One of the more impressive outfits in 2020, the Rabbitohs could challenge for the premiership this year with at least one Fantasy superstar and a couple of good-value options in their ranks.
Players to watch
Damien Cook
The Kangaroos No.9 is a player made for Fantasy, combining an excellent work rate in defence with explosiveness and playmaking savvy out of dummy-half.
Cook has averaged well above 60 Fantasy points per game in each of the past three seasons, and although his try and assist numbers declined a little last season his increased tackle counts made up for it.
If you're looking for a gun hooker to start the season Cook could be the perfect option – he's about $120,000 cheaper than Cameron McInnes and is a more proven performer than similarly priced duo Harry Grant and Apisai Koroisau who both had standout seasons last year.
Analysing the Rabbitohs' 2021 draw
Latrell Mitchell
An elite Fantasy centre during his time at the Roosters – where he also kicked goals for the perennial title contenders – Mitchell's shift to fullback last year didn't quite translate into improved Fantasy scores.
He started slowly (scoring 14 and 10 in the first two weeks) before interspersing some excellent games (he scored 63 and 74 in round four and five) with more scores closer to 20.
A gifted ball-runner and playmaker, Mitchell doesn't run the ball as much as many long-term fullbacks but he grew into the position as the year went on and should be better for it at the start of 2021.
Priced as a 37-point player heading into the new season, he'd need to make a significant leap to become a cut-price keeper but if he and the Rabbitohs burst out of the blocks in the early rounds he could quickly become a popular buy.
Sublime Mitchell pass gets Johnston into space
Jai Arrow
Former Titans star Arrow is an interesting proposition.
The Maroons lock had been a consistent 50-points-per-game player in 2018 and 2019 but his scoring dipped to 45 points a game last year, despite the early-season rule changes that generally improved the scoring of most middle forwards.
His game time has remained fairly steady throughout that time (around 55 minutes per game) but his run metres and tackle breaks took a dip.
Playing at a new club under Wayne Bennett this season could revitalise Arrow's game, and if he gets a start at lock – shifting Cameron Murray to an edge – Arrow could easily return to a 50+ scorer in 2021.
2021 NRL Fantasy player prices
Damien Cook HOK $856,000
Cameron Murray MID, EDG $722,000
Adam Reynolds HLF $698,000
Cody Walker HLF $646,000
Jai Arrow MID $604,000
Campbell Graham CTR $580,000
Tevita Tatola MID $574,000
Jaydn Su'A EDG $565,000
Thomas Burgess MID $555,000
Josh Mansour WFB $552,000
Dane Gagai CTR, WFB $517,000
Latrell Mitchell WFB $493,000
Liam Knight MID $486,000
Alex Johnston WFB $461,000
Mark Nicholls MID $430,000
Keaon Kolomatangi MID $385,000
Braidon Burns CTR $378,000
Jacob Host EDG $354,000
Jaxson Paulo WFB $348,000
Tautau Moga CTR $307,000
Troy Dargan HLF $295,000
Hame Sele MID $287,000
Steven Marsters CTR $276,000
Taane Milne CTR $246,000
Patrick Mago MID $246,000
Jed Cartwright EDG $246,000
Joshua Cook HOK $228,000
Brock Gardner EDG $228,000
Dean Hawkins HLF $228,000
