The highest-scoring position in Fantasy will be a crucial one at the start of the season – do you splash the cash on a big scorer straight away or snap up a few bargains?
Top performers in 2020: Cameron McInnes (72.5 points per game), Damien Cook (63.9 ppg), Cameron Smith (63.3 ppg), Harry Grant (61.4 ppg), Apisai Koroisau (60.1 ppg)
Average Fantasy score for a hooker in 2020: 44 points (highest scoring position)
Biggest improvers in 2020: Harry Grant (+$461k), Tom Starling (+$396k), Reuben Cotter (+$291k), Apisai Koroisau (+$221k), Billy Walters (+$195k)
Key scoring categories: Tackles, Run Metres, Tackle Breaks
2021 NRL Fantasy point-scoring system
The lowdown
A crucial position for Fantasy, where rookies can increase in value rapidly while the top-end scorers are generally the best captaincy candidates.
Cameron Smith, Damien Cook and Cameron McInnes have all been among the best scorers in the game in recent years while Harry Grant was an instant gun in his first season at the Tigers in 2020.
Look out for players capable of staying on the park for the full 80 minutes (ideally at teams who don't have any hookers on their bench).
Once more there are several mid-range candidates who could be great moneymakers at the start of this season.
Popular buys
Jacob Liddle (Wests Tigers, $304k) – bargain option and the Wests Tigers' new first-choice No.9.
Cameron McInnes (Dragons, $972k) – Update: Expect to see McInnes's ownership plunge after he was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury on Friday.
Jayden Brailey (Knights, $410k) – Newcastle's 80-minute hooker looks great value.
Harry Grant (Storm, $823k) – an instant star last season and a cheaper alternative to McInnes.
Connor Watson (Knights, $323k) – very cheap and good utility value as a middle forward, could play lock or get good minutes off the bench.
Damien Cook (Rabbitohs, $856k) – the second-best hooker last season with 64 points per game.
