Workhorse Watch: Rd 10
Outrage continues to fester in the rugby league community over Shaun Fensom’s reduced minutes. Some say Ricky Stuart has ruined a workhorse. I’d argue he’s actually saving one. Fensom’s Achilles heel has always been his metres gained. Last year, double workhorse tries went begging because Fensom’s metres were not enough. Often his 60 and 70 plus involvement games were no more valuable than someone who had 40. All that extra work for no extra reward. Want proof? This time last year Fensom had 11 workhorse tries; he has 10 so far this season. By reducing his minutes, Ricky’s actually doing Fensom and NRLCEOs a favour. A lighter workload and a some breaks during the game means he’s less susceptible to injury and therefore less likely to suffer a long term injury like he did last season. Given the difference in his scoring is negligible, wouldn’t you rather he had a lighter workload but was fit and healthy come the business end of the season?
Still on the topic of minutes, Nate Myles signed with Manly last week and like all players who sign with a new club early, he was quick to assure everyone he was committed to give 100% for the Titans for the remainder of the season. That’s great but how committed are the Titans to Myles? The Queensland forward played just 38 minutes (his lowest game time all year) and it resulted in just 33 involvements for the match. The only game this year where he had fewer involvements was in Round 5 when he played 40 minutes.
Issac Luke’s minutes are also way down since signing with another club and it’s also resulted in a huge drop in his number of involvements. Luke is an 80 minute hooker but since announcing his departure to the Warriors, coach Michael Maguire has relegated him to the bench and cut his playing time down to 53 minutes a game. That’s created havoc for NRLCEOs who had a player averaging a workhorse per game in the opening 7 rounds and are now stuck with a player who hasn’t scored a point since, save for a few goals.
Nathan Friend finally cracked it for his first workhorse try of the season. It took golden point extra time and a serious knee injury to Thomas Leuluai for it to happen but he got there. Knowing that my opponent and fellow NRLCEO columnist Hamish Neale has Friend, but was on holidays in New Zealand and unlikely to be watching the game, I relayed the information on Leuluai in a bid to provide a bit of hope given he was trailing me 26-0. However I’d forgotten that he also has Leuluai. Nor did I realise that he hadn’t named Friend which meant news that was delivered to him with the best of intentions was extremely bad news and would have no doubt come across as me rubbing salt into the wound. Sorry bud.
Who ya gonna call? Workhorse Busters! Matt Scott is quickly becoming a NRLCEO’s nightmare. In the last month he’s averaged 39 involvements a game with stats of 39, 40, 39 and 38. His front row partner, James Tamou meanwhile has had scores of 40, 41, 54 and 40. With exception of the 54 in round 9, there’s hardly any difference in their output but on the NRLCEO scoreboard they are worlds apart. And now NRLCEOs with Scott must contend with him away on Origin duties.
WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK:
Nathan Peats. Saturday was a perfect storm for the Eels hooker. Not only did the match go into extra time but an injury earlier to Isaac De Gois meant Peats played the full 85 minutes. Regardless of that, the former Rabbitoh is having a dynamite year. His first 10 rounds have been even better than his start to 2014.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
This is big. This is bigger than Ben Hur. This is the greatest thing to happen in the history of the Workhorse Watch. There were some great performances in Round 10 but the one that will help win the hearts and minds of kiddies nationwide came from our favourite son Tim Mannah. That’s right, the Eels captain has made the Workhorse Pack of the Week! It doesn’t matter where you are in life boys and girls, no matter the obstacle, dreams can come true!
8. Aiden Tolman: 44 tackles + 18 hitups = 62
9. Nathan Peats: 59 tackles + 9 hitups = 68
10. Andrew Fifita: 37 tackles + 19 hitups = 56
11. Simon Mannering: 48 tackles + 18 hitups = 66
12. Matt Gillett: 47 tackles + 6 hitups = 53
13. Elijah Taylor: 46 tackles + 10 hitups = 56
14. Matt Ballin: 60 tackles + 6 hitups = 66
15. Tim Mannah: 36 tackles + 18 hitups = 54
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Beau Scott: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Api Koroisau: 32 tackles + 7 hitups = 39
Jason Bukuya: 31 tackles + 8 hitups = 39
Tim Glasby 30 tackles + 8 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
James Graham is a phenomenal worker. This we know. His return from a lengthy suspension started at a frenetic pace before he was taken off for concussion. Graham had 29 involvements in 27 minutes (1.07 SPM) and would have been a certainty for a double workhorse. Fortunately Graham has been cleared of any major concern and is back this week to take on the Raiders.
What a season Simon Mannering is having! The Warriors back rower scored a double workhorse for the second straight week (and third for the season) with 48 tackles and 18 runs (0.79 SPM). Mannering has scored a workhorse every week this year which is a far cry from last year where his workhorse form was very hit and miss. The ‘Keptin’ scored 11 workhorse tries for the whole season in 2014, meanwhile his double on Saturday takes him to 13 for the year and we’re not even at the halfway mark!
By now you should have a few players that you’ve picked up to help you through the Origin period. But if you’re still looking, there may one or two still floating around that are on your league’s free list. Tim Robinson played his first game in the top grade for the year on Saturday and whilst he only had 11 involvements he did also only play 11 minutes (1.00 SPM). It’s worth bearing in mind that he scored a workhorse in each of the last 3 games in 2014 when many of the Sharks forwards were out following the fallout from the ASADA investigation.
Joel Luani may be another player worth a punt. Luani has been rotating between hooker and five-eighth for the Tigers’ NSW Cup team. He didn’t get any workhorse tries when he filled in for Robbie Farah last year but with the Tigers playing before every State of Origin game this year, Luani will get numerous opportunities to rectify that.
JUST QUICKLY
Well done to Chris Sandow for responding to his axing with a Man of the Match performance for Wenty. However, is it just me or is this picture a little awkward considering Sandow’s history?
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
