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
Pascoe — a strong base hooker when he plays big minutes. In his full 80-minute games at dummy-half he's averaged 60, built on enormous tackle counts, 62 and 56 among them, and he's got a try threat in him with a double back in Round 20. There's always a slight element of risk with Sam Verrills on the interchange able to rotate through the hooker role, but Pascoe has played the full 80 in three of his last four, so he should get enough of the game to score well regardless. He dipped to a quiet 33 last week, but the ceiling and the workrate are there whenever he goes the distance.
Middle
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.
King — a steady front-row option off his rotation minutes. He's averaging 49 with a high of 82, and the base comes from consistent tackle work and strong run metres. He won't always go big off limited time, but he's a reliable pick who can pop the odd big one.
Papali'i — classed as a middle in GDS, though he actually plays in the second row on the left edge for the Panthers. He's got a bit of ceiling, coming off a 75 last week off a try and six tackle breaks. He's averaging 48 across the year with the base in his tackle and run-metre numbers, and when the attacking stats fire he can push well into the 70s. There's a fair bit of risk here though. He's only played the full 80 once since Round 14, and in his shorter outings over that stretch he's cracked 45 just once, last week's big score aside. So I'm not chasing that 75, it's the upside if he lands a full 80 that appeals. A risky selection, but probably a big POD play for Primetime.
Edge
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.
Luki — a dependable 80-minute edge with a solid base, and there's genuine extra upside this week with Nanai out of the Cowboys side. When Nanai has played this year Luki has averaged 46, but without him that jumps to 55, with a clear uptick in tackle breaks, try-scoring and run metres as he takes on more of the load. The numbers suggest the Cowboys lean on the right edge a lot more when Nanai is out, which plays right into Luki's hands. The last time he played without Nanai was back in Round 14, so this is the biggest ceiling we've seen from him in a while. He's averaging 52 overall off consistent tackle counts around the 40 mark, and he's coming off a 60 last week.
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.
Campbell — a set-and-forget starting option in Primetime 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.
Centre
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 off 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.
Toia — the steadier centre option, and he's in good touch with a 62 and a 65 in his last two. He's averaging 50 with 56 across his last five, the try-scoring and tackle breaks giving him plenty of ways to score. A reliable pick with genuine upside.
Wing
Nawaqanitawase — the boom-or-bust winger, and the swings are dramatic. He's just exploded for a 94 off a hat-trick last week, but there are single-digit returns scattered through his season too. He's averaging 46, but you're picking him for the ceiling, and when he goes he goes big.
Burns — a big-running winger with serious yardage and tackle-break numbers. He's averaging 49 with a high of 81, and he racks up serious run metres, regularly north of 200, with the tackle breaks and tries to match. He was quiet last week, but the volume and the ceiling make him a live option.
Fullback
Tedesco — firing again at fullback. 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 and a 55 in his last two. One of the most dangerous fullbacks going when he's on. There's a catch this week though. He came off last week with an ankle concern, and there are reports he may still be struggling with it, so it's one to watch. Here's where it gets tricky, and where you can play it smart. The Roosters are in the last game of the Primetime slate, so if you want him, consider naming him on your bench rather than the run-on side. That way, if the ankle flares late, you can pivot at the last minute to another back playing in that game. Something to think about.
Bench
Fa'asuamaleaui — a front-rower trending up, averaging 56 across his last five against a season figure of 44. He plays around 60 minutes with big tackle counts and strong run metres, and he's got a high of 75. The recent form makes him a sneaky option.
Clark — he hasn't quite lived up to the hype after last season's breakout year, with only two scores of 50 or better in his last seven, and he's averaging around 54 minutes a game, so that's a consideration. The matchup is the draw though. He comes up against the best team in the competition this week, and last time out against them he posted 56 in just 54 minutes, and remarkably that came almost entirely through base, the tackles and run metres, without leaning on the attacking stats at all. It's a tricky position to fill this week, and he offers a ceiling in the middle that not many options can match.
Walker — the boom-or-bust half, and he's just gone nuclear with a 116 last week off a hat-trick and 12 goals. He's averaging 50 with wild swings, a -10 among the lows, but the ceiling with the goal kicking and try-scoring is enormous. A genuine gamble, but the top end can win you the week.
Kini — an explosive fullback with a big ceiling, and the matchup is the reason to jump on him this week. The Cowboys have been a soft touch for opposing fullbacks, allowing 50 to the position across the season, and that climbs to 59 over the last ten and 60 over the last five, so the trend is only getting worse for them. The Titans are struggling, but Kini is exactly the sort of upside play you want against a defence leaking like this. He's averaging 51 with a high of 90, and the run metres, line breaks and tackle breaks give him plenty of ways to cash in.
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, with the goal kicking a recent bonus. A bit of variance week to week, but the ceiling is there when the Cowboys click.
