It's all good news when it comes to Origin players backing up (for now at least), but Fantasy owners will have some tough decisions to make about who they can actually rely on this week.
Here's everything you need to know about the Round 13 team lists from an NRL Fantasy perspective.
NRL Fantasy teams analysis: Round 13
Dragons v Knights, Friday at Jubilee Stadium
Dragons: With outstanding money-maker Dylan Egan's season over, Luciano Leilua (EDG, $420k) moves into a starting role, while popular DPP forward Toby Couchman returns from injury via the bench. Cash cow HLF Lyhkan King-Togia should make money again this week thanks to a break even of 16. On the wing Christian Tuipolotu returns from injury after scoring 40 or more in four of his five games prior to breaking down in Round 6.
Knights: Kalyn Ponga is named to back up from Origin I, but Fletcher Sharpe owners will be hoping he doesn't, after their man starred in his cameo at fullback last week and scored 98 points. Dylan Lucas might sit in a quarter of all teams by the time Round 13 kicks off, with the EDG/CTR likely to be a popular target on the back of last week's 84. Leo Thompson – who is averaging 48.1 across the season – returns from illness in the front row.
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Titans v Storm, Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Another backline reshuffle from coach Des Hasler sees cheapie WFB Jaylan De Groot move back into the starting fullback role, with AJ Brimson the five-eighth and Kieran Foran on the bench. There could be mind games at play, but if not then the move poses the biggest threat to HOK Sam Verrills, who could lose some involvement to Foran at dummy-half. Both the club's Origin representatives – Beau Fermor and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui – are named to back up for the time being, with the latter in excellent Fantasy form and averaging 70.3 over his last three games.
Storm: Popular HLF Cameron Munster is named to back up alongside Harry Grant and Trent Loiero, but the presence of both Bronson Garlick and Tyran Wishart on the bench should be a concern to owners of the first two. If Melbourne are able to get out to a lead against the struggling Titans, it's not hard to see both Munster and Grant getting an early breather. The club's most popular Fantasy player, Ryan Papenhuyzen, has now bumped his season average up to 50.1 on the back of a string of good scores.
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Cowboys v Wests Tigers, Saturday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: It's been a rough old time to own Cowboys in Fantasy lately, with John Bateman their best player on recent form with a modest 47.7 last three game average. Jaxon Purdue (CTR, $532k) struggled in his first game in the halves, but he's someone I'd try to hold if you can given the lack of better CTR eligible players around his price.
Wests Tigers: There's a new possible cash cow on the radar in $292k WFB Heath Mason, with the teenager selected to replace Lachlan Galvin in the No.6 jersey. That's not the news Adam Doueihi owners wanted to hear though, with the HLF/CTR remaining in the centres where his scoring potential is lower. Fantasy's only current million dollar man, Terrell May, will be a popular captaincy choice given both of the other 'big three' options will be backing up from Origin duty. May is now owned by a touch under half of all teams.
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Sea Eagles v Broncos, Saturday at 4 Pines Park
Sea Eagles: The absence of Jake Trbojevic means Jazz Tevaga starts at lock on the back of a 65-point showing last week against the Eels, while MID Matthew Lodge – who went big in his return to NRL footy last weekend to score 54 – commands a bench spot again. Lodge might be tempting to some at $376k, but it's hard to see him retaining a spot once Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jake Trbojevic are back in the frame. There's more Trbojevic news relating to Fantasy too, with Lehi Hopoate getting another run at fullback in place of the injured Tom and CTR-eligible Ben returning from illness to start in the pack.
Broncos: Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are named to back up from Origin I, but Haas owners will want to think carefully about captaining him given the increased risk of him playing lower minutes in Round 13. Selwyn Cobbo's stint at fullback is officially over, with Jesse Arthars named to play there and Cobbo back on the wing. There'll be some interest in Ezra Mam (HLF, $480k) this week on the back of his stunning 66-point return to the NRL in Round 11.
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Rabbitohs v Warriors, Sunday at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs: Blues representative Latrell Mitchell is named to line up at fullback, while in form DPP forward Keaon Koloamatangi (L3 average of 66.7) will start at prop and looks well positioned to be a high performer once again. Euan Aitken (EDG, $621k) is coming off consecutive scores of 60 and 72 and would be a huge trade-in target this week if he still had the CTR designation he's carried for much of his career. Cash cow Lachlan Hubner looks like he has maxxed out in value and can be sold over the next couple of weeks.
Warriors: Erin Clark's excellent run of form in 2025 continued last week with a 61, while HLF Luke Metcalf delivered for owners once again with 50. Jackson Ford went big as the side's senior prop in the loss to the Raiders, but expect him to come back down to earth this week now that James Fisher-Harris and Mitchell Barnett are on deck. The return of Rocco Berry means Kurt Capewell is back in the pack and well-owned EDG Leka Halasima is back to the bench.
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Panthers v Eels, Sunday at CommBank Stadium
Panthers: Coach Ivan Cleary has named all of his Origin reps for the time being, with Nathan Cleary (39 percent ownership) the most relevant from a Fantasy point of view. Given Penrith play on the Sunday, Cleary, who has a whopping L3 average of 76, is a reasonably safe captaincy choice if you don't have Terrell May or want to try and establish a point of difference over other teams. There's lot to like about what MID Lindsay Smith is doing this season, and with just 2.3 percent of teams owning him right now, he is a potential POD himself.
Eels: Those who remained patient with young WFB Isaiah Iongi are reaping the rewards now, with last week's 64 setting him up for another couple of weeks of money making. Kitione Kautoga (CTR/EDG, $535k) has shaken off concerns about his scoring now and is back to being someone you can safely have in your scoring 17. HOK Ryley Smith is getting the job done and making some tidy cash in the process, with three of his last four games ending in scores of 50+.
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Roosters v Raiders, Sunday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: A strong showing from Hugo Savala in Round 12 has put his break even back down to 11 and he looks destined to make some more money over the next couple of weeks. Provided all of the Origin forwards who have been named to back up actually play, last week's 68-point hero Blake Steep will be resigned to a smaller minute role off the bench. At $558k and with DPP status as both a MID and EDG, Victor Radley presents as a tempting option this week, with his L3 average now sitting at 53.7.
Raiders: Morgan Smithies has scored a combined 130 points in his last two outings and is a possible cut-price trade in this week at $517k. His role has increased significantly over the past fortnight, with around an hour on the field compared to previous stints that were in the low 40s or even mid 30s, but if you think he will continue to command more time then go for it. In-form EDG Hudson Young is set to play on the back of his involvement in Origin I, while HLF Jamal Fogarty is coming off an excellent 63-point outing against the Warriors.
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