Workhorse Watch: Rd 8
Although many of us enjoyed the footy from the comfort of our living rooms, plenty of fans flocked to matches held on ANZAC Day. The footy in all five games was extremely competitive but fans faced some extremely adverse conditions. After copping some brutal weather during the week, Sydneysiders at the Roosters vs Dragons game had to endure a 30 minute hail delay!
Meanwhile Melbourne fans had it equally tough, having to look at Manly’s ANZAC jersey for 80 minutes.
Ethan Lowe is back! After two sub-40 performances and a look as to the reason why in last week’s column, the Cowboys back rower is back among the points. Lowe had 33 tackles and 14 hit ups and considering it was the Trade Doctor who originally asked the question, I think there is definitely something to this Workhorse Busters thing. So let us know via the comments section or Twitter @GeoffAdams81 which forward you need to get fired up.
The diagnosis for Jamie Buhrer doesn’t look good, just as he was starting to hit his straps. Buhrer backed up his Herculean effort from round seven with 52 involvements on Saturday before being taken off with a knee injury. Early reports say he could be done for the season. Feleti Mateo could be ready for a return, otherwise Dunamis Lui is likely to come back into the starting side after coming off the bench in the last two games. Prior to Round 7, Lui had started the first six games, scoring three workhorse tries.
Workhorse favourite Corey Parker racked up another milestone on the weekend passing 500 career goals. After failing to land any of his attempts last week, fantasy coaches would have been delighted to see Parker go for goal at every opportunity and finish with 6 goals from 7 attempts. Parker also had 37 tackles and 15 hit ups to record his sixth workhorse of the year and a selection in the Australian team to boot.
WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK
Michael Lichaa. After being mistakenly overlooked for Workhorse Team of the Week honours back in Round 4, Lichaa receives his just deserts this week with the top gong. Overall it was a quiet week with no double workhorse tries but take nothing away from the Sharks #9 who was the stand out workhorse of Round 8.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- George Burgess: 40 tackles + 15 hitups = 55
- Michael Lichaa: 55 tackles + 5 hitups = 60
- Jesse Bromwich: 38 tackles + 15 hitups = 53
- Nate Myles: 44 tackles + 14 hitups = 58
- Chris Houston: 47 tackles + 6 hitups = 53
- Corey Parker: 37 tackles + 15 hitups = 52
14. Andrew McCullough: 50 tackles + 6 hitups = 56
15. Jake Friend: 51 tackles + 5 hitups = 56
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Glenn Stewart: 30 tackles + 9 hitups = 39
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Iosia Soliola: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
Workhorse Busters: Our first client is Ben Hannant. Since dropping back to the bench in Round 3, Hannant’s game time has completely dried up. Hannant played 56 and 57 minutes in the opening two rounds but coming off the bench is averaging just 28 minutes per game. In his two starts he’s had a stats per minute score of 0.77. Coming off the bench his work rate increases dramatically to 1.07SPM. Hannant just needs some more minutes, simple as that. However, I’m reluctant to call for it as it would likely be to the detriment to one of my fantasy mainstays, Matt Scott.
Speaking of players that have dropped off, what’s happened to Matt Ballin? The Manly hooker has missed workhorse tries in his last two outings. The last time Ballin missed a workhorse for two consecutive weeks was in Round 25 last year after he suffered a leg fracture. Ballin’s stats per minute haven’t really changed but his minutes have been dramatically reduced. Once considered an 80 minute hooker, Ballin has played 56.5 minutes per game in the last two weeks which has seen his fantasy value plummet!
The Kangaroos pack looks a strong one with plenty of workhorses in the side. Tim Sheens has opted to play four forwards on the bench who between them have 18 workhorse tries for the year. But it’s the front row that really shines with Matt Scott, Cam Smith and Aaron Woods all with seven workhorse tries so far this season. Woods is the only Kangaroo with a workhorse in every game he’s played this season. He currently averages 51 involvements a game and 0.86SPM.
The handful of NRLCEO coaches with Matt Prior in their ranks finally saw a return with the one time Country Origin rep posting his first workhorse try of the season. Prior is a capable workhorse whose numbers clearly suffer when Paul Gallen and Andrew Fifita are in the team. Last year with Gallen suspended and Fifita injured, Prior scored a workhorse try in the last five rounds of the season. In the six games he’s played with Gallen and Fifita this year, he’s averaged just 21.5 involvements and 26.5 minutes per game (0.81SPM). Without these two hit up hogs on Sunday, Prior still only played 41 minutes but managed 40 involvements (0.98SPM).
JUST QUICKLY
I believe the day Ricky Stuart has nothing to complain about is the day he loses his will to live. First it was the fact the Raiders couldn’t attract players. Once they started signing players like Elliott Whitehead and Aiden Sezar, they needed something else to complain about. So they turned their attention to the lack of support the NRL gives them. This then evolved to a complaint about being the only major city that was not given a game on ANZAC Day. Perhaps the NRL thought hosting a game in the nation’s capital may not be a great idea considering the match between the Giants and the Suns attracted the third lowest AFL crowd at Manuka Oval ever.
Geoff Adams
Latest posts by Geoff Adams (see all)
- 2018 Workhorse Watch Awards - September 3, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 24 - August 29, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 23 - August 22, 2018
