GDS Squad to Beat: Rugby League Round 2

Round 2 shapes as another opportunity to lean into players with strong roles, reliable base production and genuine attacking upside. The following GDS fantasy tips round 2 2026 squad blends high‑floor performers with game‑breaking players capable of delivering the scores needed to lead a fantasy lineup this week.

POS	PLAYER	TEAM	R1 GDS	2025 AVG	SEL %	R2 OPP
FLB	Reece Walsh	Broncos	23	62	52%	vs Eels
FLB	James Tedesco	Roosters	70	59	57%	vs Rabbitohs
FLB	Kalyn Ponga	Knights	92	47	13%	vs Sea Eagles
WNG	Mark Nawaqanitawase	Roosters	47	56	26%	vs Rabbitohs
WNG	Jamayne Isaako	Dolphins	49	45	12%	vs Titans
CTR	Herbie Farnworth	Dolphins	53	65	60%	vs Titans
CTR	Adam Doueihi	Wests Tigers	—	42	9%	vs Cowboys
HLF	Nathan Cleary	Panthers	60	72	64%	vs Sharks
HLF	Isaiya Katoa	Dolphins	34	53	21%	vs Titans
HLF	Sam Walker	Roosters	25	45	8%	vs Rabbitohs
EDG	Hudson Young	Raiders	55	59	45%	vs Warriors
EDG	Dylan Lucas	Knights	61	58	40%	vs Sea Eagles
MID	Payne Haas	Broncos	55	72	65%	vs Eels
MID	Terrell May	Wests Tigers	—	70	18%	vs Cowboys
MID	Isaah Yeo	Panthers	48	56	54%	vs Sharks
MID	Toby Couchman	Dragons	55	55	22%	vs Storm
MID	Tino Fa’asuamaleaui	Titans	29	50	24%	vs Dolphins

Fullbacks

Reece Walsh (Broncos vs Eels) — 52% selected

Walsh averaged 62 GDS points across 21 starts in 2025. Against the Eels he scored 52. His involvement in the Broncos’ attacking structure generates strong run metres while his speed and vision create consistent line break and try assist opportunities.

James Tedesco (Roosters vs Rabbitohs) — 57% selected

Tedesco averaged 59 GDS points across 25 starts in 2025. Against the Rabbitohs (2 games) he averaged 64, above his season mark. His relentless work rate keeps his fantasy scoring consistent and he remains heavily involved whenever the Roosters build attacking pressure.

Kalyn Ponga (Knights vs Sea Eagles) — 13% selected

Ponga averaged 47 GDS points across 13 starts in 2025. Against the Sea Eagles he scored 54 and a try. Newcastle’s attack runs through him, giving him multiple opportunities to generate points through line breaks, try assists and support play.

Wingers

Mark Nawaqanitawase (Roosters vs Rabbitohs) — 26% selected

Nawaqanitawase averaged 56 GDS points across 15 starts at wing in 2025. Against the Rabbitohs he scored 82 and 3 tries, a massive outlier above his season average. He is a constant aerial threat and can produce big scores when his side creates attacking opportunities out wide.

Jamayne Isaako (Dolphins vs Titans) — 12% selected

Isaako averaged 45 GDS points across 24 starts in 2025. Against the Titans he averaged 61 and scored 1 try, well above his season mark. Playing in a Dolphins side capable of scoring points, he regularly benefits from finishing chances while adding steady points from the tee.

Centres

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins vs Titans) — 60% selected

Farnworth averaged 65 GDS points across 19 starts in 2025, the highest of any centre. Against the Titans he scored 62. His strength and footwork regularly create line break opportunities while keeping him consistently involved in attack.

Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers vs Cowboys) — 9% selected

Doueihi averaged 42 GDS points across 14 starts in 2025. Against the Cowboys he averaged just 17, well below his season average. His ability to create opportunities for his outside men while also threatening the line himself gives him solid upside each week.

Halves

Nathan Cleary (Panthers vs Sharks) — 64% selected

Cleary averaged 72 GDS points across 21 starts in 2025, the highest of any half. Against the Sharks he scored 57. His kicking game, playmaking and game control consistently produce try assists, line break assists and repeat attacking opportunities.

Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins vs Titans) — 21% selected

Katoa averaged 53 GDS points across 24 starts in 2025. Against the Titans he averaged 51 and scored 1 try. His kicking game and playmaking role keep him heavily involved in attacking sets, particularly when the Dolphins shift the ball to the edges.

Sam Walker (Roosters vs Rabbitohs) — 8% selected

Walker averaged 45 GDS points across 9 starts in 2025. Against the Rabbitohs he scored 52. His ability to attack the defensive line creates try assists and line break assists, while his role as goal kicker adds valuable points each week.

Edge Forwards

Hudson Young (Raiders vs Warriors) — 45% selected

Young averaged 59 GDS points across 22 starts in 2025. Against the Warriors he scored 63. Playing on the left edge, he runs strong lines close to the try line and regularly places himself in scoring positions.

Dylan Lucas (Knights vs Sea Eagles) — 40% selected

Lucas averaged 57 GDS points across 13 starts in 2025. Against the Sea Eagles he scored 58. His tackle counts provide a solid base while his running game creates tackle bust and line break opportunities on the edge.

Middle Forwards

Payne Haas (Broncos vs Eels) — 65% selected

Haas averaged 72 GDS points across 24 starts in 2025, highest of any forward. Against the Eels he scored 52. His elite work rate consistently produces huge run metres and tackle counts, giving him one of the strongest base stat floors in the competition.

Terrell May (Wests Tigers vs Cowboys) — 18% selected

May averaged 70 GDS points across 24 starts in 2025. Against the Cowboys he averaged 69. When his minutes are solid, his run metres, tackles and second‑phase play can quickly generate big fantasy totals.

Isaah Yeo (Panthers vs Sharks) — 54% selected

Yeo averaged 56 GDS points across 20 starts in 2025. Against the Sharks he scored 69 and a try. His high defensive workload provides a reliable base while his passing game can create attacking opportunities.

Toby Couchman (Dragons vs Storm) — 22% selected

Couchman averaged 55 GDS points across 7 at prop starts in 2025. Against the Storm he scored 46. His willingness to take carries and absorb defensive workload gives him a consistent base each week.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans vs Dolphins) — 24% selected

Fa’asuamaleaui averaged 50 GDS points across 17 starts in 2025. Against the Dolphins he averaged 55. His strong carries and defensive output provide a solid base, while his offloading ability adds occasional attacking upside. Minutes might be a concern at last week’s performance but that might have been game script related.  

This squad combines elite base stat performers with players capable of producing the attacking moments that often decide a fantasy round. The standout matchup edges this week are the Rabbitohs’ FLB and WNG positions, benefiting Tedesco and Nawaqanitawase. This is based off the 2025 data as the 2026 sample size is only one game so far. If these players deliver to their usual standards, this lineup shapes as the benchmark