There's plenty of value at new-look Parramatta, with Jarryd Hayne and Will Hopoate set to fire and Nathan Peats looming as one of the buys of the season.
Fantasy Gun
Even with a host of new faces at the club, Jarryd Hayne ($343,400) remains the star of the show both on the field and in Holden NRL Fantasy. The star fullback was superb for Australia at the 2013 World Cup and will be full of confidence again this season. Already a strong fantasy scorer through run metres, try assists, tackle busts and the odd long-range kick, Hayne's scoring potential has grown this season with the inclusion of Fantasy points for try saves and kicks defused. Expect him to be among the top winger/fullbacks in 2014.
Value Buys
Will Hopoate ($192,600) may have just spent two years out of the game but he's one of the NRL's biggest talents, having burst onto the scene for Manly and earned a deserved NSW Origin call-up as a teenager. The Eels will want to give him plenty of ball in the centres, and with dual position status (he's available at WFB as well) and a generous starting price he'll be a popular Fantasy buy.
English import Lee Mossop ($212,500) is another player to keep an eye on. He's an international prop who comes with an affordable price, which should go up if he hits regular scores in the 30s. He's not a huge worker but as a senior man in the Eels' prop rotation he should be decent value.
Cash Cows
Nathan Peats ($125,000) could be the bargain of the year if he lives up to expectations – the former Rabbitoh played off the bench at dummy-half or the back row in recent seasons, but he should be the first-choice hooker at the Eels and will get a significant increase of game time. That, plus his tiny price tag and the fact he's a dual position player, makes Peats a very tempting buy.
Two other players at very different stages in their careers also grab the eye. Willie Tonga ($107,000) is a former Test centre who's price has plummeted based on his poor scoring in recent seasons, but is guaranteed to rise in value if the Eels start winning again (and if he pips Jacob Loko to a centre spot). Then there's former Dragons young gun Evander Cummins ($107,000), who is highly rated but stuck behind Hayne at fullback. Cummins could get his chance through injury or when Hayne (and possibly Hopoate) leave for Origin duty in the middle of the season.
Eels player prices
Jarryd Hayne (WFB, HLF) $343,400
Tim Mannah (FRF) $306,900
Corey Norman (HLF) $292,100
Chris Sandow (HLF) $282,900
Joseph Paulo (2RF, HLF) $271,900
Jacob Loko (CTR) $260,000
Fuifui Moimoi (FRF) $248,600
Ryan Morgan (CTR) $229,900
Mitchell Allgood (FRF) $226,900
Daniel Harrison (2RF) $219,700
Ben Roberts (HLF) $219,200
Lee Mossop (FRF) $212,500
Kelepi Tanginoa (2RF) $202,800
Justin Hunt (WFB, HLF) $202,100
Peni Terepo (2RF) $200,500
Luke Kelly (HLF) $195,400
Api Pewhairangi (CTR, HLF) $192,600
Will Hopoate (CTR, WFB) $192,600
Darcy Lussick (2RF, FRF) $191,500
Ben Smith (2RF) $189,900
Nathan Smith (HOK) $169,900
Vai Toutai (WFB) $166,800
Semi Radradra (WFB) $166,000
Ken Edwards (2RF) $156,200
Junior Paulo (FRF) $155,600
Ken Sio (WFB) $144,500
David Gower (FRF) $136,900
Nathan Peats (HOK, 2RF) $125,000
Liam Foran (HLF) $110,700
Taniela Lasalo (2RF) $107,000
Willie Tonga (CTR) $107,000
Kaysa Pritchard (HOK) $107,000
Brayden Wiliame (WFB, CTR) $107,000
Evander Cummins (WFB) $107,000
Matthew Eisenhuth (2RF) $107,000
John Folau (CTR) $107,000
Lorenzo Ma'afu (2RF) $107,000
Pauli Pauli (2RF, FRF) $107,000
Toby Evans (HLF) $107,000
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