Men
Fantasy League Debrief
4 hrs
Betfred Super League returned with a BANG this weekend and along with some shock results came some unexpected top performers in Fantasy League…
There is still time to get involved in Fantasy League here!
Top performers
Joe Mellor (110k) - 78 points
Bulls captain Joe Mellor was invaluable in both attack and defense during his sides agonsing opening round defeat in Hull. The loose forward made 51 tackles - more than any other player from either side - and just one miss. He also had impressive attacking return, three tackle busts, two offloads, a linebreak and 78 metres from 19 carries.
The experienced Mellor was integral to the Bulls' and his experience will be crucial to the their success this season. That experience should transfer into points for your Betfred Super League Fantasy team.
Romeo Tropis (50k) - 74 points
Toulouse Olympique defied the odds in beating Trinity on Saturday night. In no small part due to the contribution their centre Tropis made. He featured in both defence and attack, making seventeen tackles, scoring a try and offloading the ball twice.
He proved his value to the French side with his output and can provide great value to your fantasy team. Costing only 50k, Tropis provided great returns in round one!
Jai Whitbread (130k) - 74 points
The prop was all over the pitch at the LNER Community Stadium on Thursday night in the first game of the Robin’s title defence. As well as making a solid 38 tackles, he crossed for two of Hull KR’s three tries!
If Whitbread can maintain his minutes on the field, his workrate makes him one to consider for your team in 2026.
Waqa Blake (100k) - 73 points
Waqa Blake is back in Super League with the Bulls and announced his and his team’s return with a try in the first 10 minutes! The Fijian is a strong ball carrier, making one hundred metres and making nine tackle busts against the Black & Whites.
Despite his efforts being part of a losing cause, Blake can make meaningful contributions to any fantasy team without breaking the bank.
Sam Wood (100k) - 72 points
The centre may feel he had a point to prove playing against his former club and champions in the first fixture of the season. And he did just that! Not only scoring two tries in the Knight’s famous win, the centre also burst through four tackles and made two clean line breaks on Thursday night.
If those eighty minutes are anything to go by Wood is certainly one to consider putting in your team as we go through the season.
Fantasy flops
Hull KR and England winger Joe Burgess headed into 2026 as a top five Fantasy Winger. Averaging 47 points in 2025, Burgess failed to reach those heights against York in the opening round, scoring just 10 points, with attacking points at a premium at the LNER Community Stadium.
A 45 point average in 2025 would have undoubtedly made Aidan Sezer an appetising Fantasy prospect in Round 1. However, the Hull FC half-back managed just 11 points against newly promoted Bradford, while his teammate Lewis Martin, who was the second highest scoring winger in Fantasy last year, finished Round 1 with just 14 points.
Looking ahead
Hull KR's Betfred World Club Challenge fixture means none of their players will be eligible in Round 2 of Fantasy. Similarly, no Warrington players will be eligible to score points, due to the Wolves being Hull KR's scheduled Round 2 opponents.
Elsewhere, Catalans skipper and Fantasy favourite Ben Garcia picked up a one match suspension, meaning he'll sit out the Dragons' Round 2 clash with the Bulls.
