NRL Grand Final: Squad to Beat and POD Picks
There might be some real left-field PODs in this, but one thing I've learned when building a team to compete in any GDS competition is that you need a mix of reliable guns and a few sharp PODs to push towards the top of the ladder.
The Grand Final is here, and with a much smaller player pool, finding a way to stand out is tougher than ever. These POD plays could give you the crucial edge to climb the ranks one last time. I'm rolling the PODs and the Squad to Beat into one—here's The Stats Lab Squad to Beat for the Grand Final.
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The Squad to Beat
Forwards
| Position | Player |
|----------|--------|
| Hooker | Grant |
| Middle | Carrigan |
| Middle | Haas |
| Middle | Utoikamanu |
| Edge | Katoa |
| Edge | Riki |
Backs
| Position | Player |
|----------|--------|
| Half | Hughes |
| Half | Munster |
| Centre | Staggs |
| Centre | Shibasaki |
| Wing | Warbrick |
| Wing | Mariner |
| Fullback | Walsh |
Bench
| Player |
|--------|
| Loiero |
| Jensen |
| Reynolds |
| Karapani |
| Papenhuyzen |
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POD Selections to Watch
Middle - Josh King
King isn't as popular as Haas, Utoikamanu or Carrigan, but his season average of 38 keeps him in the conversation for a bench spot. His ceiling isn't as high as the elite middles, but as a starting prop you know what you're getting—steady work through tackles and hit-ups. If the Storm drag this into an arm-wrestle, King can comfortably grind out 30+ points with a safe floor.
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Edge - Shawn Blore
Blore has been up and down, but his ability to produce solid base stats and crash over for attacking contributions makes him an intriguing POD. With Katoa and Riki likely locked in as the chalk edge options, Blore could sneak onto some benches. The only concern is his minutes, particularly with Lisati named on the interchange.
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Half - Ben Hunt
Most coaches will back Hughes, Munster, and Reynolds as the halves trio, but Hunt remains heavily involved across the park. His defensive workload provides a safe base, and if he can add an attacking stat or two, he's every chance to outscore one of the chalkier picks—just as he did last week, edging out Reynolds by five points.
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Centre - Nick Meaney
Meaney's goal-kicking gives him a unique scoring avenue that few centres can match. Even in a tough matchup, his kicking floor and involvement in Melbourne's backline makes him a dependable POD, even if he doesn't have the tackle-busting upside that other centre options bring.
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Wing - Xavier Coates
Coates is pure rocks or diamonds—a low floor if the tries don't come, but a massive ceiling if they do. In a reduced wing pool, his finishing ability and aerial threat could be the POD swing that separates you from the field.
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Risky Bench Options
There are some real left-field darts available on the bench: Tyran Wishart, Ezra Mam, Xavier Willison, and Kobe Hetherington. All have the ability to score well in short bursts, but with minutes never guaranteed, they're as risky as it gets—true desperation PODs if you need to roll the dice.
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Final Thoughts
The Grand Final presents a unique challenge with a limited player pool. Balance is key—lock in your guns, but don't be afraid to take a calculated risk on a POD or two. Sometimes that one differential pick is the difference between finishing mid-pack and climbing to the top.
Good luck, and enjoy the Grand Final.