There are a couple of timely returns for gun HLFs this week, while injuries present the chance to take on bigger roles for a couple of cheapies.
Here's everything you need to know from an NRL Fantasy point of view about the teams named for Round 5 of the Telstra Premiership.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 5
Storm v Broncos, Thursday at AAMI Park
Storm: The highly anticipated return of Cameron Munster looks to have arrived, with the $754k HLF named alongside Jahrome Hughes, adding two elite options back into that positional pool. In saying that, with a break even of 54 you can probably wait a week to bring Munster in if you've got cover for now. Popular cash cow contender Joe Chan has been left out again after missing Round 3 with a hand infection and he might be a sell if Shawn Blore (EDG, $518k) plays well in his place.
Broncos: Patrick Carrigan (MID, $787k) looks to be picking up extra points in the absence of Payne Haas, with a 62 last week making him Brisbane's second-highest scorer behind Adam Reynolds. Xavier Willison (MID/EDG, $311k), who is in a third of all Fantasy teams, is starting to make some money now and has a break even of seven ahead of Round 5.
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Bulldogs v Roosters, Friday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Popular dual position forward Josh Curran ($586k) starts in the second row in place of Jacob Preston (jaw). Just when it looked like all hope was lost for him in a Fantasy sense, Sam Hughes (MID, $278k) has been elevated to the starting line-up at prop and is now at least a chance of avoiding dropping in value after Round 5. Blake Wilson, who has averaged 35 through three games this season, comes in to replace Josh Addo-Carr (concussion) on the wing.
Roosters: The return of Lindsay Collins means high-performing MID Terrell May goes back to the bench and will likely lose a few minutes. But with a break even of 25 he's still got plenty more money to make. EDG Angus Crichton, who is now worth just $437k, gets a start in the second row and could be a value pick up if he keeps that spot long term. He has a break even of 55 this week which will likely mean he goes down in price again.
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Knights v Dragons, Friday at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Jackson Hastings ($592k) returns to the halves, this time at the expense of Tyson Gamble. Kai Pearce-Paul's season average is fast approaching 50 and those who got on him early are being rewarded now. Kalyn Ponga's scores have climbed over the past fortnight, with a 72 last week looking more like the Fantasy prospect we came to know at the back end of 2023.
Dragons: There hasn’t been a lot to like about the Dragons from a Fantasy perspective through the opening month, with none of their players averaging over 50 points per game so far. Kyle Flanagan (HLF, $432k) continues to slowly make money and should do so again this week thanks to a 40 in Round 4.
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Rabbitohs v Warriors, Saturday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: Bad news for the 56,000-odd coaches who have stuck with cheapie Jacob Gagai hoping he’d get another shot on the wing, with Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson instead getting the nod to replace Alex Johnston (hamstring). Latrell Mitchell equaled his second-best score of the year with a 53 last week, but right now is not justifying the $757k price tag, which might be lower after Round 5 given his break even of 68.
Warriors: The return of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad means Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns to the centres. $378k HLF Te Maire Martin is the man to come in and replace the injured Luke Metcalf, while Marata Niukore starts in the second row with Kurt Capewell out under the concussion protocol. Tohu Harris continues to impress, with a 60 last week and a season average of 56.3.
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Sea Eagles v Panthers, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: It’s shaping as a huge week for the game’s most-owned player, Ben Trbojevic, with the $354k EDG/CTR needing to score at least 27 in order to avoid dropping in price after Round 5. There’ll be plenty of eyes on his brother Tom as well, after he struggled in last week’s loss to the Dragons but still scored a respectable 39. Haumole Olakau'atu remains one of the elite EDG prospects and is available at $758k this week.
Panthers: Brad Schneider looks like being a low-level money maker or serviceable cover option while Nathan Cleary is out, with a 45 last week setting him up with a break even of 26. A 49 in Round 4 followed up by a 44 last week has $421k MID Liam Henry flying, but the return of James Fisher-Harris this week might spell the end of that. It also means Mavrik Geyer drops out of the 17 following his debut last week, much to the disappointment of the 20 percent of Fantasy coaches who currently own him.
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Dolphins v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins: With Max Plath out suspended $461k MID Ray Stone comes in to start at lock. Backline stars Jamayne Isaako (74 points) and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (59 points) stole the show last week, while Euan Aitken is going nicely as a CTR-eligible player who actually plays 80 minutes in the pack. Possible cash cow Jack Bostock has set himself up for some price rises in the next couple of weeks by scoring 45 against the Titans.
Wests Tigers: Jayden Sullivan comes in to replace cash cow Lachlan Galvin, who has accepted a two-match ban for a hip drop tackle. The loss of Galvin is a huge blow for Fantasy coaches already down on HLF options due to Nathan Cleary and Mitchell Moses being injured and Nicho Hynes sitting out Round 5 on a bye. Basement-priced HLF Latu Fainu is set to make his NRL debut off the bench. CTR Justin Olam is well and truly outperforming his $441k price tag so far this season and has a per round average of 46.5.
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Cowboys v Titans, Sunday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Kulikefu Finefeuiaki has kept the price rises ticking over with a 26 last week but will need a breakout game in the next round or two in order to avoid plateauing out. HOK Reece Robson had his worst score of the year last week with a 43, which mainly came due to a lack of attacking metrics. Given the way the Titans have leaked points so far, it might be a good week for owners of Cowboys backline players like Scott Drinkwater and Valentine Holmes.
Titans: David Fifita is named to come off the bench again after scoring 51 in his 55-minute injury return last week. That means cut-price EDG Klese Haas ($484k) earns another start in the second row, with Erin Clark earning a run-on appearance at lock. $453k WFB Jayden Campbell only scored 27 in the end last week, but the signs were there that he’s going to be a good Fantasy player this year once he finds his feet again following a long injury layoff.
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Raiders v Eels, Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: With Zac Hosking out after failing a HIA last week, cheapie MID Ata Mariota ($292k) gets a start in the second row and looks a good bet to make some money after hitting 29 in Round 4. A bigger minute role and a try last week helped Danny Levi to a 44 against the Sharks and the HOK now has some more money to make.
Eels: Popular Round 4 pickup Blaize Talagi keeps his spot in the halves and will go up in price again this week thanks to a -1 break even. $586k WFB Clint Gutherson looks like being the player who will benefit the most from the absence of Mitch Moses, with a 65-point showing in the loss to the Wests Tigers which included a stack of attacking stats. After things had looked so good for him a couple of weeks ago, Joey Lussick is turning into a disaster after losing minutes again to Brendan Hands (who isn’t in the 17 for this week right now) and scoring just 22 last up. Bryce Cartwright (ribs) will miss a second-straight game.
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