Workhorse Watch Rd 23
The big news at Workhorse Watch HQ is that Kevin Proctor did not score a double-double as I hoped he would on Monday night (not a big ask I know) which means the Castle Hill Rams’ season is over and the premiership run has come to an end. As I reflect here during Mad Tuesday celebrations, I’m just as proud of the squad this year as the last two years when we went all the way. Just making the finals this year was an achievement considering the number, and variety of setbacks throughout the season. Making the finals without your best winger, hooker, and half is tough and then to have your kicker land a miserable 2 from 6 and your fullback go off with a broken jaw, well it wasn’t our year.
There were a number of surprising results in Round 23 including the Roosters’ win over the Cowboys and Souths’ dramatic change of form in their match against the Warriors. It resulted in some unexpected workhorse tries with Ray Thompson (41 involvements) scoring his first workhorse of the season and Nathaniel Roach scoring his first workhorse ever (also 41 involvements). It was Thompson’s first game at starting hooker this season having played off the bench or in the halves in his other 5 appearances.
He hasn’t set the world on fire this season, but NRLCEOs with Sam Thaiday will be disappointed the Broncos forward only managed 27 involvements against the Eels. Thaiday has four workhorse tries for the season but going into Round 23, three of those were in his last three games. 2016 marks the first time that Thaiday will finish the season in single digits for workhorse tries.
Thaiday’s four workhorses is down on the 12 he scored in 2015 and well down on the 21 he scored in 2013. But is he the most disappointing workhorse of the season? Who is your worst? Among the contenders are Nathan Friend and Josh Papalii who both scored 10 workhorses last year and have each scored just 4 this year. Matt Scott scored 11 last season and sits on just 2 this year as does Alex Glenn who had 12 workhorse tries last year. Or is it George Burgess who last season had 15 workhorse tries but who currently has just 2. Keep an eye out early next week for the first ever Workhorse Poll, where we ask you all the big questions about NRLCEO workhorses.
Workhorse of the Week:
James Graham. Stop the fight. Not only is Graham the best workhorse of 2016, he’s the overall best player as well. We still have a few weeks to go but the big Englishman absolutely crushed it on Thursday night setting an NRLCEO involvement record with 82 against Manly!!! And it came less than two months since Simon Mannering hit the 80 mark. Workhorse tries, metre eaters, the man is unstoppable.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- James Graham: 63 tackles + 19 hitups = 81
- Api Koroisau: 62 tackles + 5 hitups = 67
- Aiden Tolman: 50 tackles + 19 hitups = 69
- Ryan James: 49 tackles + 10 hitups = 59
- Jamie Buhrer: 48 tackles + 12 hitups = 60
- Elliott Whitehead: 43 tackles + 11 hitups = 54
- Michael Lichaa: 63 tackles + 2 hitups = 65
- Jake Friend: 58 tackles + 2 hitups = 60
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
He’s back!!! 26 rounds since his last 39 involvements in Round 12 last year, Tim Mannah is back in the club he is founder, CEO and Chairman of. The Close But No Cigar Club. Aka Tim Mannah Highway.
Tim Mannah: 30 tackles + 9 hitups = 39
Luke Lewis: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
It wouldn’t be a NRLCEO season without Tim Mannah having a stint in the Close But No Cigar Club. Mannah has been missed in his old stomping ground this season with players like Nate Myles and Pauli Pauli racking up back to back weeks on occasion. Mannah played 47 minutes (0.83 SPM) to remind us all he’s still around.
Meanwhile teammate Daniel Alvaro scored a convincing workhorse with 45 involvements in 42 minutes (1.07 SPM). Originally named on the bench, Alvaro was elevated to the starting side just prior to kickoff and scored his 7th workhorse of the season. It proved a lucrative return for at least one NRLCEO who was debating whether to include him, or Addin Fonua-Blake.
Fonua-Blake was named in the run on side for Manly but I wasn’t convinced he would provide any real value even if he was starting the game. The front rower has only registered 12 points this season and 10 of those were in one game as a result of two tries. My hesitance proved correct as Fonua-Blake had an SPM of 0.97, which was higher than his season average of 0.83 SPM but only played 30 minutes.
Paul Gallen’s late withdrawal from Saturday night’s game against the Dragons proved to be a major plus for Matt Prior who scored just his second workhorse try of the season. Prior, whose only other workhorse came in the Sharks’ golden point extra time draw with the Titans in Round 21, had 41 involvements in 50 minutes (0.82 SPM). He normally averages 40 minutes a game with an SPM of 0.75.
Geoff Adams
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