A rare calm week on the team list front means Fantasy coaches will have the chance to preserve some trades ahead of Indigenous Round, with the major bye weeks just around the corner.
A couple of cut-price keepers are there to be grabbed if you do need to make a move or two, but the cash cow well has dried up for the time being.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 12
Bulldogs v Dragons, Thursday at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Reed Mahoney ($704k) is putting his hand up for those looking for HOK cover over the Origin/major bye rounds period, with a last three game average of 52, while Matt Burton continues to be a lower tier keeper option at HLF, with a 58 last week that takes his season average to 49.6. MID Sam Hughes, who is in a third of all teams right now, should make money again this week with a break even of 25.
Dragons: The return of Luciano Leilua on the bench could have an impact on Tom Eisenhuth's score, but it's unlikely to be enough to make him an urgent sell. Jaydn Su'A has POD potential, with a season average of 49.9 and under one percent ownership right now.
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Cowboys v Wests Tigers, Friday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Braidon Burns (CTR/WFB, $420k) has kept his spot on the wing and had 55 last week in his club debut, which included scoring two tries. Heilum Luki shapes as a point of difference option at EDG, with just 2.12 percent of teams currently having him and his last-up 47 probably a good indicator of his scoring floor now that he's back to big minutes.
Wests Tigers: $524k HLF Jayden Sullivan has been an unlikely star in Fantasy over the past couple of weeks and would be a buy if not for the fact that he probably won’t have a spot for long with Aidan Sezer due back in Round 14. Lachlan Galvin continues to be an excellent money maker and at this rate might even end up as a low-level keeper option at HLF. Justin Matamua (EDG, $257k) gets a start at lock this week but is probably a stay away given there’s been a revolving door policy for the club’s No.13 jersey so far this year.
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Sea Eagles v Storm, Friday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: DPP back Reuben Garrick showed his value at Magic Round with a 77 and he has one of the highest ceilings among WFBs and CTRs this year. But buyer beware, his 26 the week prior is also evidence of his low floor, and like most in his position he’s likely to be an up and down scorer depending how the team goes. Tolutau Koula looks like being a nice pickup now he has the fullback job, with a 45 last week that included a try assist and a couple of line break assists.
Storm: Jahrome Hughes is named to return from injury in the halves but could yet be kept on ice given the Storm have a bye in Round 13. Tyran Wishart (HLF/WFB, $382k) continues to score well in his new role in the halves and with Cameron Munster gone long term he looks a good trade in this week for those with a need in those positions.
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Raiders v Roosters, Saturday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Kaeo Weekes is on fire right now and on track to go up another $70k in value if he reaches his projected score against the Roosters, while halves partner Ethan Strange has a reachable break even of 29 after a last-up 45. Elliott Whitehead ($625k) is showing signs of being a cut-price keeper at EDG after scoring 54 last week with no dynamic attacking stats.
Roosters: Joey Manu returns from the concussion protocol, while there's a couple of Fantasy-relevant moves in the forward pack too. Nat Butcher has been dropped and for the time being Victor Radley has been named to move from lock to the edge, with Naufahu Whyte (EDG, $424k) at lock. High-performing MID Connor Watson is set to be sidelined until Round 15 with a throat injury and shapes as a sell given how much he is worth.
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Sharks v Panthers, Saturday at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks: Nicho Hynes showed no signs of struggling through the dodgy calf that ruled him out of Round 10 and is a good captaincy option again this week. Daniel Atkinson is again a risk of losing his starting spot though, with Braydon Trindall named in the wider reserves for the second week in a row. CTR Kayal Iro could be in over half of all Fantasy teams by the end of the week as he continues to star in the Cronulla backline.
Panthers: Isaah Yeo will be a popular captaincy choice for those who don't have Nicho Hynes this week after he scored 67 against the Warriors despite spending 10 minutes in the sin bin. Jack Cole had 32 last week but might only have a starting role for another game or two until Brad Schneider (knee) returns. Taylan May is a sell after being left out again, with his replacement Paul Alamoti (CTR, $493k) looking a decent pick up for the short term.
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Rabbitohs v Eels, Saturday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: A move to the halves for Jack Wighton (HLF/CTR, $408k) means rookie HLF Dion Teaupa drops out of the team this week. It could signal an uptick in scoring for Wighton, who has averaged 30.3 per game so far in 2024 after being mostly a high 40s or low 50s scorer in the halves for the Raiders in recent years. If you think Damien Cook can get back to regular keeper scores, which his last up 64 and the previous week’s 57 suggest he can, then he’s good value right now at $688k. Latrell Mitchell went big at Magic Round with an 80, but he’s likely to remain an up-and-down scorer for as long as the Rabbitohs continue to struggle.
Eels: Still no sign of Mitchell Moses in a side which is set to keep the same look in its first game under the watch of Trent Barrett, following Brad Arthur’s dismissal this week. J’maine Hopgood is a top five scorer at both MID and EDG across his past three games and has now gone above 20 percent ownership. Money maker Blaize Talagi had a quieter game at fullback at Magic Round, but a 35 was more than enough to ensure he remains positioned to keep making cash over the next couple of weeks.
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Broncos v Titans, Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Reece Walsh is back after sitting out Magic Round with knee soreness, so Selwyn Cobbo moves back to the centres after scoring 58 at fullback last week. Payne Haas is named and expected to play after sending a scare through 26 percent of Fantasy coaches last week when he left the field with what initially looked like a serious leg injury that turned out to be a more minor toe problem. Even with a try last week Brendan Piakura only scored 36 and hopes of him making decent money are all but over at this point.
Titans: David Fifita continued his brilliant run with a 66 last week that takes his last three game average to 71.7. Kieran Foran has been included in the wider reserves as he works his way back from injury and if he plays it’ll likely see Tom Weaver drop out or Chris Randall move back to the pack. Rookie MID Josiah Pahulu starts this week and should meet his break even of 17.
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Warriors v Dolphins, Sunday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Addin Fonua-Blake played only 49 minutes last week and had a season-low 37 as a result, but he's been named to start again and doesn't appear to be under any significant injury cloud. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ended up with 53 in the halves last up, while coaches would be wise to exercise caution on Te Maire Martin after his 64, with Shaun Johnson due back soon and games with three try assists and four line break assists likely to be few and far between.
Dolphins: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returned from injury with a 56, but given the amount of time he is set to miss over the next few weeks between Origin duty and the Dolphins’ byes he’s probably one to avoid. Outside of the reliable Euan Aitken, the 'Phins are lacking elite Fantasy options right now.
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