NRL Roosters vs Sharks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Semi-Finals, 2026
Last updated: Sep 19, 2026, 9:24AM | Published: Sep 16, 2026, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Roosters vs Sharks Semi-Finals, 2026 DFS contest kicks off at 7:50pm AEST on September 19, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests.
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 best 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 Sydney Roosters vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks match-up to help you make the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicho Hynes (CRO, FLEX/HH) | $20,970 | 58.5 | 2.8 |
| Value | Mawene Hiroti (CRO, FLEX/OB) | $8,760 | 34.8 | 4 |
| Fade | Niwhai Puru (CRO, FLEX/HH) | $11,340 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Tupou (SYD, OB/FLEX) | $8,880 | 33.6 | 3.8 |
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 | Robert Toia (SYD) | $16,290 | 49.9 | 3.1 |
| Value | Mawene Hiroti (CRO) | $8,760 | 34.8 | 4 |
| Fade | Billy Smith (SYD) | $11,050 | 30.2 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Tupou (SYD) | $8,880 | 33.6 | 3.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicho Hynes (CRO) | $20,970 | 58.5 | 2.8 |
| Value | Hugo Savala (SYD) | $11,450 | 43.5 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Niwhai Puru (CRO) | $11,340 | 2.1 | 0.2 |
| Cheapie | Toby Rodwell (SYD) | $8,000 | 1.7 | 0.2 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Siua Wong (SYD) | $15,190 | 50.7 | 3.3 |
| Value | Cameron McInnes (CRO) | $12,060 | 45.5 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Thomas Hazelton (CRO) | $12,320 | 10.1 | 0.8 |
| Cheapie | Lindsay Collins (SYD) | $8,680 | 30.6 | 3.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Roosters vs Sharks Semi-Finals, 2026 teams, consider starting with a value player like Mawene Hiroti. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nicho Hynes 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 Daniel Tupou.
On the other hand, according to our model, Niwhai Puru 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 Roosters vs Sharks slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Saturday. 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 Roosters vs Sharks Semi-Finals 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 Roosters vs Sharks 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.
