The Stats Lab Primetime is a brand new GameDay Squad competition for 2026, where coaches can only select players from the Thursday and Friday night games each round. We're proud to partner with GameDay Squad on this one and the unique challenge it brings every week.
Quick word on every call, position by position.
Hooker
Robson — the base hooker option. He's averaging 44 off a full 80 minutes, with the tackle volume the backbone of it, regularly into the 40s and 50s. The scoring's been quiet lately, but the workrate gives him a floor and he carries the odd try threat out of dummy-half.
Middle
Lindsay Smith — a middle whose ceiling is all about minutes. He's averaging 42 off a rotation role around 45 minutes, but when he's been handed a lock role and bigger minutes he's gone big, a 92 and a 74 among those games. He pushed to 71 minutes last week for a 56, so if the workload stays up there's plenty of upside.
Murray — a reliable engine-room option. He's averaging 51 off his lock role with strong tackle numbers and the odd attacking involvement, and a high of 70. He won't often blow up, but the base is dependable week to week.
King — a steady front-row option off his rotation minutes. He's averaging 48 with a high of 82, and the base comes from consistent tackle work and strong run metres. He won't always go big off limited time, but he can pop the odd big one.
Edge
Preston — the boom edge with real try-scoring upside, and he's in form with a 78, a 68 and a 60 in his last three. His overall average of 51 undersells it, because in games where he plays 65 minutes or more he averages 55, and he owns a high of 83. There's variance in his game, but the ceiling makes him worth it.
Olakau'atu — one of the premier edge forwards in the game and a top-end pick. He's averaging 67 with a monster high of 101 and 70 across his last five, built on relentless tackle breaks, big run metres and a genuine try threat. About as good as it gets in the second row.
Halves
Cleary — the easiest lock in the squad. He's averaging 77, comfortably the best half you can pick, with the goal kicking giving him a floor nobody else can match. He's strung together a 90, a 96 and a 73 in his last three, and he owns a high of 100. Auto pick.
Fogarty — a steady halves option with a reliable base. He's averaging 55, driven by enormous kicking-metre totals, often north of 500, plus the goal kicking, and a high of 86. He can go big when the tries and assists come, and the kicking game gives him a dependable floor either way.
Centre
Crichton — a nice positional edge here. He's classed as a centre in GDS but he's playing five-eighth for the Bulldogs, and he kicks goals, which lifts his floor. He dropped an 82 in that role a fortnight ago before a quieter 39 last week, so there's variance as he settles into the No.6, but a goal-kicking playmaker in a centre slot is a real advantage.
Farnworth — the standout centre in the squad and an easy inclusion. He's averaging 66, one of the best in the position with an enormous ceiling, a monstrous 114 to his name and double-digit tackle breaks a feature of his game. Class pick.
Wing
Isaako — the boom winger with a goal-kicking floor. He's averaging 54 and owns one of the biggest ceilings going, a huge 119 to his name this year, and the kicking points give him a base most wingers can't match. The tries stack on top when they come.
Faulalo — a set-and-forget this week. He's classed as a winger in GDS but he's slotted into the fullback role for the Sea Eagles, and in his four games there at 70 minutes or more he's averaged 56, with a high of 71. That's the kind of output you want from the position, so he's a confident lock-in.
Fullback
Tedesco — a dangerous fullback with an enormous ceiling, a monstrous 118 on the board this year. When he's on he's one of the most damaging players in the game, and his last two outings brought a three-try game and a two-try game. He returns this week after a week off with an ankle injury, so there's an element of risk coming back off just the one week, but with the way the Roosters are travelling you'd think they wouldn't risk him unless he was good to go. Some risk attached, but the upside is huge.
Bench
Papali'i — classed as a middle in GDS, though he actually plays in the second row on the left edge for the Panthers. He's averaging 48 with the base in his tackle and run-metre numbers, and a top gear that can push into the 70s, as his 76 a fortnight ago showed. A touch variable, but there's upside.
Henry — a hard-working forward off his rotation minutes. He's averaging 49 with big tackle counts for his time on the field, a high of 85, and a 55 last week off 47 tackles. Limited minutes cap the ceiling, but the base is strong.
Galvin — a steady halves option with a good base. He's averaging 54 with a high of 72, and the running game, kicking metres and try involvement give him plenty of ways to score. He's coming off a 63 last week. A dependable option.
Tabuai-Fidow — an explosive fullback with a big ceiling. He's averaging 53 with a high of 82, and he's coming off a two-try 54 last week. When he's involved he can go big, so there's plenty of upside here.
Billy Smith — in strong form and worth a look. He's averaging 49 but has lifted to 61 across his last five, coming off a two-try 78 last week, and he chips in with tries, line breaks and tackle breaks whether he's at centre or on the wing. The recent numbers are hard to ignore.
