A couple of popular Storm players return to boost Fantasy lineups this week, but the injury bug is well and truly biting as we head towards the final month of the regular season and will mean more trades need to be burned ahead of Round 22.
Here's everything you need to know from a Fantasy point of view about the teams named for the upcoming round of NRL Telstra Premiership action.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 22
Eels v Storm, Thursday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: Joash Papalii enjoyed his best Fantasy score to date last week, with a 43 that included a line break and seven tackle breaks. Named at fullback again, there's still plenty of time to jump on the $235k WFB if you are seeking a cash down. Both Parramatta HLFs really struggled last week despite them beating the Broncos, with Mitchell Moses managing only 27 and Dean Hawkins ending with six. EDG Kelma Tuilagi, who had been in good form prior to his three-match suspension, has been included in the wider squad.
Storm: Popular WFB Ryan Papenhuyzen makes his return from a calf injury, while HLF Cameron Munster is back after a week off for personal reasons. Tyran Wishart is the man to replace the injured Jahrome Hughes and becomes a handy cash down option at $338k, and a serviceable starting HLF in deep Draft leagues. For the almost 12 percent who own Hughes, he's an immediate sell who is unlikely to play again in the regular season. Harry Grant comes off a season-best 73.
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Warriors v Dolphins, Friday at Go Media Stadium
Warriors: Te Maire Martin, Sam Healey and Demitric Vaimauga have starting roles this week due to injuries, but all three are very short-term options and therefore only targets in Draft leagues. Wayde Egan (8.23 percent ownership) is probably a sell despite only being expected to miss a week with concussion, with other better HOK options now available and a 64 break even waiting for him when he returns. James Fisher-Harris (5.52 percent ownership) is expected to miss two weeks and can also be moved off.
Dolphins: Fresh off a Round 21 bye the Dolphins get some troops back for the trip to Auckland, with Kodi Nikorima the most Fantasy relevant of them (L3 average of 52). Herbie Farnworth against a patched-together Warriors backline could attract some captaincy love this week, while cut-price HOK Jeremy Marshall-King had scores of 68 and 76 prior to Round 20.
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Broncos v Rabbitohs, Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: A 55 last week has set Payne Haas up with a break even of 79, which means he may be available next week for <$850k. Reece Walsh can be a starting WFB at this point and comes off a last-up 50. Cheapie DPP back Josiah Karapani drops out of the squad and is a sell, having made all of the money he's likely to at this point. Brendan Piakura, who still sits in just over five percent of teams, isn't scoring anywhere near what he'd need to in order to make money or be able to be in your 17, but at $327k he's also not really worth burning a trade on.
Rabbitohs: Cheapie HOK Ryan Gray has a starting spot for the second week in a row and comes off a score of 54 in Round 21. At $332k he's a cash down option, but his job security is shaky, with Peter Mamouzelos named in the wider squad. Early season cash cow Lachlan Hubner, who still sits in 7.4 percent of teams, hit a season-high 61 in the loss to the Sharks, while Euan Aitken had 51 after gaining DPP status as a CTR.
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Titans v Panthers, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Jayden Campbell returned to Fantasy form in style last week against the Warriors, racking up 82 points to mark his first 50+ score since way back in Round 15. HOK Sam Verrills returns to the starting side after missing Round 21 for the birth of his child, while Jaimin Jolliffe (MID, $585k) looks like being a possible cut-price keeper in the absence of Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, with 62 points from a 65-minute stint last week.
Panthers: Nathan Cleary delivered for those who backed him as captain last week, with a 75 which made him the best of the big three captaincy options. MID Lindsay Smith had the same score and has now climbed into the top five for his position when it comes to recent form, with a last three game average of 58.3. WFB Dylan Edwards is still owned by less than 10 percent of teams and could be a difference maker for some on the run home. Edwards had 61 last week and is averaging 50.6 across the season.
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Dragons v Raiders, Saturday at WIN Stadium
Dragons: MID David Klemmer has now gone three straight games in which he's scored more than a point per minute while on the field. At $550k he's much cheaper than many others in his position who are enjoying similar form. Cash cow HLF Lyhkan King-Togia is still doing enough to make money and should about break even this week according to his projected score. EDG Jaydn Su'A is out with a knee issue.
Raiders: Jamal Fogarty is on fire right now and over the past month and a bit has been a mid 60s scorer at HLF. Popular MID Corey Horsburgh crashed back to reality with a 32, following a strong run of recent form. Matthew Timoko (CTR, $580k) has had some big games lately, including a season-high 74 last week which was helped along by a pair of tries.
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Sea Eagles v Roosters, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic continues to deliver for owners in the centres, with last week's 45 still a more than acceptable score considering his price, which leaves him with a L3 average of 56.3. Reuben Garrick, who is the most owned WFB and CTR in the game, is really struggling on the Fantasy front of late and now has a L3 average of 36.7. This week he faces a break even of 67 if he is to avoid losing more money. Corey Waddell looks set to have a starting back row spot for the remainder of the season now Haumole Olakau'atu (shoulder) has been ruled out. But given his modest prior scores when in an 80-minute role, Waddell is at best a cash down option.
Roosters: Those who held onto Hugo Savala will be pleased to see his name back in the halves, with Sandon Smith dropping out after entering the concussion protocol this week. Promising young DPP forward Salesi Foketi drops back to the bench after enjoying a nice run which saw him stack up some cash in Fantasy. Sam Walker (HLF, $553k) has been on a steady rise as a scorer since he returned to action in Round 19 and could be a POD option for the final month of the season, with less than one percent currently being on the Roosters No.7.
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Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, Sunday at CommBank Stadium
Wests Tigers: Terrell May continues to be a rock solid choice as skipper, with scores over 60 in 13 of his last 14 appearances. He was the most popular pick last week, with 28 percent opting for him as captain, and there's little reason to think he won't be again in Round 22. Adam Doueihi looks settled as a 50-point player while playing at lock, which is fine if you are playing him as a CTR in Fantasy.
Bulldogs: The move of Jacob Kiraz to fullback, in place of the injured Connor Tracey, is very interesting for Fantasy owners. The base stats should go up for Kiraz, but he might also miss out on some of the attacking opportunities otherwise afforded to him in his usual spot out wide. Kiraz had 85 last week, with two tries to his name. A second straight week in the mid 50s for HLF Lachlan Galvin has strengthened his standing as a good cash down option, and at $488k there's still time to get on him.
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Sharks v Cowboys, Sunday at Sharks Stadium
Sharks: Blayke Brailey has become a popular option at HOK in recent weeks to now sit in almost 10 percent of teams. Nicho Hynes (HLF, $691k) meanwhile now sits in 12 percent of teams, with his season average up at 53.5 per game. The return of Briton Nikora sees Billy Burns drop back to the bench
Cowboys: Tom Dearden has been in a purple patch of late, with his round-high 93 last week taking his L3 average to 74.3. If you think he can maintain something like that for the remainder of the season, then he's underpriced at $673k. Popular WFB Scott Drinkwater had a 48 last week and is a candidate to be upgraded if you have the luxury of trades up your sleeve.
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