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
Watson — the interesting wrinkle here is he's lining up at lock this week rather than his usual utility role. Across his nine games at lock for the Roosters he's averaged 51, but when he plays 50 minutes or more in the role that climbs to 57. It's not all old data either, he filled it as recently as Round 11 this year, scoring 70 in 53 minutes against the Cowboys. Looking at their rotation I'd be surprised if he doesn't get his 55-plus minutes, and he remains a very capable scorer. His broader 2026 output has been thin off limited minutes, but with the other options at the position slim this week, he shapes as the better of them.
Middle
Haas — no overthinking this one. He's arguably the best middle forward in the game and you pick him on that alone. He's averaging 62 and in fine touch, a 90 two weeks ago and a 61 last week, with the base as reliable as any front-rower. Set and forget.
Murray — in red-hot form, and coming off a monster 116 last week. He's averaging 56 for the year but 73 across his last five, built on huge tackle numbers and the odd attacking burst. The base is dependable and the form is undeniable.
Fa'asuamaleaui — in career-best form to finish the year. He's averaging 51 overall but a huge 72 across his last five, coming off a 93 and an 86 in his last two. The workload and output have climbed together, and he's one of the form middles in the game right now.
Edge
Preston — the boom edge with real try-scoring upside, and he's finishing the year strongly with a 78, a 68, a 60, a 61 and an 80 across his last five. His overall average of 53 undersells it, because in games where he plays 80 minutes or more he averages 59, and he's played the full 80 in each of his last seven, so that's the number that matters. He's coming off an 80 last week, with a high of 83. Excellent form.
Koloamatangi — an edge in good late-season form. He's averaging 49 but has lifted to 56 across his last five, coming off a 73 last week, with a high of 79. The tackle and run-metre base is solid and he's trending up at the right time.
Halves
Campbell — a playmaker with a big ceiling, though the form's cooled. He's averaging 59 with a monster high of 110, but he's tailed off into the 40s and 50s lately, a 39 last week. The goal kicking and running game keep him relevant, and the top end is as high as any half here if he rediscovers it.
Galvin — a consistent halves option finishing the year well. He's averaging 55 and coming off matching 66s in his last two, with a high of 72. The running game, kicking metres and try involvement give him plenty of ways to score, and the floor is dependable.
Centre
Farnworth — the standout centre in the squad and an easy inclusion. He's averaging 65, 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 67 and a 98 in his last two. Class pick.
Crichton — a positional edge, classed as a centre in GDS but playing five-eighth for the Bulldogs, and he kicks goals, which lifts his floor. His season average of 44 is a little misleading, he averaged 42 back when he was at centre, but in the five-eighth role he's up at 47. He owns an 82 in the role, though the output's been up and down, a quiet 28 last week. A bit of variance, but a goal-kicking playmaker in a centre slot is still a real advantage, and the matchup sweetens it. The Broncos have allowed an average of 50 to opposing five-eighths over the last five weeks, and they've been leaking through the boot too, conceding around 15 points a game to goal kickers in that time, which plays right into Crichton's hands.
Wing
Naufahu — there's a genuine case here. His base alone is worth 36 a game this season through tackles, tackle breaks and run metres, so there's a reasonable floor for a winger before you even factor in tries. And the tries are where it gets interesting, in games where he's crossed this year he's averaged 70. The matchup is the appeal, the Titans have allowed a left winger over 50 twice in the last three weeks and have leaked seven tries to the position across their last six games, so the points are there to be had. The one thing that makes me slightly nervy is that Farnworth's inside him, and he likes to back himself and go it alone at times, but on the numbers there's real upside on offer.
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. The kicking points give him a base most wingers can't match, and the tries stack on top, though he was quiet with a 39 last week.
Fullback
Tabuai-Fidow — an explosive fullback with a big ceiling, and while he's been in a lean patch, this looms as the week to jump back on. He's averaging 50 with a high of 82, though his last five have cooled into the 30s and 40s, a 30 last week. The matchup is why there's optimism, the Titans have been a great draw for fullbacks lately, allowing 56 to the position over the last five rounds with four of the last five fullbacks clearing 50. Don't be surprised to see Hamiso roar back into form in a big way here.
Bench
Foketi — a genuine sneaky option now he's starting. His season average of 28 is dragged down by early cameos, but since moving into the run-on side in Round 22 he's averaged 58, capped by a 69 last week. If he keeps the starting role, there's real value here.
Plath — a handy edge who's earning bigger minutes. He's averaging 48 but 56 across his last five, and he played a full 80 last week for a 60, with a high of 68. If the minutes hold, he's a solid option with a bit of upside.
Katoa — a steady halves option with a reliable base. He's averaging 45, built on a heavy general-play kicking game and topped up by tries and assists, with a high of 70. He's not on goal-kicking duty, but he plays the full 80 and gives you a dependable floor.
Mitchell — the highest-ceiling player in the squad by a mile, averaging 70 with a monstrous high of 125, and classed at fullback in GDS despite lining up in the centres. He's confirmed to start this week, which is the good news. The one risk is that if the Rabbitohs get well on top he could find himself with an early shower, so there's a chance his minutes get cut short. But with a ceiling that enormous, he's well worth the gamble.
Graham — a centre in decent late-season touch. He's averaging 43 but has lifted to 57 across his last five, with a high of 71, and he chips in with tries and tackle breaks. A quiet 39 last week, but the recent form makes him a reasonable option, especially against an under-strength Roosters team this week.
