The first Friday Night NRL double header of the 2025 season kicks off in the golden west, as the Wests Tigers host the Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. It is the highly anticipated club debut for recruit Jarome Luai, and all eyes will be on the Tigers number 7 for 80 minutes this week. Following the curtain raiser, it’s time for the Wayne Bennett Memorial battle, as the Rabbitohs welcome back the Supercoach, taking on his former team, the Dolphins.
Draftstars have several contests on offer for Friday night, including single-match contests, and combined matchups. These include:
NRL $10,000 – Dolphins v Rabbitohs
NRL $6,000 – Tigers v Knights
NRL $3,000 – Friday Night doubleheader
There are plenty of other contests that will tickle your fancy, so get involved and make the greatest game of all even more exciting.
Betting Markets
Tigers ($2.30) vs Knights ($1.62) – Odds thanks to Playup!
Line: Knights (-3.5)
Points: 42.5
Rabbitohs ($1.85) vs Dolphins ($1.95) – Odds thanks to Playup!
Line: Rabbitohs (-1.5)
Points: 42.5
If you’re looking to bet on the NRL this season, then you can bet with PlayUp by using the same account that you have at Draftstars. PlayUp are Australian owned and offer a strong range of NRL betting markets and offers, including Same Game Multis.
Where to Attack?
VALUE PLAYS
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki ($9,320) has shifted to the Dolphins in the off-season from the Cowboys and looks set to take on an increased role for his new squad. I don’t see him getting the full 80 minutes, but he’s not a working type of backrower anyway. You are picking up Finefeuiaki for his attacking upside, and hoping he can jag a try and break some tackles. Priced below $10k, the powerful backrower is someone I’m looking at to dominate a Bunnies team that may struggle on the edge early this season.
Royce Hunt ($8,000) is another player who has come to a new club this off-season, as the Tiger recruit looks at getting more game time this season, after being used sparingly for the Sharks last season off the bench. Whilst it is a concern that Hunt has been named on the bench for the Tigers, I believe he is a risk worth taking at bottom dollar this week. Much like Finefeuiaki, don’t expect big numbers from Hunt to get you a decent score this week. Instead, look for Hunt to bend the line and possibly break it, look for an offload, and possibly barge over close to the line for a try.
MID PRICE PLAYS
Adam Doueihi ($10,430) could be in for a big year if he can manage to stay healthy. The rangy centre has always had the ability to be a gun fantasy rugby league player, with his ability to ball play, make his own breaks, and kick goals at a high clip. Whilst playing in the centres as opposed to the halves will decrease his involvement with hands on the ball, running off Jarome Luai can only be a good thing for the Tigers centre. Expect Doueihi to get his chances close to the line and potentially score a try for the Tigers this week, whilst his goal kicking is a nice little bonus on top.
Jamayne Isaako ($9,940) is another outside back who kicks goals, and I love the Dolphins winger at these prices. Isaako has shown in the past that he can score tries with the best of them, and given the Rabbitohs below average wingers defensively, Isaako has a real shot at scoring at least one try this weekend. At below $10k, he’s close enough to bottom dollar to not be overly affected if he doesn’t manage a huge score, but with his high ceiling he is a tremendous pick up this weekend.
PREMIUM PLAYS
Kalyn Ponga ($20,430) is the most expensive player in this slate, and for good reason. Ponga is expected to start the year strong, after a couple of tremendous showings in the pre-season have Knights’ supporters excited for what’s to come. Ponga is another player that has the goal kicking duties, which is always a positive when selecting a fantasy squad. Only three tries in total for the 2024 season, Ponga is due some positive variance when it comes to crossing the white stripe. In the past two matches he has played against the Tigers, Ponga has a try, two line breaks, four try assists and six line break assists. Expect the classy fullback to tear the Tigers defence to shreds once again and be in the top 3 scores on Friday night.
Terrell May ($15,030) is another new recruit that I like this weekend. Coming to the Tigers from the Roosters in the off season, May proved himself as a stud fantasy player last year with the Roosters. Can play huge minutes in the middle, can get through a mountain of work, and has the ball playing and footwork of someone half his size. If he gets the minutes, he should in this Tigers pack, May is the Payne Haas type metronome you can just set and forget in this slate, who will easily get you a solid score, and has the upside for a monster score. Hard to leave out under any circumstance in this slate.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup
