As the NRL’s season has progressed, the quality of the games has increased. Round seven was a perfect example of this. Margins were paper-thin while competitiveness was sky-high.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into round four of the NRL Fantasy season.
NRL Fantasy Round 7 preview
When does Round 7 kick off?
Thursday 18 April, 7:50 pm AEST
The Sydney Roosters host the Melbourne Storm in a Thursday night blockbuster at Allianz. One week after travelling to Newcastle and collecting the two points in a gutsy display, Trent Robinson’s side will be hoping for a continuation of their winning ways, even if they face a Melbourne side seemingly back to their old ways.
Much has been made of the Roosters’ indifferent form to begin this campaign. On paper, their side should be riding high at the top of the ladder. In reality, they’re sitting mid-table, incapable of producing consistent quality displays against quality sides.
For Melbourne, their all-star spine is beginning to click, aided by a forward pack incapable of quitting. They came from behind against an impressive Bulldogs outfit at home in round six but will be hoping to secure the two points well beyond the dying moments of the game against the Roosters.
Best buys
Kayal Iro (318k I 34.9%) CTW
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (581k I 5.1%) WFB
Angus Crichton (442k I 10.8%) EDG
Bronson Xerri (443k I 3.2%) CTW
Xavier Willison (311k I 30.8%) EDG I MID
Best sells
Jayden Campbell (481k I 8.7%) WFB
Jaeman Salmon (378k I 37.2%) EDG I MID
Cody Walker (488k I 2.5%) HLF
Team list Tuesday highlights
Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm, Thursday 7:50 pm AEST
It’s back-to-back Thursday night games for the Sydney Roosters. Trent Robinson’s side is bolstered by James Tedesco’s return, though some may argue the Roosters are weaker with Joey Manu in the centres. Angus Crichton (477k I 15.4%) retains his starting role, while Sam Walker is among the reserves as he looks to recover from a head knock.
Craig Bellamy has opted to unleash Nelson Asofa-Solomona in place of the injured Tui Kamikamica, with Joe Chan making his way onto the Melbourne bench. It will be interesting to monitor how Chan and Shawn Blore share minutes.
Dragons v the Warriors, Friday 6:00 pm AEST
Jack Bird is sidelined, meaning Zac Lomax starts in the centres, the position he will likely play for the Parramatta Eels from 2025 onwards. Otherwise, there are no major changes for Shane Flanagan’s side. Tom Eisenhuth is named to start at lock, although his NRL Fantasy scores have regressed in recent weeks.
Just one change for Andrew Webster, with Jazz Tevaga out and Adam Pompey replacing him on the bench. From a Fantasy perspective, there is nothing to note from the Warriors line up.
Parramatta v the Dolphins, Friday 8:00 pm AEST
Brad Arthur has largely stuck with the same 17 who got the job done against the Cowboys last weekend. Interestingly, Blaize Talagi (324k I 17.2%) has been recalled onto the bench in place of Kelma Tuilagi. His involvement is one many NRL Fantasy players should monitor over the weekend.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is hamstrung, with Wayne Bennett opting for Trai Fuller as the Dolphins fullback this week. Max Plath is the lock once more, with Ray Stone dropping to the bench.
Penrith v the Wests Tigers, Saturday 3:00 pm AEST
Ivan Cleary will be without son Nathan (940k I 25.4%) against the Tigers, somewhat of a bogey side for Penrith in recent years. While Cleary remains out, Scott Sorensen returns to the starting 13, pushing Luke Garner to the bench and Matt Eisenhuth out of the squad. Liam Henry’s (412k I 2.9%) involvement should also be assessed after the young prop played just seven minutes against Manly in round five.
For Benji Marshall, his side will be boosted by the return of Lachlan Galvin (405k I 34.1%) from suspension and John Bateman from a head knock. Alex Seyfarth moves from the back row to the bench, where he is joined by the returning Fainu brothers, Samuela and Latu.
Gold Coast Titans v Manly, Saturday 5:30 pm AEST
A tough golden point loss for the Titans must be wiped from memory when they host the Sea Eagles. Des Hasler will be without Jayden Campbell (494k I 7.4%), with Philip Sami named at fullback and AJ Brimson at five-eighth. More ball needs to get to Brimson if the Titans have any chance of winning.
Elsewhere, David Fifita is named to start, though could revert to the bench on game day, while Klese Haas continues to be named at lock for the Titans.
