NRL Warriors vs Knights Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 26, 2026
Last updated: Aug 28, 2026, 2:29AM | Published: Aug 26, 2026, 9:24AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Warriors vs Knights Round 26 DFS contest begins at 2:00pm AEST on August 30, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for each player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A handy Draftstars cheat sheet is a must 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 26.
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 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've reviewed players from each team in the New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights match-up to help you make the best selections on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Te Maire Martin (WAR, HH/FLEX) | $17,370 | 51.7 | 3 |
| Value | Harrison Graham (NEW, FLEX/HH) | $8,870 | 38.6 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Tanner Stowers-Smith (WAR, FWD/FLEX) | $12,060 | 33.4 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Jacob Saifiti (NEW, FWD/FLEX) | $9,790 | 35.7 | 3.6 |
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 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 | Kalyn Ponga (NEW) | $14,830 | 47.2 | 3.2 |
| Value | Leka Halasima (WAR) | $10,610 | 44.4 | 4.2 |
| Fade | Bradman Best (NEW) | $12,600 | 40.9 | 3.2 |
| Cheapie | Fletcher Hunt (NEW) | $8,310 | 14.3 | 1.7 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Te Maire Martin (WAR) | $17,370 | 51.7 | 3 |
| Value | Harrison Graham (NEW) | $8,870 | 38.6 | 4.4 |
| Fade | Chanel Harris-Tavita (WAR) | $14,490 | 44 | 3 |
| Cheapie | Sam Healey (WAR) | $8,000 | 18.7 | 2.3 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Trey Mooney (NEW) | $15,020 | 50.8 | 3.4 |
| Value | Francis Manuleleua (NEW) | $12,280 | 49.7 | 4 |
| Fade | Tanner Stowers-Smith (WAR) | $12,060 | 33.4 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Jacob Saifiti (NEW) | $9,790 | 35.7 | 3.6 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Warriors vs Knights Round 26 teams, consider starting with a value player like Harrison Graham. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Te Maire Martin 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 Jacob Saifiti.
On the other hand, according to our model, Tanner Stowers-Smith 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 Warriors vs Knights slate closes at 2:00pm 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 Warriors vs Knights Round 26 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 Warriors vs Knights 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 New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights 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.
