The Wests Tigers are set to roll out one of the NRL's youngest sides this season and with that comes a whole lot of potential cash cows in Fantasy.
Among their players who start the year at under $300k, EDG Justin Matamua, HOK Tallyn Da Silva and HLF Latu Fainu all have good chances of ending up in the 17 at some point in the season, while WFB Solomon Alaimalo might get a run too and is a powerful player who looks like he might have Fantasy upside.
Benji Marshall's side also has arguably the two best <$800k EDG players in John Bateman and Isaiah Papali'i, with the pair likely to again be around the top five for scoring in the position.
Wests Tigers 2024 NRL Fantasy guide
The big gun
John Bateman got through a heap of defence last season and did so at almost a 95 percent rate of efficiency, which made for lots of base stats and very few demerits. He's a pillar of this team who should play 80 minutes most weeks and he's got more attacking potential than his two tries and two line breaks last year suggest. At $740k he's really good option if you don't want to shell out the extra money for David Fifita or J'maine Hopgood at EDG.
Bateman haunts the old club
The bargain
There's a good chance Aiden Sezer and Jayden Sullivan get first crack in the halves to start the year, but Latu Fainu has been signed to a four-year deal for a reason and is sure to get a go at some point. When he does he could make some fast cash in Fantasy, similar to what Isaiya Katoa did at the Dolphins last season. Fainu would have averaged 33 points per game in reserve grade last season and while he's unlikely to be a consistent player you'd want in your best 17, he starts at basement price and could have a high scoring ceiling and be a nice money maker you can keep in your reserves.
Bye round outlook
Round 1, 13 and 26. Starting the season on a bye means many Fantasy owners might opt to hold off on Wests Tigers players when building their initial team. From there they play each week until being among the seven teams who miss Round 13. Their final bye in Round 26 is awful timing for head-to-head leagues, with most likely to have a preliminary final or grand final happening that week.
2024 full player price list
- John Bateman: EDG, $740,000
- Isaiah Papali'i: EDG, $716,000
- Adam Doueihi: HLF, $626,000
- Alex Twal: MID, $624,000
- Apisai Koroisau: HOK, $608,000
- David Klemmer: MID, $597,000
- Stefano Utoikamanu: MID, $587,000
- Jahream Bula: WFB, $528,000
- Starford To'a: CTR, $503,000
- Aidan Sezer: HLF, $477,000
- Fonua Pole: MID, $472,000
- Jayden Sullivan: HLF, $424,000
- Junior Tupou: WFB, $417,000
- Justin Olam: CTR, $375,000
- Alex Seyfarth: MID, $359,000
- Charlie Staines: WFB, $359,000
- Samuela Fainu: MID/EDG, $344,000
- Asu Kepaoa: CTR, $340,000
- Brent Naden: CTR/WFB, $330,000
- Jake Simpkin: HOK, $314,000
- Josh Feledy: CTR, $289,000
- Brandon Tumeth: EDG, $250,000
- Justin Matamua: EDG, $250,000
- Tallyn Da Silva: HOK, $250,000
- Sione Fainu: MID, $230,000
- Latu Fainu: HLF, $230,000
- Lachlan Galvin: HLF, $230,000
- Solomon Alaimalo: WFB, $230,000
