NRL Sharks vs Cowboys Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 22, 2025
Last updated: Jul 31, 2025, 3:23PM | Published: Jul 30, 2025, 9:25AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Sharks vs Cowboys Round 22 DFS contest begins at 4:05pm AEST on August 3, 2025, 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 put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 22.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the most reliable 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 have reviewed players from each team in the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys match-up to help you make the best picks on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO, HH/FLEX) | $18,560 | 61.5 | 3.3 |
| Value | Siosifa Talakai (CRO, OB/FLEX) | $9,090 | 42.1 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Billy Burns (CRO, FLEX/FWD) | $10,310 | 12.8 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Robert Derby (NQL, OB/FLEX) | $9,960 | 28.9 | 2.9 |
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 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 | Jesse Ramien (CRO) | $12,080 | 44.2 | 3.7 |
| Value | Siosifa Talakai (CRO) | $9,090 | 42.1 | 4.6 |
| Fade | Braidon Burns (NQL) | $13,750 | 32.7 | 2.4 |
| Cheapie | Robert Derby (NQL) | $9,960 | 28.9 | 2.9 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nicholas Hynes (CRO) | $18,560 | 61.5 | 3.3 |
| Value | Braydon Trindall (CRO) | $12,120 | 44.6 | 3.7 |
| Fade | Tom Dearden (NQL) | $19,160 | 52.7 | 2.7 |
| Cheapie | Daniel Atkinson (CRO) | $8,000 | 12.4 | 1.5 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Addin Fonua-Blake (CRO) | $14,910 | 55.2 | 3.7 |
| Value | Briton Nikora (CRO) | $13,050 | 49.3 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Billy Burns (CRO) | $10,310 | 12.8 | 1.2 |
| Cheapie | Braden Hamlin-Uele (CRO) | $8,000 | 23 | 2.9 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Sharks vs Cowboys Round 22 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 Robert Derby.
On the other hand, according to our model, Billy Burns is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Sharks vs Cowboys slate closes at 4:05pm AEST on Sunday. 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 Sharks vs Cowboys Round 22 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 Sharks vs Cowboys 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 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys 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.
