Friday Night Football in Round 9 shapes as another excellent two-game NRL Draftstars slate, with both matchups offering vastly different fantasy paths. The early game sees the Cowboys head to Accor Stadium to take on a Bulldogs side that has been forced into another edge reshuffle, with Sitili Tupouniua named to start in the back row after the loss of Viliame Kikau. North Queensland also welcome Jeremiah Nanai back into the starting side, which adds attacking punch and line running threat to a game that already looked likely to feature plenty of movement through the edges. From a Draftstars perspective, that creates a nice blend of base-stat opportunity for forwards and upside for centres, back-rowers and fullbacks who can pile up metres, tackle busts and attacking stats quickly.
The late game between the Dolphins and Storm is the more intriguing fantasy puzzle. Melbourne head to Brisbane with major changes to their starting side, including Tyran Wishart replacing Jahrome Hughes in the halves and Shawn Blore returning to the starting pack, while the Dolphins again lean on Max Plath at hooker for big minutes in the middle. That role security matters on a short slate, particularly when combined with the attacking quality of players like Scott Drinkwater and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, who can get there through both base and game-breaking moments. This slate is unlikely to be won by simply jamming in the biggest names; rather, it looks like one where balancing safe workload with one or two ceiling plays will be critical.
Draftstars contests on offer include Bulldogs v Cowboys, Dolphins v Storm and the combined Friday night double-header, so there are plenty of ways to attack it depending on how aggressively you want to build. Draftstars contests on offer include:
NRL $6,000 – Bulldogs vs Cowboys
NRL $6,000 – Dolphins vs Storm
NRL $3,000 – Friday Night doubleheader
NRL Daily Fantasy Lineup Tips: Round 9 Friday
NRL Friday Round 9: Our Value Fantasy Picks
Jonathan Sua ($8,780) looks like one of the better cheap outside-back plays on the slate because he is again named on the wing for Canterbury and should see enough carry volume to give him a workable floor at this price. The Bulldogs’ team list has him holding that spot, and while he is not a pure base-stat machine, a winger at sub-$9k with strong try-scoring potential in a game totalled for points is always relevant in Draftstars builds. Against a Cowboys side that can concede opportunities on the edges when their shape gets stretched, Sua only needs one line break or finish in the corner to turn into one of the better salary saving OB options on the board. A top FLX or OB3 pick here, who ran for over 250 metres last week.
Shawn Blore ($10,830) is a very appealing value option because Melbourne have brought him back into the starting pack, and starting edge forwards in that price range are always worth a serious look on a two-game slate. Storm’s official team announcement confirms Blore is elevated into the run on side, and that gives him a clear path to strong base through tackles and carries, with upside added by his ability to run hard lines close to the stripe. Against a Dolphins side that should move enough ball to keep his defensive workload healthy, Blore profiles as one of the cleaner cheap forward options if he lands around a typical starting edge minute load.
NRL Friday Round 9: Our Mid Price Fantasy Picks
Sitili Tupouniua ($12,380) shapes as one of the best mid-range forward plays of the slate now that he has been named to start in the second row for Canterbury with Kikau sidelined. The official Bulldogs team list has him on an edge, and that role is a strong fantasy one because it gives him access to base through minutes and tackles while preserving his best upside avenue: powerful line running close to the line. Sitili has never needed huge volume to find a ceiling because his game is built on tackle busts and tries, and against a Cowboys side that can concede points through edge traffic, he has a very real path to a 45–50-point score at a manageable salary.
Max Plath ($13,340) is one of the standout mid-priced plays because his role at hooker remains extremely busy and very fantasy friendly. The Dolphins have again named him at No.9, and with Jeremy Marshall-King still sidelined and Morgan Knowles only just back, there is every reason to expect Plath to continue managing big minutes and plenty of defensive work through the middle. Hookers who play long minutes on short slates are gold in Draftstars because the floor is built on tackles and involvement, and Plath adds enough running game and attacking instinct around the ruck to go beyond a pure base score. Against a Storm pack that will ask plenty of questions through the middle third, his workload should again be there.
NRL Friday Round 9: Our Premium Fantasy Picks
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki ($17,310) is at a premium price, but he still looks like one of the strongest forward options because he combines a very solid base with genuine attacking upside. The Dolphins have him starting on an edge again, and that role gives him access to consistent carries, defensive work and line running opportunities on attacking shifts. He has already shown this season that he can turn games with one powerful moment, but what makes him especially attractive on a short slate is that he does not need a try to be relevant. With the Dolphins likely to test Melbourne’s edges and ask him to carry a good share of the workload, Finefeuiaki has one of the clearest 60+ pathways among the forwards.
Scott Drinkwater ($16,550) is the premium ceiling playmaker/fullback option of the slate and makes a lot of sense if you are paying up outside the forwards. He is named at fullback again for North Queensland and remains central to almost everything they create through support play, sweeping movements and direct try involvements. Drinkwater’s fantasy appeal has always come from the combination of base through kick returns and metres plus the ability to explode for multiple line breaks, assists or tries in the same game. Against a Bulldogs side dealing with edge changes and back-row reshuffling, he has a very live path to a game winning score if the Cowboys’ attack clicks.
Suggested NRL Draftstars Lineup
NRL Round 9 Friday Match Info & Betting Odds
Bulldogs ($1.77) vs Cowboys ($2.05)
Line: Bulldogs (-1.5)
Points: 51.5
Dolphins ($1.62) vs Storm ($2.30)
Line: Dolphins (-3.5)
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!