For Manly, Matt Lodge, Jason Saab, Reuben Garrick and Nathan Brown all return from injury in a huge boost for Anthony Seibold. NRL Fantasy cheapie, Ben Trbojevic (362k I 53.5%), misses out through injury, though with Corey Waddell’s form one must wonder how easy his avenue back into the starting 13 is.
Brisbane v the Raiders, Saturday 7:30 pm AEST
It’s an unchanged line up for Kevin Walters’ side, with Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas (897k I 21.5%) not ready to return from injury and Xavier Willison (366k I 33.0%) maintaining his place on the bench.
For Canberra, fan favourite and NRL Fantasy cheapie Chevy Stewart (239k I 17.7%) remains the fullback after a reliable showing on debut. Zac Hosking is out for some time with a shoulder injury, with Ata Mariota gifted a starting berth in his place.
Bulldogs v Knights, Sunday 2:00 pm AEST
After nearly getting the job done against Melbourne, Cameron Ciraldo has remained faithful to the backline from round six, meaning Conor Tracey gets the nod at fullback with Blake Taaffe moving to the bench. Bronson Xerri remains at left centre, Jaeman Salmon (400k I 37.3%) starts in the back row, Josh Curran (607k I 25.6%) starts at lock and Sam Hughes (326k I 38.3%) is promoted to the starting side. Is Ciraldo a secret NRL Fantasy player?
Max King is named among the reserves, with a return from a hand injury possible if unlikely this week. Kurtis Morrin is also back on deck following a suspension incurred following Canterbury’s Good Friday loss to the Rabbitohs.
Adam O’Brien has named an unchanged side from the one defeated by the Roosters in round six. Dylan Lucas and Kai Pearce-Paul (650k I 11.4%), two Fantasy favourites, will be as destructive as ever in the back row.
Cronulla v the Cowboys, Sunday 4:05 pm AEST
NRL Fantasy cheapie Kayal Iro (318k I 34.9%) is again named at centre after consecutive impressive first grade outings. Sione Katoa is suspended, meaning Samuel Stonestreet comes in for his NRL debut. Braden Hamlin-Uele returns on an incredibly strong Cronulla bench.
After losing to the Eels in round six, Todd Payten has resisted the urge to wield the axe. Murray Taulagi is out with a hamstring injury, Semi Valemei comes in to replace him. Otherwise, it’s an unchanged side for the Cowboys.
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Round 7 preview notes
Will Kalyn Ponga’s 2024 exceed his 2023?
He surged late to win the 2023 Dally M Medal surprisingly, but in 2024 it feels as if Kalyn Ponga (738k I 27.0%) is shaping up for a bigger and better season, if that’s even possible. Despite Newcastle losing by two points to the Roosters in round six, Ponga was the game’s standout performer.
Battling a hip pointer injury for much of this clash, Ponga scored once, created another, ran for 210 metres and broke seven tackles. The Knights have failed to set the world alight this season having won just twice, but it feels their combinations, notably in the halves, grow each week, while Ponga will always keep them in matches.
For the Roosters, Joey Manu (671k I 16.3%) set a new NRL record for running metres (347). Standing in for James Tedesco (688k I 6.7%), Manu does what he does at fullback, getting heavily involved and exerting great influence over games, even when without the ball. Is he a top-five fullback in the NRL?
Outside of the New Zealand international, the Roosters power game is among the best in the NRL. Terrell May (667k I 25.3%) had another blinder, and so too did freshly re-signed Lindsay Collins, while Angus Crichton (442k I 10.8%) and Victor Radley are performing as if it’s 2019.
Top NRL Fantasy scorers:
Joey Manu (79), Terrell May (71), Victor Radley (70)
Bulldogs stumble at the final hurdle against Melbourne
At half-time, with Melbourne up 10-0 no one, not even most Bulldogs fans, would’ve given their side a chance of beating Melbourne in Melbourne. A full-strength Storm is too good for most teams, particularly one such as the Bulldogs.
Yet Josh Addo-Carr, in his first 80-minute cameo of the season, had other plans. A quick-fire hat trick put Melbourne, and the NRL, on notice. Just how good can this Dogs left edge attack be? With Bronson Xerri, Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton inside the Fox, the sky is the limit, especially considering there is no point on the field too far from goal for them to strike.
In the end, Burton’s boot was the difference, with his two missed sideline conversions proving ultimately costly. So too was the Bulldogs’ game management, which showed their inexperience at the death. Yet, overall, this result was positive for both sides, if that’s possible.
