NRL Sea Eagles vs Raiders Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 7, 2026, 8:23AM | Published: Mar 5, 2026, 2:39AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Sea Eagles vs Raiders Round 1 DFS contest kicks off at 7:36pm AEDT on March 7, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you build winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 1.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses 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 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders match-up to help you find the best picks on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hudson Young (CAN, FWD/FLEX) | $18,560 | 57.7 | 3.1 |
| Value | Noah Martin (CAN, FLEX/FWD) | $9,210 | 39.7 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (CAN, FLEX/HH) | $11,440 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Sebastian Kris (CAN, FLEX/OB) | $9,450 | 32.7 | 3.5 |
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're 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 | Tolutau Koula (MAN) | $14,580 | 45 | 3.1 |
| Value | Lehi Hopoate (MAN) | $11,010 | 38.9 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Tom Trbojevic (MAN) | $17,450 | 42.3 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Sebastian Kris (CAN) | $9,450 | 32.7 | 3.5 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jamal Fogarty (MAN) | $18,380 | 55.3 | 3 |
| Value | Jake Simpkin (MAN) | $13,420 | 49.6 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (CAN) | $11,440 | 4.1 | 0.4 |
| Cheapie | Joey Walsh (MAN) | $8,000 | 11.7 | 1.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Hudson Young (CAN) | $18,560 | 57.7 | 3.1 |
| Value | Noah Martin (CAN) | $9,210 | 39.7 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Corey Waddell (MAN) | $12,330 | 15 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Nathan Brown (MAN) | $8,430 | 25.4 | 3 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Sea Eagles vs Raiders Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Noah Martin. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Hudson Young 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 Sebastian Kris.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daine Laurie 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 Sea Eagles vs Raiders slate closes at 7:36pm AEDT 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 Sea Eagles vs Raiders Round 1 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 Sea Eagles vs Raiders 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 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles vs Canberra Raiders 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.
