Hookers
Across the NRL pre-season, BOBS will be analysing every position to support those playing NRL Fantasy and GameDay Squad for the first year or for your continued dynasty.
To kick things off, let’s dive into ranking the top hookers for 2025.
For anyone new to the GDS format, there is 1 hooker position to fill in your team, with the potential to play an additional 2 on your bench. Realistically though, the hooker position is not the highest scoring position so you’re likely to only need the sole hooker unless its within the major bye rounds.
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In 2024, the hooker position was the most invaluable scoring position in GDS. Playing a silver Grant over a bronze Fogarty would have netted you the same amount of points over the season. As a result, choosing the right rarity for each player is important to challenge for the weekly and overall prizes. In the Classic and Challenger competitions, I’ll be looking to play a Bronze Hooker in each format and boost up my team in priority areas such as Fullback and Half.
Our rankings of the top 14 Hookers in GDS.
14. Lachlan Croker - He is nearing my do not touch list and is injured until approximately round 4, but Croker makes the list primarily due to the attacking stat opportunities for the Sea Eagles. Croker’s history is marred with HIA’s and subsequently, his reliability to produce consistently big scores lacks. Croker should be viewed as a bye round option only or when Manly play my beloved Titans …
13. Mitch Kenny - A three-time premiership hooker ranked at 14, you’d think I’m insane, but Kenny is a model of consistency… for average scores. You could compare Mitch to Brock Purdy as a system QB. He is a great NRL player and hooker, but not a weekly playable option for GDS. Kenny did not make the top 10 averaging hookers for 2024, and I don’t suspect this will change in 2025.
12. Wayde Egan - Egan is my tip for the most regression this season. Egan finished the 2024 season averaging 38 points and as the 10th highest averaging hooker in GDS. Egan loses Fonua-Blake from his try assist options, and the addition of JFH will not be the same. I suspect the Warriors will be competing for a bottom-four spot this year due to their inability to score points in attack. Egan to average 35 or less in 2025.
11. Blake Mozer - If Mozer had greater job security in Madge’s prison, he’d go close to the top-10. A junior Queenslander, Mozer has a great ability near the try-line to set up forwards for a try. Having played only nine games in First Grade, there’s limited stats on Mozer for GDS. If Mozer gets the nod for 60-70 minutes in week 1, move him up to 9. The Broncos have a chance to start hot in 2025 with a great opportunity to put up some early scores on teams such as the Roosters (on two occasions), Raiders, Cowboys, and Dolphins in the first six weeks.
10. Jayden Brailey - Two years ago, before his ACL, Brailey was on track to be a consistent top-five hooker in fantasy formats. Unfortunately, his return to 80 minutes was hampered by an in-form Crossland in 2024, and with uncertainty at the helm in 2025, I can see a similar role for Brailey where he doesn’t crack the top 10 averaging hookers. Brailey is a market cheapie at the moment. Go stash some shares of him for 2026 when Adam O’Brien is fired and the Knights have Ponga, Dylan Brown, Fletcher Sharpe, and Brailey as the spine.
9. Brandon Hands - Hands arrived as a rookie into the NRL in 2024 with a time-share with Joey Lussick. With Jason Ryles coming from the Storm system with coaching, I expect him to make a decision on a single 80-minute hooker similar to that of Grant. Last year, Hands showed more consistency and a better defensive output than Lussick, which will put him as the first choice. In the six games playing more than 70 minutes as starting hooker, Hands averaged 42. Natural improvement in year two under a new system, there’s potential for Hands to average 45+.
8. Jeremy Marshall-King - If it wasn’t for JMK’s mid-season injury, he could have well been in the top five for total points at season’s end. The issue has always been JMK’s durability, but fortunately for those playing GDS, durability doesn’t matter on a week-by-week basis. JMK averaged 40 points per game in 2024 under Uncle Wayne, but with the arrival of Mad Max Plath into the Dolphins team, I expect JMK to be spelled for parts of the game in 2025. JMK has the potential to be a top-six hooker but also could drop to 12. Keep in case of injury to Plath and through the bye rounds.
7. Tom Starling - Hear me out, don’t stop reading thinking this is crazy. Starling, as the starting hooker for Canberra in 2024, averaged 52 points per game with 68, 76, 80, 70, 80, and 80 minutes. Predicting Ricky’s mind is harder than deciphering Morse code, but if Ricky gives any indication in team lists that Starling has a starting hooker job with 70+ minutes of game time security, he moves up to 2/3 on the list. You can get yourself a silver Tom for $1.25 on the market currently.
