Workhorse Watch Rd 24
Apparently NRLCEO is still going. After being soundly beaten last weekend I must admit I’ve moved on. Following the games this past weekend has been difficult as the WiFi on this non-descript island hideaway is dodgy at best. But seeing as though you more successful NRLCEOs are still completely immersed in your comps, I’d best do some workhorse watching.
There were some massive performances across the weekend making for some huge team totals, even my private league which doesn’t have metre eaters or nominated captains had teams scoring in the 100s and 90s. While it was the backs that were racking up the largest scores there was plenty to like up front with 11 players scoring try/workhorse try doubles with Alex Glenn crossing the stripe twice in addition to getting a workhorse – a huge step up after going scoreless the week before. Speaking of missing out, Paul Gallen who dipped out last week also came back with a vengeance, as one of the players with a try/workhorse try combo along with a double metre eater.
However, with finals pressure building there were plenty of players NRLCEOs would’ve been banking on who came up short. Jack De Belin missed out on a workhorse again this week with 39 involvements as did Josh Jackson. Mitchell Barnett also found himself in the No Cigar Club while teammate Jamie Buhrer who has been blitzing it in recent weeks at hooker, only had 38 involvements for the game.
After coming off the bench last weekend and playing 26 minutes, Josh Aloiai was a late call up from 18th man into the starting side and registered a workhorse try with exactly 40 involvements. Despite playing every game for the Tigers last year, the Auckland born front rower scored just one workhorse try compared to this year where he now has two for the season despite missing a chunk of the season following a knee injury.
Speaking of knee injuries, Trent Merrin made his return after missing four weeks following the Panthers’ round 19 game against the Warriors. It was the second rower’s first extended lay off in four years but still a fairly short one considering initial reports had him out for six to eight weeks. Merrin played 38 minutes off the bench for 23 tackles and 13 hit ups.
Workhorse of the Week:
Josh McGuire. The Broncos back rower scored his first double workhorse try since round 9 to take his overall workhorse tally to 15 for the season. Special mention to Jake Trbojevic who also scored a double workhorse, had more metres and also scored a try but fell one involvement shy of McGuire.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- Josh McGuire: 47 tackles + 14 hitups = 61
- Jake Friend: 52 tackles + 7 hitups = 59
- Nathan Brown: 36 tackles + 16 hitups = 52
- Paul Gallen: 36 tackles + 22 hitups = 58
- Matt Eisenhuth: 43 tackles + 14 hitups = 57
- Jake Trbojevic: 44 tackles + 16 hitups = 61
14. Coen Hess: 46 tackles + 10 hitups = 56
15. Cameron Murray: 42 tackles + 12 hitup = 54
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Jack De Belin: 27 tackles + 12 hitups = 39
Kevin Proctor: 28 tackles + 11 hitups = 39
Adam Blair: 33 tackles + 6 hitups = 39
Mitchell Barnett: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Matt Prior: 25 tackles + 14 hitups = 39
Shannon Boyd: 25 tackles + 14 hitups = 39
Josh Jackson: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Jazz Tevaga: 36 tackles + 3 hitups = 39
Sione Katoa: 37 tackles + 2 hitups = 39
Siosiua Taukeiaho: 28 tackles + 11 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
ICYMI: @LebanonRL have unveiled their @RLWC2017 jersey and @BradFittler is listening to the anthem everyday so he can sing along on game day pic.twitter.com/vAnDbv5XiU
— Fatima Kdouh (@FatimaKdouh_) August 22, 2017
Although NRLCEO Finals rage on and NRL Finals also loom closer and closer, preparations for the Rugby League World Cup continue to ramp up as well with several teams announcing their train on squads in recent weeks and Lebanon, who won their way through way back in 2015, launching their jerseys this week.
The squad is largely made up of Australian based lower grade players with a sprinkling of Lebanon-based domestic players and a few genuine NRL stars. One player fast emerging as an NRL level player and a bit of a workhorse gun is the Alex Twal. The Tigers’ forward has now scored four workhorses in the last seven weeks and against the Roosters had 45 involvements in 49 minutes (0.92 SPM).
Fellow Cedar Michael Lichaa bounced back into the workhorse circle with 48 involvements in 80 minutes (0.60 SPM). Lichaa had been absent for the last two weeks and prior to that had just 13 involvements total, across three games between Rounds 18 and 21.
But the headline acts in the Lebanon side (at least up front) are no doubt Tim Mannah and Robbie Farah who were nowhere to be see on the weekend with Eels prop playing just 30 minutes against the Titans and Farah only seeing 18 minutes against the Warriors. Mannah finished with 24 involvements (0.80 SPM) while Farah had just 9 (0.50 SPM).
Geoff Adams
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