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Fantasy League Thoughts following Betfred Challenge Cup Round 3

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13 Betfred Super League clubs impressed in Round 3 of the Betfred Challenge Cup at the weekend.

These cup outings have prepared teams well for the start of the 2026 season on Thursday Night, with fans getting a glimpse of what to expect from the stars of Super League.

Still struggling to build your Fantasy League team in time for Round 1? Maybe players’ performances from this recent Challenge Cup round might help you with your choices.

Let’s take a look at some...

Join Fantasy League for 2026 now! ?

Sign up for free and play against your friends for the chance to win prizes through the 2026 #SuperLeague season! ? pic.twitter.com/eIMDVRR3xn
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) February 2, 2026

Treble-winners Hull KR took a step closer to retaining their Challenge Cup title on Friday Night.

Rhyse Martin was an influential figure, kicking 16 goals. Although Arthur Mourgue took on the role predominantly last year, Martin is a notoriously fantastic kicker and has proved he can score crucial points when required.

He is also priced reasonably at £110k.

The Robins’ hat-trick hero of the night was Jack Broadbent who also made the most metres out of any of his teammates, running 161. Put him anywhere on the pitch and he can perform, which means he could really compliment one’s Fantasy team.

Broadbent’s Fantasy price tag may have jumped up to £130k, but you can almost be certain he’ll be at the heart of the action when called up by Willie Peters, therefore is well worth the cost.

FYI - every 10 metres gained is one point in Fantasy!

Some shift from Broady on Friday night ?#UpTheRobins??? pic.twitter.com/kZDe2n9ilD
— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) February 9, 2026

Cai Taylor-Wray gave a great account of himself during Warrington Wolves’ Challenge Cup win. The Wolves’ new number 1 scored twice on Friday Night and is a breath of fresh air in Sam Burgess’ side for 2026.

Is this a sign to include this youngster in your Fantasy team; at an attractive price of just 90k?

Lachlan Lam was a consistent Fantasy performer in 2025, hence his understandable £20k price increase for 2026. Everyone will remember Lam for his jaw-dropping amount of try assists last year (41) and he has already provided two this weekend just gone.

Remember, Fantasy players can earn four points per assist, so Lam could be a huge shout as one of your playmakers.

Meanwhile, Kyle Feldt and Tristan Sailor crossed for respective hat-tricks for St Helens. Both are hot properties in Fantasy and are expected to performance highly on a weekly basis. Sailor is priced at £160k, whilst Feldt is priced at a more affordable £120k.

Both averaged around 50 points a game in Fantasy last year and show no signs of dropping off their fine form as we spearhead towards the 2026 campaign.

New signing Jackson Hastings also impressed with an individual haul of 36 points. Will he be your star half-back in Fantasy? He’s on the more expensive side at £160k...

You could consider having Brodie Croft in your team in 2026. He’s been reduced by £10k but can be a real game breaker and a game changer. On Saturday, he contributed two try assists and a decisive drop goal. His defence was also up to scratch as he completed at 100% in the 24 tackles he made.

Is this a glimpse of what’s to come in 2026? We know Croft is more than capable.

His teammate, Jarrod O’Connor was the top tackler of the match with 49 tackles, something which O’Connor has become renowned for over the past 12 months. Promising youngster Presley Cassell was then second in his team’s charts with 35 tackles.

In Fantasy, one point is added to your players' scores every time a tackle is made...

Additionally, Zach Eckersley has taken the number two shirt in his stride as he touched down for four tries in Wigan Warriors’ mammoth victory at the weekend.

Don’t forget it’s ten points per try in Fantasy, so at £90k, you might want to snap Eckersley up as one of your wingers.

He’s bound to benefit from Bevan French and Jai Field magic on the edges. These were two individuals who didn’t disappoint with their trademark performances – together sharing five tries. The question is, can you afford the Warriors’ iconic duo in your Fantasy side?

Jake Wardle might be a safe option too, given his dazzling display too...

? A hat-trick of hat-tricks!

3?? For Eckersley, Field and Wardle! #WWRL #ChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/5sdF7YXAro
— Wigan Warriors ??? (@WiganWarriorsRL) February 8, 2026

Keep in mind, clean breaks are worth five points in Fantasy, whilst tackle busts are worth two. Which players do you think can produce these regularly?

Elsewhere, over the weekend, Tui Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants) and Davy Litten (Hull FC) would have scored highly in Fantasy, as would have Wakefield Trinity’s Matty Storton.

Second-rower Storton banked hat-trick with plenty predicting to see the best version of him in Super League 2026.

All three of these players are £120k or less.

Paul Vaughan crossed on his York Knights debut, highlighting that this powerhouse hasn’t lost his touch.

Josh Charnley, who sits second in the all-time Super League try scoring ranks, completed a brace, and should be motivated to go again this year and hot on Ryan Hall's heels, who currently occupies first place.

Will he make Adrian Lam’s starting line-up every week though?

Blake Taaffe for Castleford Tigers showed promising signs, Waqa Blake shone for Bradford Bulls, and Toby Sexton lived up to his £150k Fantasy price tag for Catalans Dragons.

On the other side of things, it might be worth noting that Jed Cartwright will be unavailable for the opening round.

Cartwright’s cup action for the Black & Whites was short-lived after he suffered a nasty knock and failed HIA inside the opening minute.

If you have Cartwright in your Fantasy side, you might want to swap him out.

Matty Lees left the field injured early in the first half for the Saints, and could be in doubt for the start of the Super League season. It could be worth taking him out of your team for the time being.

Similarly, Kurt Haggerty recently revealed that Bulls' new recruit Jayden Nikorima will miss the beginning of the campaign.