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, and the pick here comes down to minutes. Of the likely hookers in this week's games he's been getting the most time on the field, with back-to-back 80-minute games, and that's the main reason he gets the nod. He's averaging 44 and the tackle volume in those 80s is enormous, 51 and 58 in his two most recent games. The scoring's been a touch quiet lately, but the workrate gives him a floor and he carries a try threat out of dummy-half.
Middle
Utoikamanu — a genuine ceiling play in the front row, 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.
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.
Stewart — the reliable one in the middle, and one to slip under the radar this week, picked in just 19% of Primetime squads. He's locked into an 80-minute second-row role, piling up around 44 tackles a game, and he's averaging 58 whenever he gets 70 minutes or more in that role, with a season high of 74 and no score under 47 in those games. A genuinely steady floor for the squad.
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
Wishart — a sneaky value play now he's the Storm's starting five-eighth. Across his three games in that role he's averaged 66, capped by an 80 last week with a try and the goal kicking, and the kicking game gives him another way to score. His season average looks light because of early cameos off the interchange, but the recent role is what matters.
Hughes — there's genuine boom in him. He's averaging 51 with a big kicking game and a high of 75, and he's coming off a 66 last week. He can go quiet, but when the Storm click through the middle he's one of the highest scorers going.
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.
Toia — the steadier centre option. He's averaging 51 with a nice bit of consistency, 56 across his last five, and he's coming off a 62 last week with a season-high nine tackle breaks. He's got the try-scoring in him too, so there's upside on top of a solid floor.
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
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.
Bench
Finefeuiaki — a handy edge option with a bit of upside, and the matchup helps. He comes up against the Dragons this week, and they've allowed the most points per game of any side to right edge forwards this season at 55. He's averaging 52 off an 80-minute second-row role, with a high of 79 and a 75 as recently as Round 18. The tackle work and run metres give him a reasonable floor, and there's a ceiling if the attacking stats land against a soft matchup.
Nat Butcher — an under-the-radar pick, and the case is in his second-row numbers. Across his five games starting in the back row this season he's averaged 53, well above his overall figure, and he's held that starting gig lately, coming off a 58 last week. The base tackling is outstanding and the demerits are low.
Walker — the boom-or-bust half, and the swings say it all, a 94 and a 77 among the highs, a -10 among the lows. He's averaging 46 but the ceiling is enormous with the goal kicking and try-scoring. A genuine gamble, but the upside is there if you want to roll the dice.
Tabuai-Fidow — an explosive fullback with a big ceiling. He's averaging 56 and coming off a 78 last week off nine tackle breaks and two line breaks, with a high of 82. When he's involved he can go big, so there's plenty of upside here.
Drinkwater — a playmaking fullback who racks up the assists. He's averaging 49 with a high of 73, and the try-assist and line-break-assist involvement give him plenty of ways to score. He's also picked up the goal-kicking duties over the last couple of weeks, which nudges his score up nicely, landing five goals last week, and he looks likely to have the boot again this week. A bit of variance week to week, but the ceiling is there when the Cowboys click.
