grand total of -9 for Round 1. 

Despite starting at hooker for the Eels Brendan Hands had a shocker on the Fantasy front, registering just nine points from 29 minutes on the field, with four missed tackles his major undoing.

With 16 percent ownership for Round 1, Stephen Crichton's 12 was a huge let down, with the Premiership winner missing the final nine minutes due to what appeared to be cramp, after earlier giving away a penalty try. 

Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue (15) had a tough day at the office as the Sea Eagles sent traffic at him all day, but owners should be patient as there are likely brighter times ahead for the talented CTR.

Round 1 Fantasy Team of the Week

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen (WFB) – 70 points
2. Xavier Savage (WFB) – 69 points
3. Valentine Holmes (CTR) – 66 points
4. Nick Meaney (CTR, WFB) – 71 points
5. Christian Tuipulotu (WFB) – 74 points
6. Jamie Humphreys (HLF) – 75 points
7. Daly Cherry-Evans (HLF) – 78 points
8. Payne Haas (MID) – 81 points
9. Connor Watson (MID, HOK) – 65 points
10. Terrell May (MID) – 76 points
11. Haumole Olakau'atu (EDG) – 69 points
12. Jai Arrow (MID, EDG) / Hudson Young (EDG) – 66 points
13. Sitili Tupouniua (MID, EDG) – 66 points
14. Jamayne Isaako (WFB) – 66 points
15. Addin Fonua-Blake (MID) – 68 points
16. Isaah Yeo (MID) – 68 points
17. Lindsay Smith (MID) – 67 points