NRL Fantasy Winners & Losers: Round 23

Star HLFs stole the show in Round 23 as some of Fantasy's elite prospects stood tall. 

From the attacking genius of Shaun Johnson and Nathan Cleary, to the squeaky clean performance of Payne Haas, here's how the round that was played out in NRL Fantasy. 

Round 23 Winners

Shaun Johnson is officially Fantasy’s hottest prospect heading into the final month of the regular season, following a 96-point effort against the Titans on Friday night which saw him top the round and take his last three game average to a thumping 84.3 points.

‘SJ’ scored two tries and set up another two on the night to register his best score of the season and come within a whisker of joining the 100 club.    

For those who have managed to squeeze Johnson and the second best Fantasy player on form right now, Nathan Cleary, into their squad, it meant you had 187 points from your two HLFs alone, with Cleary’s 91 the next best score ahead Parramatta’s two-try hero Bryce Cartwright on 88. 

Cartwright has been in excellent form of late, with three scores over 73 in his past four games making him the form EDG player in the game right now.

A demerit-free game from Payne Haas for the second week in a row helped him to an 83 against the Cowboys, with his 66-minute stint including 219 run metres and 44 tackles, putting him two points ahead of Broncos teammate and fellow MID Patrick Carrigan, who after going his first 77 career games without a try now has two in as many weeks.

Speaking of tries, Dragons WFB Mikaele Ravalawa scored four of them on his way to an 82, good enough to make him the fifth-highest scorer in Round 23.

Damien Cook (78) was followed by Jamayne Isaako, Kotoni Staggs and Luciano Leilua who all had 76 points, Eels big man Junior Paulo hit 74 in the win over the Dragons.

Titans fullback Jayden Campbell was the best value for money scorer, with the $446k WFB hitting 70 after being a late inclusion at the back following AJ Brimson’s injury in the warm up.

Round 23 Losers

Roosters forward Nathan Brown came off the bench in the second half and within a minute gave away a penalty for a high tackle and was sent off, leaving him with the rare distinction of registering a double-digit negative Fantasy score with a -12.

An opening minute head knock from which he did not return saw Francis Molo finish on -2, while the other player to be sent off in Round 23, Moeaki Fotuaika had 1 point and injury kept Storm WFB George Jennings to 3.