NRL Panthers vs Sharks Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 1, 2025
Last updated: Feb 27, 2025, 10:23PM | Published: Feb 26, 2025, 8:22AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Panthers vs Sharks Round 1 DFS contest kicks off at 3:30pm AEDT on March 2, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you make winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is essential for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble 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, 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 Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks match-up to help you find the best choices on Sunday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $24,340 | 83.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jack Cole (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $10,450 | 52.7 | 5 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $10,540 | 5.1 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Mitch Kenny (PEN, HH/FLEX) | $9,800 | 39 | 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'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 | Dylan Edwards (PEN) | $15,050 | 51 | 3.4 |
| Value | Ronaldo Mulitalo (CRO) | $9,050 | 35.2 | 3.9 |
| Fade | Kayal Iro (CRO) | $17,030 | 43.4 | 2.5 |
| Cheapie | Izack Tago (PEN) | $9,030 | 33.9 | 3.8 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Nathan Cleary (PEN) | $24,340 | 83.4 | 3.4 |
| Value | Jack Cole (PEN) | $10,450 | 52.7 | 5 |
| Fade | Daine Laurie (PEN) | $10,540 | 5.1 | 0.5 |
| Cheapie | Mitch Kenny (PEN) | $9,800 | 39 | 4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaah Yeo (PEN) | $18,950 | 66 | 3.5 |
| Value | Scott Sorensen (PEN) | $9,400 | 37.3 | 4 |
| Fade | Briton Nikora (CRO) | $17,590 | 50 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Moses Leota (PEN) | $8,870 | 29.9 | 3.4 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Panthers vs Sharks Round 1 teams, consider starting with a value player like Jack Cole. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Nathan Cleary is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, check out our cheapie options, including Mitch Kenny.
On the other hand, according to our model, Daine Laurie is one of the worst value options on the slate, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if building out multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Panthers vs Sharks slate closes at 3:30pm AEDT 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 Panthers vs Sharks Round 1 contest. The unique insights here can help you balance star power, value and budget management when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Panthers vs Sharks 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 Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 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.
