The Workhorse Watcher’s Top NRLCEO Tips – Pt 2
So you’re new to NRLCEO? Maybe you need some help to make the 2016 season a winning one? Here is Part II of my tips to success. Read Part I here.
Avoid the rookies
There are some exceptions to the rule but most rookies take a few years to settle into first grade and make a contribution in NRLCEO. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was earmarked as the next big thing as far back as his days at Manly in 2009. But it wasn’t until 2012 that he started putting up numbers that were worthy of grabbing the attention of NRLCEOs. And speaking of former Manly forwards now at other clubs, anyone want to talk about Michael Chee-Kam? People had him pegged as a “boom rookie” after he was named in the 2012 Under 20s Team of the Year. Three years later and you can count his first grade games on one hand.
Pick the new guy
Rather than look to rookies to have a breakout season, consider seasoned first graders who have changed clubs. Often you can find a player who had limited opportunities at his former club but who will now have a chance to shine. Take a guy like Tim Grant at the Tigers. Going off last year’s numbers you wouldn’t rank Grant high on your recruitment list but he’ll see a lot more minutes at Wests and will be back posting the workhorse numbers we saw when he was at Penrith where in 2013 and 2012 he finished the season with 13 and 11 workhorse tries respectively.
Have a hard copy of your draft strategy
Don’t trust technology. “Oh but I’ve got this fool-proof spreadsheet with all the data and it tells me who to pick and when”. No you don’t. Nothing is fool-proof. One year in our comp, a guy’s laptop completely crashed mid-draft and he had nothing to go on. His draft was ruined. And even if your computer doesn’t crash, in the flurry of selections it pays to have notes on the players you want than relying on stats alone. Have a short list of players you want to pick, by position, and cross them off as they get picked. Also have a piece of paper that you can write down each of your selections by position as you draft them to avoid having any holes in your roster.
Don’t use trials or the Auckland 9s as a form guide
Relying on these games as an indicator for the season is like seeing a nag win the 4th at Pakenham and thinking it’s ready to run the Melbourne Cup. A player might kill it in the trials but may end up getting limited opportunities come the regular season because he was only playing while the stars were wrapped in cotton wool. Always think about who is to come back into the lineup come Round 1.
Put in the hard yards
No amount of tips from the “experts” can replace doing the research yourself. There are pages of statistical information available, but you have to analyse it. You have to process the information. I’ve been writing the Workhorse Watch for two seasons. I’ve won my comp both times. I don’t say that to boast but merely show there have been numerous times I’ve noticed a player in my research for the column and snapped them up for myself and seen it pay dividends. And watch the games, stats don’t reveal everything. Sometimes you’ll see a player that impresses you with work he does without the ball in his hands. Coaches notice things like that and if you do too you’ll be able to grab them before someone who looks at the NRLCEO scores alone can.
Good luck in your quest for NRLCEO domination! Keep in touch and let me know if I have missed any other tips.
Want more tips? Read Part I of the Workhorse Watchers top tips.
Geoff Adams
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