Yeo — the safe one in the middle, and he's just reminded everyone of his ceiling with a season-high 84 last week. He's averaging 56 at lock with a floor that rarely dips below the mid-40s, so he gives you dependable output every week with a bit more on top when the attacking stats land.
Utoikamanu — one of the more explosive middles going. He's averaging 56 off around 50 minutes, and the top end is big, a season-high 88 just two weeks ago. He came back to a quiet 37 last week, but the tackle breaks and the ceiling off limited minutes keep him a strong option.
Edge
Ryan Couchman — right in form, and coming off a career-high 98 last week that included a try. He's averaging 60 from his lock role with enormous tackle counts, 57 and 47 in recent weeks, and strong run metres. The base is excellent and the form couldn't be better.
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 72 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. After a rare quiet one in Round 20 he's roared back with a 90 and a 96, and he's cleared 90 on plenty of occasions this year with a high of 100. Auto pick.
Hynes — genuine boom, and he's in scintillating touch. He's averaging 66 with a big goal-kicking base, and the ceiling is enormous, with a 108 and a 105 in his last handful of games. 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 to his name and double-digit tackle breaks a feature of his game. He's coming off a 76 last week. Class pick.
Crichton — a nice positional edge here. He's classed as a centre in GDS but he's shifted to five-eighth for the Bulldogs, and he's coming off an 82 in that role last week that included two tries. He kicks goals too, which lifts his floor, and getting a starting playmaker who also kicks in a centre slot is a real advantage. A bit of variance as he settles into the No.6, but the upside is obvious.
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 62 with a high of 100, and he's coming off a 75 and a 69 in his last two, with the big run metres, line breaks and try involvement every week.
Isaako — the boom winger with a goal-kicking floor. He's averaging 55 and owns one of the biggest ceilings going, a huge 119 to his name this year, and a 76 with two tries as recently as Round 20. He was quiet last week, but 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 55 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
Finefeuiaki — a dependable 80-minute edge with a solid base. He's averaging 54 off consistent tackle counts, often into the 40s, with a high of 79, and he's coming off a 66 last week. The floor is reliable with a bit of upside if the attacking stats land.
Preston — the boom edge with real try-scoring upside, and he's in form with a 78 and a 68 in his last two. His overall average of 50 undersells it, because in games where he's played 65 minutes or more he averages 54, and he owns a high of 83. There's variance in his game, but the ceiling makes him worth it.
Campbell — a set-and-forget starting option this week. He's averaging 62 with the goal kicking, kicking game and running all feeding his score, and he dropped a monster 110 just two weeks ago. The real pull is who lines up beside him in the halves. Alongside Zane Harrison he's averaged 60 this season, but next to Lachlan Ilias that jumps to 70, with three of those four games landing 68 or better. There's a small injury cloud, as he's reportedly been managing turf toe with painkilling injections before games, but it hasn't dented his output at all, so I'm happy to lock him in.
Tabuai-Fidow — an explosive fullback with a big ceiling. He's averaging 53 with a high of 82, and he's got a 78 as recently as Round 20 off nine tackle breaks and two line breaks. When he's involved he can go big, so there's plenty of upside here.
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, a high of 96, and he's coming off a 58 last week. A premium pick.
