Workhorse Watch Season Preview
We analyse the hard working workhorse forwards of the NRL so that you can concentrate on drafting the best possible squad.
You don’t need me to tell you players like Cameron Smith and Corey Parker are players that should be high on your recruitment list.
Taking a look at the NRL CEO Season Guide, any forward in the top 100 from last year is a good pick. However sticking to that list is only going to get you so far; those players will get snapped up pretty quickly and you’ll be left to forage through what remains in order to assemble a team with some depth that can carry you through injury and rep footy.
One of the best ways to find gems in the latter stages of the draft is to remember that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. You need to look for change. And even then you’ve got to be smart. If you’re expecting George Rose to all of sudden start making workhorse tries, just because he’s at a new club, you’ll be more disappointed than the guy who stands behind him at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
The Broncos scored more forward tries than any other NRL team in 2013; their bench players see very little minutes meaning their starters rack up big numbers. Parker, McCullough, McGuire, Hannant and Thaiday are all work horse royalty, as is Matt Gillett and if your competition allows backs to score forward tries then his stocks go through the roof.
For the Bulldogs, James Graham is set to be the big improver this season. He’s already a workhorse hero but after giving the rest of the league a big head start last year due to a lengthy suspension, he still managed to finish up with 15 forward tries. And after frustrating the hell out of a lot of NRLCEOs last year Josh Jackson was still good for 10 workhorse tries in 2013 and you imagine he’s only going to get better as he matures.
Up in North Queensland there’s an opening at the Cowboys for a tackling machine following the retirement of Dallas Johnson, one the great work horses in NRL history. Joel Reithmuller stepped up as Johnson struggled with injury and he appears to be the perfect replacement. He scored 8 workhorse tries in 2013 but expect a lot more in 2014.
Don’t choke on your corn flakes when I say this but it could be a big year for Ben Creagh at the Dragons. Creagh scored 10 workhorse tries last season but with Matt Prior, Mick Weyman and Josh Miller all leaving the club, Creagh may be the man to shoulder more of the work load. Bronson Harrison and Tyson Frizell could also add value with an increase in minutes.
Over at Parramatta Tim Mannah looks the best of the bunch and Joseph Paulo scored 12 work horse tries last year but for me Nathan Peats is the one whose numbers will sky rocket. His rotation with Isaac Luke has meant he’s not known for posting big numbers but he scored 7 workhorse tries in 2012 when Luke was on the outer. And for all his faults in attack, Matt Keating used to get through a lot of work; someone has to fill that void.
Given their off season, the last thing the Knights probably want is for one of their forwards to have a ‘break out’ season if you know what I mean so I’ll just say this, I love Robbie Rochow. His work ethic is amazing; he scored 18 work horse tries last season and is just one of those players that’s gets it done week in week out. And yet 12 months ago he wouldn’t have been on anyone’s radar.
Panthers signing Elijah Taylor finished season 2013 with 13 work horse tries which although a very handy effort was down on his 19 in 2012. He is a perfect candidate for my mantra that a change is as good as a holiday and with a new club and a chance to link up with Ivan Cleary again there is every reason to think he’ll be even better in 2014.
Over at the Rabbitohs it’s pretty much business as usual. Roy Asotasi and Mick Crocker didn’t score a workhorse try between them last year so their departures hardly leave a hole in the Bunnies forward pack. 2013 was a big year for George Burgess so perhaps we’ll see further improvement from him or perhaps it’s time for twin brother Tom to make his mark.
Unless your name is Fensom, workhorse tries are hard to come by at the Raiders. The Raiders scored the lowest number for forward tries last year (56) with Shaun Fensom scoring 17 of them. Joel Thompson’s departure might open up a few opportunities for someone like Joel Edwards.
Plenty of Roosters to choose from with Friend, Waerea-Hargreaves, and Sonny Bill (when you combine with his other stats) obvious targets for recruitment. As far as room for improvement goes Sam Moa looks to be the roughie. He started the season well but got injured and when he returned his minutes suffered. Martin Kennedy’s departure could be his golden opportunity.
Matt Ballin and Anthony Watmough are still the marquee picks at the Sea Eagles but Brenton Lawrence stands to gain the most from the departure of Brent Kite. Lawrence had a boom season last year with 9 work horse tries after scoring just the one in 2012. Add George Rose’s move to Melbourne and the sudden retirement of Richie Fa’aoso, and the front row stocks at Manly are looking pretty thin.
There won’t be too many surprises in the forwards at the Sharks one would think, with Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen and Chris Heighington scoring the bulk of the sides work horse tries. Like Gillett, if your competition allows backs to score forward tries then Wade Graham is a handy player to have in your side.
The Storm may boast one of the best forwards in the game in Cameron Smith but in terms of work horse try potential elsewhere things are pretty grim. Melbourne boasts just 7 players who scored forward tries last year (only Manly have less with 6). Tohu Harris exploded onto the scene last year and is a good bet to go from strength to strength in 2014.
Goal kicking aside, Robbie Farah actually averaged more points per game than Cameron Smith. Farah scored 131 points in 16 games compared to Smith’s 142 points in 21 games. He along with Liam Fulton and Aaron Woods are top tier picks but if you’re looking for value later in the draft the much maligned Adam Blair has still averaged 7.5 work horse tries a season since moving to the Tigers.
Up at the Titans there are no significant changes to the pack, which has been the case for a few years meaning that players like Myles, Harrison and Douglas are safe picks. In fact the only significant addition to the pack in the last two years has been Dave Taylor and if you’re looking to him for work horse punch you’re barking up the wrong tree. Meanwhile Ryan James has declared he wants to emulate what Andrew Fifita did last year.
The departures of Elijah Taylor and Todd Lowrie have created a huge void in the Warriors’ back row. That will only help Simon Mannering (as if he needed it) and it won’t change a damn thing for Feleti Mateo. The big winner is likely to be new recruit Jason Bukuya. Bukuya scored 6 work horse tries last year but has a chance to step out of the shadows of players like Paul Gallen and take on a much bigger work load.
Geoff Adams
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