NRL Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 7, 2026
Last updated: Apr 16, 2026, 9:22AM | Published: Apr 15, 2026, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Round 7 DFS contest begins at 7:50pm AEST on April 16, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is crucial for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 7.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to make 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've reviewed players from each team in the North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles match-up to help you find the best selections on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $18,870 | 60 | 3.2 |
| Value | Soni Luke (NQL, FLEX/HH) | $9,010 | 37.2 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Harrison Edwards (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $10,880 | 10.1 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Kai O'Donnell (NQL, FWD/FLEX) | $9,200 | 37.6 | 4.1 |
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 those needing to stay under the salary cap, "cheapie" options refer to 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 | Scott Drinkwater (NQL) | $17,230 | 54 | 3.1 |
| Value | Reuben Garrick (MAN) | $9,400 | 38.2 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Tom Trbojevic (MAN) | $15,930 | 46.4 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Zac Laybutt (NQL) | $8,000 | 31.1 | 3.9 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (MAN) | $17,830 | 59.4 | 3.3 |
| Value | Soni Luke (NQL) | $9,010 | 37.2 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Jake Simpkin (MAN) | $11,980 | 34.7 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Brandon Wakeham (MAN) | $8,000 | 16 | 2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL) | $18,870 | 60 | 3.2 |
| Value | Kai O'Donnell (NQL) | $9,200 | 37.6 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Harrison Edwards (NQL) | $10,880 | 10.1 | 0.9 |
| Cheapie | Jake Trbojevic (MAN) | $9,780 | 34.2 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Cowboys vs Sea Eagles Round 7 teams, consider starting with a value player like Soni Luke. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Heilum Luki is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Kai O'Donnell.
On the other hand, according to our model, Harrison Edwards is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Cowboys vs Sea Eagles slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Thursday. 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 Sea Eagles Round 7 contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Cowboys vs Sea Eagles 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 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 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.
