NRL Cowboys vs Rabbitohs Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 12, 2026
Last updated: May 21, 2026, 6:23PM | Published: May 20, 2026, 9:31AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Rabbitohs Round 12 DFS contest kicks off at 4:05pm AEST on May 24, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 12.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the latest NRL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NRL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed players from each team in the North Queensland Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitohs match-up to help you find the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Euan Aitken (SOU, FWD/FLEX) | $16,750 | 58.8 | 3.5 |
| Value | Liam Sutton (NQL, FLEX/HH) | $8,000 | 36.7 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Matthew Dufty (SOU, FLEX/OB) | $10,670 | 7.2 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Matthew Lodge (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options highlight the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
OB (Outside Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Tallis Duncan (SOU) | $15,620 | 51.8 | 3.3 |
| Value | Robert Derby (NQL) | $8,470 | 32.1 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Matthew Dufty (SOU) | $10,670 | 7.2 | 0.7 |
| Cheapie | Talanoa Penitani (SOU) | $8,000 | 28.3 | 3.5 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jake Clifford (NQL) | $18,670 | 52.3 | 2.8 |
| Value | Liam Sutton (NQL) | $8,000 | 36.7 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Jamie Humphreys (SOU) | $12,800 | 25.5 | 2 |
| Cheapie | Xavier Kerrisk (NQL) | $8,000 | 5 | 0.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Euan Aitken (SOU) | $16,750 | 58.8 | 3.5 |
| Value | Matthew Lodge (NQL) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Thomas Mikaele (NQL) | $12,430 | 40 | 3.2 |
| Cheapie | Sam McIntyre (NQL) | $9,380 | 41.4 | 4.4 |
Conclusion
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. When building your NRL Cowboys vs Rabbitohs Round 12 teams, consider starting with a value player like Liam Sutton. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Euan Aitken is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, explore our cheapie options, including Matthew Lodge.
On the other hand, according to our model, Matthew Dufty is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Cowboys vs Rabbitohs slate closes at 4:05pm AEST on Sunday. ENTER NOW!
As with all NRL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven NRL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the NRL Cowboys vs Rabbitohs Round 12 slate. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Cowboys vs Rabbitohs line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full North Queensland Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitohs prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
