Some of Holden NRL Fantasy's biggest names will be wearing Cronulla's colours this season – but which ones will you be able to fit under the salary cap?
Fantasy Guns
Paul Gallen ($423,200) will go down as one of the greats of fantasy rugby league, having been a tireless workhorse at club and rep level for years. The Sharks and NSW skipper is still capable of hitting massive scores thanks to a combination of a big defensive workload with a real impact in attack (tackle busts, offloads, etc) although he'll again be sidelined for a good chunk of the season around State of Origin time.
Gallen's club and rep teammate Andrew Fifita ($476,100) became Cronulla's strongest Fantasy player last season with some monumental displays. He finished the year with a scoring average in the 60s, combining the wrecking-ball capabilities of a Burgess brother with one of the best engines of any NRL front-rower. Expect fullback Michael Gordon ($336,900) and half Todd Carney ($321,800) to also score well this season.
Value Buys
One-time cult hero Eric Grothe ($132,800) is back in the NRL, but what kind of role will the winger play at Cronulla? He certainly comes cheap, but there are no guarantees Grothe will both get a starting spot and excel after spending so long out of first grade.
Cash Cows
Hooker Michael Lichaa ($107,000) has been highly regarded for some time but is yet to be tested at NRL level, and could get his chance this year if he can slip past Issac De Gois and John Morris in the pecking order. Another player who comes at the minimum price but is anything but a rookie is journeyman half Daniel Holdsworth ($107,000), who is in his 10th season of first grade after having already represented the Dragons, Bulldogs and Super League clubs Salford City and Hull FC. Holdsworth's experience could give him a genuine chance to edge out Jeff Robson in the halves, or at least make him first cab off the rank should one of Robson or Carney go down injured.
Sharks player prices
Andrew Fifita (FRF) $476,100
Paul Gallen (2RF, FRF) $423,200
Michael Gordon (WFB) $336,900
Todd Carney (HLF) $321,800
Chris Heighington (2RF) $300,400
Luke Lewis (2RF) $287,000
Wade Graham (2RF, HLF) $276,500
Anthony Tupou (2RF) $258,300
Tupou Sopoaga (2RF) $253,200
John Morris (HOK) $242,600
Matt Prior (2RF) $233,200
Jeff Robson (HLF) $216,900
Bryce Gibbs (FRF) $202,000
Beau Ryan (WFB) $191,200
Nathan Gardner, WFB) $177,800
Jonathan Wright (CTR, WFB) $177,600
Isaac De Gois (HOK) $176,400
Blake Ayshford (CTR) $171,600
Sam Tagataese (FRF, 2RF) $167,400
Sosaia Feki (WFB) $166,700
Nathan Stapleton (WFB) $157,300
Ricky Leutele (CTR) $141,900
Eric Grothe (WFB) $132,800
Tinirau Arona (FRF) $107,000
Matthew Wright (WFB) $107,000
Pat Politoni (HOK) $107,000
Jacob Gagan (WFB) $107,000
Michael Lichaa (HOK) $107,000
Alipate Ratini (WFB) $107,000
Daniel Holdsworth (HLF) $107,000
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