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TK's simple guide to the Sydney Roosters fantasy prospects for 2025.
A strange off season on the recruitment front with elite players like Keary, Warerea-Hargreaves, May, Manu and Sua'ali'i leaving he club and replaced with only Chad Townsend. Given Sam Walker and Brandon Smith won't even play till mid season, is the club with the smallest junior pool to draw from already conceding the season is a rebuild. Their top 17 will be competitive but are way off the pace of the premier sides in terms of quality and depth.
Prediction - Will miss the 8
Roosters 2025 Player Movements
2025 Gains |
Toby Rodwell (2028), Chad Townsend (North Queensland Cowboys, 2025) |
2025 Loses |
Kahu Capper (New Zealand Warriors), Michael Jennings (retired), Luke Keary (Catalans Dragons), Joseph Manu (rugby union), Terrell May (Wests Tigers), Lewis Murphy (St Helens Saints), Dylan Napa (retired), Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (rugby union), Sitili Tupouniua (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Hull Kingston Rovers) |
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Given a stack of players leaving and with Cheese and Walker out till mid year the Roosters depth will be tested. Coach Robinson has spoken about Toia and Smith getting first shot in the centres. With JWH and May out of the team there is an opportunity for the young middles to put their hand up for more minutes. The Draw and Game Day Squad
Byes - round 10, 14, 17
Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. Outside backs like James Tedesco and Dom Young ride in the following match ups
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NRL Fantasy perspective
Later bye in round 10 and actually play all the major bye rounds of 12, 15 and 18. Finish all their byes relatively early so can carry a few Chooks all year.
Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - Robert Toia, Sandon Smith, Conor Watson, Siua Wong
2025 NRL Fantasy Fortunes (slide across to view full notes)
Player | Price | NRL Fantasy Av | GameDay Squad Av | Notes |
James Tedesco | $737K | 55.2 | 63.4 | Bounced back hard in 2024. Given the major changes in the back line and no Sam Walker would be tough to go Teddy particularly with an opening two games of Broncos and Panthers. Avoid |
Angus Crichton | $728K | 54.5 | 49.7 | Another of the fan favs to bounce back. Similar to Teddy where the changes in the team may hurt his scoring or at the least offer limited upside. Avoid |
Connor Watson | $663K | 49.7 | 48.8 | In his 4 games at hooker he averaged 59 in 76 mins. If named at hooker he will get the dual. Has taken his game to the next level and his versatility is too good to ignore. Go with the pack and BUY |
Nat Butcher | $638K | 47.8 | 46.6 | Inconsistent role in 2024 and given their lack of MID depth could easily swap with one of the young edges and play from the bench. Avoid |
Victor Radley | $598K | 44.8 | 42.1 | Actually had some fantasy relevant games and the attack in the middle and defend on the edge seemed to work well. Would be priced though at his upper potential. Avoid |
Dominic Young | $580K | 43.5 | 49.8 | His average in 4 games without Joey Many was 47.8 who isn't overly keen on passing to his winger. Given the changes in the team and more cashies on the horizon would be a pass for now. |
Sam Walker | $573K | 43 | 50.7 | Out till mid year. Avoid |
Mark Nawaqanitawase | $350K | 43 | 49.2 | Only the 1 game for a decent score. 3 NSW cup games scoring 2 tries, 16 TB and 173RM for a 49 fantasy av. Has solid wheels but will likely start in NSW Cup. BUY if he starts |
Daniel Tupou | $542K | 40.6 | 44.3 | Had his best fantasy scoring since 2020. Still a class act on the wing, just no real reason to own him. Avoid |
Lindsay Collins | $525K | 36.6 | 34.8 | Needs to own the team with JWH leaving however Robinson doesn't seem to want to play him in big minutes. Keen to see his role. Watchlist |
Chad Townsend | $450K | 36.4 | 32.3 | Will have the 7 till atleast mid year. Would be in the mix to goal kick (him or Billy Smith). Covid ball 2021 he didn av 47 as a dominant half next to Moylan but hard to see him reach those heights again. Avoid |
Brandon Smith | $465K | 34.8 | 33.1 | Out till mid year. Avoid at all costs but at the same time we will buy him I'm sure of it. |
Spencer Leniu | $459K | 34.4 | 36.4 | In 3 games over 50 mins he still only averaged 39.3 in 52.7 mins. His style of play is too short burst to accumulate base stats. Avoid |
Fetalaiga Pauga | $449K | 33.6 | 34.3 | Is on the depth chart on the outside backs after some solid games. Limited upside you'd think though. 5 games in NSW Cup he averaged 40.2 fantasy points. Avoid |
Naufahu Whyte | $415K | 31.1 | 31.2 | Starting at lock he averaged 36.4 in 46.6 mins (5 games). Likely to have the opportunity to step up. Dual is nice. Not a must have but could be handy. |
Siua Wong | $344K | 25.8 | 24.2 | We got sucked into him early and in his 2 starts he did average 40.5 but didn't get the minutes. Does Robinson have a plan for his development as he does have a relevant fantasy game. Watchlist |
Egan Butcher | $350K | 24 | 22.5 | Got hurt mid season and was parked on the bench for most of the season. Can actually score well when he gets the minutes but his role is likely the bench again. Avoid |
Blake Steep | $250K | 20 | 22 | Young prop who got his chance late in the year. NSW Cup he had 13 games for a 37.5 average. Would need a stack of injuries but keep on the watchlist. |
De La Salle Va'a | $250K | 15 | 14.7 | 19 year old prop on the rise. Would likely need some more time in NSW Cup but could be a bench fill in from time to time. 13 games in NSW Cup saw 20.8 fantasy average. Watchlist |
Sandon Smith | $250K | 14.4 | 14.8 | Was a fill in player the last two years and did it really well. Played 6 games at halfback in 2023 for 39.7 average. Given his basement price and a starting role there is limited down side. In his 1 game at five-eighth he scored a 43. BUY |
Ethan King | TBA | 5 | 0 | 22 year old fullback who had a decent NSW Cup year with 11 games for 9T, 4TA, 56TB, 10 LB for a 42.4 average. Would need a stack of injuries to be relevant. |
Billy Smith | $450K | 0 | 0 | Just didn't play footy. Even his NSW cup comeback was 2 games for limited minutes. Pricing will determine this. Watchlist. |
Tyler Moriarty | $230K | 0 | 0 | With Cheese out he be the back up hooker to Watson. An injury in the squad could see him start at some point. 16 NSW Cup games he averaged 38.2 with multiple 80 minute games, depending on circumstances could be an interesting player to keep on the watchlist |
Robert Toia | $230K | 0 | 0 | 20 year old centre who is getting huge wraps from his coach. Only 6 games of NSW Cup in 2024 for 4 tries and averaged 49.8 fantasy points. At basement price and starting he is a BUY |
Toby Rodwell | $230K | 0 | 0 | Young halfback with limited experience. No where near NRL yet. Avoid |
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