Davo Hickey is the first name to check on the Round 8 Fantasy Draft waiver wire. Nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists in Illawarra’s 105–98 win at Perth gave the Hawks a little of everything from their backcourt. The reward for fantasy managers who can actually claim him is a two-game week, against Cairns on Thursday and Adelaide on Saturday. That is a better starting point than chasing a scorer who has one hot night and one fixture.
Priority 1 — Davo Hickey, Illawarra. The NBL’s account of Saturday’s upset shows Hickey influencing the game without scoring heavily. Eight assists and eight boards suggest useful routes to fantasy value even when his shot volume is modest. The Hawks have struggled for much of the season, and one strong game does not settle every rotation question, but he has an immediately useful fixture. His availability is specific to your league; this is a claim priority only where he is genuinely unrostered.
Priority 2 — Archie Woodhill, Brisbane. Woodhill has become a practical part of Will Weaver’s patched-up rotation. He contributed 10 points and five rebounds in the win over Illawarra, then made three triples for nine points against Adelaide on Sunday. The NBL’s Brisbane injury report listed Max Mackinnon, Lat Mayen, Jacob Holt, Sam McDaniel and Arnas Velička unavailable for the Adelaide game. Brisbane face Perth and Melbourne in Round 8, but Woodhill’s opportunity depends on who returns. He is an upside depth claim, not a promise of a particular number of minutes or a permanent starting role.
Priority 3 — Johny Narkle, Illawarra. Narkle scored nine of his 11 points in the final quarter against Perth, adding seven rebounds and two steals for the match. That was an important contribution to a badly needed win, not proof he has suddenly become a high-usage starter. Illawarra’s next two opponents provide another opportunity to earn trust. The NBL player profile lists him as a forward, while some coverage calls him a guard; check the position labels in your particular Fantasy Draft competition rather than assuming either designation carries over.
Priority 4 — Reyne Smith, Cairns. Smith scored 20 points on four made threes against Brisbane on Thursday, then 11 against Melbourne on Saturday. Cairns host Illawarra and travel to Perth in Round 8. His case is straightforward: the Brisbane game showed what happens when the perimeter shots fall, while the Melbourne result showed the less explosive version. A sensible claim for managers seeking shooting upside, but less attractive if they need dependable contributions across several categories.
The speculative option — Makur Maker, Illawarra. Maker scored 21 points with five rebounds in Perth, giving the Hawks a genuine inside presence. That is worth monitoring with two fixtures ahead, although his scoring against one opponent should not be treated as a locked-in weekly baseline. If your league is deep and Hickey has long since been claimed, Maker’s role could be a more useful bet than a fringe player with only one game.
There is one obvious trap: treating the word double as a guarantee. Four teams — Brisbane, Perth, Cairns and Illawarra — have two Round 8 games on the official NBL schedule, but injuries, matchups and rotation changes can still turn two appearances into less useful court time. Check actual waiver availability, roster limits and positional eligibility before lodging a claim. The best pickup is the one with a role you can explain, not simply a name beside two fixtures.
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