Friday Night NRL in Round 3 delivers a massive double header, with four genuine heavyweights going head-to-head. The Sydney Roosters host the Penrith Panthers in the early game, a contest that consistently delivers elite middle forward workloads and attacking opportunities through structured edge play. These two sides know each other extremely well, and the physical nature of their contests often translates directly into fantasy production through tackle volume, run metres and second phase involvement.
The late game sees the Brisbane Broncos travel to take on the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final rematch. Melbourne’s traditionally disciplined defensive system meets Brisbane’s explosive spine and dominant middle rotation, creating a fascinating DFS puzzle for lineup construction. With multiple premium forwards, high upside outside backs and playmakers capable of slate breaking performances, Draftstars players have no shortage of options across both single game contests and the combined double header slate.
NRL $6,000 – Roosters v Panthers
NRL $6,000 – Storm v Broncos
NRL $3,000 – Friday Night doubleheader
There are plenty of other contests available as well, so jump in and make the most of another huge night of NRL DFS action.
NRL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 3 Friday
NRL Friday Round 3: Our Value Fantasy Picks
Billy Phillips ($8,240) profiles as a genuine FLX or third FWD value play on this slate as a bench forward in Penrith’s rotation. His minutes and role appear secure off the bench for the Panthers, and his price point makes him extremely relevant in Draftstars lineup construction, particularly on a two game slate where finding salary relief is critical to fitting in premium forwards and elite playmakers.
Ben Hunt ($10,920) is a strong FLX play this week due to the low cost, and his locked in role as the Broncos’ starting halfback with the loss of Adam Reynolds. Whilst Reece Walsh will do plenty of general play kicking too, Hunt should be the main option and his base stats will be solid as a result. The attacking upside of Hunt at halfback also belies the low cost, with Hunt priced based on playing limited minutes at hooker.
NRL Friday Round 3: Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
Sualauvi Faalogo ($12,050) continues to profile as a high variance, but high upside DFS play thanks to his explosive speed and attacking involvement in Melbourne’s backline. With scores of 87 and 55, Faalogo is one of the highest upside players on the slate and leaving him out at this price is fraught with danger. He has been stuffing the stat sheet, breaking tackles, line, and try lines for fun in the opening fortnight, and whilst his base stats aren’t great, his upside cannot be ignored at the price.
Will Warbrick ($13,650) remains one of the premier upside outside backs in Draftstars contests due to his combination of yardage base and finishing ability. In Round 2 he produced another solid fantasy return, scoring 56.9 off the back of a try and two-line breaks, whilst also running for 200 metres. That blend of base and ceiling makes him extremely valuable on short slates.
NRL Friday Round 3: Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Harry Grant ($17,270) stands out as one of the safest premium plays on the slate due to his elite work rate from the hooker position. In Round 2 he produced another strong Draftstars score driven by massive tackle numbers and high involvement in Melbourne’s attacking structure. When games are tight, Grant often pushes beyond 50 tackles while also contributing through running metres and try assists. Has three tries in two games already this season and looks fully fit and firing.
Patrick Carrigan ($16,520) continues to cement his status as one of the premier DFS middle forwards thanks to his relentless motor and consistent base production. In Round 2 he delivered another strong Draftstars performance, approaching the 60-point mark through tackles, metres and offloads despite limited attacking stats. That type of reliability is invaluable on a short slate.
Suggested NRL Friday Draftstars Lineup
NRL Round 3 Friday Match Info & Betting Odds
Roosters ($2.45) vs Panthers ($1.55)
Line: Panthers (-4.5)
Points: 44.5
Storm ($1.36) vs Broncos ($3.15)
Line: Storm (-9.5)
Points: 54.5
Also, be sure to check out our full NRL Previews and Betting Tips for each match. Our experts break down each individual game and highlight some key bets that you can follow!
