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NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 20

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Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
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A number of long-term injuries which struck last week have presented Fantasy coaches with a couple of potential cut-price keepers for the run home, while there could be a cash cow or two named to debut this week as well. 

NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 20

Sea Eagles v Roosters, Thursday at 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles: Changes galore due to seven players standing themselves down due to personal beliefs. An all-new wing pairing of Alfred Smalley and Pio Seci have been named to make their first-grade debut, while Dylan Walker ($460k) will play centre. James Segeyaro, who hasn't played since 2019, is set to come off the bench. 

Roosters: Joseph Manu ($778k) is back after a week off with a calf complaint, so Drew Hutchison goes back to the interchange and Adam Keighran drops out of the 17. Prop Lindsay Collins, who averages 40.7 points per game in 2022, returns to start after suffering a head knock in Origin III, which puts Matt Lodge back to the bench. 

Warriors v Storm, Friday at Mt Smart Stadium

Warriors: After playing just 14 minutes off the bench last week, Reece Walsh ($504k) is back at fullback, while Chanel Harris-Tavita moves from the back to five-eighth. At $321k and able to play HLF or WFB in Fantasy, ‘CHT’ could be a useful depth player for the run home if he maintains a starting spot. No luck for those who jumped on Ronald Volkman, with the rookie again listed in the extended reserves.

Storm: Tyran Wishart’s time on the wing was short lived, with the 22-year-old reverting back to the interchange where he could take some minutes off Harry Grant at dummy-half. Nick Meaney managed 50 at fullback last week and could be a cut-price keeper at $579k.

Eels v Panthers, Friday at CommBank Stadium

Eels: Bryce Cartwright ($285k) is back on the bench after time off with a rib injury. Ryan Matterson got through an hour at lock in his return from his own rib injury last week and is named to start again. With a break even of 82 he is set to drop in value after this weekend. 

Panthers: Jarome Luai is out with a knee injury, meaning Sean O’Sullivan gets another run in the halves. O’Sullivan ($627k) has averaged 50.8 this year when he’s played, but that’s been as the chief playmaker with Nathan Cleary out, and his base stats will likely be down against the Eels. After picking up a nasty laceration to his ear last week, Stephen Crichton has been left out of Penrith’s squad and is replaced by Robert Jennings.

Titans v Raiders, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: The suddenly Fantasy-relevant Erin Clark ($608k) is named to start at lock, having scored 76 and 58 in the last two weeks playing mostly as a middle forward. That means captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who averages 48.9 this year, moves to prop and Isaac Liu is back to the bench. Brian Kelly ($413k) is at centre, with Patrick Herbert on the wing. 

Raiders: An unchanged 17 from last week. Halfback Jamal Fogarty has averaged 50.3 across the year and is probably under-priced at $652k. Albert Hopoate ($232k) scored a try on his way to 37 last week, while Corey Harawira-Naera scored 40 in a 26-minute stint last week thanks to two tries.

Sharks v Rabbitohs, Saturday at PointsBet Stadium

Sharks: Dale Finucane is named ahead of facing Judiciary on Tuesday night, where he will plead not guilty to a Grade 3 dangerous contact charge. Should he be unsuccessful, Cameron McInnes ($669k) is the likely replacement at lock and averaged 51 points per game across his nine starts earlier this year. 

Rabbitohs: Cheapie Jed Cartwright ($345k) keeps his spot in the centres and still has some cash to make with a break even of six, although it’s one to watch with Taane Milne included in the reserves. Damien Cook racked up 64 on his return for Souths last week. 

Broncos v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Still no sign of Selwyn Cobbo, who hasn’t played since suffering concussion in Origin III. Impressive rookie Deine Mariner ($220k), who scored three tries in a pre-season game for the Broncos, gets his first shot in the centres. Billy Walters ($422k) returns at hooker which means there is no place for Jake Turpin who has been bumped back to the reserves.

Wests Tigers: Jackson Hastings ($568k) retains the starting lock role, where he is Fantasy relevant, with scores of 73 and 49 in the last two weeks. With another try last week Fa'amanu Brown scored 40 to take his total price increase for the year to $127k. 

Knights v Bulldogs, Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Tex Hoy ($477k) replaces Kalyn Ponga (concussion) at the back and shapes as an interesting cash-down option provided he keeps the role for the rest of the year. With Lachlan Fitzgibbon out indefinitely, Mitch Barnett moves to the edge and Brodie Jones ($408k) comes in at lock.

Bulldogs: Jake Averillo returns from COVID and is back in the No.1 jersey, which means there is no room for rookie Declan Casey. Aaron Schoupp ($409k) has the centre role again after originally being left out of the 17 last week before coming in to replace Averillo.

Dragons v Cowboys, Sunday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Dragons: Cody Ramsey will miss the next couple of weeks with a knee injury, meaning Moses Mbye ($222k) moves from centre to fullback and, in bad news for his owners, Jack Bird shifts from the forward pack to centre, where his involvement will be reduced. Billy Burns ($424k) retains his starting spot in the second row.

Cowboys: Fantasy gun Ruben Cotter ($758k) is a chance of returning from the hamstring injury he suffered during warm-up in round 15, after being included in the reserves. Cotter averaged 62.7 points in his three games for the Cowboys before his injury. A double last week helped Jeremiah Nanai to a score of 74, and across the year he’s now made $324k for those who stuck with him from the start.

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