NRL Fantasy coaches have a lot more knowledge coming out of the Witzer Pre-season Challenge but also face a number of headaches including an impending judiciary hearing for fantasy gun Nathan Cleary.
Should Cleary fail in his bid to have a Careless High Tackle charge downgraded he will miss the Panthers' first three games.
Lone Scout's analysis
Winners
Trai Fuller WFB $550,000
Fuller had a blinder on Friday night backing up a strong display in the All-Stars match. Fuller’s eye-catching display in a difficult to fill WFB position means all NRL Fantasy coaches will be sweating over Team List Tuesday in a week’s time to see if Fuller can usurp Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow in the Dolphins No.1 jersey.
A little Luai footwork and a whole lot of Makasini madness
Heamasi Makasini CTR/WFB $250,000
Makasini scored a hat-trick in Week 2 of the Witzer Pre-season Challenge and backed it up with a double last Friday including a barnstorming run where he left former Australian fullback Dylan Edwards in his wake. Despite the Wests Tigers having the bye in Round 1 and the fact Jeral Skelton is due to return from injury, most coaches will be finding a way to have Makasini in their team regardless.
Brown asking questions
Dylan Brown HLF $486,000
While the Knights were comprehensively defeated by the Bulldogs last week, Dylan Brown’s first match in the red and blue would have Newcastle and NRL Fantasy coaches excited. Brown had nine kicks for almost 400 metres and also made 23 tackles. At his price, Brown becomes a must own entering his Las Vegas encounter against the Cowboys.
Daniel Atkinson HLF $450,000
Atkinson showed he will be the dominant playmaker for the Dragons this year with 554 kick metres and a number of attacking stats in the Charity Shield match. With Kyle Flanagan shifting to the role of a running five-eighth, Atkinson should make plenty of cash for NRL Fantasy coaches to start the season.
Heilum Luki Try
Heilum Luki EDG $300,000
Luki was outstanding in both Witzer Pre-season Challenge matches and has most certainly won a starting edge role for the Cowboys. With Jake Clifford playing well this just increases Luki’s chances to go large each week and with Jeremiah Nanai facing a setback in his recovery from injury, Luki has one less positional battle on his hands.
Losers
Nathan Cleary HLF $900,000
The biggest news to come out of Round 3 of the Pre-Season Chalkenge was Nathan Cleary facing a ban for a high shot on Wests Tigers young gun Heamasi Makasini at Leichhardt Oval. An early guilty plea would have cost him two games but the gun No.7 is seeking a downgrade in a bid to be available for Round 1. As such Cleary is our biggest loser post the Witzer Pre-season Challenge.
Toby Couchman MID/EDG - $691,000
With the departure of David Klemmer and Jack de Belin, Toby Couchman was expected to be the recipient of much of the leftover minutes and therefore a potential fantasy stud. However, the Pre-season Challenge saw the emergence of his brother Ryan along with Hamish Stewart and a rejuvenated Luciano Leilua. While none of these players specifically play in the same manner as Toby, it could be just reason enough to take a pause before selecting him – especially with the new six-man bench rule in effect from Round 1.
Jermaine McEwen Try
Jermaine McEwen EDG - $412,000
McEwen was tipped to receive the starting edge role vacated by the departing Kai Pearce-Paul at the end of 2025, however Thomas Cant seemed to outplay McEwen in the Witzer Pre-season Challenge and as a bench role, McEwen’s price tag will be too high to pay for.
Casey McLean scores four tries on Kiwis debut
Casey McLean CTR - $480,000
Casey McLean was in a lot of fantasy teams when the game was released in January but a rest in Week 3 of the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge along with a quiet All Stars match - and the potential suspension of star half Nathan Cleary - means NRL Fantasy coaches are looking elsewhere at the CTR position.
Ativalu Lisati Try
Ativalu Lisati EDG - $285,000
Lisati played well enough in the Storm's two games to remain in fantasy line-ups however his teammate Joe Chan outplayed him and now all reports out of Melbourne are suggesting Chan will win the edge role with Lisati resigned to a bench position. Without a close to 80-minute role, Lisati will not be the value NRL Fantasy coaches were looking for.
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Email your questions to thelonescout@nrl.com.au and read each Thursday for the most up to date NRL Fantasy advice to your team.
