NRL Full Round Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 23, 2025
Last updated: Aug 7, 2025, 9:24AM | Published: Aug 6, 2025, 9:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Round 23 DFS contest kicks off at 7:50pm AEST on August 7, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player on the slate to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 23.
Featured NRL Games
Draftstars' NRL Full Round slate includes these match-ups:
- Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs New Zealand Warriors
- Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos
- Gold Coast Titans vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
- St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
- Dolphins vs Sydney Roosters
- Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys
- Canberra Raiders vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
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 most accurate DFS projections available.
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 every player from every team to help you find the best choices on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, FLEX/HH) | $21,930 | 80.8 | 3.7 |
| Value | Corey Waddell (MAN, FLEX/FWD) | $9,770 | 44.9 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Aublix Tawha (DOL, FLEX/FWD) | $10,380 | 16.3 | 1.6 |
| Cheapie | Joash Papalii (PAR, FLEX/OB) | $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 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 | AJ Brimson (GOL) | $14,240 | 56.6 | 4 |
| Value | Joash Papalii (PAR) | $8,000 | 35.9 | 4.5 |
| Fade | Simi Sasagi (CAN) | $10,090 | 24.1 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Joe Chan (MEL) | $8,000 | 33.7 | 4.2 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $21,930 | 80.8 | 3.7 |
| Value | Jayden Brailey (NEW) | $10,850 | 48.1 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Peter Mamouzelos (SOU) | $12,050 | 28 | 2.3 |
| Cheapie | Ben Hunt (BRI) | $9,980 | 37 | 3.7 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Payne Haas (BRI) | $21,520 | 66.4 | 3.1 |
| Value | Corey Waddell (MAN) | $9,770 | 44.9 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Aublix Tawha (DOL) | $10,380 | 16.3 | 1.6 |
| Cheapie | Mark Nicholls (DOL) | $8,200 | 34.5 | 4.2 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Round 23 teams, consider starting with a value player like Corey Waddell. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary 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 Joash Papalii.
On the other hand, according to our model, Aublix Tawha is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if entering multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Full Round 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 Round 23 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 Full Round line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
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.
