With State of Origin selection and bye rounds looming, it's shaping as another big week for Fantasy coaches and there's no shortage of team news and changes to take note of this week.
NRL Fantasy Round 11 teams analysis
Knights v Broncos, Thursday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Anthony Milford comes in to the Knights for his first game, with Jake Clifford named among the reserves. Milford's attacking class may help bring out the best in the Newcastle outside backs, with Bradman Best (averaging 35.3) and Kalyn Ponga (averaging 39.4) both potential beneficiaries of his arrival. Dane Gagai has been named among the reserves and is nearing a return, but isn't worth buying just yet with Origin on the radar. Mitch Barnett scored 68 points last week in a fantastic return from suspension and, at $557k, will definitely make you some cash... but doesn't play Round 13.
Broncos: Unchanged after a huge win over the Sea Eagles. Te Maire Martin has been named but is in doubt after suffering a hip injury — if he is unavailable then it could mean in-form young gun Selwyn Cobbo ($463k) moves to fullback. Adam Reynolds is in brilliant form and is flying up in price, now worth more than $800k, while Origin hopeful Thomas Flegler ($511k) could also be a handy pickup for the next fortnight. The Kotoni Staggs rollercoaster saw him score just 32 last week despite Brisbane piling on the points; by contrast, Herbie Farnworth has averaged six points more per game over the last three weeks despite being $100k cheaper.
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Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, Friday at Leichhardt Oval
Wests Tigers: Still no David Nofoaluma (head knock), and Wests Tigers have now lost Luke Brooks (hamstring) and Jake Simpkin (head knock) in a further blow to the side. AJ Kepaoa (covid) is back in the centres, which sees Luke Garner move back to the second row with Kelma Tuilagi benched. Outside of Jackson Hastings ($679k), who plays his first game at Leichhardt Oval, and Alex Twal ($706k), who plays his 100th game this week, there's not much doing on the Fantasy front at Wests Tigers. Stefano Utoikamanu will be a buy when he returns to the starting side, having quietly fallen over $100k in price since the start of the year.
Bulldogs: Jake Averillo returns to the team at centre, while Jackson Topine has been named to start in the back row. At $550k, Topine is far from a buy — he's definitely worth watching before bringing in — but Averillo may be more intriguing given his $282k price and a friendly schedule ahead. No Bulldog has scored more points than Matt Burton, who continues to rise in price and is now above $620k.
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Eels v Sea Eagles, Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Maika Sivo ($465k) is among the reserves as he nears a return from injury. Ryan Matterson ($763k) finally starts at lock and is an absolute buy after averaging 70 for the past three weeks. Finding the money to have him and Isaiah Papali'i ($929k) is a challenge but it's one that will reward you with many, many points. Reed Mahoney has fallen to under $700k in price and is worth looking at for coaches who are worried about Harry Grant or Damien Cook over the Origin period.
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic has been named despite suggestions he might have been carrying an injury after the Sea Eagles' loss to Brisbane. The news isn't as good for Ben Trbojevic, however, with the popular cheapie sidelined with a shoulder injury. Josh Schuster is back in a boost for Manly, but via the bench, while Ethan Bullemor has been dropped to the reserves in place of Andrew Davey. Blues Origin hopeful Haumole Olakau'atu is expensive at $718k but continues to impress, with scores of 44, 67, 70, 50 and 49 in his last five games.
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Dragons v Warriors, Saturday at Netstrata Jubilee Oval
Dragons: Tyrell Sloan's short-lived fullback return is over, with Cody Ramsey ($258k) the new man at the back. He's a bold option for coaches given the job security, but does have two friendly matchups in the next fortnight for the brave of heart. Ben Hunt ($611k) is producing fantastic numbers in a losing side, averaging 47 for the season, while Moses Suli ($558k) is also scoring well.
Warriors: Coaches will be delighted to see the return of Euan Aitken in the second row, while Tohu Harris has also been named to start after coming off the bench last week. Other than Aitken (17.78%) and start-of-the-season cheapie Viliame Vailea (10.95%), no other Warriors player is owned by more than four percent of coaches.
