Fantasy NRL: Round One Guide

Sharks forwards Paul Gallen and Andrew Fifita are both potential captains for your Fantasy squad in 2015. Photo/ Getty Images

Amidst the fervour of Super Rugby and the success of the Black Caps, excitement has been building for the start of the 2015 NRL season and we've got the game that will help you follow it like never before.

Fantasy NRL lets you become your own club manager as you construct a dream squad of players from all NRL clubs and guide them through the season past obstacles like injury, byes, suspension and State of Origin.

The foundation of your success or failure in this game is found in your initial squad selection, so here are some tips to help you get it right.

1. Stars and sleepers
Your Fantasy NRL squad should be selected with two goals in mind - to take advantage of established, reliable Fantasy stars as well as predict those up-and-comers who will gain value as the season progresses. After a player has appeared in three games, their dollar value will fluctuate, depending on their performances, and so players who are undervalued at the beginning of the season can make you cash to spend elsewhere as the game unfolds.

Stars to target:
Paul Gallen, Sharks, $494,100
Corey Parker, Broncos, $401,500
Robbie Farah, Tigers, $486,700

Sleepers to target:
Ryan James, Titans, $178,500
Mitchell Cornish, Raiders, $123,600
Ben Barba, Sharks, $159,600

2. Captain Fantastic
Your captain should be the first man you pick in your squad - he will receive double points every week and, in effect, is twice as valuable and important as any other player on your team. The dollar values assigned to players are largely based on last season's performances, so use that as a guide for who you should select in this crucial role. Players to consider include Corey Parker, Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita, Andrew McCullough, Robbie Farah and Issac Luke.

3. Choose your reserves wisely
Outside of your starting 13 players, there are 12 left who you need to sort into Reserves and Substitutes. Firstly, you need to select four Reserves who will act as interchange players and score full points for you. The remaining 8 players act as substitutes; if any of your 17 scoring players do not play in the round you will be allowed one auto-emergency sub who will take their place. This auto-emergency sub will be the lowest scoring of those remaining 8 players.

4. Plan your transfers
You can make unlimited changes to your squad for Round 1, from that point on you can only make up to four transfers for each of the regular-season rounds. These transfers must take into account player injury, poor form and, most importantly, bye rounds and State of Origin duties. If you're going to win this competition you must be planning your transfers at least two rounds ahead of time.

5. Last minute check
Players get injured in training, get cited for on and off field activity or are put on the bench or dropped for a plethora of reasons. Most NRL teams are announced each week on a Tuesday and injury and suspensions are widely reported throughout the week. It always pays to review team lists and the latest news each Thursday before making any transfers.

Sam Tomkins' pick of the week:
Each week Sam Tomkins, one of the resident experts you can take on within the game, will provide his fantasy pick of the week. Sam's pick of the week for Round 1 is George Burgess.

"With Sam Burgess leaving for English rugby, little brother George will pick up where he left off. He spent a few games coming off the bench in 2014, this year he will flourish with the starting spot and will be unstoppable!"

Notable injuries heading into Round 1:
Darius Boyd, Broncos (out until mid-season)
Fa'amanu Brown, Sharks (out for season)
Luke Lewis, Sharks (out 1-2 weeks)
Jamie Buhrer, Sea Eagles (out indefinitely)
Jorge Taufua, Sea Eagles (out until Round 8)
Carlos Tuimavave, Knights (out 2 weeks)
Pat Mata'utia, Knights (out indefinitely)
Kenny Edwards, Eels (out for season)
Josh Mansour, Panthers (out 2-4 weeks)
Adam Docker, Panthers (out 2-3 weeks)
Kyle Turner, Rabbitohs (out 2 weeks)
Jake Friend, Roosters (out 7-8 weeks)
Glen Fisiiahi, Warriors (out 3-5 weeks)
David Nofoaluma, Tigers (out 4 weeks)
Josh Starling, Sea Eagles (out 4-6 weeks)
Steve Matai, Sea Eagles (out 1 week)
Tariq Sims, Cowboys (suspended until Round 5)
Ngani Laumape, Warriors (out indefinitely)
Beau Falloon, Titans (stood down indefinitely)
Greg Bird, Titans (stood down indefinitely)
Dave Taylor, Titans (stood down indefinitely)
Kalifa Faifai Loa, Titans (stood down indefinitely)
Sam Tagataese, Sharks (out 2 weeks)