Terrell May — the engine of this pack. He's averaging 67, hasn't dropped below 50 in a game all year, and reeled off a 90 against the Bulldogs plus 75 and 76 through the back end. With only one try all season it's a pure base game, but that base is elite and it turns up every week. Model of reliability.
Twal — the base monster of the group. His 64 average is almost all work-rate, built on 45-plus tackles a game and headlined by a 57-tackle, 87-point night against the Raiders. There's no real try-scoring in his game, so what you see is what you get, but the floor is rock solid at big minutes.
Edge
Olakau'atu — flying, and one of the first picked. He's averaging 80 across his last five with seven tries for the year, including a 101 against the Tigers and a two-try 83 on the Storm. He gets the full 80 every week and the attacking output has stepped up another level lately. Set and forget on this form.
Lucas — the form forward in the whole competition and the standout of this squad. He's averaging 79 across his last five, with five straight games of 70 or better (97, 71, 80, 70, 75). The tackle count sits around 45 a game and he's added the try-scoring on top. This is about as hot as an edge forward gets.
Halves
Cleary — the easiest lock in the squad. He's averaging 78, head and shoulders the best half you can pick this week, and the goal kicking gives him a floor nobody else in the position can match. He's cleared 90 on five occasions already this season. Auto pick.
Hynes — genuine boom in him. He's averaging 59 with the goal kicking adding a reliable chunk every week, and the ceiling is enormous, just look at the 102 he dropped in Round 1. He can go quiet, but when the Sharks click he's one of the highest scorers going.
Centre
Farnworth — a boom centre with a huge ceiling on him. He's averaging 66 with eight tries and a season high of 114 against the Panthers, and the offloads and tackle breaks mean he banks points whether he scores or not. He laid an egg with a 32 last week against the Sharks, so I'm backing a bounce-back.
Doueihi — worth a note here. He's tagged as a centre for the squad, but he's playing halfback and kicking goals for the Tigers, and that's where the points come from. He's averaging 66 with seven tries, a 94 in Round 2 and a 102 against the Raiders, all built on big kicking metres off the boot. Strong value at 70 projected.
Wing
Faalogo — flying, and the fact he's getting the fullback job for the Storm is exactly why he scores like this. He's averaging 62 for the season and 76 across his last five, off the back of a 100 in R13 and a 96 in R16. Huge run metres, line breaks and try involvement every week.
Nawaqanitawase — the boom-or-bust winger, and the swings are dramatic. He put up an 86 in R14 off a three-try haul, then a 10 in R17. He's averaging 51, but you're not picking him for the average, you're picking him for the ceiling. When he goes, he goes big.
Fullback
Ponga — the fullback nod and an auto pick. He's averaging 67, one of the best scoring fullbacks in the game with the goal kicking, running game and try-scoring all in the mix. He's coming off a two-try 66 in R19 and has a high of 96.
Bench
Toby Couchman — the steady one. He's averaging 60 with a rock-solid base off 40-plus tackles a game and good post-contact metres, headlined by an 83 against the Panthers. No try-scoring, but he does a job at prop every week and rarely burns you.
Ryan Couchman — the other Couchamn, and he's been shifted into the lock role lately where he put up a 74 against the Knights and has averaged 58 across his last five. Big tackle numbers and a safe base, another one who quietly hits a score.
Campbell — the ceiling play. He's averaging 60 as the Titans' five-eighth with eight tries and a 101 in Round 6, plus the goal-kicking points on top. He's boom-or-bust, but the upside on a big night is as high as anyone here.
Edwards — about as safe as they come. He's averaging 59 with the huge run metres every week doing the heavy lifting, a 100 in R8 shows the ceiling, and he rarely gives you a genuine dud. A model of consistency.
Walsh — the big-play weapon. He's been up and down this year, averaging 51 with a high of 87, but the ceiling is as high as anyone's in the squad. He's the type who can drag the Broncos into a game on his own, and if he gets going you're in for a monster.
