NRL Fantasy winners & losers: Round 14
The first post-Origin round of 2018 provided plenty of carnage for NRL Fantasy coaches, but also some highlights with two legends of the game going big while a new player joined this year's hundred club.
Winners
With two tries, 46 tackles, 163 metres and seven tackle busts Ryan James was the player of the round and the third player after Moses Mbye and Martin Taupau to break the 100-point barrier in 2018, with 105.
James's heroics almost overshadowed the apparent return to Fantasy gun status of Paul Gallen, who busted out 90 points including a try, a try assist, 201 metres and 43 tackles in Cronulla's win over the Wests Tigers. It was just his second score above 50 this season but if he can average 50+ from here he'd be a steal at $639,000.
Elsewhere Martin Taupau (81) and Cameron Smith (76) both proved to be excellent captaincy options in the post-Origin week, Eels lock Nathan Brown celebrated his return to the starting side with 76 points and a rare win for his team, Shaun Johnson returned with a bang for the Warriors with 71, while Johnson's teammates Tohu Harris (69) and Isaiah Papali'i (65) both found the tryline.
Josh Papalii (74), Felise Kaufusi (71), Esan Marsters (68), Blake Ferguson (66), Tariq Sims (65), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (64), Jake Friend (63), Moses Mbye (62), David Fusitua (61) and Jake Trbojevic (61) were also among the best performers of round 14.
Losers
Let's start with the late withdrawals following State of Origin I, because there were some big ones. Rabbitohs and NSW hooker Damien Cook was the biggest, considering his run as the best player in Fantasy this season, although it wasn't too much of a surprise considering the quick turnaround and the fact Souths were in top form and taking on the very beatable Titans.
Fellow Rabbitohs Angus Crichton, Greg Inglis and Dane Gagai also had Friday night off, while James Roberts (ankle) and Michael Morgan (groin) were rested.
It was a rough week on the injury front with Apisai Koroisau (foot, 8-10 weeks), Viliame Kikau (knee, 1-3 weeks), Jordan Rapana (hamstring, eight weeks), Benji Marshall (calf, six weeks), Jamie Buhrer (ACL, season) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (ankle, round 15) joining Ryan Matterson (wrist, round 16) on the sidelines.
Emerging Bulldogs rookie Rhyse Martin was another surprise withdrawal, dropped to the Intrust Super Premiership this week.
There were disappointing scores for popular Fantasy buys Josh Addo-Carr (14), Johnathan Thurston (18), Corey Thompson (22), James Fisher-Harris (26), Tom Trbojevic (29), Nathan Cleary (33) and Sam Burgess (37).
If your team's struggling for numbers there's the option of up to four trades for round 15 as we're between the two bye rounds – again these count in your total of 34 trades of the year so only make them if they'll improve your final 17.
NRL Fantasy Team of the Week
1. Moses Mbye (62)
2. Blake Ferguson (66)
3. Esan Marsters (68)
4. Sione Mata'utia (65)
5. David Fusitu'a (61)
6. Cameron Munster (54)
7. Shaun Johnson (71)
8. Ryan James (103)
9. Cameron Smith (76)
10. Martin Taupau (81)
11. Nathan Brown (76)
12. Josh Papalii (74)
13. Paul Gallen (90)
14. Felise Kaufusi (71)
15. Tohu Harris (69)
16. Isaiah Papali'i (65)
17. Mitch Barnett/Tariq Sims (65)
