A couple of big guns return to somewhat offset another tough Team List Tuesday for Fantasy coaches ahead of Round 6.
A popular cash cow and one of the game's best HOK scorers are among those who have been dropped, but there's a couple of promising cheapies who have emerged as well.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 6
Knights v Roosters, Thursday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: With Tyson Frizell still out injured, Dylan Lucas (EDG, $561k) is set for another run in the second row after hitting 72 points in Round 5. Kalyn Ponga has really caught fire now and sits behind only Scott Drinkwater in terms of average points over his last three games (63.7). HOK Jayden Brailey played 60 minutes last week, easily his most of the season so far, but should still get cheaper next week given his break even is 49.
Roosters: Great news for Joey Manu owners with the $671k WFB/CTR moving to fullback this week where he has a history of big scores. He takes the place of James Tedesco who is out with concussion but is a hold in Fantasy. Angus Crichton retains his starting back row spot even with Nat Butcher returning to the pack. At $442k Crichton shapes as a bargain pick up on the back of a 59 in Round 5. Dom Young will miss two games through suspension but is a hold if you have cover at WFB. Don't be tempted to buy basement-priced HLF Zach Dockar-Clay despite his naming on the bench, with his time in the NRL side likely to be short.
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Storm v Bulldogs, Friday at AAMI Park
Storm: EDG Joe Chan, who is currently in just over 16 percent of all teams, has officially been overtaken in the back row pecking order by Shawn Blore. He would be a sell except for the fact that he's made a measly $34k, which means it's almost not worth burning a trade on him unless you're struggling to field 17 green dots. Jahrome Hughes shapes as a point of difference option at HLF this year, with under three percent ownership and a 59-point average over his three appearances.
Bulldogs: Having plummeted $157k in value through the opening five games, Stephen Crichton gets a run at fullback in the absence of Blake Taaffe (concussion). But unless he ends up staying there he remains a player to stay away from this year. Popular cheapie Sam Hughes finally has a manageable break even (9), but will his availability for Round 6 will depend on the outcome of a Judiciary hearing on Tuesday night. Jaeman Salmon (EDG/MID, $378k) will have a couple more price rises in him based off season average in 2024.
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Broncos v Dolphins, Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Reece Walsh is on track to make an earlier than anticipated return from a facial fracture and has been named at fullback, which moves Tristan Sailor to the bench. Popular cash cow Xavier Willison returns to the bench after time out with concussion, while Corey Oates (WFB, $392k) is set for a decent run of games on the wing after being called in to replace Deine Mariner, who is expected to be out until Round 9 with a back injury. Jock Madden is again the man called in to cover for the injured Adam Reynolds at halfback.
Dolphins: Tesi Niu (WFB/CTR, $429k) is in for his second game of the year as replacement for the injured Herbie Farnworth, who at this stage is a chance of missing significant time and could be a sell. With no sign of Connelly Lemuelu, who was a chance to be available this week following a knee injury, Kenny Bromwich starts in the second row alongside Euan Aitken, who is CTR eligible and averaging 48.5 this season.
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Warriors v Sea Eagles, Saturday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Shaun Johnson went huge last week with an 87 and he may end up being a better Fantasy prospect with Te Maire Martin back as his halves partner rather than the injured Luke Metcalf. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (WFB, $581k) returned from injury with a bang and scored 65 in Fantasy last up, while EDG Jacob Laban had 22 on debut and has kept his spot on the bench.
Sea Eagles: Ben Trbojevic kept his prospects as a money maker alive last week with a 33, but a move to centre in Round 6 due to Reuben Garrick being out might mean he struggles to reach a break even of 26. Toafofoa Sipley (MID, $606k) played 20 minutes more last week than he did the previous round and scored 52.
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Eels v Cowboys, Saturday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: A major blow for the 49,000 Fantasy coaches who have Blaize Talagi, with the rookie – who was making steady money and has a break even of 12 – dropped following the heavy defeat to the Raiders. In better news high-performing EDG Bryce Cartwright is back from a ribs injury and is named to start. Joey Lussick is set for another 80-minute game, with no other recognised hooker included in the 22-man squad.
Cowboys: $350k WFB Tom Chester gets first crack at replacing Zac Laybutt in the centres, following confirmation of a season-ending ACL for the second-year player. If he can keep the spot there might be some value there, but he's not a priority pick up right now. Scott Drinkwater is the form WFB in the game right now and might have the highest ceiling in that position for the time being, thanks to his playmaking-heavy role at the Cowboys.
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Rabbitohs v Sharks, Saturday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: With Latrell Mitchell suspended for South Sydney's next three matches Jye Gray (HLF, $230k) gets an NRL debut at fullback and has some money making potential, particularly if you'll be able to hold onto him through Origin when Mitchell is likely to miss some more games. Gray scored 34 in his Pre-Season Challenge outing earlier this year and has scored a try in three of four NSW Cup games this season, with his stats equating to what would be a 55.2-point average in Fantasy. The game's third best HOK by average this year, Damien Cook ($769k), has been dropped from the side completely for the time being, with Peter Mamouzelos ($324k) named to start at dummy-half.
Sharks: Following an impressive 49-point showing on debut in Round 4, Kayal Iro (CTR, $268k) has retained his spot in the backline ahead of Siosifa Talakai, who is instead on the bench. Cameron McInnes had 70 points in 80 minutes the last time the Sharks played and with their injury crisis in the middle continuing this week he's likely to play big minutes again.
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Wests Tigers v Dragons, Sunday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Wests Tigers: With John Bateman out injured $428k MID Alex Seyfarth starts in the second row and Asu Kepaoa joins the bench. Jake Simpkin comes in for Latu Fainu (hamstring) but with Lachlan Galvin back next week he's not likely to stay there beyond Round 6. Outside of a 38 in Round 1, Stefano Utoikamanu has been scoring at an elite level for a MID in 2024 and this week he is available for $680k.
Dragons: There's POD potential with Jack de Belin this year as his season average heads up towards the higher end of the 50s. Right now he's in less than one percent of teams and is priced at $732k, although the constant moves in the Dragons' pack means he is somewhat of a risk. Kyle Flanagan's money making is a risk of stalling this week unless he can have a big game, with a break even 29 which is only just lower than his season average of 34.
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Raiders v Titans, Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Gun EDG Zac Hosking, who is averaging 54.3 points per game this season, is back after a week out with concussion. A 46 in the Round 5 thrashing of the Eels has set popular cash cow Ethan Strange up for a few more price rises in coming weeks, with a break even of 6 right now. HOK Danny Levi has turned into an unlikely money maker too, with his fourth try in five games last week helping him to a 31 that puts his break even back to 16. Chevy Stewart (WFB, $230k) comes in for the injured Jordan Rapana at fullback and with the veteran set to miss six to eight weeks he could be a handy cash cow.
Titans: Last week Jayden Campbell showed what he's capable of when his team scores some points, hitting 60 in Fantasy. If you don't already have him there's still time, while David Fifita's price falls have likely ended now on the back of a 51 and 58 over the past two weeks. Josiah Pahulu (MID, $238k) retains a spot on the bench after a solid 31-minute debut last week which saw him score 23 Fantasy points.
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