Workhorse Watch: Rd 19
It is often thought that some players receive special treatment based purely on reputation. Has it got to a point where workhorses are given certain allowances based on reputation as well? One can only assume that was the case when the number crunchers saw Elijah Taylor’s 35 involvements at the end of Friday night’s game and thought, “That can’t be right, better give him 40.” That or someone at League Live has Taylor in their NRLCEO team and really needed the back rower to chime in with a workhorse. It’s not uncommon for a player’s stats to move around by an involvement or two after the full time siren but 5 is a huge adjustment.
Not that he was the only one. Jake Friend finished Sunday’s game against the Warriors with 37 involvements, much to my despair.
Can one of the @Fantasy_NRLCEO podcasts get Jake Friend on & explain workhorse tries. Involvements of 39, 39 & 37 in his last 3 games
— Geoff Adams (@geoffadams81) July 19, 2015
Fortunately he got upgraded to 41 involvements and no SOS from the Moneyball Podcast guys was required.
There were plenty of talking points out of the Raiders vs Sharks game including the Andrew Fifita no try. I’m still scratching my head on that one. The front rower still managed to score a try/workhorse try double for the fourth consecutive week thanks to a lovely run off Michael Ennis earlier in the game and now has 7 tries and 14 workhorse tries for the season. His 7 actually tries puts him ahead of so called backline stars like Greg Inglis (4) and Brett Morris (5).
Raymond Faitala-Mariner scored his first career workhorse with exactly 40 involvements against the Roosters. Faitala-Mariner played the full 80 minutes for the first time in the top grade and was fortunate that the 5 tackles he missed didn’t come back to bite him. The Warriors rookie was one of several forwards who missed a lot of tackles but still managed to get a workhorse, including Elijah Taylor (7 missed tackles), Luke Douglas (6), Greg Bird (5) and Josh Jackson (5).
WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK:
Paul Gallen. Gallen collects his second Workhorse of the Week accolade for 2015. Gallen has played just 9 games this year but has scored a workhorse or better in every one and now sits on 13 for the season.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- Kade Snowden: 33 tackles + 23 hitups = 56
- Michael Lichaa: 43 tackles + 14 hitups = 57
- Luke Douglas: 39 tackles + 17 hitups = 56
- Simon Mannering: 48 tackles + 12 hitups = 60
- Shaun Fensom: 43 tackles + 11 hitups = 54
- Paul Gallen: 41 tackles + 25 hitups = 66
14. Nathan Peats: 52 tackles + 6 hitups = 58
15. Tim Mannah: 40 tackles + 15 hitups = 55
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Jesse Bromwich: 24 tackles + 15 hitups = 39
Kevin Proctor: 24 tackles + 15 hitups = 39
Korbin Sims: 21 tackles + 18 hitups = 39
WORKHORSE WATCH ONE ON ONE:
No Stats Per Minute this week. It’s time to get in on this interviewing thing being spearheaded by the NRLCEO podcasts. A fortnight ago it was Shaun Fensom and last week it was Aaron Woods. I’ve enjoyed them, however the Workhorse Watch is determined to stay one step ahead of the pack as well as remain steadfast in providing content that you can’t find anywhere else.
That’s why this week, the Workhorse Watch takes you one step further and rather than give you an interview with someone like Aaron Woods, we deliver an exclusive interview with Twitter sensation Aaron Woods’ Nipple.
Workhorse Watcher: Firstly, thanks for agreeing to this interview.
Woodsy’s Nipple: Thanks for having me mate. But why are we underground?
Workhorse Watcher: I was hoping you could tell me.
Woodsy’s Nipple: Well it’s a bit sweaty down here but I’ll be OK it fit’s a relatively quick interview.
Workhorse Watcher:You don’t like to sweat? That must be a problem for the nipple of an NRLCEO workhorse.
Woodsy’s Nipple: Yeah exactly. It’s been a big problem my entire life really. I don’t particularly like being stuck in claustrophobic, sweaty places but it’s my only option really. I much prefer end of season trips to Bali.
Workhorse Watcher: Was Aaron always destined to play footy or were there other sports that he tried his hand at that would have been better for you like swimming?
