The arrival of Luke Brooks is likely to trigger a series of changes at the Sea Eagles which will have big implications for Fantasy owners.
With the 205-game veteran set to slot straight into the halves, there'll be a new role for Josh Schuster (and renewed hope that he might finally become the Fantasy gun we've long anticipated). There'll probably also be some tweaks to the role Daly Cherry-Evans – who was by far Manly's best Fantasy player last year with a season average of 63.8 – plays in attack.
That could mean that at $877k DCE is a little overpriced to start the year, while it's hard to know what Brooks might do as the second-string playmaker, after years of running the show at the Wests Tigers.
Keep an eye as well on Matt Lodge (MID, $465k), Lachlan Croker (HOK, $604k) and Tom Trbojevic (WFB, $653k), whose scores could mean they jump up in price early in the season.
Sea Eagles 2024 NRL Fantasy guide
The big gun
There probably isn't an EDG with a higher potential for 70-plus scores than Haumole Olakau'atu. The Sea Eagles love playing wide early and often, which means their back-rowers tend to see the ball more than most. Given Olakau'atu's ability to break tackles, split the line and score tries, that's all very good news for his Fantasy prospects. While he might end up lacking the consistency of other elite EDG players, he's likely to end up in the top five scorers for his position and at $715k is much cheaper than players like David Fifita and J'maine Hopgood.
NRL try time: Haumole Olakau'atu
The bargain
Given his Fantasy scores over the past two seasons average out at 24.1, it's a little hard to get excited about Josh Schuster, who has failed to live up to expectations in the past. But the signing of Luke Brooks means his time as a five-eighth is over and if he can nab a starting spot in the second row then he immediately becomes a player of interest again. Back in 2021, the last time he was a regular starting back-rower, Schuster averaged 46.8 points per game and if he can get anywhere near that this season then he's good value at $408k.
Bye round outlook
Round 13, 17 and 22. The Sea Eagles sit out the first of the major bye rounds in Round 13 and then have their second bye following Origin II, when the Rabbitohs and Titans also won't play. Their final bye in Round 22 could clash with some head-to-head league finals.
2024 full player price list
- Daly Cherry-Evans: HLF, $877,000
- Haumole Olakau'atu: EDG, $715,000
- Tom Trbojevic: WFB, $653,000
- Reuben Garrick: CTR/WFB, $639,000
- Jake Trbojevic: MID, $626,000
- Toafofoa Sipley: MID, $622,000
- Lachlan Croker: HOK, $604,000
- Luke Brooks: HLF, $576,000
- Taniela Paseka: MID, $569,000
- Corey Waddell: MID/EDG, $545,000
- Tolutau Koula: CTR/WFB, $490,000
- Ethan Bullemor: MID/EDG, $484,000
- Josh Aloiai: MID, $470,000
- Matthew Lodge: MID, $465,000
- Jason Saab: WFB, $441,000
- Josh Schuster: EDG/HLF, $408,000
- Jaxson Paulo: WFB, $406,000
- Jake Arthur: HLF, $395,000
- Christian Tuipulotu: WFB, $355,000
- Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega: WFB, $342,000
- Gordon Chan Kum Tong: HOK, $325,000
- Brad Parker: CTR, $304,000
- Karl Lawton: EDG, $268,000
- Tommy Talau: CTR/WFB, $265,000
- Ben Condon: EDG, $250,000
- Ben Trbojevic: EDG/CTR, $250,000
- Zac Fulton: EDG, $250,000
- Jamie Humphreys: HLF, $230,000
