A new halfback debuts and a Fantasy superstar is out in another big week of NRL Fantasy team news.
This week's team news
Broncos v Roosters, Thursday 7.50pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Herbie Farnworth and Ethan Bullemor start for the suspended Kotoni Staggs and the injured Alex Glenn, with Fanitesi Niu and Rhys Kennedy the new names on the bench. Jake Turpin played the full 80 at hooker last week and made 64 tackles but sat out training on Tuesday with soreness and could be a late out, with Cory Paix in the reserves. Payne Haas remains the king of Fantasy with 85 last week and a season average of 70 so far. Pat Carrigan has jumped $120k on his starting price and Jamal Hopoate climbed $34k last week despite an error-riddled 30.
Roosters: The Chooks have named an unchanged 17 with Mitchell Aubusson and Siosiua Taukeiaho both a chance of being late inclusions after being included in the reserves. James Tedesco arrested his sliding price tag in emphatic fashion with a superb 94 against Souths, while Jake Friend (73) and Angus Crichton (64) also had bumper games.
Panthers v Warriors, Friday 6pm (8pm NZT) at Campbelltown Stadium
Panthers: There were some massive scorers from Penrith's 90-minute draw with Newcastle, led by 80-minute lock Isaah Yeo (86), must-have hooker Api Koroisau (85) and dual-position second-rower/centre Kurt Capewell (75). All three are looking like great buys, while Stephen Crichton ($313k, 46 last week) is a strong cash cow option who covers centre and winger/fullback. Jarome Luai scored "only" 32 without Nathan Cleary in the side last week but still earned another $32k price rise and has more money to make – although there is some chance Matt Burton ($305k, 69 points) could retain the five-eighth role when Cleary returns in a fortnight. Liam Martin replaces Billy Burns on the bench in Penrith's only change this week.
Warriors: Poasa Faamausili and Josh Curran join the bench with Peta Hiku (ribs) and Agnatius Paasi (suspension) sidelined and Karl Lawton promoted to the starting backline. It's all about the bargains here with rookie forwards Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (54, +$57k) and Eliesa Katoa (64, +$86k) both producing terrific, try-scoring performances in last week's win over the Dragons.
Storm v Rabbitohs, Friday 7.55pm at AAMI Park
Storm: Christian Welch replaces Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension) at prop with Ryley Jacks joining the bench. Ryan Papenhuyzen still hasn't scored a try yet this year but had a strong 50-point effort in the loss to Canberra and remains a potential keeper, while Cameron Munster (74) was a standout. Those Fantasy coaches who gambled on bench forward Tino Faasuamaleaui have come up empty with the big forward scoring just 7 for a $14k price drop last week .
Rabbitohs: Patrick Mago replaces Tom Amone on the interchange. Liam Knight is a sell after last week's 23, but at least at $527k there are a lot of trade options for him this week. Latrell Mitchell's price has dropped $161k this year and is set to dip under $500k next week, while Damien Cook (78 against the Roosters) and Cameron Murray (73) both had slight price drops after relatively quiet performances in the early rounds. Jaydn Su'A (+$28k) is proving to be a steady cash cow with 42 points last week.
Every try from round 3
Eels v Sea Eagles, Saturday 5.30pm at Bankwest Stadium
Eels: Unchanged. It was such a high-scoring round that Mitch Moses's 48 in the win over Brisbane looks underwhelming, while it was a great week for Clint Gutherson (70), Shaun Lane (68), Marata Niukore (63) and Ryan Matterson (59).
Sea Eagles: No changes. Tom Trbojevic finished round 3 on a high for his owners with two tries and three try assists in a 72-point bonanza, in a game where Curtis Sironen (74), Martin Taupau (64) and Daly Cherry-Evans (60) also scored strongly.
Cowboys v Sharks, Saturday 7.35pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo is a huge out this week after scoring 68 last round. He's got bone bruising on the knee with North Queensland hoping he'll be back after a week. Francis Molo is the new starter in the pack with Tom Gilbert and Gavin Cooper joining the bench and Shane Wright making way. Valentine Holmes (48) continues to exceed expectations and Scott Drinkwater (+$27k) is proving a handy moneymaker. Coen Hess also scored 51 after a slow start to the season.