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Cowboys v Storm, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: No changes once again for the Cowboys who continue to fly along in both real NRL and Fantasy. Reuben Cotter continues to rise in both price and popularity after scoring 68 last week; Reece Robson is benefiting greatly from playing the full 80 minutes and has averaged close to 50 over the past three weeks; even Murray Taulagi is rising rapidly in price with another strong score last week. With Round 13 coverage, the Cowboys are a great option in most positions for coaches looking to bring some new recruits in to their team.
Storm: Tyran Wishart ($235k) retains the fullback spot and will be much better with the return of Jahrome Hughes in the halves. Only Cameron Munster scored more than 40 points last week in a disappointing loss to the Panthers, but coaches will be expecting popular names to bounce back this week despite a tough trip to Townsville on the cards. Brandon Smith ($456k) is an intriguing option after being named to start at prop, but might be a late swap for Tui Kamikamica ($521k), who returned from suspension last week with 31 points in 30 minutes.
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Roosters v Panthers, Saturday at Sydney Cricket Ground
Roosters: Nat Butcher ($494k) stands out as a great option for the next few weeks with Victor Radley set to spend some time on the sidelines. Butcher has been named at lock after scoring 45 last week. Joseph Suaalii is up above $430k in price now after averaging 41 in his last three games while Siosiua Taukeiaho ($577k) is going well with less than one percent ownership but will have Lindsay Collins back from suspension providing competition for minutes in the middle. Food for thought: James Tedesco won't play Round 13, faces the Storm off the back of an Origin game in Round 14, is away to the Eels in Round 15, faces the Panthers in Round 16, and won't play Round 17. Insert thinking emoji here.
Panthers: Unchanged from last week with Mitch Kenny remaining on the bench with Soni Luke on the reserves. Kenny played 23 minutes last week not at hooker, with Apisai Koroisau playing the full 80 and scoring 47 points. He could be one to watch if he is going to consistently return to playing a full game, which he has done for the past two weeks now. Izack Tago rewarded those who held, and should tick over with some nice price rises now, but Stephen Crichton remains the most-owned Panther at over 40 percent with five scores over 50 this season.
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Rabbitohs v Raiders, Sunday at Apex Oval, Dubbo
Rabbitohs: Cheapie Trent Peoples returns and is a fantastic option after being named to start in the back row in place of Jacob Host. Peoples scored 51 on debut earlier this year and is priced at $260k. Jaxson Paulo retains his place in the centres with no other changes to the team. Cody Walker has averaged 46.7 in his last three games and is becoming more of a differential option again in the halves.
Raiders: Zac Woolford starts at hooker with Adam Elliott dropped to the reserves — Woolford is a good downgrade or cheapie option for those needing one, with the hooker priced at $267k following a score of 41 last week. Jack Wighton ($623k) returns from suspension to start at five-eighth, and could be worth rolling the dice on as a point of difference over the next few weeks if you think he's likely to miss Origin selection. Still owned by nearly 25 percent of coaches, Brad Schneider is one of the most traded-in Raiders' so far this week after scoring 49 last week. That will definitely change with the young half dropped in preference of Matt Frawley.
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Titans v Sharks, Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Unchanged after their thrilling Golden Point win in Magic Round but it's worth keeping an eye on late mail throughout the week with outside backs Brian Kelly, Greg Marzhew and Patrick Herbert all named among the reserves. Jayden Campbell ($510k) returned with a bang last week, scoring 62, while also bringing out the best in Toby Sexton ($442k), who scored 58. Given they play Round 13, Fantasy coaches will be keeping a keen eye on the Titans' attack this week.
Sharks: Huge news for coaches with Nicho Hynes back in the halves after his failed swap back to fullback last week. Don't over think it — he's a great captaincy option once again. Lachlan Miller ($220k) will start at fullback but remember it is only for the short-term with Will Kennedy due back from suspension next week. The other big news for coaches is Dale Finucane's absence, which sees Cameron McInnes named to start at lock after playing there on-and-off for the past few weeks. Owned by just two percent of coaches, he's a great option to bring in at a $146k discount on his original price this year.
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