All of the relevant team news from a NRL Fantasy perspective for Round 23 of the 2023 Telstra Premiership season.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 23
Roosters v Sea Eagles, Thursday at Sydney Cricket Ground
Roosters: Rookie EDG Siua Wong ($242k) gets a start in the second row with Egan Butcher out after failing a HIA in Round 22. HLF Sandon Smith might have one more price rise in him before he becomes a sell, while Joey Manu is a hold if you already have him, despite scoring a season-low 15 last week.
Sea Eagles: Tolutau Koula ($405k) is coming off back-to-back scores of 58 and is a potential point of difference at WFB/CTR. HOK Lachlan Croker is also enjoying a great run, boasting a last three game average of 65.3. Matthew Lodge (MID, $509k) retains a starting front row spot after hitting 49 last week.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Titans v Warriors, Friday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: With Klese Haas named on the bench again, after scoring just 9 in a 21-minute stint last week, the EDG is a sell before he loses more money, with a break even of 41. Chris Randall is named on the bench but has been a late inclusion in the run-on side for the past few weeks. The $591k HOK has scores over 60 in three of his past four games.
Warriors: Marata Niukore (MID/EDG, $466k) is back from time out with concussion and starts in the second row, which means Mitch Barnett, who averages 58 over his last three games, will likely play exclusively as a middle forward this week. Jazz Tevaga is expected to be fit to play after a long stint out with a calf injury, but is listed as 18th man for now. Shaun Johnson is the form HLF in Fantasy, with his 74.7 last three game average nearly eight points more than the next best.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Panthers v Storm, Friday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: One-time cash cow Zac Hosking is a surprise inclusion at centre after Tyrone Peachey accepted a two-match ban this week for a careless high tackle. There could be a late change though, with Izack Tago, who has been battling a leg issue, included in the extended reserves. Following his 101-point haul last week Nathan Cleary is set to be this week's most popular captaincy choice.
Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona is named to return from a finger injury and will start in the back row, which means Eliesa Katoa remains on the bench after making a 49-point return to action off the bench last week, following time out with an eye injury. Jahrome Hughes had a nearly perfect Fantasy game last week, with two missed tackles (-4 points) the only blight on a performance that included four try assists (20 points), three line breaks (12 points) and 185 run metres (18 points).
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Cowboys v Broncos, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Valentine Holmes will appear before judiciary on Tuesday night seeking a reduced grading on a careless high tackle charge, which if he's successful will mean he won't miss any game time. But if he is unsuccessful he won't play again this Fantasy season and is an immediate sell. Jason Taumalolo, whose price has dropped to $435k, returns to the starting side at prop, with Coen Hess reverting to the bench. Scott Drinkwater (EFB, $844k) comes off his lowest score since Round 11, but he is a hold.
Broncos: Possible cash cow Brendan Piakura (EDG, $350k) returns after time out with illness, which bumps Xavier Willison out of the 17 and allows Patrick Carrigan to return to his normal role at lock. Jesse Arthars (CTR/WFB, $340k) is back from suspension, so Deine Mariner drops back to be the replacement player.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Dolphins v Knights, Saturday at Optus Stadium
Dolphins: After suffering a failed HIA in the early stages of last week's loss to the Bulldogs and subsequently scoring just 4 Fantasy points, Connelly Lemuelu (EDG/CTR, $504k) is named to start in the second row. Jarrod Wallace went huge in Round 22 with an 80-point showing, but that's double his season average so be wary if you are looking at him this week. With a 44 last week Kodi Nikorima has now gone up over $300k in value this year.
Knights: No changes of note for Fantasy owners. Lachlan Fitzgibbon (EDG, $648k) is sitting right on the edge of being a keeper and if you think he can continue to average in the mid 50s then he's good value right now. Kalyn Ponga is almost a must-have at WFB and if you are in the 75 percent who don't own him, you're missing out on a last three game average of 66 points.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Rabbitohs v Sharks, Saturday at Optus Stadium
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell, who can be picked up at $725k right now, made an immediate return to Fantasy relevancy last week with a busy performance that ended in 69 points, and he'll likely be a popular trade in this week. The Rabbitohs' back row has changed constantly this year and in Round 23 it's Michael Chee-Kam's turn to get a start, with Jacob Host dropped to the reserves. A try in Round 22 helped Cam Murray (MID, $710k) continue his strong run of form and he boasts a last three game average of 63 points.
Sharks: Connor Tracey gets a run at fullback following Will Kennedy suffering a hamstring injury last week, but at $484k he's neither a cash cow nor a keeper (even if Kennedy does end up missing the remainder of the regular season). Cameron McInnes had 81 points from tackles alone thanks to his record-breaking effort last week and could be a bargain at $702k if he can keep scoring in the 60s consistently. Braydon Trindall remains at five-eighth and Mawene Hitori (WFB, $250k) gets a run on the wing in the absence of Ronaldo Mulitalo.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Eels v Dragons, Sunday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Joey Lussick takes over as the starting hooker, which sees Brendan Hands drop out of the 17 altogether. Lussick is available at $371k and scored 26 in 52 minutes last week. Ryan Matterson (MID/EDG, $653k) is back in the starting side as a back-rower, replacing the injured Shaun Lane. Dylan Brown is available again after serving a seven-match suspension (NRL Breach) and returns in the No.6 jersey.
Dragons: Tuesday night's judiciary hearing will be of particular interest to the 11 percent of teams who own Jack de Belin, with the $788k MID seeking a grading reduction on a dangerous contact charge. If he's successful he'll be free to play in Round 23 and is a hold, but if not he'll miss four games and is a sell. Money-making EDG players Billy Burns ($515k) and Dan Russell ($312k) retain their starting spots, with Russell in particular in line for a big price jump after this week with his break even set at -4.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Raiders v Wests Tigers, Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: The absence of Jarrod Croker means a change at fullback which could have Fantasy ramifications, with Jordan Rapana (WFB, $442k) moving to the No.1 jersey and Sebastian Kris returning to the centres after averaging a touch under 30 points per game this year as a fullback. Nick Cotric is the new man in the backline on the wing. Corey Horsburgh scored just 33 last week after being one of the game's best MIDs this year, but he is a hold for sure.
Wests Tigers: MID Fonua Pole is named to start at lock again and looks underpriced at $411k, with a handy score of 54 in Round 22. Jahream Bula (WFB, $528k) bounced back somewhat with a 36 last week, but ideally you don't want him in your 17 for the run home as his scores are likely to be unreliable. Api Koroisau has tries in each of his past two games and with it scores of 52 and 73 in Fantasy. If you think he can keep that up then he's a steal at $530k.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com