Sharks: Chad Townsend (hamstring) is replaced by Matt Moylan in the halves, Billy Magoulias is yet again named 18th man but is likely to be a late inclusion with Connor Tracey and Siosifa Talakai named on the interchange. Cheapies Toby Rudolf (36), Blayke Brailey (35) and Will Kennedy (32) are all doing enough to notch handy price rises, with Rudolf passing $100k for the season already, but Magoulias (5) isn't getting enough minutes off the bench for the 8% of Fantasy teams who own him.
Knights hopeful Pearce will be fit to face Raiders
Raiders v Knights, Sunday 4.05pm at Campbelltown Stadium
Raiders: Jordan Rapana is back on the bench with Bailey Simonsson named to return. Corey Horsburgh (42) is about to notch $100k in price rises and Emre Guler has already done it, despite scoring just 27 last week. Dual-position outside back Nick Cotric is going strong with a 55 average for the season so far.
Knights: Kalyn Ponga returns at fullback and Andrew McCullough is into the side at hooker, with Tex Hoy bumped to the bench and Chris Randall to the reserves. Herman Ese'ese is promoted to starting lock. There's a lot of Fantasy interest here with Gehamat Shibasaki a sell after being a late exclusion on Sunday while Tim Glasby (73), Randall (72), Daniel Saifiti (71), David Klemmer (70), Kurt Mann (70), Jacob Saifiti (69), Hoy (63) and Bradman Best (65) all went off with monster scores in their extra-time draw with Penrith. Best is now an awkward price at $372k after a whopping $54k jump immediately, and it's hard to justify a trade for Hoy either unless you're confident he can win a spot in the starting side. Mitchell Pearce's concussion-enforced -1 last week will see his price plummet in the rounds to come so he could be one to keep an eye on later.
Titans v Wests Tigers, Sunday 6.30pm at Suncorp Stadium
Titans: Quite a few changes here, with Erin Clark the new hooker, Tyrone Roberts at fullback after being a late withdrawal last week and Tanah Boyd, Jaimin Jolliffe, Bryce Cartwright and Young Tonumaipea forming a brand new bench. Young prop Moeaki Fotuaika had a monster 75-point performance against the Cowboys, while Jamal Fogarty did OK with 25 last week and at least has kept his spot for those who snapped him up at base price.
Wests Tigers: No changes. Harry Grant proved an instant success in his Tigers debut, scoring 63 in just 56 minutes (including a try). Likewise Alex Twal's excellent start to the season continued with another 62 points and Luciano Leilua (48) maintained a 50+ average through three rounds. Billy Walters earned another helpful price bump with a strong cameo off the bench and he holds that spot again this week.
Bulldogs v Dragons, Monday 4.05pm at Bankwest Stadium
Bulldogs: Kieran Foran's return means Jack Cogger drops out of the side. Aiden Tolman tackled his way to 67 points last week with Lachlan Lewis (51) the other strong scorer in the Bulldogs' loss to Manly. Cheapie Jake Averillo is the most-owned Bulldogs player in Fantasy this year after scores of 11 and 10.
Dragons: A big change to the spine with cheapie Adam Clune named at halfback and Josh Kerr at starting prop, with Matt Dufty, Korbin Sims and bench cash cow Tyrell Fuimaono out of the 17. Corey Norman will play fullback with Issac Luke a chance of taking some minutes off Cameron McInnes as a bench hooker. McInnes scored a stunning 91 points in his first game of the season with 75 tackles and no misses – including a try save – in St George Illawarra's loss to the Warriors, while Ben Hunt (65) and Tyson Frizell (64) both managed big scores despite the lopsided result. Zac Lomax (41) continues to deliver surprisingly consistent scores despite playing in three different backline positions in the opening three rounds, while fellow centre Brayden Wiliame (32) is also earning solid price rises.
