Workhorse Watch Round 1
Workhorse Watch is back for 2023!
CEO’s don’t win premierships without a hard working forward pack. Each week we will highlight the players that are must have’s in your pack, whilst also help identify the players to be on the lookout for. It was good to see the return of some DWH’s in round 1, will we see a TWH this season?
WORKING HARD
J’maine Hopgood (Eels)
57 tackles, 20 runs for 168m in 84 minutes – DWH (0.92 stats per minute)
If you didn’t believe the hype while you were drafting then give yourself an uppercut. Hopgood will be one of the first forwards drafted for many years to come, scoring a DWH in his first outing for the Eels. Unlikely to be available in any spud pools but trade him in if you can. If you got him in a keeper league then you have yourself a stallion right there.
Harry Grant (Storm)
59 tackles, 10 runs for 83m in 84 minutes – DWH (0.82 spm)
Mr MVP himself starts the season off with a DWH and a match winning try just for good measure. Taken at 1st or 2nd pick in most drafts and rightly so, well on his way to back to back MVP awards.
Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)
52 tackles, 16 runs for 151m in 70 minutes – DWH (0.97 spm)
Injury has held Carrigan back the last few seasons, lets hope he can be injury free in 2023.
HARDLY WORKING
Hudson Young (Raiders)
29 tackles, 7 runs for 63m in 80 minutes (0.45 spm)
If this guy wants to take the next step towards Origin he needs to be more consistently involved. 13 WH’s in 2022 is just not enough for a player of his talent, he did cross for 13 tries but you need to be able to bank on a WH most weeks.
Matthew Doorey (Eels)
23 tackles, 11 runs for 90m in 73 minutes (0.47 spm)
Doorey is only early on his career and is probably not going to be able to hold down a starting spot when the Eels back row cavalry returns. He looked good in the Eels trial matches but needs to get more involved to become NRLCEO relevant.
Kurt Capewell (Broncos)
27 tackles, 8 runs for 69m in 71 minutes (0.49 spm)
What is he even doing out there? There are some quality workers in the Broncos pack but Capewell is meant to be a leader in their team, 4 WH’s in 19 games last year is not good enough. Lets face it, you only draft Capewell if you are a distant cousin, otherwise you let him stew in the spud pool.
SPUD POOL LOOKOUT
Leo Thompson (Knights)
35 tackles, 9 runs for 69m in 41 minutes (1.07 spm)
The Knights are light on for front rowers other than Saifiti brothers. If Leo can get 40-50 minutes off the bench he could sneak a WH some weeks. If he gets a start due to injury or form then he will be a free agent gem. His first ever NRLCEO WH!
Jack Murchie (Eels)
32 tackles, 13 runs for 100m in 37 minutes (1.21 spm)
Murchie is another young gun with an appetite for work. He hasn’t been able to lock down a regular starting spot but when he does he would be a great pick up, especially with the Eels back row stocks taking an early hit.
Shaquai Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
28 tackles, 11 runs for 106m in 45 minutes (0.87 spm)
The slightly elder brother of Latrell, Shaq has shed the weight to have a crack at NRL. The Rabbits do have a few options up front but I would keep an eye on his minutes during the season.
Jake Turpin (Roosters)
54 tackles, 2 runs for 7m in 63 minutes (0.89 spm)
Interesting to see so many minutes for a backup dummy half. Roosters had their issues with HIA’s and a sin bin so this kind of return may not hold. Worth keeping an eye on his minutes and whether Brandon Smith is thrust into a running forward role similar to his time at the Storm.
WORTH MENTIONING….
Cameron McInnes (Sharks)
28 tackles, 9 runs for 77m in 29 minutes (1.28 spm)
Let me start Boss! McInnes owners need not worry, with only 29 minutes playing time he smashed out 37 involvements. Im sure he will be a regular workhorse even if he doesn’t start.
Davvy Moale (Rabbitohs)
19 tackles, 15 runs for 123m in 39 minutes (0.87 spm)
I think Moale has a big future in CEO. He likely would have got the WH last week if he had not gone off for a HIA thanks to Wade Graham’s kamikaze hit. Not far off potentially starting either and definitely worth keeping an eye on if Tatola or Burgess suffer a long term injury.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (most involvements by eligible position)
8. Tohu Harris (Warriors) – 75
9. Harry Grant (Storm) – 69
10. Ryan Sutton (Bulldogs) – 60
11. Jordan Riki (Broncos) – 54
12. Eliesa Katoa (Storm) – 53
13. J’maine Hopgood (Eels) – 77
Adz
NRLCEO Commish
NRLCEO Live Scoring Team
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