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Who will be in your team?
As we count down to the start of the 2015 NRL Fantasy season, the Lone Scout takes a look at each club's best buys.
Formerly a team to avoid in the Fantasy stakes, due in part to Wayne Bennett's strategy of sharing the workload evenly among his forwards, the Knights could now provide some value under new coach Rick Stone. Five-eighth Jarrod Mullen's long kicking game has made him a solid Fantasy player in recent years, while Tariq Sims joins a strong back row and centres Dane Gagai and Joey Leilua are both capable of tackle-busting their way to big Fantasy scores. Keep an eye on them in the early stages of the season.
Fantasy Gun
Jarrod Mullen ($436,000) – Every 20 kick metres is worth a point in NRL Fantasy, and with 460 a game nobody gained more kick metres than Jarrod Mullen last season. Mullen's long kicking game has made him Newcastle's most consistent Fantasy player of the past few years and that won't change in 2015, with the speedy five-eighth also capable of splitting the defence and notching his share of run metres and tackle breaks. He ended last season with scores of 84 and 71, and if the Knights pick up where they left off Mullen could be up with the best halves in Fantasy.
Wild Cards
Adam Clydsdale ($231,000) – Clydsdale appears to be the big winner from Kurt Gidley's desire to start at fullback for the Knights this season, with Travis Waddell's departure to Brisbane freeing up the 21-year-old to take the starting hooker spot. Clydsdale averaged 45 minutes on the field in the four games he started last season, compared with about 35 minutes a game on the 17 occasions he came off the bench. More minutes equals more points, and at $231,000 Clydsdale could be one of the value hookers of the season.
Jack Stockwell ($215,000) – Having played about 30 minutes a week in the front-row rotation at the Dragons, Stockwell joins a Newcastle side seriously lacking in front-row options after the departure of Willie Mason and Zane Tetevano. The new man could find himself in the starting side for Round 1 and with a greater amount of responsibility than he has faced in his time so far in the NRL.
Potential Cash Cow
Sam Mataora ($137,000) – The former Raiders back-rower is yet to play a game for Newcastle despite joining the club last season, but could get his chance this year after the exits of Mason, Tetevano, Adam Cuthbertson and Matt Hilder. He's dirt cheap at $137,000 so will be a genuine cash cow prospect if he can get a spot on the bench in the early rounds.
Knights 2015 NRL Fantasy prices
Jarrod Mullen, $436,000
Tariq Sims, $373,000
Joseph Leilua, $356,000
Beau Scott, $353,000
Kurt Gidley, $337,000
Chris Houston, $330,000
Kade Snowden, $329,000
Dane Gagai, $319,000
Akuila Uate, $310,000
Robbie Rochow, $301,000
Sione Mata'utia, $30,0000
Tyrone Roberts, $298,000
Jeremy Smith, $280,000
Korbin Sims, $247,000
David Fa'alogo, $244,000
Adam Clydesdale, $231,000
Chanel Mata'utia, $227,000
Jack Stockwell, $215,000
Jake Mamo, $212,000
James McManus, $185,000
Joseph Tapine, $166,000
Clint Newton, $158,000
Carlos Tuimavave, $147,000
Sam Mataora, $137,000
Paterika Vaivai, $128,000
Tyler Randell, $128,000