The end of the Kalyn Ponga five-eighth experiment coincided with the Knights superstar becoming an elite WFB in 2023, and this season he's one of several tempting backline options at Newcastle.
After struggling in the halves, and then having a lengthy layoff with injury, Ponga returned to drive the Knights to an unlikely finals berth and become an elite Fantasy player for the run home, and there's no reason to believe the 25-year-old won't pick up right where he left off in 2024.
There'll plenty of interest in his teammates Dane Gagai (CTR, $749k) and Greg Marzhew (WFB, $734k) too, after they finished last year as their side's two best Fantasy players.
NRL try time: Greg Marzhew
EDGs Brodie Jones and Dylan Lucas are both worth keeping an eye on too, depending who wins the race for the back-row spot made vacant by Lachlan Fitzgibbon's departure, while as outlined below their skipper Jayden Brailey looks really good value.
Knights 2024 NRL Fantasy guide
The big gun
Provided he can remain relatively injury free, Kalyn Ponga is a good bet to finish this season as the top WFB in Fantasy and, if he can replicate what he did over the last couple of months of 2023 on a consistent basis, it probably won't even be close. While Dom Young has departed from the right, Ponga's favoured left edge is set to remain intact which will be crucial from a continuity point of view. At $757k the reigning Dally M medalist is the most expensive player in his position, but he's almost certainly worth it.
Kalyn Ponga's 2023 Dally M reel
The bargain
It might be a stretch to call a player who will start the year at $575k a bargain, but at that price Jayden Brailey is still probably at least $150k below where his scoring could get him later in the year. A ruptured Achilles in 2022 was followed by a ruptured ACL last year, so it's been a long time since the Newcastle skipper has been at full fitness, but even in his comeback last season he quickly became a 40-point player. A tackling machine capable of playing big minutes, if his body plays ball he's set for a big campaign.
Bye round outlook
Rounds 12, 16 and 21. While they miss the second of the big bye rounds in Round 16, it's otherwise a Fantasy friendly schedule for the Knights. Their break in Round 12 comes a week before seven teams will sit out on a bye, while Newcastle's final week off in Round 21 comes well after Origin and before finals will have started in most head-to-head leagues.
2024 full player price list
- Kalyn Ponga: WFB, $757,000
- Dane Gagai: CTR, $749,000
- Greg Marzhew: WFB, $734,000
- Tyson Frizell: EDG, $714,000
- Jack Cogger: HLF, $620,000
- Bradman Best: CTR, $589,000
- Adam Elliott: MID, $576,000
- Jayden Brailey: HOK, $575,000
- Dylan Lucas: EDG, $558,000
- Jackson Hastings: HLF, $557,000
- Luke Thompson: MID, $557,000
- Daniel Saifiti: MID, $525,000
- Phoenix Crossland: HOK, $521,000
- Kai Pearce-Paul: EDG, $520,000
- Enari Tuala: CTR/WFB, $474,000
- Tyson Gamble: HLF, $468,000
- Jacob Saifiti: MID, $437,000
- Thomas Jenkins: WFB, $426,000
- Will Pryce: HLF/WFB, $400,000
- Mat Croker: MID, $366,000
- Jack Hetherington: MID, $303,000
- Brodie Jones: EDG, $296,000
- Jed Cartwright: EDG/CTR, $250,000
- Krystian Mapapalangi: HLF, $250,000
- Ryan Rivett: HLF, $250,000
- Riley Jones: HOK, $250,000
- David Armstrong: WFB, $230,000
- Paul Bryan: MID, $230,000