Top NRL Fantasy scorers:
Josh Addo-Carr (87), Shawn Blore (70), Bronson Xerri (59)
Brisbane prove too good in the South Queensland derby
Whenever the Dolphins gain any momentum, there’s always a date with the Broncos to humble them. Despite being without Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas (897k I 21.7%), Brisbane was too good for the Dolphins. NRL Fantasy favourite Xavier Willison’s (311k I 30.8%) 50-minute cameo was capped with a try, while a Selwyn Cobbo (600k I 10.8%) brace saw the young star continue his seamless transition to centre.
Top NRL Fantasy scorers:
Patrick Carrigan (74), Selwyn Cobbo (64), Xavier Willison (56)
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Manly, Warriors play out Saturday stalemate
Everyone knew this game would be fantastic. Two surging forward packs, a battle of elite number sevens and two of the competition’s strongest fullbacks wielded a golden point draw and nothing more. In 90 minutes, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (581k I 5.1%) ran for 346 metres, with Tom Trbojevic’s (675k I 20.3%) 241 metres enough to catch the eye on any other day.
For NRL Fantasy players, Ben Trbojevic (362k I 61.5%) lasted just over an hour before succumbing to a hamstring injury. This situation will be one to monitor over the course of this week. Too much shouldn’t be read into this result for either team; both matched each other well and proved they’ll be in the title hunt towards the back end of the season.
Top NRL Fantasy scorers:
Shaun Johnson (82), Daly Cherry-Evans (81), Jake Trbojevic (71)
Moses-less Eels show fight against Cowboys
Parramatta’s win record without Mitchell Moses is understandably appalling. Every team needs their halfback to steer the ship. In his wake, Dylan Brown (661k I 6.0%) and Daejarn Asi performed exceptionally well.
The Eels’ pack, led by none other than J’Maine Hopgood (850k I 23.3%), laid a strong foundation for their backline to work off of. For their part, the Cowboys weren’t at their best. Reuben Cotter (660k I 29.7%) made a mountain of tackles, as did Reece Robson (730k I 11.5%) but largely they were poor. It will be a game for Chad Townsend, who lacked direction and often made the wrong decision, to forget.
It’s hard to get a read on whether either of these sides is a genuine Premiership threat. On their day, cases could be made. However, their days, especially against top sides, are few and far between.
Top NRL Fantasy scorers:
Dylan Brown (70), J’Maine Hopgood (52), Joey Lussick (52)
Have the Bunnies bought JD another week?
It was the week from hell for the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Jason Demetriou. At first, his sacking was a certainty, with Mal Meninga the man to replace him. Then it wasn’t, with an improved Bunnies performance against the Sharks enough to buy the coach an extra few weeks.
For their part, the Rabbitohs played rather well. Well, that is to say, they were better than last week. There was fight and spirit which hadn’t been there for the best part of a year. And still, it wasn’t enough for them to win.
Granted, they were stung by injuries. Jacob Host and impressive debutant Jye Gray were temporarily lost to HIAs, which Cameron Murray (795k I 16.8%) failed later in the game, while Tyrone Munro, who was strong on his injury return, went off early doors. If all goes well, we could look back at this game as the making of Dean Hawkins as an NRL-level halfback after he saved a try and forced four dropouts with his kicking.
In the end, though, nothing was enough for South Sydney. The gulf in class between them and the Sharks is too wide to cross. Cronulla’s forwards generated exceptional momentum and off the back of it Braydon Trindall, Sione Katoa and Ronaldo Mulitalo went to work.
NRL Fantasy top scorers:
Teig Wilton (66), Blayke Brailey (64), Dean Hawkins (63), Sione Katoa (63)
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Canberra and Gold Coast play out a surprising nailbiter
Who would’ve thought our second golden point thriller of the weekend would’ve been contested by Canberra and the Titans? Probably not anyone.
For their part, the Titans’ defence was largely resilient, particularly in the second half when their goal line defence repelled wave after wave of a barraging Canberra attack. Both Chris Randall and Beau Fermor made 60 tackles, with Jaimin Joliffe and Klese Haas making 54 and 41 each.
Canberra will be disappointed at throwing the kitchen sink at the Titans and winning by a single point. But two points are two points, regardless of how they were achieved. The Titans remain winless in 2024 and could be without Jayden Campbell (481k I 8.7%) for the foreseeable future, though there were enough positive signs in this clash to point to a win coming sooner rather than later.
NRL Fantasy top scorers:
Jamal Fogarty (82), Jaimin Joliffe (75), Chris Randall (70), Kieran Foran (70)