Woodsy’s Nipple: Like any young Australian he tried his hand at most things. And let me tell you, he uses his hand for one particular thing plenty of times! He was a pretty handy basketballer. I liked that as the singlets are pretty loose.
He also played cricket but to be honest I found that really dull and boring. Growing up in the inner west we didn’t get to the beach a lot which was good for me because I’ll give you the tip, surfboard wax is way worse than a bikini wax.
But the weirdest sport of all was Greco Roman wrestling. The less said about that the better.
Workhorse Watcher: Depending on where the spandex straps sat, I would have thought something like that would have been a good option for you.
Woodsy’s Nipple: Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but how many times have you kissed a man?
Workhorse Watcher: None.
Woodsy’s Nipple: Well when the costumes get ripped around that’s exactly what it’s like. Nipple on nipple. Once again, I only save that until the end of year trips to Bali!
Workhorse Watcher: Haha! So it’s been a year since you came to prominence in THAT State of Origin game, what have you been up to since?
Woodsy’s Nipple: Same old to be honest. I thought I’d get a bit more media out of it than I did. I got one interview on the Betoota Advocate and 60 Minutes rang me. But they had the wrong number.
After we won the series I was getting tequila shots licked off me for a few weeks. Origin this year wasn’t the same. After the third game there was no towel whipping or nothing. Blokes just went straight back to their room.
Workhorse Watcher: Who did Woodsy bunk with?
Woodsy’s Nipple: This year it was big Dave Klemmer. They can’t get enough of each other. Strangely enough it’s not the bash brother thing that brings them together; they both have an addiction to potpourri.
Workhorse Watcher: What are big Dave Klemmer’s nipples like?
Woodsy’s Nipple: They’re big. That’s for sure. Like tea cup saucers. His chest is like his head too. Silky smooth.
Workhorse Watcher: Do you chat to other nipples in the change rooms after the game?
Woodsy’s Nipple: Yeah a fair bit. Not many of them are social media savvy like me though.
Aaron Woods hair has its own Twitter account though and James Tedesco’s nose has one too. Robbie Farah’s penis has its own Tinder account but we’ll leave that alone I think.
Workhorse Watcher: Woodsy is building a solid career for himself, what’s been the highlight for you so far?
Woodsy’s Nipple: For Woodsy it’s obviously Origin and playing for Australia. For me it’s the groupies.
Workhorse Watcher: What about lowlights? What’s tougher, getting flogged in Origin 52-6 or chaffing up against those skin tight jerseys players wear these days?
Woodsy’s Nipple: To be honest the footy itself doesn’t affect me so I’m not worried about the big losses. Nipple rash is way worse! I remember when Woodsy was in Under 10’s and he played a game at Five Dock. It was pissing down with rain and the middle of winter. So one of the guys mums suggested we wear garbage bags under our jerseys to keep warm. Fair enough it kept the lads warm but it was fortunate on the nipples!
Workhorse Watcher: Do you get jealous of the nipples of the wingers who never get tackled?
Woodsy’s Nipple: Yeah I do. But at the same time most of them have to go through chest waxing because all the wingers like to show off their six packs. Woodsy is old school. Gorilla chest all the way.
Workhorse Watcher: So you’ve never been waxed?
Woodsy’s Nipple: Never mate. Closest thing was surf wax.
Workhorse Watcher: Fair enough. Last question and it’s the one everyone wants to know about. State of Origin 2, 2014. Did you touch it?
Woodsy’s Nipple: Of course I did. And I’d do it again and again. What other nipple stopped 9 in a row?
Workhorse Watcher: None. NSW owes you a debt of gratitude. Thanks for speaking to the Workhorse Watch.
Follow Woodsy’s Nipple on Twitter at @Woodsy_Nipples
JUST QUICKLY:
The idea that Parramatta’s game plan is just give it to Semi is pretty funny as a joke but pretty fucking sad when it appears to actually be the game plan.
Parramatta offered absolutely nothing against the Bulldogs on Friday night and couldn’t even execute the task of getting it to the Fijian flyer properly.
At this point Brad Arthur might as well let Chris Sandow go to Super League. Arthur clearly doesn’t rate him and he might as well blood some other players who will be better for the experience in years to come.
Geoff Adams
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