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NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 23

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Lone Scout NRL Fantasy guru
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Lone Scout runs an eye over the round 23 lists which have a couple of big-name playmakers set to return, but leave question marks over a handful of other Fantasy stars. 

NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 23

Rabbitohs v Panthers, Thursday at Accor Stadium

Rabbitohs: In-form fullback Latrell Mitchell is named despite battling a groin injury picked up this week at training. Mitchell boasts a last five-game average of 69.2 points and his owners face a nervous wait to see if he is declared fit to play on Thursday night. Lachlan Ilias ($414k) is back after missing last week with injury. The return of Campbell Graham means cheapie Izaac Thompson ($292k) is bumped back to the extended reserves. Daniel Suluka-Fifita ($254k) is back as a starting prop after being overlooked last week. 

Panthers: Dylan Edwards ($642k) is back after missing last week due to injury. Popular winger Taylan May is named in the extended reserves at this stage, with Fijian flyer Sunia Turuva on the wing. After playing fullback last week, Charlie Staines has been included on the interchange. 

Cowboys v Warriors, Friday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: Kyle Feldt ($407k) returns from a hamstring injury, which means Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow drops back to the bench. Jordan McLean ($471k) is back starting at prop after returning from injury last week and scoring 32 points in a 26-minute stint.

Warriors: Daejarn Asi ($429k) has kept his spot at five-eighth, while centre Viliami Vailea ($266k), who is owned by 8.3 percent of teams, is again named after scoring 35 last week. 

Broncos v Storm, Friday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Kobe Hetherington, who failed an HIA in last week's victory over the Knights, is named at lock. Delouise Hoeter ($380k) gets another run at centre after scoring 39 there last week. 

Storm: Those who chose to hold onto Jahrome Hughes following his shoulder injury in round 21 will be pleased to see the halfback named. After consecutive scores of 93 and 81 as a fullback, Cameron Munster is named to return at five-eighth, but don't be surprised if he switches with Nick Meaney come kick-off. 

Eels v Bulldogs, Saturday at CommBank Stadium

Eels: Halfback Mitchell Moses is back early from the finger injury which saw him miss round 21 and 22. That means cheapie Jake Arthur ($292k) drops out of the 17 after clocking consecutive of 38 and 37. There is no room for Bailey Simonsson at this stage, with the winger listed in the extended reserves in his return from injury. 

Bulldogs: Rookie Harrison Edwards looks set to keep making some cash after being named to start in the second row, following his 73-minute shift last weekend. Edwards has a break even of -1 and is priced at $275k. That does mean Jackson Topine is one to leave out of your team though, with the Kiwi named on the bench again after getting just 19 minutes last week for a score of 21. Uncertainty surrounds whether or not Tevita Pangai Junior will play, with the powerful forward listed among the reserves after missing last week for family reasons. 

Sea Eagles v Sharks, Saturday at 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles: Jake Trbojevic is out, which opens up a chance for Dylan Walker ($477k) to start at lock. Tolutau Koula ($452k) moves from centre to the wing following Jason Saab's knee injury. Halfback Daly Cherry-Evans had his worst score of the year last week, hitting just 27 in the loss to the Titans. 

Sharks: An MCL injury will keep Toby Rudolf, who had been scoring well in recent weeks, out for the rest of the regular season, so Braden Hamlin-Uele starts at prop. In better news for the Sharks, playmaker Matt Moylan ($426k) returns from injury along with Connor Tracey ($420k). No sign of popular EDG/CTR Siosifa Talakai ($500k) though who has a shoulder injury. 

Roosters v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Sydney Cricket Ground

Roosters: A settled lineup which includes all of their Fantasy big guns. James Tedesco struggled to a score of 37 last week but remains the second best WFB option in the game. 

Wests Tigers: Ken Maumalo returns from injury on the wing but isn't particularly Fantasy relevant. Fonua Pole is on the interchange and after scoring 43 last week looks set for another price jump, with a break even of 12. 

Dragons v Titans, Sunday at WIN Stadium

Dragons: Jack Bird's naming at lock is great news for his owners, after he scored 62 as a late inclusion there last week. At $541k, Bird could be a big point of difference for teams with trades left, given he is eligible as a CTR in Fantasy. Five-eighth Talatau Amone's hat-trick last week helped him to a score of 83. 

Titans: After sitting out round 22 for the birth of his child, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui ($649k) returns in the front row. Erin Clark is again named at hooker where he is a shadow of the Fantasy player he was as a lock, last week managing just 17 points. With a break even of 71, if you are going to move off Clark then it needs to be done this week. 

Knights v Raiders, Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: David Klemmer looks set to overcome the knee complaint which kept him out last week, with his inclusion at prop allowing Jacob Saifiti to start at lock. Bradman Best and Enari Tuala have both been stood down after being late to the team bus after last week's loss to Brisbane, which opens the door for Krystian Mapapalangi to make his NRL debut in the centres 

Raiders: Joseph Tapine ($832k) is named to return from the rib injury which kept him out last week, and prior to his injury-impacted score of 26 in round 21, he hadn't scored under 50 points in a game since round 10. After hitting 39 last week, WFB cheapie Albert Hopoate ($271k) is out of the 17 and listed as the replacement player for the Green Machine. 

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