6. Reece Robson - I’m more excited about Robson in 2026 with the Roosters than I am with Robson in 2025. Robson ended as the fourth highest averaging hooker with 47 points per game. Last year, Robson was a great POD in the early rounds but faded after his Origin debut. There is potential for him to average the same in the Cowboys outfit, but he hasn’t got the upside that he did in 2024 or may have in 2026. Find yourself a trade partner and stash those Robsons for next year.
The Top 5
5. Reed Mahoney - The bloke affectionately known as cardboard shoulders is the only player on this list that stays in last year’s position. An easy schedule to start the season, coupled with notoriously defensive outputs in the early rounds, there’s a chance for Reed to be in the top three across the first eight weeks. His usual decline will occur when the shoulders give way, and the missed tackles rack up in the middle and latter part of the season. Back Reed in for 45 minimum with a potential for 50 points per game upside in the first eight weeks.
4. Blayke Brailey - Brailey could be the best POD for the 2025 season. I’m high on Brailey with a happy Nicho and a rampaging AFB. This year’s Sharks remind me of Manly a couple of years ago, and I see them averaging close to 30 points per game. With this, Brailey will have the opportunity for try assists to AFB or through his short-range kicking near the goal line. If Robson gets an injury this year, expect Brailey to be the hooker for NSW come Origin. Brailey is not known for his defense, and with this Sharks squad this year, I don’t think they’ll be defending much, which should give him more upside on the attack when fresh. Brailey’s jump this year could be 10 points per game from 42 to 52. Buy his card now in all rarities.
3. Damien Cook - A resurgent year for Cookie saw him end the GDS season as the highest averaging hooker with 58 points per game and seven points clear of Grant in second. As soon as Cook heard the news of Wayne Bennett signing with the Bunnies, he was off to Kogarah quicker than the new bandwagoners following Dončić to the Lakers. Cookie will be 34 this year and playing in an actual Anzac Day game, but I do think age will weary him. A time-share with Liddle is inevitable, and with no solidified halves pairing, his attacking stats may take a dip. A huge work rate and ability to accumulate tackles should hold his base stats, but expect an average of around 48-50 points per game in 2025.
2. Api Koroisau - Api finished the 2024 season with a season average of 40 points per game, ranking as the eighth highest averaging hooker. In 2025, Api will leap into the top three, with the difference between 8th and 3rd in 2024 only 10 points. The Tigers have signed Turuva, Luai, and May in the off-season to bolster the attacking component, and with goal-kicking duties, Api could gain 6-8 points just in an increase in conversions for the Tigers. Add a sneak out of dummy-half or a try assist, and Api can contend for the top spot in 2025. Api is a weekly consideration for my team and will be my starting hooker in Round 2 vs. the Eels.
1. Harry Grant - Grant finished the 2024 season as the second highest averaging hooker with
51 points per game. Only 26 years old, Harry can be viewed as the dynasty number one hooker. Melbourne had a turbulent year with injuries in 2024, but with consistency in 2025, he could push his average up to 55. Fun fact, on the Transfer Market, there are currently no platinum Grants available—only one diamond and four golds. Hold him tighter than your 2010 Bitcoin.
HOKUGiYuuS | Hookers for 2025 |
1 | Harry Grant |
2 | Api Koroisau |
3 | Damien Cook |
4 | Blayke Brailey |
5 | Reed Mahoney |
6 | Reece Robson |
7 | Tom Starling |
8 | Jeremy Marshall-King |
9 | Brandon Hands |
10 | Jayden Brailey |
11 | Blake Mozer |
12 | Wayde Egan |
13 | Mitch Kenny |
14 | Lachlan Croker |
The do not touch list
For me heading into 2025 includes the likes of Brandon Smith, Jacob Liddle and any of the Rabbitohs hookers. Keep an eye out for some late season smokies or injury replacements such as Jayden Berrell (currently inactive) and Owen Pattie (card not available).
Now it’s time for you to start setting your NRL GDS squad. To get a jump start on your mates when you sign up, use our code “BOBNRL” to earn yourself 3 x 9 Player Packs. HOKH3y8TH4
Comment below who is your POD for season 2025 and who is on your do not touch list.
Good luck Coach on building your 2025 GDS Squad, stay tuned for more insights and strategies to help you win!
Cheers,
The XRP Effect
HOKUGiYuuS
Found the code
Found the codes, great read! Stocked up on Grant already.
Found the hidden code but also this is a Great write up for anyone new and old players alike