NRL 2020: NRL Fantasy winners & losers, Round 10

Author: Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
Timestamp: Mon 20 Jul 2020, 08:20 AM

Nathan Cleary does it again, a Wests Tigers forward joined the 100-club, a struggling gun showed his class and last year's best Fantasy player proved he's still the safest captaincy option in round 10.

It was a huge scoring round with thousands of coaches breaking the 1000-point mark and a few hundred of those cracking 1100.

Winners

Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary was the Fantasy player of the round, almost single-handedly dragging his side to a tough win over the Cowboys.

His 106-point effort included a late solo try, over 600 kick metres and 150 run metres and was highlighted by some powerful hits in defence.

Get Caught Up: Round 10

Wests Tigers back-rower Luciano Leilua raised the bat with an even 100 against Brisbane, including two tries, five busts and 180 metres. Plenty have sold him in recent weeks but he has rewarded those who held to get his price climbing again.

Damien Cook (95) also bagged a double as his side's late surge against Newcastle fell just short while Cameron Smith (85) laid on two tries and booted seven goals in a big win over the Titans. His passing game helped Nelson Asofa-Solomona (83) to a couple of tries but don't expect those scores too often for the big Storm prop.

There was a welcome return to form from Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga (80), including an impressive solo try, in his second-best score of the season. Popular Knights centre Bradman Best (58) was heavily-sold this round after just six points last week but has a softer draw ahead.

Cleary seals the win for Penrith

Payne Haas (79) played his first 80-minute game in five weeks after a recent trend of getting a rest in games and Daly Cherry-Evans (79) was commanding in an upset win over the Eels.

Dylan Brown (78) tried his heart out and had a busy running game despite a few errors and the flimsy Brisbane defence was good for both Wests Tigers halves Benji Marshall (77) and Billy Walters (72).

Last week's buy of the round Ben Hunt (73) did what all his new owners would have hoped while tries boosted the likes of Martin Taupau (72), Michael Jennings and Sione Katoa (both 71) into the 70 club and the minutes and stats of Regan Campbell-Gillard (70) have exploded over the past month.

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (65) and Euan Aitken (63) continued their strong recent form while the price rises are set to ignite for cheapie Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow after his 58 against the Panthers, including a remarkable solo try.

Raiders rookie Tom Starling (48) was impressive in his 50 minutes and will be a popular cash-down choice this week.

Tabuai-Fidow carves up the Panthers

Losers

Cam McInnes's full-time move to lock hasn't done much for his scores with just 60 in round 10 while Jason Taumalolo produced a season-low of 54 with season lows in metres (126) and busts (one). Reece Robson (32) lost minutes to Reuben Cotter, Jake Friend (38) to Lachlan Lam and Blayke Brailey (35) to Connor Tracey in a bad week for several starting Fantasy hookers.

Ryan Papenhuyzen owners would have hoped for a lot more than 32 Fantasy points in a huge win over the Titans, while Tesi Niu (11) and Tommy Talau (19) were very underwhelming for the large number of coaches forced to rely on one or the other in the centres.

Titans Jamal Fogarty (21) and Moeaki Fotuaika (30) also produced well below their recent form in a big loss to Melbourne.