NRL Cowboys vs Sharks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: Apr 23, 2026, 12:23AM | Published: Apr 22, 2026, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Sharks Round 8 DFS contest kicks off at 6:00pm AEST on April 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 crucial 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 8.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to come up with 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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks match-up to help you find the best picks on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO, FLEX/HH) | $18,280 | 64.7 | 3.5 |
| Value | Siosifa Talakai (CRO, FLEX/OB) | $8,000 | 38 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Cameron McInnes (CRO, HH/FLEX) | $14,920 | 37.8 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Reed Mahoney (NQL, HH/FLEX) | $8,750 | 40.7 | 4.7 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks provide 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 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 | Scott Drinkwater (NQL) | $16,410 | 48 | 2.9 |
| Value | Siosifa Talakai (CRO) | $8,000 | 38 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Mawene Hiroti (CRO) | $11,940 | 34.9 | 2.9 |
| Cheapie | Samuel Stonestreet (CRO) | $8,480 | 36.8 | 4.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO) | $18,280 | 64.7 | 3.5 |
| Value | Reed Mahoney (NQL) | $8,750 | 40.7 | 4.7 |
| Fade | Cameron McInnes (CRO) | $14,920 | 37.8 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Soni Luke (NQL) | $9,140 | 14.2 | 1.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Heilum Luki (NQL) | $18,120 | 59.1 | 3.3 |
| Value | Toby Rudolf (CRO) | $10,130 | 36.7 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Billy Burns (CRO) | $13,490 | 38.3 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Thomas Hazelton (CRO) | $9,130 | 33 | 3.6 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Cowboys vs Sharks Round 8 teams, consider starting with a value player like Siosifa Talakai. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nicholas Hynes 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 Reed Mahoney.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cameron McInnes is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Cowboys vs Sharks slate closes at 6:00pm AEST on Friday. 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 Sharks Round 8 contest. 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 Sharks 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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 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.
