With 466 points scored across the round at an average of over 58 points per game, there was no shortage of Fantasy stars with the Roosters, Sharks, Storm and Eels players among the standouts.
It wasn't all good news for coaches, however, with blowout scorelines resulting in some tough scores for Fantasy regulars, while injuries continue to cause havoc with limited trades (or none in many cases) remaining for the final fortnight.
Round 23 Winners
With six tries between them, Roosters duo Angus Crichton (101 points) and Nat Butcher (90 points) tormented the Tigers to secure the two highest scores of the round, while teammates Daniel Tupou (70), Sam Walker (69), James Tedesco (64) and Joseph Manu (60) also produced big scores in the 66-point hammering.
Melbourne's big win over the Broncos saw Nelson Asofa-Solomona (83) record the third highest score of the round with Harry Grant (74) also scoring strongly.
Harry hitting his straps
Jack Bird's roving role for the Dragons saw him score 81 points in a boost for the six percent of coaches who own, while Dylan Brown's stock continues to rise — his 73-point effort took his three-game average to an impressive 65 points.
The two most popular players in the game, Nicho Hynes (80) and Isaiah Papali'i (63) both produced strong scores in their side's respective victories, while Max King (57), Latrell Mitchell (50) and Daly Cherry-Evans (68) scored well as usual.
Cameron Munster's hot run of form continued as he scored 63, while David Fifita (71) once again crossed the try-line en route to another 70-plus score.
Bruising Fifita crosses
Round 23 Losers
The third most popular player in the game, Payne Haas produced a disappointing 32 points as the Broncos were hammered by the Storm, while Matt Burton (39) also found the points hard to come by as the Eels ran riot over the Bulldogs.
An injury to Tyran Wishart saw the Storm utility finish with just five points, while Ezra Mam played 80 minutes for zero points — the Broncos half losing significant points due to 10 missed tackles, a six-again infringement and a handling error.
Luke Garner, Xavier Coates and Philip Sami were all taken off early for injuries and did not return, resulting in one, two and zero points respectively for the trio.
Moses Mbye also scored less than five as he went off injured, Selwyn Cobbo crashed back to earth with 15 — his lowest score since Round 4 — while Xavier Savage (18), Te Maire Martin (18) and Lachlan Ilias (19) all scored less than 20.
Cobbo almost finishes an impossible try
Round 23 Team of the Week
- Nicho Hynes (HLF,WFB) — 80 points
- David Nofoaluma (WFB) — 72 points
- Jack Bird (EDG/CTR) — 81 points
- Tautau Moga (CTR/WFB) — 69 points
- Daniel Tupou (WFB) — 70 points
- Dylan Brown (HLF) — 73 points
- Tom Dearden (HLF) — 73 points
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona (MID) — 83 points
- Harry Grant (HOK) — 74 points
- Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (MID) — 75 points
- Nat Butcher (MID/EDG) — 90 points
- David Fifita (EDG) — 71 points
- Angus Crichton (MID/EDG) — 101 points
- Jayden Brailey (HOK) — 72 points
- Royce Hunt (MID) — 70 points
- Sam Walker (HLF) — 69 points
- Daly Cherry-Evans (HLF) — 68 points