Fantasy NRL: Where to look for value

With just two regular season rounds left to play and the top eight still unclear, Dr Stats looks at where you can find value amongst the teams that have secured a post-season berth.

At this stage of the season just four teams are assured of a position in this year's NRL finals campaign with another seven sides still in the hunt.

It's one of the closest races to the finals we've seen in recent times and it's keeping forward-thinking fantasy coaches on their toes.

While, ideally, we all want to plan ahead for the finals and maximise our transfers before then, the state of the ladder makes this difficult and so, instead, I'm going to look at the teams who have secured a finals spot and where value can be found within their squads.

The Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs, Roosters and Panthers are the four teams confirmed for the post-season and most are full of players with high price tags. However, there are exceptions to every rule.

Pita Hiku ($164,000) has scored nine tries in his past nine matches while averaging 23 fantasy points per game. While not inspiring numbers, Hiku is a nice value play with the right matchup.

Alex Johnston ($198,000) has posted multiple-try games in six of his 13 appearances this season for the Rabbitohs. Though he's been quiet over the past three rounds, his try-scoring potential on a team that's likely to g far this season provides great value to your fantasy squad.

While John Sutton has been out with an injured knee, five eighth Luke Keary ($177,000) has averaged 28 points per game and was robbed of a try against the Cowboys last weekend which would have boosted his tally further. Whilst Sutton is a chance to return this weekend, Keary is still a good bench or risk/reward play in the halves for those looking for cheap points.

Will Smith ($123,000) is another injury replacement, this time for the Panthers, who has shined in recent times. Smith has averaged 31 points per game since the start of the month and is doing most of that damage via a high tackle count, so there's reason to be optimistic that the trend will continue.

Another Panther worth watching is highly-touted youngster Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($199,000). The fleet-footed winger has made line breaks in each of his past three appearances in which he's averaging 26 points. His match ups against the Sea Eagles and Warriors over the coming weeks aren't particularly enticing for backs but, as a bench play, he's a top option.

This week's team news is highlighted by yet another Panther as hooker James Segeyaro has again been left out of the side for this weekend.

A fantasy revelation over the past three months, Segeyaro has been in Papua New Guinea attending a death in his family but could still return for Sunday's fixture. Pick him at your peril.

Three big names return from the sidelines to tough matchups - Sonny Bill Williams, Jesse Bromwich and Tinirau Arona are all risky plays this weekend.

The other risky play of note is Warriors back Konrad Hurrell who, despite playing last week and being named again to run on against the Titans, looked far from 100% against the Roosters and posted his lowest fantasy score of the season.

Top pick:
Jonathan Thurston, Cowboys

Value pick:
Alex Johnston, Rabbitohs

On the bench:
James Segeyaro, Panthers (not named but chance to play)
John Sutton, Rabbotohs (not named but chance to play)
Fa'amanu Brown, Sharks (out for season)