NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 19

NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 19

Eels v Broncos, Thursday at CommBank Stadium

Eels: Parramatta are confident Ryan Matterson, who is named at lock, will play this week after a layoff with a rib injury. Winger Maika Sivo is coming off scores of 48 and 53 and at $486k is reasonably priced.

Broncos: Payne Haas is back after a couple of weeks off due to his troublesome shoulders. The prompt return is good news for those who held onto him, but if you don't have him he's unlikely to rise in value much this week. Origin stars Patrick Carrigan and Kurt Capewell also return, meaning high-scoring rookie Zac Hosking is back in the extended reserves. Tesi Niu looks like he'll keep the fullback job, with the returning Te Maire Martin named in the reserves. 

Dragons v Sea Eagles, Friday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Sea Eagles: Jake Trbojevic is out which means Toafofoa Sipley ($409k) gets the start at lock. Winger Jason Saab comes off a score of 66 last week, while skipper Daly Cherry-Evans hasn’t scored under 70 in his last three matches.

Dragons: Jack Bird, who is averaging a touch under 40 this year and is listed as a CTR in Fantasy, replaces Jack de Belin at lock, with the latter moving to prop. Moses Mbye ($225k) is named at centre in place of the injured Moses Suli.

Knights v Roosters, Friday at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Jayden Brailey is back starting and last week played the full 80, but still only scored 37 and now has a break even of 72. Mitch Barnett ($626k) is again named to start at lock with Kurt Mann on the bench.

Roosters: The dream run for Joseph Manu owners looks to be over, with the Kiwi moving back to the centres to make way for the returning Luke Keary, after he was Fantasy’s top scorer last week with 103. While he won’t match those numbers in the centres, if you’ve got him he remains a good option regardless. Nat Butcher starts in the second row but registered an underwhelming 21 points in his 51-minute stint last week. 

Raiders v Warriors, Saturday at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Albert Hopoate ($221k) gets a start on the wing for the suspended Jordan Rapana, while captain Elliott Whitehead returns along with Nick Cotric after missing last week through injury. 

Warriors: It’s bad news for those who traded in rookie Ronald Volkman thinking he might be a cash cow, with Daejarn Asi named to start ahead of him in the halves. Reece Walsh is bumped to the bench with Chanel Harris-Tavita ($293k) preferred at fullback.

Panthers v Sharks, Saturday at BlueBet Stadium

Panthers: The full Origin contingent return in what will be a huge boost to Fantasy owners, particularly in the case of halfback Nathan Cleary who is owned by 35 percent of all teams and is a popular captaincy choice. While he's back on the bench, hooker Mitch Kenny should still make some money in the next couple of weeks, with his score of 53 last week setting him up with a break even of 12. 

Sharks: Briton Nikora ($593k) returns from suspension to start in the second row, bumping early-season cheapie Teig Wilton back to the bench after he scored 53 points last week. Centre Jesse Ramien has averaged 58.7 over his past three games and is a real point of difference who is owed by just 1.3 percent of Fantasy coaches. 

Rabbitohs v Storm, Saturday at Accor Stadium

Rabbitohs: Fantasy guns Damien Cook and Cameron Murray are back after missing last week. There is good news for those who jumped on Jed Cartwright too, with the back-rower likely to get a couple more price rises after retaining his spot in the team, albeit at centre where his scores will likely drop.

Storm: Nick Meaney ($561k) gets the fullback role following Ryan Papenhuyzen's season-ending injury, and scored 60 last up. Cheapie Tyran Wishart ($223k) gets first shot at the vacant wing spot. With no recognised hooker on the bench, Harry Grant could be set to play the full 80 minutes again. 

Bulldogs v Titans, Sunday at CommBank Stadium

Bulldogs: A big relief for those who picked up Declan Casey ($229k), with the centre set to retain his spot ahead of Aaron Schoupp who is listed as the replacement player. Still no sign of Luke Thompson, although the English forward is owed by hardly any teams at this point anyway. 

Titans: Rookie wing Sosefo Fifita has kept his spot after bagging 50 on debut last week. At $255k and with a break even of -5, he shapes as a popular cash-down option this week who could make a bit of money before the end of the season. Aaron Booth again gets the start at hooker with Erin Clark ($572k), who registered his best score of the year (76) after being a late inclusion at lock last week, on the interchange. The good news for Jayden Campbell owners is that he's back, the bad news is it's off the interchange rather than at fullback. 

Cowboys v Tigers, Sunday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: Rookie sensation Jeremiah Nanai is back after being rested last week. Averaging 44.2 points across the year, he has rewarded owners who resisted the urge to cash out earlier in the year. Murray Taulagi ($605k) is back from COVID, while Tom Dearden ($474k) returns in the halves.  

Tigers: Jackson Hastings is again named at lock and at $533k could be one of the bargains of the year if he can maintain anything close to last week's effort of 73 points. The return of Brent Naden sees potential cash cow Junior Tupou drop out of the squad. Justin Matamua looks like being a non-event in Fantasy after being dropped to the reserves following his score of 11 last week.