Welcome to this week's Squad to Beat for the GameDay Squad Starter competition. Here's the full 18-man squad, with a quick word on every call, position by position.
Hooker
Grant — the premier hooker, and he's back this week. He returns from a hamstring injury that's kept him out since Round 21, so there's a touch of risk coming off the layoff, but he's the best dummy-half going, averaging 53 with a high of 86 and a genuine try threat out of the ruck. If he comes through fit, he's a top-tier pick.
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 60 with a high of 82, and he's coming off a 72 last week. Set and forget.
Lindsay Smith — a middle whose ceiling is all about minutes, and the case is compelling. When he plays at lock he's averaging 70 a game, and he backed that up with a 67 in just 52 minutes last week. If he keeps the lock duties the upside is significant.
May — a genuine points machine up front. He's averaging 65, one of the best-scoring middles going, built on huge tackle counts and strong run metres, with a high of 90. He's coming off a 66 last week, and the base is as good as any front-rower in the competition.
Edge
Ryan Couchman — in red-hot form. He's averaging 61 but has lifted to another level lately, with a career-high 98 and an 82 among his recent scores, and 76 across his last five. The base from his lock role is elite. A quieter 54 last week, but the arrow's still pointing up.
Olakau'atu — one of the premier edge forwards in the game and a top-end pick. He's averaging 66 with a monster high of 101, built on relentless tackle breaks, big run metres and a genuine try threat. About as good as it gets in the second row.
Halves
Cleary — the easiest lock in the squad. He's averaging 76, comfortably the best half you can pick, with the goal kicking giving him a floor nobody else can match. He's cleared 90 plenty of times this year with a high of 100. Auto pick.
Hynes — genuine boom, and one of the highest scorers in the game when he's on. He's averaging 66 with a big goal-kicking base and an enormous ceiling, a 108, a 105 and a 96 all in recent weeks, with a high of 108. He's coming off a 55 last week, but the top end when the Sharks click is as high as any half going.
Centre
Farnworth — the standout centre in the squad and an easy inclusion despite a quiet one last week. He's averaging 64, 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. A class pick who'll bounce back.
Billy Smith — a massive POD play, and the matchup makes it tempting. He's played five games at left wing this season for an average of 54, and while he had a down week last week with a 33, that came against a stingy Panthers side so it's no surprise. He's got genuine try-scoring in him too. This week he's up against the Wests Tigers, who over the last ten weeks are the second-best matchup going for left wingers, allowing an average of 50 to the position. A real point of difference, and it could well be worth it.
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 63 with a high of 100, and a 75, a 69 and a 65 among his recent scores. The big run metres, line breaks and try involvement come week after week, and the matchup helps too, with the Panthers allowing 59 to opposing fullbacks over their last five games.
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, and he's coming off a 74 last week. The kicking points give him a base most wingers can't match, and the tries stack on top.
Fullback
Ponga — an elite fullback and one of the best scorers in the game. He's averaging 65 with the goal kicking, running game and try-scoring all in the mix, a high of 96, and he's coming off a 70 last week. A premium pick at the back.
Bench
Preston — the boom edge with real try-scoring upside, and he's in form with a 78, a 68, a 60 and a 61 in his last four. His overall average of 51 undersells it, because in games where he plays 65 minutes or more he averages 55, and he owns a high of 83. There's variance in his game, but the ceiling makes him worth it.
Twal — a strong middle option with a good base. He's averaging 62 with a high of 87, built on heavy tackle and run-metre work, and he's shown 60s and 70s regularly through the year. He was set to return last week but missed the Dragons game with illness, so he should be good to go this week.
Campbell — a playmaker with a big ceiling. He's averaging 60 with a monster high of 110, and the goal kicking and running game give him multiple ways to score. The form dipped mid-run but he steadied with a 52 last week. A high-ceiling option at the back of the squad.
Tedesco — a dangerous fullback with an enormous ceiling, a monstrous 118 on the board this year. He was ruled out last week with the ankle concern but has been named again this week, so there's risk in taking him given the injury. If he's fully fit and lines up, though, he's one of the best fullbacks going this week.
Tabuai-Fidow — an explosive fullback with a big ceiling. He's averaging 52 with a high of 82 and a 78 as recently as Round 20. When he's involved he can go big, so there's plenty of upside here.
