NRL Storm vs Sea Eagles Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 20, 2025
Last updated: Jul 17, 2025, 7:24PM | Published: Jul 16, 2025, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Storm vs Sea Eagles Round 20 DFS contest kicks off at 7:35pm AEST on July 19, 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 a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you put together your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and enhance your Supercoach team for Round 20.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, employs the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce 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 Melbourne Storm vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles match-up to help you find the best selections on Saturday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL, FLEX/HH) | $19,020 | 64.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Corey Waddell (MAN, FWD/FLEX) | $10,160 | 41.8 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Jake Simpkin (MAN, FLEX/HH) | $11,290 | 28.4 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Lehi Hopoate (MAN, FLEX/OB) | $9,220 | 35.4 | 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'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 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 | Tom Trbojevic (MAN) | $12,300 | 43 | 3.5 |
| Value | Lehi Hopoate (MAN) | $9,220 | 35.4 | 3.8 |
| Fade | Reuben Garrick (MAN) | $15,850 | 41.5 | 2.6 |
| Cheapie | Jason Saab (MAN) | $9,330 | 32.1 | 3.4 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Jahrome Hughes (MEL) | $19,020 | 64.5 | 3.4 |
| Value | Cameron Munster (MEL) | $15,140 | 52.6 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Jake Simpkin (MAN) | $11,290 | 28.4 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Tyran Wishart (MEL) | $8,630 | 20.9 | 2.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Eliesa Katoa (MEL) | $17,920 | 53.6 | 3 |
| Value | Corey Waddell (MAN) | $10,160 | 41.8 | 4.1 |
| Fade | Nelson Asofa-Solomona (MEL) | $10,580 | 26.9 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Matthew Lodge (MAN) | $8,260 | 29.9 | 3.6 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Storm vs Sea Eagles Round 20 teams, consider starting with a value player like Corey Waddell. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Jahrome Hughes is a strong option. If you're looking for budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Lehi Hopoate.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jake Simpkin is one of the worst 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 Storm vs Sea Eagles slate closes at 7:35pm 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 Storm vs Sea Eagles Round 20 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 Storm vs Sea Eagles 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 Melbourne Storm vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 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.
