Workhorse Watch: Rd 3
The Canberra Raiders are a better team without Shaun Fensom. There, I said it. It’s the fact fantasy footballers across the country don’t want to hear but it may well be true. Ricky Stuart relegated Fensom to the bench on Saturday evening and the Raiders got off to a quickfire start scoring 3 tries in the opening 19 minutes to lead 18-0. Fensom entered the fray at the 20 minute mark and the Raiders didn’t score another try whilst the Dragons stormed back in the second half to win 22-20. Want more proof? Last year the Raiders only won 26% of games with Fensom in their side. After Fensom went down injured in Round 21, that number jumped to 60% as the Raiders finished the season with 3 wins from their last 5 games.
It may be sacrilegious to call the great man into question but as Workhorse Watcher the only thing I hold in greater esteem than workhorse royalty are statistics. Statistics are the lifeblood of NRLCEO and they can’t be ignored even if we don’t like them. With that said, Fensom had a huge game with 49 tackles and 16 hit ups and came within 8 metre of a double workhorse. Simon Mannering also came very close to scoring a double workhorse against the Eels after grabbing one in Round 2. The Warriors captain had 47 tackles and 16 hit ups but fell short in the yardage department by just 10 metres.
There are a number of forwards already emerging as most improved contenders for 2015 after putting together some really consistent performances in the first three weeks. Tyson Frizell has scored 3 straight workhorses to begin the year after scoring just 4 for the entire year, last year. The Dragons backrower has played every minute so far this season and is averaging 38 tackles and 12 hit ups per game.
Tohu Harris’ start to the season has been equally impressive. He’s even the top scoring NRLCEO player so far as named by The Commish in his Dream Team. The Melbourne backrower has scored workhorse tries in each of the first three games and on Saturday exploded with 2 tries as well which doubles his career total and helps him avoid the end of season nudie run that he had to endure last year. Throw in a try assist and a couple of line breaks and it was a huge night for the Kiwi representative.
After Daly Cherry-Evans announced he would be joining the Gold Coast next year, Daniel Mortimer expressed he’d be working hard to play alongside the Australian representative when he arrives on the holiday strip. Judging by his two kicks that went out on the full at crucial times against the Knights, it looks as though he’s got an uphill battle. He may wish to consider a move to the second row. Mortimer had 32 tackles and 8 runs. His 40 involvements were only one less than Greg Bird and more than starting back rowers Ryan James and Dave Taylor, and each of the Knights starting back row too.
WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK
The Cronulla Sharks remain winless and as a result Paul Gallen continues to get through the work. Last week I criticised the New South Wales captain for being too involved at the expense of the side’s creativity. I didn’t see any of the Sharks game this week because I was busy with, um, my life so I can’t comment on his influence other than to say, imagine how bad the Sharks would be without him? He wasn’t the only play this week to have 60 or more involvements but he was the only one with the required yardage.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- Aaron Woods: 31 tackles + 23 hitups = 54
- Robbie Farah: 55 tackles + 8 hitups = 63
- Aidan Tolman: 36 tackles + 18 hitups = 54
- Simon Mannering: 47 tackles + 16 hitups = 63
- Paul Gallen: 41 tackles + 19 hitups = 60
- Shaun Fensom: 49 tackles + 15 hitups = 64
- Elijah Taylor: 53 tackles + 6 hitups = 59
- Trent Merrin: 41 tackles + 17 hitups = 58
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Those who know their Greek mythology (or Marvel Comics) will be familiar with the expression “cut off one head and two more will take its place”. It’s in reference to the Hydra, a mythical, serpent-like water creature, so it’s poetic that in the week Eels captain Tim Mannah scores a workhorse to get out of the Close but No Cigar Club, there are two more Eels to take his place.
Anthony Watmough: 30 tackles + 9 hitups = 39
Danny Wicks: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Sam Thaiday: 27 tackles + 12 hitups = 39
Keith Galloway: 26 tackles + 13 hitups = 39
Sia Soliola: 24 tackles + 15 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
What a difference a week makes. After getting called out by everyone, Adam Blair had a huge turn around to score his first workhorse of the year. It helped that Josh McGuire went off after 20 minutes but never the less, Blair did finish with 28 tackles and 15 hit ups (0.72SPM).
The player that really stepped up in McGuire’s absence though was Jarrad Wallace. Wallace played just 26 minutes but had 35 involvements (1.34SPM). After being overlooked in Round 1, Wallace had close to one involvement per minute against the Sharks in Round 2 and this week showed he may be a handy pick up come Origin time.
So what does the Workhorse Watch have to say about Tim Mannah? Well save your humble pie, I’m not hungry. I’ve never said Mannah wasn’t capable of a workhorse, in fact that’s the point. The frustration over Mannah comes from the fact he is so close most weeks. Forwards who plays big minutes but barely roll up their sleeves get nowhere near the column inches that a player like Mannah does. His work rate this week was the same as last week (1.08SPM), he just played 11 extra minutes and with it came the spoils. Bravo!
The returning Tim Grant might have missed out on a workhorse try but it wasn’t due to a low work rate. Grant played 35 minutes and had 33 involvements (0.94SPM). Not bad for your first game back in the top grade.
The real winners out of the injury to John Sutton were Dave Tyrrell, Chris McQueen and anyone who had them. Both players scored their first workhorse of the season with Tyrrell having 40 involvements in just 34 minutes (1.18SPM)
JUST QUICKLY…
From what I hear, Graham Annesley is a good operator. However, I feel that part of the reason fans are not calling for his or other CEO heads whose clubs have gone to the NRL cap in hand is because their names don’t fit into a catchy phrase like ‘Oust Doust’. Sure Peter Doust has overseen his side far longer than most but would other CEOs be under more pressure if their names were easier to rhyme?
Geoff Adams
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