All of the relevant team news from a NRL Fantasy perspective for Round 22 of the 2023 Telstra Premiership season.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 22
Broncos v Roosters, Thursday at The Gabba
Broncos: A one-game suspension for Jesse Arthars opens the door for Deine Mariner (CTR, $324k) to start on the wing. Mariner has three tries in two games this season and averages 37.5 points. Cash cow Brendan Piakura (EDG, $350k) is back after missing Round 21, which means Patrick Carrigan returns to his normal role at lock after filling in on the edge last week. Thomas Flegler, who averaged 43 between Rounds 14-17 before suffering a foot injury, is back and starts in the front row.
Roosters: James Tedesco continued his end-of-season Fantasy revival with a 87 last week and if you think he can keep it up he's great value at $687k. Sandon Smith's money making is just about done after a 33 in Round 21, but with question marks still surrounding Sam Walker's return from a knee injury the halfback spot remains his.
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Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs, Friday at Scully Park
Wests Tigers: Charlie Staines returns from injury on the wing, which moves Junior Tupou to the centres after his stunning 77-point haul as a winger in Round 21. Daine Laurie (WFB, $483k) is the five-eighth again and comes off a 48 last week. WFB Jahream Bula now has scores under 40 in three of his past four games and shapes as a sell.
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell (WFB, $742k) is expected to take the field at fullback after falling short in his bid to return from a calf injury last week, but with a break even of 87 you can probably afford to wait a week to bring him in. Jai Arrow shifts from the back row to the front row this week after hitting 47 against the Broncos.
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Storm v Eels, Friday at Marvel Stadium
Storm: Eliesa Katoa is back after a long layoff with an eye injury, but given he is set to come off the bench he is a stay away in Fantasy for now. The absence of Nelson Asofa-Solomona means Tom Eisenhuth (EDG, $431k) gets a start in the back row. While he remains the top HOK by average this year, Harry Grant's 33 last week was another example of how inconsistent the position is in general this year.
Eels: Bryce Cartwright (EDG, $663k) has consecutive scores of 74 and is rewarding those who held onto him through the middle part of the season. After shaping as a good option for the run home, HLF Mitchell Moses averages just 38.5 in his last two games and managed a measly 35 points last week despite scoring two tries, with 10 missed tackles (-20 demerits) his major issue. Mid-week signing Joey Lussick comes straight onto the bench and will be added to the Fantasy player pool this week. His presence is bad news for owners of Brendan Hands who could be a sell sooner than later now.
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Raiders v Knights, Saturday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: The Green Machine have Fantasy's two form MIDs right now, with Corey Horsburgh boasting a last three game average of 74.3, just ahead of teammate Joseph Tapine's 68.7. Matthew Timoko to continues to be a great CTR option and is available at $615k.
Knights: By the end of this week Kalyn Ponga will likely be the most owned WFB in the game, with his last-up 55 continuing his remarkable mid-season revival after being a bit of a Fantasy disaster through the opening rounds. He isn't the only good WFB option at the Knights either, with Greg Marzhew continuing to impress.
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Dragons v Sea Eagles, Saturday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: EDG Billy Burns appears to have nailed down a starting back-row spot and comes off a score of 54 last week. At just $473k he shapes as being a good pick up for those looking to cash down to someone who can still fill in on their bench. There's potential value in his back row partner Daniel Russell (EDG, $265k) as well, having scored 40 in 80 minutes last week.
Sea Eagles: Matthew Lodge (MID, $487k) moves into the starting side following his club debut last week, and with Taniela Paseka set to miss six weeks with a knee injury, it could be his spot for the remainder of the regular season. Toafofoa Sipley also comes into the starting pack in place of Josh Aloiai who has a shoulder injury. Daly Cherry-Evans (HLF, $737k) scored 73 last week and could be a popular pick up ahead of Round 22, with Manly expected to have some attacking success against the Dragons.
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Panthers v Sharks, Saturday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: Elite CTR option Izack Tago is out again with the leg issue which saw him withdraw from the squad last week. He is again replaced by Tyrone Peachey who comes off a 45. Coach Ivan Cleary said Nathan Cleary had some rust last week in his return from a hamstring injury, and it probably showed a little in his 51-point Fantasy showing, which in a game where the Panthers scored 44 points would normally have been much higher.
Sharks: Cameron McInnes (MID, $642k) starts at lock this week and has a last three game average of 58.3. With Dale Finucane got for the remainder of the year, following surgery this week on a biceps injury, McInnes looks a safe bet for the run home. Braydon Trindall keeps the five-eighth role, with Matt Moylan listed as the replacement player for now, but only scored 16 last week so isn't Fantasy relevant.
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Bulldogs v Dolphins, Sunday at Salter Oval
Bulldogs: Toby Sexton returns from a week out with concussion which moves Jake Averillo (CTR/WFB, $414k) back to fullback, after he scored 45 in the halves last week. The return of Josh Addo-Carr bumps Jeral Skelton out of the 17, while Braidon Burns takes the place of Paul Alamoti in the backline. High-performing EDG Jacob Preston is back after missing last week with illness, while Reed Mahoney (HOK, $576k) returns to his normal starting role after coming off the bench in Round 21 due to battling illness himself. There is no room for cash cow Harrison Edwards or Jayden Okunbor in the 17.
Dolphins: Good news for owners of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, with the flyer named to return to fullback after a stint in the centres. His scoring potential is much higher at the back and any thought of him being a sell can now be put aside. Jeremy Marshall-King is named to return at hooker, but given the lingering nature of his shoulder injury it's a situation worth keeping an eye on closer to kick-off. Promising cash cow Harrison Graham (HOK, $323k) is the big loser in this situation and has been left out of the 17. Isaiya Katoa – who is still owned by a quarter of all teams – is out of the side and is a sell.
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Titans v Cowboys, Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Erin Clark is suddenly very Fantasy relevant again as a starting lock who scored 76 in a 55-minute stint last week – albeit with a try – and is available at just $430k. He's a short term option though and likely to revert to the bench once Tino Fa'asuamaleaui returns from suspension. Cash cow Klese Haas (EDG, $434k) moves back to the bench after a couple of games in the starting side.
Cowboys: With Jeremiah Nanai facing 4-6 weeks out with a AC joint injury, there is serious upside in rookie Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (EDG, $268k), who takes his place in the starting back row this week. Scott Drinkwater can't put a foot wrong right now and is the hottest WFB prospect on the market, with his price up to $853k and likely to jump again this week.
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