Canberra Raiders: An NRL Fantasy Goldmine?

With NRL Fantasy coaches deep into bye-planning mode, one team flying under the radar may be your ticket to a big jump in the rankings — the Canberra Raiders.

While they’re not the flashiest team in the comp, the Green Machine's schedule, injury-induced role changes, and some sneaky value options make them one of the most fantasy-relevant squads heading into the critical mid-season stretch.

The Schedule: Surprisingly Friendly

Let’s break it down.

• Major Bye Rounds (12, 15, 18) – These are the toughest weeks to field a team, with Origin stars unavailable and only 13 players able to be used.
• Minor Bye Rounds (13, 16, 19) – Slightly easier weeks, but still tricky. Origin players might back up, but you’re capped at 13 starters.
• Normal Rounds – All others, including 14 and 17.

The Raiders only miss Rounds 15 and 19, which means they:

• Play through the first major bye (Round 12)
• Play the first minor bye (Round 13)
• Are available in most of the Origin chaos

In short: you can get four clean rounds from them during the toughest stretch of the season. That’s massive.

Top Raiders to Consider

Zac Hosking – $592K | Dual EDG/MID

Zac Hosking - $592K | EDG

With Matty Nicholson now confirmed out long-term, Hosking is likely to reclaim a starting edge role. In full 80-minute games starting on the edge, Hosking averages 62 points and has never scored below 40. Even if you’re pessimistic and peg him at 65 minutes, he still averages 51 — well above his current price point (based on a 44 average).

Verdict: Value buy and near must-have if named.

Joseph Tapine – $786K | MID

Tapine is averaging 62 in 55 minutes, built off explosive metrics: 155m, 33 tackles, 3 busts, and nearly 3 offloads per game. Compare that to 2024 (53.7 avg) and 2023 (53.9 avg) — his base is similar, but this year’s attacking involvement is way up.

So the question is: do you believe this new attacking gear is sustainable?

He’s priced at a 58 average, so there’s not a lot of upside unless he keeps this form up.

Verdict: Elite scorer, but you're paying top dollar. A luxury buy.

Jamal Fogarty – $737K | HLF

Fogarty is priced almost exactly at what he produces. Averaging 56 and priced for 55, there’s not a lot of movement here. Steady, dependable, but not game-breaking.

Verdict: Safe but uninspiring option in a position stacked with value.

Xavier Savage – $271K | WFB

The cashout conversation.

Savage is near bottom price and could drop even further before Round 12. His average on the wing in full games is 26, which rises to 29 when Fogarty is in the halves. The issue? He’s wildly inconsistent: scores of 5, 8, 8, and 17 this year.

Verdict: Value technically exists, but not worth the stress. Fade.

Hudson Young – $815K | EDG

Young is in beast mode, averaging 62.7 and scoring tries nearly every week. But that try-scoring rate is unsustainable, and he’s almost certainly playing Origin. If he starts for NSW, he’ll miss multiple rounds — including two of the byes.

Verdict: Not a buy. Hold if you own him, sell if he makes Origin.

Savelio Tamale – $512K | CTR/WFB

Most coaches already own him. His price is close to maxed, and he relies heavily on tries. Tamale plays outside two ball-runners (Strange and Kris), meaning some weeks he’ll be frozen out.

But his dual-position flexibility still makes him valuable as a loop option.

Verdict: Hold, don’t buy.

Other Names Worth a Mention

• Morgan Smithies – $451K | MID
  Could benefit from Hosking moving to the edge and free up more middle minutes. Still speculative.
• Matt Timoko – $510K | CTR
  Has scoring bursts in him but priced too high for the risk.
• Tom Starling – $560K | HOK
  Started hot, fell off, but has returned to big minutes the last two weeks. With Horse likely playing Origin and Nicholson gone, there’s a path to relevance. Still too risky for most.

Final Word: Worth the Investment?

If you’re eyeing a big move through the bye period, loading up on Raiders makes a lot of sense. They’re available when other squads are gutted, they offer a mix of safe holds and explosive upside, and most importantly — you’ll be holding them through until at least Round 18.

Just be sure you’re grabbing the right ones.