Fantasy Winners & Losers: Round 18

Round 18 was always likely to be a strange one on the Fantasy front, and a weekend dominated by WFBs and plenty of the lesser-owned faces in the game ensured that was exactly the case. 

Here's a wrap of all the big stuff that happened in the last of the major bye rounds for 2025. 

Round 18 Fantasy Winners

A much-maligned position in the Fantasy world usually, WFBs dominated in Round 18 to claim the top three spots on the total points chart. 

A spectacular three-try effort on Saturday, which included a try-of-the-season-contender, lifted Kaeo Weekes to 94 points, of which 52 came from run metres (34) and tackle breaks (18) alone. 

While the DPP HLF/WFB was a popular money maker for coaches last year, just 5.2 percent of teams got the benefit of his breakout game this week. 

Storm back Nick Meaney took full advantage of a high-scoring golden point shootout against the Cowboys to record a season-best 85, while a try-scoring double for a second-straight game gave Mark Nawaqanitawase 78.

That score lifts the Roosters flyer to a 69-point L3 average which makes him the form WFB in Fantasy and the second best CTR by recent performances. 

Both Naufahu Whyte (75) and Xavier Willison (74) made the most of the absence of big-name forwards in their side to rack up big numbers, while the man captained by over a third of all coaches this week, Terrell May, delivered with a 73. 

With just 1.47 percent ownership for Round 18, Storm EDG Shawn Blore was the POD of the Week, with a handy score of 69.

Wests Tigers fill-in No.9 Tristan Hope meanwhile managed a position-high 60. 

Round 18 Fantasy Losers

Those who picked Broncos DPP back Deine Mariner in Draft leagues were left disappointed by his 12-point showing.

While 24 points on his return to action was far from a disaster for Brandon Smith, anyone hoping to pick him as a handy DPP option for the run home will have to rethink now, with the Kiwi facing another six to eight weeks out after picking up another knee injury. 

After a few positive scores to start his NRL career, MID Loko Pasifiki Tonga's 16 last weekend has now left him with a break even of 27 that means he has an uphill battle on his hands in terms of making any money in the immediate term. 

Round 18 Fantasy Team of the Week

1. Kaeo Weekes (HLF, WFB) – 94 points
2. Tom Trbojevic (WFB) – 64 points
3. Nick Meaney (CTR, WFB) – 85 points
4. Mark Nawaqanitawase (WFB, CTR) – 78 points
5. Scott Drinkwater (WFB) – 62 points
6. Jamal Fogarty (HLF) – 65 points
7. Jake Clifford (HLF) – 65 points
8. Terrell May (MID) – 73 points
9. Tristan Hope (HOK) – 59 points
10. Naufahu Whyte (MID, EDG) – 75 points
11. Shawn Blore (EDG) – 69 points
12. Zac Hosking (EDG) – 65 points
13. Xavier Willison (MID, EDG) – 74 points
14. Samuela Fainu (MID, EDG) – 64 points
15. Latu Fainu (HLF) – 63 points
16. Michael Molo (MID) – 62 points
17. Matthew Timoko (CTR) – 61 points