NRL Fantasy: Lone Scout's Winners and Losers Round 2

Captaincy favourites returned to form, cheapies kept with their huge scores, and yours truly, Lone Scout, scored seventh overall for the round.

So keep reading, keep your questions coming to thelonescout@nrl.com.au and keep making the right choices for your Fantasy team!

Lone Scout's Winners and Losers

Winners

Thursday night saw Payne Haas (75) back to his best, though getting through less minutes than normal. His owners, especially those who gave him the captaincy, saw him cross over for a 4-pointer in a dominant display. Reece Walsh (69) highlighted just how up and down the WFB position is after scoring 2 tries and making up for last week’s lower score. Winning the back and forth game in the end showcased 2 fantasy cheapies from last year in Isaiah Iongi (67) and Kelma Tuiilagi (73) who both ran devastating lines and broke through for 2 tries each. 

Over in New Zealand and in the wet, Tanah Boyd (76) mirrored his efforts last week with another 75+ point effort. One more big score and he will pose a tempting option with Luke Metcalf out until Round 7 at the earliest. Leka Halasima (69) also made the most of his start after Kurt Capewell picked up a calf injury only minutes before kick-off. Halasima played the full 80 minutes and was a tackle-breaking machine. Fast rising cash cow Noah Martin (60) showed he didn’t need a try to score well while Simi Sasagi (65) started at centre but then moved to the middle in a workmanlike display. 

Though coming away with the two competition points, the Roosters had a fairly quiet outing as far as fantasy goes with Daly Cherry-Evans (59) the only player managing a 50+ score. DCE scored in a spectacular break away and is settling in nicely with his new club. Gamebreaker Latrell Mitchell (56) again took advantage of the kicking tee and the try assist leading to Alex Johnston cracking the all-time tryscorer record. Captain Cameron Murray (54) was only just behind him in his 69-minute effort. 

In the Wests Tigers' first match for 2026, Adam Doueihi (82) put together an epic performance at Leichhardt Oval, while both EDG forwards Samuela Fainu (76) and Kai Pearce-Paul (61) made quite the statement in a big win at home. Wingers Luke Laulilii (58) and Jeral Skelton (59) polled well as a result but neither will be trade-in targets unless they double their efforts at Gosford in Round 3. Cheapie Heilum Luki (59) again played 80 minutes and is surging in price rises again this week. Tom Chester (67) also put together another stella effort for the Cowboys side, however with Zac Laybutt returning from suspension next week, coaches will be holding their breath come Tuesday’s Team List news. 

The Red V came home post-Vegas and cheapie favourite Ryan Couchman (59) is still proving the exception to the rule of “never pick bench players” after another strong showing. Damien Cook (53) held his own in a losing side, however with Jacob Liddle set for a return next week this leaves Cook in the “not a buy” column for now. Fantasy great Harry Grant (72) played the full 80 minutes and is pretty close to a must trade-in candidate for those who don’t yet own him. Stefano Utoikamanu (66) again scored which pushed his Fantasy output near the top of the MIDs for 2026 so far. Another huge fantasy performer was Sualauvi Faalogo (80), who scored a hat-trick and is proving a menace for non-owners. Another must have value pick is Ativalu Lisati (67) who is managing huge numbers just in base stats. With Shawn Blore getting injured in NSW Cup on the weekend, Lisati will be a good trade-in option heading into Round 3.

Nathan Cleary (92) paid back the loyal coaches who captained him after Penrith’s convincing win at Bathurst on Saturday. Forwards Isaiah Papali’i (58) and Isaah Yeo (54) both got through their workload but Yeo isn’t quite performing to his usual high standard due to playing less than 80 minutes this year. Cheapie MID Jesse Colquhoun (53) rewarded owners who kept the faith with a very impressive point per minute game. Briton Nikora (60) was a tackling machine in this one while Blayke Brailey (51) was solid, playing the full 80 minutes. 

Sunday football saw Tom Trbojevic (57) lead the way for the Sea Eagles. He threw his hat in the ring as one of the WFB to get into your teams as soon as possible after covering plenty of ground and offloading at will despite Manly’s loss. Popular MID Trey Mooney (53) saw his price rises chugging along nicely in just 50 minutes of play. Fletcher Hunt (51) could be the Mitre 10 Mighty Buy this week with the news Kalyn Ponga will be out for at least six weeks with a hamstring strain.  

Herbie Farnworth (67) showed why he is the top scoring Centre in the game with just base stats to his name in the Dolphins' come from behind victory over the Titans. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (67) picked up where he left off in the first round as did Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (64) who also mirrored last weeks outing. Another rough loss for the Gold Coast and only Beau Fermor (52) and Keano Kini (52) were the two to crack the Fantasy half-century in a low scoring battle for both sides. 

Losers 

DPP Sean Russell (25) had a quiet night in the round’s opener on Thursday despite the Eels scoring the upset win. 

Though very much still a hold, Ethan Sanders (34) did have his difficulties in the rain and might be better outside Coaches 17 this week. 

Sam Walker (42) had some nice moments but unlike in Round 1 the Roosters leaned heavily on Daly Cherry-Evans in their first win for 2026 and this might be the blueprint for the Tricolours moving forward which is bad news for Walker owners. 

Scott Drinkwater (33) is clearly hampered by his rib injury and isn’t nearing the output of some of his fellow WFB’s at a similar pricepoint. 

Setu Tu (16) reminds us how tricky the WFB spot can be with a below par effort against the Storm. While not a definite sell he will fit better on your extended bench until he shows some more consistency. Though saved by a try at the end of the match, Moses Leo (28) reverted to type with a quieter performance in this one. He is still a hold but not a pick-up in Round 3. 

KL Iro (32) has had a second low score in a row after managing the second highest scoring CTR last year will see another price drop this week. Braydon Trindall (26) has come back to earth after a high score in the opening round last week proving yet again not to jump on a player on the back of one big performance. 

Jake Simpkin (24) reverted to only 51 minutes this week which greatly impacted his output and is not an essential hold during the Sea Eagles bye. Newcastle duo Dylan Brown (44) and Kalyn Ponga (36) deserved to be in the winners' column as they dominated in the first half but instead, both went down injured and face lengthy stints on the sideline.

Captain and Enforcer Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (30) had an odd slow afternoon on the final game for the round and it will be hard to keep holding him after two lower than expected games in a row. 

Round 2 NRL Fantasy Team of the Week 

1. Reece Walsh (WFB) – 69 points 
2. Sualauvi Faalogo (WFB) – 80 points 
3. Herbie Farnworth (CTR) – 67 points 
4. Tom Chester (CTR, WFB) – 67 points 
5. Isaiah Iongi (WFB) – 67 points 
6. Adam Doueihi (HLF) – 82 points 
7. Nathan Cleary (HLF) – 92 points 
8. Payne Haas (MID) – 75 points 
9. Harry Grant (HOK) – 72 points 
10. Jackson Ford (MID) – 74 points 
11. Kelma Tuilagi (EDG) – 73 points 
12. Samuela Fainu (EDG) – 76 points 
13. Stefano Utoikamanu (MID) – 66 points 
14. Tanah Boyd (HLF) – 76 points  
15. Leka Halasima (EDG) – 67 points  
16. Ativalu Lisati (EDG) – 67 points  
17. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (WFB) – 67 points 

Consider Round 2 now officially wrapped up and don’t forget that Lone Scout Q&A is back and going out every Thursday so email through your questions to thelonescout@nrl.com.au and check in to NRL.com for the most up to date NRL Fantasy news and advice for your team.