Lone Scout's Fantasy team lists analysis: Round 2

After a number of cheapies dominated the fantasy scoresheet in Round 1, the biggest headaches owners have is which missed cash cows to pick up this week and who to play in their top 17. 

Round 2 dishes up eight quality games and Lone Scout has all the tips and tricks you need.

Broncos v Eels, Thursday 8.00pm (AEDT) at Suncorp Stadium 

Broncos: Ezra Mam switches back into the halves with Ben Hunt reverting to the bench. Payne Haas (56) should go well after a lower PPM than normal last week and he is the best captain choice this round. Reece Walsh (25) is another who will be keen for a bounce back and coaches should remain patient with him for now. 

Eels: Josh Addo-Carr returns on the wing with Sean Russell switching to centre and Brian Kelly shifting to the reserves. With J’maine Hopgood out suspended, Jack Williams will play prop and Kelma Tuilagi joins the side in the back row. Fantasy owners will be sweating on Mitchell Moses (35) after an underwhelming score last week, it isn’t an easy match-up but Moses will still be worth holding. 

Warriors v Raiders, Friday 6.00pm (AEDT) at Go Media Stadium 

Warriors: No changes to the team that demolished the Roosters last Friday although experienced campaigner Marata Niukore does join the reserves as he nurses a calf injury. Tanah Boyd (78) and James Fisher-Harris (67) were the best performers last week but will need a second look before thinking to bring them in. Jacob Laban (12) is an urgent sell after not reaching the heights of some of the other cheapie edges last round. 

Raiders: Noah Martin (80) retains his spot in the starting side with Matty Nicholson re-injuring his shoulder in NSW Cup last weekend. Martin is the Mitre 10 Mighty Buy of the week. Ethan Sanders (58) is also a great pick-up after starring in the golden point win over Manly.

Roosters v Rabbitohs, Friday 8.00pm (AEDT) at Allianz Stadium 

Roosters: Surprise change ups for the Roosters likely due to last week's result. Nat Butcher (63) and Blake Steep (26) both drop back to the bench with Egan Butcher (32) and Siua Wong (40) promoted to start at lock and edge respectively. Steep is cemented as a sell this week after only 30 minutes of game time last week while Nat Butcher can no longer be looked at as a POD DPP trade-in target. Rob Toia returns after missing last week with a foot injury while James Tedesco (61)  xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rabbitohs: Only the one change for the successful Bunnies squad with Ashton Ward (14) out injured and Jayden Sullivan (16) named to replace him at 7. With the favoured half Jamie Humphreys back from suspension next week, Sullivan is not one to bring in. Latrell Mitchell (75) will be one to pay closer attention to after the Round 4 Souths BYE if he has another big game here. 

Wests Tigers v Cowboys, Saturday 3.00pm (AEDT) at Leichhardt Oval 

Wests Tigers: Pre-Season Challenge fans and the 54.9% of owners are delighted to see the handy dual CTR/WFB and explosive ball runner Heamasi Makasini ($250k) named at Centre for the Tigers first game of the season. Discount priced Adam Doueihi ($557k) is starting back where he left off at halfback this week, and Englishman Kai Pearce-Paul ($695k) wins the start as expected in his first hit-out after his move from Newcastle. Another cheapie Luke Laulilii ($250k) gets his start on the wing though just worth a watch for non-owners with so many high priority, low break even targets this week.  

Cowboys: Though missing out on the chocolates in an upset against the Knights, under pressure coach Todd Payten has named the same team, with high breakeven Scott Drinkwater (21) holding the rib cartilage injury that resulted in missing game time and may be one to move on if looking for trade out targets. Braidon Burns (31) had a successful visit to the judiciary tonight for those very few owners otherwise we will see him shuffled out of the team list in the cut offs. 

Dragons v Storm, Saturday 5.30pm (AEDT) at WIN Stadium  

Dragons: After their defeat in golden point, the line-up matches how the Red V named their 1-17 team list in Vegas with Hamish Stewart (43) again named at 13 though was shuffled to the bench for Sele in the final team listing. Blake Lawrie is again shown on the interchange along with David Fale, neither took the field in Vegas with Mat Feagai (9) instead getting a run, which increased the minutes of Stewart and Ryan Couchman (59) as a result. Ryan Couchman is still a very strong trade-in candidate this week with a break even of -6. 

Storm: Owners are no doubt happy to see Harry Grant (63) listed at hooker as expected after a cramped hamstring causing his early exit last week. Melbourne’s only change after their 48-point win sees Tui Kamikamica (26) start at lock with Alec MacDonald injured. Good news for those looking to pick up big Round 1 scorers Joe Chan (69) and Ativalu Lisati (74), they are both named to start on the edge again this week. However the recovering Shawn Blore ($547k) is lurking in the reserves and could replace either one of these come gameday. 

Panthers v Sharks, Saturday 7.35pm (AEDT) at Carrington Park, Bathurst  

Panthers: No changes to how the squad ended up playing last week late including Tom Jenkins (76) named on the wing. Izack Tago didn’t take the field last week but is included in the 6 man bench for this matchup. Nathan Cleary (57) was solid without being spectacular against the Broncos, he is always a good captaincy option however this week it might be best put on Payne Haas due to Haas’ early game. 

Sharks: Cronulla have also name the same team who managed 50 points at home last week with Sam Stonestreet (30), Billy Burns (36) and Jesse Colquhoun (40) keeping their fill in spots with the regular starters still all out with injuries. Nicho Hynes (86) was superb last Saturday but this matchup is a lot tougher and Hynes shouldn’t be traded in until he puts such games back to back. 

Sea Eagles v Knights, Sunday 4.05pm (AEDT) at 4 Pines Park 

Sea Eagles: Manly have Kobe Hetherington (36) getting a run in the prop spot to cover the injured Siosiua Taukeiaho while Newcastle transfer Paul Bryan will get a chance to play against his old side after joining the bench. Exciting youngster Joey Walsh is back at #14 again but there is no guarantee he plays after he didn’t take the field in Manly’s golden point against the Raiders on Saturday. 

Knights: Back in Australia, Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook gives Sandon Smith (23) his first start at five-eighth on Sunday with Fletcher Sharpe in the casualty ward with an injured knee. Although originally named to start there against the Cowboys, Tyson Frizell (33) is again listed at #13 with Mat Croker (38) reverting to the bench. Trey Mooney (66) retains his enforcer role and is trending as a strong trade target already with his low break even for Round 2. Dylan Brown (37) didn’t live up to the expectations in Round 1 but is worth a hold as coaches don’t want a repeat of the Luke Metcalf debacle of 2025. 

Dolphins v Titans, Sunday 6.15pm (AEDT) at Suncorp Stadium  

Dolphins: Having missed out on the competition points during the final game of Round 1 the Dolphins have named their squad all but unchanged with one big difference in fantasy machine Max Plath returning from injury via the bench. Plath will be one to watch as he has been known to start at hooker, which is temporarily held by Brad Schneider (37) with Kurt Donoghoe and Jeremy Marshall-King nursing injuries at present. 

Titans: The Titans are also unchanged as they look for their first win of 2026. DPP Chris Randall (26) will likely have owners looking to move on after a disappointing Round 1 score and with so many low break even strong EDG players to choose from Cooper Bai (18) can also be shuffled on from. On the other hand rookie Sialteili Faeamani (31) is a hold after scoring a try in his debut last week. 

 

Best of luck this week and don’t forget that Lone Scout Q&A is back - so email through your questions to thelonescout@nrl.com.au and keep your eyes peeled each Thursday for the most up to date NRL Fantasy news and advice for your team.