NRL Fantasy: 2023 rookie watchlist

Assessing rookie players and their potential in NRL Fantasy is one of the most difficult parts of the game, but they can play a key role in the success of your season. 

Select the right one at the right time and you've got a cut-price keeper or a handy cash cow, but pick up a Fantasy rookie dud and you've either wasted a roster spot or precious trades.

The recent Pre-season Challenge gave us the chance to assess most of the rookies of interest, with a couple all but guaranteed to be in the starting side for their club come Round 1 and others likely to be longer-term projects. 

2023 NRL Fantasy watchlist 

Will Warbrick: WFB, $230,000

After an impressive couple of performances in the Pre-season Challenge, which included scoring two tries, Warbrick looks set start the year on the right wing for the Storm, with Nick Meaney required at fullback for at least the first six weeks of the competition and Dean Ieremia out for the season with a torn ACL. 

A metre-eater with tackle break potential, he had Fantasy scores of 39 and 52 in the Pre-season Challenge, and shapes as someone who can make you plenty of cash and even score well enough to be in your playing 17 if needed. 

Even if he's dropped once Ryan Papenhuyzen returns, Warbrick is likely to get some game time over the Origin period when Xavier Coates, and potentially Papenhuyzen, could be out of club action. 

Paul Alamoti: CTR, $230,000

Selecting a CTR in Fantasy can be a crapshoot at times, which makes punting on a rookie or two in the position at the start of the season a worthwhile bet. 

Alamoti is a good chance of starting the year in the centres, especially if Jake Averillo ends up playing fullback for the Bulldogs ahead of Hayze Perham, and while his Pre-season Challenge average of 22 Fantasy points is far from outstanding, he looks a decent pick up who can plug a gap through the early rounds if you can't afford an elite CTR. 

At reserve-grade level last year he averaged 150 metres and 2.4 tackle breaks per game. 

Viliame Fifita: MID, $230,000

While he might not start the year in the NRL, Fifita looks a good chance of getting a go at some stage thanks to his ability to play edge or middle forward. 

The 22-year-old was a solid performer for the Sea Eagles in both their Pre-season Challenges matches, registering Fantasy scores of 39 and 25, averaging 10 metres per carry in each appearance. 

Manly have Karl Lawton (Round 4) and Morgan Boyle (indefinite) to return in their pack, but Fifita is one to keep an eye on. 

Alofiana Khan-Pereira: WFB, $230,000

The pick of the bunch in terms of rookie performers through the Pre-season Challenge after scoring six tries in two games, Khan-Pereira is all but certain to be named on the wing for the Titans in Round 1 and feature in plenty of Fantasy teams. 

While he is unlikely to keep up that remarkable try-scoring rate in the season proper, the 21-year-old has shown he can finish them when given the chance, and more importantly, the Gold Coast have shown a desire to go his way on attack.

Averaged 49.5 points through his two games in February, with his errors (he made five against the Broncos) the only real concern here. 

Justin Matamua: EDG, $230,000

The highly-rated club junior got a taste of the NRL in two appearances last year, and despite the Wests Tigers' forward pack being far stronger in 2023, he should get more opportunities this coming season. 

He was excellent in the first Pre-season Challenge clash against the Warriors, making 37 tackles without a miss on his way to a team-high 58 Fantasy points. 

Not likely to get a run in the early rounds, but will be one to keep an eye on as injuries start to become a factor for Tim Sheens' men. 

Isaiya Katoa: HLF, $230,000

The most discussed rookie from a Fantasy perspective through the pre-season, and someone many Fantasy coaches will be looking for on the Dolphins' team list every Tuesday through the season.

His talent is clear to see, and he had try assists in both Pre-season Challenge matches, with Fantasy scores of 28 and 13, which were hampered by poor defence which saw him miss nine tackles.

Coach Wayne Bennett is highly unlikely to play him at NRL level to start the year, with the experience of Sean O'Sullivan and Anthony Milford set to be preferred. Still, Katoa is a good chance of getting a run at some stage and is one to consider as soon as he gets a start. 

Joe Chan: EDG, $230,000

While a rookie at NRL level without an appearance to his name at this stage, Chan is far from a stranger to top-flight footy after spending the last two seasons playing at Super League level for Catalans, and he should get plenty of opportunities in a Storm pack which will be without four key players from previous years.

The 20-year-old, who can play as an edge or middle forward, hit 31 Fantasy points in Melbourne's first Pre-season Challenge match, before dropping to 13 in Round 2. 

After making 43 tackles across those two games, he looks set to collect decent base stats and is worth keeping tabs on. 

Sunia Turuva: WFB, $448,000

A player who has shown huge promise already at Test level for Fiji and in three NRL appearances last year, Turuva is now set to be a first-choice winger for coach Ivan Cleary following Taylan May's season-ending injury in the World Club Challenge. 

Averaged 31.3 points per game last season, which means his price is significantly higher than others on this list, but if he's going to a regular out wide in a prolific Panthers side then he will probably be worth every cent. 

His Pre-season Challenge Fantasy average of 19 points per game shouldn't be read into too much, given he was playing centre most of the time where stats are harder to come by. 

Junior Tupou: CTR, $319,000

Became a whole lot more Fantasy relevant in the Wests Tigers' second Pre-season Challenge game, not just because of his own strong performance, which ended in him gaining a game-high 59 points, but also due to Ken Maumalo breaking down with a knee injury. 

While it's not known how much time Maumalo might miss at this stage, or if Tupou will be even be in the frame to replace him in the early rounds, the path to an NRL spot is looking far clearer than it was a month ago, and when he does get a shot his style of play looks likely to bring points. 

Tupou averaged 28.8 across his four NRL games last year and comes with the added bonus of being listed as a CTR in Fantasy. 

Kaeo Weekes: WFB/HLF, $250,000

Had an excellent outing on the Fantasy front in Manly's second Pre-season Challenge clash, racking up 64 points in a performance which included setting up three tries at fullback.

Weekes, who made three NRL appearances last year, is a huge talent who is versatile enough to play across the back five and in the halves, and should get some starting opportunities in 2023 as the Sea Eagles likely look to manage the load on Tom Trbojevic.

He's also a good chance of snaring a spot on the interchange to start the year, with Karl Lawton, the likely man to take that role long term, not due back until Round 4.