NRL Sharks vs Wests Tigers Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 9, 2026
Last updated: May 3, 2026, 5:33AM | Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:44AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Sharks vs Wests Tigers Round 9 DFS contest starts at 4:05pm AEST on May 3, 2026, 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 build your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 9.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to deliver some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the best 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 Wests Tigers match-up to help you find the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Alex Twal (WST, FWD/FLEX) | $19,630 | 67.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Tristan Hope (WST, HH/FLEX) | $8,000 | 34.9 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Jeral Skelton (WST, FLEX/OB) | $10,690 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Briton Nikora (CRO, FLEX/FWD) | $9,250 | 40.3 | 4.4 |
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 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 | KL Iro (CRO) | $14,700 | 52.4 | 3.6 |
| Value | Starford To'a (WST) | $9,220 | 40 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Jeral Skelton (WST) | $10,690 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Samuel Stonestreet (CRO) | $8,520 | 32.3 | 3.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Adam Doueihi (WST) | $20,980 | 65.3 | 3.1 |
| Value | Tristan Hope (WST) | $8,000 | 34.9 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Jock Madden (WST) | $14,700 | 15.8 | 1.1 |
| Cheapie | Latu Fainu (WST) | $8,000 | 6.7 | 0.8 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Alex Twal (WST) | $19,630 | 67.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Briton Nikora (CRO) | $9,250 | 40.3 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Billy Burns (CRO) | $10,590 | 15.9 | 1.5 |
| Cheapie | Tony Sukkar (WST) | $8,000 | 32.5 | 4.1 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Sharks vs Wests Tigers Round 9 teams, consider starting with a value player like Tristan Hope. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Alex Twal is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Briton Nikora.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jeral Skelton 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 Wests Tigers 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 Wests Tigers Round 9 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 Wests Tigers 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 Wests Tigers 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.
