Daly Cherry-Evans leads the way this week while Origin contenders put their hands up, a young Rabbitoh joins the cash cow ranks and Mitch Cornish gets another chance.
This week's Fantasy winners
Daly Cherry-Evans is in sparkling form for Manly, making up for the loss of halves partner Kieran Foran against the Knights with a season-high 90 point effort to follow up last week's 83.
While DCE is out to secure a bench spot for the Maroons in Origin I in a couple of weeks, a few Blues contenders didn't do their Origin chances any harm either. Josh Dugan (79) was a standout for the Dragons in their loss to Souths on Monday, while forwards Josh Jackson (77), Andrew Fifita (74) and Boyd Cordner (70) were also big winners this week.
Speaking of Origin smokies, Adam Reynolds made an early return from injury on Monday and quickly regained his scoring mojo with 59. The man who caused his injury a month ago, Bulldogs prop James Graham, will also be back from suspension in Round 10.
UPDATE: News has since broken that the luckless Reynolds suffered a broken thumb on Monday night and faces a few more weeks out.
Very frustrating to have another injury but I believe everything happens for a reason. Back to #teamrehab for now. Can't wait to get back 🐰
— Adam Reynolds (@Rendiggiti) May 12, 2015
Elsewhere, Tariq Sims (69) continues his rise this season for Newcastle, backline stars Jarrod Croker (84) and Michael Morgan (71) both cashed in with try-scoring doubles, while popular Fantasy selections Iosia Soloiola (65) and Corey Parker (63) both got the job done again with strong scores.
The bad news
Last week he was part of a dominant Kiwis side, a prized signing for the Warriors, and a great Fantasy option for the bye period. Now, Issac Luke is suddenly a bench hooker, having been dropped to the pine by Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire behind Cameron McInnes for Monday's win over the Dragons. It wrecked his Fantasy prospects for the week (having averaged 50+ over the past month Luke scored just 16 on Monday) and it might not have been a one-off, with Maguire insisting the decision was based on form rather than Luke's decision to join the Warriors next season. There is also talk he may have carrying a niggling elbow injury from last week's Test, which could mean he'd be back in the starting side this week.
The news was also bad for Luke's teammate John Sutton, who picked up an eye injury and scored just 12 in his comeback game, and it's worse for Konrad Hurrell who is facing a month-long ban for a raised knee on Sharks forward Anthony Tupou. Other players facing bans are Tyrone Peachey (two or three weeks) and Josh McGuire (one week) for dangerous throw charges.
Cash cow watch
Aaron Gray ($141,000) scored twice for Souths in his 41 on Monday night and will be a popular buy this week with a break even of zero, while Blake Leary ($196,000) and Kane Elgey ($216,000) are also on the rise. And those Fantasy coaches who have patiently held onto Canberra halfback Mitch Cornish for the past month are likely to be rewarded this week with the youngster set to get another chance in the top grade after Sam Williams played through the Raiders' win at the weekend with a punctured lung. Cornish's stint in the side will probably be short-lived, but with a break even of seven it should earn him another price rise or two.
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