May — a genuine points machine up front. He's averaging 65, one of the best-scoring middles going, built on huge tackle counts and strong run metres, with a high of 90. The last few weeks have cooled a touch, but the base is as good as any front-rower in the competition.
Toby Couchman — in outstanding form, and one to jump on this week. He's averaging 62 for the year and 69 across his last five, backing up big minutes with huge run metres and a tackle count that's pushed into the 50s. He's cleared 69 in four of his last five, with a high of 83, so the base and the form are both there.
Edge
Ryan Couchman — right in form alongside his brother. He's averaging 57 for the year and 62 across his last five, off the back of a 76 last week, with a tackle count in the 50s and strong run metres from his lock role. The base is excellent and trending up.
Preston — the boom edge with real try-scoring upside. His overall average of 48 looks a touch down, but that's a little misleading, because in games where he's played 65 minutes or more he's averaging 53. He's got a much higher gear too, a high of 83 and a 78 last week off two line breaks and a try. There's variance in his game, but the ceiling makes him worth it.
Halves
Cleary — the easiest lock in the squad. He's averaging 75, comfortably the best half you can pick, and the goal kicking gives him a floor nobody else in the position can match. He's cleared 90 on six occasions this year, with a high of 100, and he's coming off a 90 last week. Auto pick.
Hynes — genuine boom, and he's in scintillating touch. He's averaging 65 with a big goal-kicking base, and the ceiling is enormous, a 108 in Round 19 and a 105 last week showing exactly what he can do. When the Sharks click he's one of the highest scorers in the game.
Centre
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 already on the board and double-digit tackle breaks a feature of his game. Class pick.
Doueihi — a huge positional edge, and one of my favourite picks in the squad. He's listed as a centre in GDS but he's playing halfback for the Tigers, which is exactly why he scores like a half. He's averaging 65 in the No.7 with a big kicking game and a high of 102, miles above what you'd normally get from a centre, where he's historically closer to 42. On raw scoring he's arguably one of the best centre options in GameDay Squad. It does come with a bit of risk this week though. He walked out of training on Friday after being asked to play lock, though he and the Tigers have since patched things up and he's been named to play at halfback this week. If he were a late exclusion for any reason, there aren't many decent centre options in the last game of the round, so it's one to keep an eye on right up to kickoff.
Wing
Faalogo — in cracking touch, and the fact he's getting the fullback job for the Storm is exactly why he scores like this. He's averaging 61 for the season with a high of 100, and he's coming off a 75 last week off 288 run metres and a try. The line breaks and try involvement come week after week.
Isaako — the boom winger with a goal-kicking floor. He's averaging 57 and owns one of the biggest ceilings going, a huge 119 to his name this year, and he's coming off a two-try 76. The kicking points give him a base most wingers can't match, and the tries stack on top.
Fullback
Walsh — the explosive one at fullback with a monster ceiling. He's averaging 54 but the top end is huge, a 90 in Round 20 among the highlights, and he's added a big kicking game recently. He can run cold, but when he's on he's one of the most dangerous players in the game.
Bench
Aitken — about as consistent as they come in his base numbers for the position. He's averaging 50 off a steady diet of tackles and metres from the second row, so the floor is dependable week to week, and he adds try-scoring and line-break threat on top, with a high of 78. A reliable option with a bit of ceiling.
Utoikamanu — one of the more explosive middles going, and he's red hot. He's averaging 57 for the year and 61 across his last five, coming off a season-high 88 last week and a 70 the round before. The tackle breaks set him apart for a front-rower, and the form makes him one of the better middles going right now.
Campbell — a dangerous playmaker with a big top end, and he's in superb form. He's averaging 63 and 70 across his last five, coming off a monster 110 last week, with the goal kicking and a big running game driving it. When he goes he goes big, and the recent numbers are hard to ignore.
Tedesco — firing again. He's averaging 57 with an enormous ceiling, a monstrous 118 on the board this year, and he's coming off a three-try 69 last week in his return from a Origin HIA. One of the most dangerous fullbacks going when he's on, and he looks right on.
Ponga — an elite fullback and one of the best scorers in the game. He's averaging 66 with the goal kicking, running game and try-scoring all in the mix, and a high of 96.
