This is The Stats Lab Starter Squad to Beat for Round 17, our benchmark 18-man GameDay Squad picked across the full round. We're proud to partner with GameDay Squad and to put up a side for coaches to chase every week.
Quick word on every call, position by position.
Hooker
Grant — the premium hooker and an easy inclusion. He's averaging 56 for the season and 62 across his last five, and even when the Storm have rotated his minutes off the bench he's kept producing, headlined by an 86 in R10. He banks a huge tackle count every week and has the try-scoring to spike, with six tries already this year. The pick of the hookers by a fair margin.
Middle
May — one of the most reliable middles going around. He's averaging 69 for the season and 71 across his last five, and the floor is the standout. He hasn't dipped below 50 all year, even off limited prop minutes, because the tackle count and run metres are enormous every week. A genuine model of reliability.
Haas — no overthinking this one. He's arguably the best middle forward in the game and you pick him on that alone. The numbers turn up when he plays, an 82 against the Dragons in R13 the high point, and the base is rock solid through his tackles and metres. Pure class.
Willison — looks underwhelming on the season average of 47, but that's the early-year bench cameos dragging it down. The story is the lock role. In his three starts at No. 13 he's gone 79, 80 and 72, all big scores built on monster tackle counts. He's confirmed to start at lock again this week, which makes him one of the best value middles in the squad.
Edge
Olakau'atu — flying at the moment and the form man of the edges. He starts on the right edge and is averaging 64 for the season, with a huge 74 across his last five and a 101 against the Tigers in that run. He racks up tackle breaks and run metres like a back, has the try-scoring in him, and plays big minutes. As good a ceiling as any edge in the game.
R Couchman — a sneaky base play, and I'm comfortable making it. He's been shifted into the lock role for the Dragons and it suits him, averaging 63 across his last five off the back of enormous tackle counts. He's yet to score a try all year, so it's all work-rate and metres, but the floor is safe and he reliably hits his number.
Halves
Cleary — the best half you can pick this week and the easiest lock in the squad. He's averaging 79 for the season and a ridiculous 87 across his last five. The goal kicking gives him a floor nobody else has, and when the tries and assists come on top he's into triple figures. An auto pick, and confirmed to play after his Origin duty.
Brown — quietly building nice scores at the Knights. He's averaging 53 for the season and 55 across his last five, with a 78 in R16 the pick of them. What carries him is the work-rate. He piles up 25 to 30 tackles a game and big kicking metres, so the floor holds up even on the quieter nights. A solid second-half option.
Centre
Farnworth — set and forget, and one of the best centres in the game. He lines up in the left centre and is averaging 69 for the season and 67 across his last five, and he's crossed for a try in seven of his twelve games. The base is brilliant through his tackle breaks and offloads, and the ceiling is enormous, a 113 against the Panthers the standout. An easy inclusion.
Doueihi — back in the side and a strong scorer when he plays. On the numbers we hold he's been excellent, averaging 71 across his seven games this year before injury kept him out, with a high of 101 against the Raiders. He does his damage right through the middle as a ball-playing half.
Wing
Faalogo — a brilliant attacking weapon and flying at the right time. He's averaging 62 for the season and 69 across his last five, with two scores over 96 in that run. He's crossed for twelve tries and found the line in nine of his fourteen games, so the try-scoring floor is as good as it gets out wide. Big ceiling, and in form.
Nawaqanitawase — one of the best wingers in the game right now, and he holds down the right wing for the Roosters. He's averaging 57 for the season and 61 across his last five, with twelve tries to his name and a hat-trick against the Raiders in R14. He's a load-carrying machine off his own line and as explosive as anyone in the squad. A genuine star.
Fullback
Ponga — gets the fullback nod, and a set and forget for me. He's averaging 71 for the season with three scores in the 90s, and the goal kicking gives him a floor most fullbacks can only dream of. He's missed chunks of the year, but he's confirmed to play, and on output he's an auto pick.
Bench
Egan — a really tidy base play, and he's flown under the radar at the Dragons. He's settled on the right edge of late, averaging 60 for the season and 66 across his last five, all built on enormous tackle counts in the second row, often north of 45 a game with barely a missed tackle. The try-scoring upside is limited, but the floor is excellent and he plays big minutes. A smart POD.
Lucas — similar base appeal to Egan but with more attacking pop, and he holds down the left edge at the Knights. He's averaging 60 for the season and 63 across his last five, and unlike a lot of edge forwards he's got genuine try-scoring in him, including a two-try, 97-point game against the Eels in R13. Big tackle counts plus the odd four-pointer makes for a tidy floor-and-ceiling mix.
Campbell — the playmaker and goal kicker rolled into one at the Titans, which is exactly what you want in this squad. He's averaging 61 for the season and 59 across his last five, and the kicking duties give him a steady base even on the quieter nights. The ceiling's there too, with a 101 earlier in the year. A reliable option in the halves.
Walsh — the boom-or-bust weapon of the squad. The form's tailed off, down to 44 across his last five, and there have been some real lows in there. But the ceiling is as high as anyone's, an 86 against the Dolphins the proof, and he's been rested with Origin and the bye, so he'll come in fresh with a point to prove. He's confirmed to play. A risk, but a high-upside one.
Edwards — Mister Consistent at the back. He's averaging 59 for the season and 58 across his last five, and he very rarely lays an egg because the score is built on run metres and tackle breaks rather than tries. He's still crossed nine times this year for the odd spike. There are flashier fullbacks, but for a safe base who'll do a job, Edwards rounds the squad off nicely.
