2018 Workhorse Watch Awards
Before we get to the awards for 2018, allow me to bask in the glory of another NRLCEO premiership. That’s right sports fans, the mighty Castle Hill Rams have claimed their fourth UV2RL title with a 80-75 come from behind win against the RCL Snuffmonkeys. The Snuffs bolted out of the gates with Adam Reynolds (22 points) and Cody Walker (11 points) having a field day against the Tigers and giving the Rams a huge uphill battle just to get back into the contest. It wasn’t going to be easy but Angus Crichton’s try/workhorse try double (45 involvements) in the same game, gave the Rams a glimmer of hope.
Shaun Johnson did his level best to close the gap but Cameron McInnes, Daniel Saifiti, Aidan Guerra along with Shaun Kenny-Dowall ensured the Snuffs maintained a sizable advantage while in the Titans vs Cowboys game, Kevin Proctor and Jordan McLean cancelled each other out.
Then the real comeback started. While some have accused the Workhorse Watcher of paying off Mitchell Moses in order for his Roosters heavy side to prosper, no amount of money could have bought how badly the Eels halfback and the Eels in general, played on Saturday night. The Rams’ Roosters contingent were huge and helped them take a 68-60 lead. Josh Dugan and Rhyse Martin helped swing the pendulum the Snuffmonkeys’ way in the first Sunday game taking a one point lead into the final game.
Lining up for the Rams in Brisbane were Jake Trbojevic, Manase Fainu and Brian Kelly while the Snuffs had Brad Parker and the Tom Trbojevic. Parker drew first blood and soon had the Snuffs up 75-68 but when Tom Trbojevic went off with a HIA the Snuffs were left as sitting ducks. Brother Jake registered a workhorse soon after half time taking the Rams to 72. The Rams had Fainu’s workhorse waiting to be added when JTurbo got across the line sealing the 80-75 victory!
Now on with the show!
Welcome to the fifth annual Workies, where we recognise the best and worst of the most unique aspect of NRLCEO.
YOUNG WORKHORSE OF THE YEAR
This is one of the most exciting awards of the year as no doubt the NRLCEOs who have these players will be pretty happy with the way things have unfolded. Isaiah Papali’i has had a cracking year after making his debut late last year. Papalii scored 13 workhorse tries this season including 10 straight between Rounds 14 and 23. Cameron Murray has also had a breakout season after debuting last year. He took his tally from 5 in 2017 to 12 this season including a season high 54 involvements to start his account in Round 2. The Bulldogs’ Rhys Martin went from zero to hero, debuting in Round 9 with a workhorse try and finishing with 11 for the season, not to mention 36 goals after Mose Mbye left mid year.
But the winner is one of last year’s runner up Matt Eisenhuth. The Tigers’ back rower has played every game (35) since making his debut in Round 15 last year and has scored 33 workhorse tries. During that time he has never had less than 35 involvements in a match and is the first player to ever to be a two time ‘Young Workhorse of the Year’ contender.
.
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR AWARD
The nominees for the Close But No Cigar Club are: Issac Liu, Jayson Bukuya, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Martin Taupau and Matt Prior.
And the winner is… all five of them!
That’s right this unfortunate five could not be separated with each registering 39 involvements on THREE occasions. Lui did his darndest to take the title for himself with 38 involvements in the last round but the five-way deadlock could not be broken.
Overall, 39 involvement games were up on last year and higher than 2016 as well with 86 players combining for 117 entries into the club. Of those 117, the most astounding was no doubt Damien Cook, who, after an unbelievable season finished on 39 in his last game.
.
WORKHORSE LITE AWARD
Why stress with all those extra involvements when all you need is 40? This award, I was going to say recognises, but that’s not right. This award notes which players barely scrape through to get a workhorse the most often. If the No Cigar Club is the NRLCEO version of a coach killer, then this is a heart palpitation.
Before his injury in Round 21, Paul Vaughan was the stand out with eight of his 14 workhorse tries coming from involvements of just 40, 41 or 42. Boyd Cordner was neck and neck with him at the time but from then on either got a workhorse with more involvements than the “workhorse lite” criteria, or not at all. Coming home with a wet sail however was Jake Granville. The Cowboys’ hooker had four workhorse lite tallies in the last six games of the season. But considering he finished with 17 workhorse tries for the season, no one really cares how he got em!
.
MOST DOUBLE WORKHORSE TRIES
The winner is Damien Cook. It wasn’t even close. Moving on.
.
TRY / WORKHORSE TRY AWARD
After claiming the crown last year, Jake Trbojevic has finished a honourable runner up this season with 5 try/workhorse try combos including one in the final round of the season. Joining him on five are Aidan Guerra and 2016 winner Ryan James. However this year’s winner is 2015 runner up, Gavin Cooper who had SIX including one in the final round.
.
WORKHORSE BACK OF THE YEAR
Backs getting among the workhorses were few and far between this season with Matthew Wright and Will Smith each getting one apiece. Out in front though was Euan Aitken with two workhorse tries, once in Round 7 and again in Round 20, adding to the Workhorse Back of the Year title he won in 2016.
.
SEASON ENDING INJURY OF THE YEAR
Nothing is more disheartening than seeing one of your key players go down with injury. Losing a kicker like Gareth Widdop or Jarrod Croker is a killer but losing a great workhorse is also tough to handle. NRLCEOs with Paul Vaughan would’ve been excited to hear of the big man’s return after injuring his ankle in Round 21 only for the prop to suffer a freak injury at training just days before he was set to return which put him out for the remainder of the year. Slade Griffin was having a great season with 11 workhorse tries in 15 games before getting injured and Manu Ma’u was on track for his best ever season with nine workhorse tries in 14 games before a cheekbone injury put him out.
But at least those guys were able to make decent contributions. Matt Gillett’s season was over after five games. Five games in which he scored a workhorse try in each and carried an undiagnosed broken neck! You have to say he was on track to post his best ever numbers after previous seasons which saw workhorse tallies of 19, 17 and 21.
.
BEST PREDICTION
This year my preview surrounded players playing for a contract, and looking back, there was an argument to say that yes, certain players do perform better when it’s negotiation time.
Josh Papalii went from eight workhorse tries last year to 13 this year. Jazz Tevaga went from 0 to 18 although some of that (also as predicted) might’ve been due to getting time in the back row. Ashton Sims went from one workhorse to four. Mitch Rein went from three workhorses to eight but I’m not going to claim that one given he played 24 games this year compared to just five last year.
.
WORST PREDICTION
The worst prediction goes to Ethan Lowe who went completely backwards this season going from 13 workhorse tries in 2017 to just two this year. Also going backwards were Eels Nathan Brown and Cameron King who probably would’ve been on par or better than last year if not for injury.
.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE YEAR
8. Andrew Fifita: (20)
9. Damien Cook (35)
10. Ryan James (25)
11. Aidan Guerra (23)
12. Matt Eisenhuth (22)
13. Jake Trbojevic (26)
14. Cameron McInnes (25)
15. Jake Friend (20)
.
WORKHORSE OF THE YEAR
- 218 points
- 35 workhorse tries
- 13 double workhorses.
- The first ever triple workhorse
Damien Cook has dominated. But perhaps the best number to consider is 27. That’s how old Cook is, and with the likes Cameron Smith and Robbie Farah playing into their mid thirties, we’ve got a lot more left to see of this Rabbitohs #9.
Geoff Adams
Latest posts by Geoff Adams (see all)
- 2018 Workhorse Watch Awards - September 3, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 24 - August 29, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 23 - August 22, 2018
