NRL Cowboys vs Sharks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 8, 2026
Last updated: Apr 24, 2026, 7:24AM | Published: Apr 22, 2026, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Cowboys vs Sharks Round 8 DFS contest starts at 6:00pm AEST on April 24, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for each player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together 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, uses 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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks match-up to help you find the best selections 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 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 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) | $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
In DFS, creating an optimal line-up requires understanding key concepts and metrics. 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 seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Reed Mahoney.
On the other hand, according to our model, Cameron McInnes is one of the lowest value options on the slate, 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 slate. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap 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.
