NRL Warriors vs Roosters Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2026
Last updated: Mar 6, 2026, 6:23AM | Published: Mar 5, 2026, 2:39AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Warriors vs Roosters Round 1 DFS contest begins at 6:00pm AEDT on March 6, 2026, and Fantasy Insider has looked at the data for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
A reliable 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 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 New Zealand Warriors vs Sydney Roosters match-up to help you find the best selections on Friday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Erin Clark (WAR, FLEX/FWD) | $17,670 | 56.4 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jacob Laban (WAR, FWD/FLEX) | $8,600 | 36.8 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Taine Tuaupiki (WAR, FLEX/OB) | $10,710 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Billy Smith (SYD, FLEX/OB) | $9,880 | 35.3 | 3.6 |
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 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 | James Tedesco (SYD) | $16,970 | 52.5 | 3.1 |
| Value | Billy Smith (SYD) | $9,880 | 35.3 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Taine Tuaupiki (WAR) | $10,710 | 3.4 | 0.3 |
| Cheapie | Adam Pompey (WAR) | $9,250 | 27.9 | 3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Daly Cherry-Evans (SYD) | $17,550 | 49.7 | 2.8 |
| Value | Wayde Egan (WAR) | $12,810 | 44.1 | 3.4 |
| Fade | Sam Healey (WAR) | $10,310 | 13.6 | 1.3 |
| Cheapie | Benaiah Ioelu (SYD) | $8,800 | 23.2 | 2.6 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Erin Clark (WAR) | $17,670 | 56.4 | 3.2 |
| Value | Jacob Laban (WAR) | $8,600 | 36.8 | 4.3 |
| Fade | Leka Halasima (WAR) | $13,760 | 29.3 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Kurt Capewell (WAR) | $9,560 | 34 | 3.6 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Warriors vs Roosters Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jacob Laban. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Erin Clark 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 Billy Smith.
On the other hand, according to our model, Taine Tuaupiki is one of the worst 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 Roosters slate closes at 6:00pm AEDT on Friday. 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 Roosters Round 1 contest. The unique insights here can help you maximize points while adhering to the salary cap when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Warriors vs Roosters 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 Sydney Roosters 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.
