Workhorse Watch Round 5

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 5 – Yeo, has anyone seen the good Panthers, missing since round 1……..

• Is it time for Cook to take a seat on the pine?
• a Rabbitohs KK is costing CEO’s valuable points with his poor WH form!
• an Eels KK is kicking off his NRLCEO career in style!
• the smaller Haas is looking to build his own name on the glitter strip!
• Fatfita is back and we are waiting to see when the real Fifita will be unleashed.

In Round 5 there were 62 players who scored a WH, with no players scoring a DWH. You cannot fault Isaah Yeo, doing everything he can to get the Panthers back on track.

WORKING HARD

Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

48 tackles, 20 runs for 125m in 80 minutes – WH (0.85 stats per minute)

Typical Isaah Yeo performance, getting the 60+ involvements but failing to run the 150m necessary for a DWH. Its not quite panic stations at the Panthers yet but it another loss or two and it there will be alarm bells ringing. Good news for CEO’s who own Yeo, he will likely continue to play 80 minutes as they try and get themselves out of this hole. It seems Yeo has taken on a playmaker role as well, often playing like a second halfback, which could see a few attacking stats come his way.

Adam Elliott (Knights)

50 tackles, 16 runs for 93m in 75 minutes – WH (0.88 spm)

It was a tough evening for all the Knights forwards as they lost 2 players in the first minute of play and then another forward early in the second half. Elliott missed round due to injury and there was some chat suggesting he was on the outer and may play off the bench when he was fit to return. Since then the Knights have lost forward after forward to injury or suspension and Elliott has been his usual hard working self without any flair. He may end up being off the bench later in the season when the Knights are at full strength, particularly given the emergence of Thomas Cant in recent weeks. If he starts he will more than likely score a WH.

Leo Thompson (Knights)

49 tackles, 13 runs for 105m in 72 minutes – WH (0.86 spm)

Thompson returned from injury on the weekend and his knee got a good test, playing 72 minutes which is unusually high for him. Of course it was due to injuries but it was still nice to see he can handle the high workload, which he may need to do again with Jacob Saifiti out for a couple of weeks. The Bulldogs are onto a winner with Thompson, currently 25 years of age, he will be reaching his peak potential during his time with Canterbury and will form a formidable combination with Max King. I think Thompson was still under rated coming into this season but he would almost be included in the top tier of props in NRLCEO.

Joseph Tapine (Raiders)

40 tackles, 18 runs for 139m in 59 minutes – WH (0.98 spm)

After a slow start to the season, Tapine has bounced back the last 2 weeks with a WH in each game and a try in round 4. In previous years you would always get the feeling when your watching him play that he is going to do something ill disciplined and cop a suspension or a sin bin. Although that has already happened this season, he is now the captain of the club and you would think that would help him overcome that. He is yet to score a ME in 2025 which is disappointing for CEOs.

HARDLY WORKING

Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins) 

25 tackles, 13 runs for 108m in 52 minutes (0.73 spm)

Felise, turning 33 this year, is past his best now in NRLCEO and will be lucky to score 3 WH’s all season. The Dolphins have Plath and Gilbert doing all their work as well as the re-emergence of Daniel Saifiti this season. If you still have Felise Kaufusi you are not playing to win.

Damien Cook (Dragons)

34 tackles, 4 runs for 39m in 64 minutes (0.59 spm)

Cook has had a mixed start to the season, scoring a WH in 2 of his 4 matches so far. I think there is a change coming and we will see Liddle get the start and Cook will come off the bench. Liddle has been the spark for the Dragons this season and he really needs to be out their to get them on the front foot early. If you have Cook in your team, I would be considering adding his handcuff to your squad and drafting Liddle. The problem there is they will likely still share minutes and it will cause both of them to miss a WH. Perhaps the better option would be to try and trade Cook out before the potential switch is made and get yourself a guaranteed WH scoring hooker.

Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

22 tackles, 15 runs for 148m in 80 minutes (0.90 spm)

Two tries saved him in round 4 but KK has now missed a WH in his last 4 matches this season, giving him just one WH for the year. I think most CEO’s figured he would be huge this season given it was Bennett who pushed him into the middle last season via then coach Hornby. He also supposedly dropped a fair amount of weight which you think would increase his work rate not the opposite. I don’t think you can drop him but it is definitely time to try and trade him out for an upgrade before his value drops even further.

Eliesa Katoa (Storm)

24 tackles, 12 runs for 129m in 80 minutes (0.45 spm)

Katoa is another in horrible WH form to start this season, scoring one WH in his first four matches. He has always had good attacking stats though, scoring two Tries, two LB’s and two TA’s so far, which help supplement the missing WH points. He has looked to be favouring a knee during matches this season so he may be carrying a niggle which is causing him to avoid some contact when he can. Hopefully he can regain his WH form as he always good for the odd try when the Storm are on the attack.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Sean Keppie (Rabbitohs)

26 tackles, 14 runs for 103m in 49 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

The CEO proclaimed Goat is in career best form, scoring his third WH in 5 matches to start the season. He scored two WH’s all of last season so Bennett may have had a word in his ear. Again I urge caution as he is averaging 41 involvements a match this season which means he will likely score six to eight WH’s for the whole year.

Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs)

29 tackles, 16 runs for 139m in 53 minutes – WH (0.85 spm)

Tatola is finally gaining some match fitness after being out injured for most of last season. At his best he can be a regular WH scorer so now might be the time to pick him up. He would be considered the best prop at the club when fully fit and should be getting the start from here on in.

Junior Paulo (Eels)

29 tackles, 19 runs for 169m in 72 minutes – WH (0.67 spm)

Paulo was one of the Eels best against the Dragons, scoring a WH and a ME. Its his second WH for the year after scoring none in 2024. The Eels will have to persist with their 2 big men up front, at least until Jack Williams returns from injury (who I expect will lineup at prop on his return). With the addition of Dylan Walker, I also expect Hopgood to play in the middle and cover prop at periods during the match, which could negatively impact Paulo’s ability to score a WH each week. If you are desparate for cover, Paulo could fill a spot for a few weeks but he is not a long term option.

Klese Haas (Titans)

31 tackles, 10 runs for 77m in 80 minutes – WH (0.51 spm)

Klese has scored a WH in his last two matches, aided by Fermor moving to centre on the weekend against the Dolphins. Perhaps the Mad Scientist sees Fermor as a better option out wide as he always has no hesitation using him to fill a gap when they have injuries, it’s like they have no junior outside backs coming through that are worth giving a chance. I would wait for TLT this week to see which way the Titans will go, perhaps Fifita stays on the bench (cause he is dong nothing anyway).

WORTH MENTIONING…

David Fifita (Titans)

37 tackles, 5 runs for 51m in 65 minutes – WH (0.65 spm)

It looks like Fatfita is back this season and all CEO’s are wondering just how long they are going to hold him in the hope that the barnstorming, tackle breaking, try scoring version of him will make an appearance. He barely scored a WH on the weekend and managed only 5 runs for 51m. The Titans halves need to make a point to get him some quality ball as when he is at his best he is a weapon for the Titans. For now we just wait……..

Kitione Kautoga (Eels)

28 tackles, 14 runs for 134m in 78 minutes – WH (0.92 spm)

Kautoga looks to have found a home on the Eels right edge, scoring his third WH in a row since getting the start there. He also managed a Try, LB, ME and a repeat set for a handy 13 point haul. He was on spud pool watch a few weeks back and I would suggest he is a quality option if he is still sitting in your spud pool. He looks to have good job security as his performance has improved each week.

Naufahu Whyte (Roosters)

34 tackles, 12 runs for 144m in 49 minutes – WH (0.94 spm)

Perhaps the decision to release Terrell May was not as bad as it looks with the emergence of Naufahu Whyte. He has now scored a WH in all five matches this season and is averaging 46 involvements per game. Now these are not May numbers but Whyte is looking better each week and he will only continue to grow from here. If you are in contract/keeper leagues I would be grabbing him while he is still relatively unknown. He would still be a mid to late range draft pick for next season, although it may cost you trying to trade him in.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)

25 tackles, 12 runs for 105m in 56 minutes – (0.66 spm)

I have not seen any evidence that Kulikefu will become a regular WH scorer. He is still young so he has time on his side but he is currently not able to play a full 80 minutes which would point to poor conditioning or just a weak engine. I think he has the potential to be a good attacking edge player which would mean the odd try here and there, but WH scoring is where it is at and so far he is not performing. If you are playing the long game with him in a contract/keeper league I can understand holding him, otherwise I would be cutting him.

BACKS IMPERSONATING FORWARDS

It is time we paid some attention to those skinny little bludgers who think they can play in the forwards. There may be some comps out there that reward backs for scoring a WH, so lets call them out, if only to shame the forwards in their pack for not doing the work themselves. Take note that in  some public comps you can name backs in bench position 1 and 2 where they are eligible to score a WH.

Mawene Hiroti (Sharks)

25 tackles, 18 runs for 170m in 80 minutes – WH (0.61 spm)

It was a craking season debut for Hiroti on the weekend, filling in for the injured Kayal Iro. He scored a WH, Try, LB and a ME. I could see him playing a role on an edge with that defensive work.

Luke Brooks (Sea Eagles)

27 tackles, 15 runs for 74m in 80 minutes – WH (0.53 spm)

Brooks stepped up in the absence of Turbo, scoring a WH, two TA’s and four LBA’s against the Storm. Sadly manly were unable to defend anything, leaking 48 points at home.

Chad Townsend (Roosters)

33 tackles, 7 runs for 38m in 80 minutes – WH (0.53 spm)

Someone tell the Chad that he is not a forward. He should really be working on not kicking out on the full and trying to run the ball more. Poor Chad thought he was going to Bondi for a retirement party.

WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (most involvements by eligible position)

POSITION	PLAYER	TEAM	INVOLVEMENTS	PACK OF THE WEEK
Front Row	Leo Thompson	Knights	62	1
Hooker	Reece Robson	Cowboys	55	1
Front Row	Joseph Tapine	Raiders	58	1
Back Row	Josh Curran	Bulldogs	58	1
Back Row	Toby Couchman	Dragons	58	3
Lock	Isaah Yeo	Panthers	68	1

WH – Workhorse

DWH – Double Workhorse

ME – Metre Eater

DME – Double Metre Eater

SPM – Stats per minute played