Workhorse Watch – Round 1
We begin 2018 the same way we did last year – a quick look at the players who one might expect to fire that didn’t. Don’t be too disheartened if you big workhorse recruit didn’t score last week. Some of 2017’s biggest workhorse guns (and this year’s most heavily recruited prospects) failed to land a workhorse try in Round 1 last year as well before going onto have massive seasons. Simon Mannering (26 workhorse tries last year), Nathan Brown (22), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (20) and Paul Vaughan (19) all missed the magical 40 involvement mark in the first round of 2017.
Michael Lichaa failed to score workhorse try in the opening round for the third straight year after finishing with 37 involvements against the Storm. In 2017 Lichaa was in the Close But No Cigar Club in Round 1 but eventually finished with 17 workhorse tries for the year while in 2016 he had 20 workhorse tries by season’s end after registering 38 involvements in the season opener. However, NRLCEOs will be concerned to see that Jeremy Marshall-King is again on the Bulldogs bench this week.
Still with the Bulldogs and what to make of Aiden Tolman? There was a suggestion the prop might soon find a home on the Gold Coast but that hasn’t taken off. Unfortunately, instead he found himself playing just 37 minutes off the bench against Melbourne and subsequently falling six involvements short of a workhorse. Coach Dean Pay has opted to start Aaron Woods and David Klemmer in the starting front row positions with Woods chalking up 57 minutes last Saturday. Tolman is a beast, but it’s hard to be a regular workhorse scorer with less than 40 minutes a game.
After tipping him to get the nod in my chat with the Tantasy Podcast boys a few weeks back (released this week), Cameron King proved me to be correct in securing the outright hooking role at Parramatta where he played the full 80 minutes. King being the Eels only option at dummy half is good news for NRLCEOs after the 26 year old scored five workhorse tries in the last 6 games off 2017. He along with Nathan Brown appear to be the only sure bets when it comes to workhorse tries out west. Daniel Alvaro just squeezed in for a four pointer upon review after initially finishing with 38.
Workhorse of the Week:
Damien Cook. I was a big fantasy fan of Robbie Farah for a long time. Only a few short years ago he was one of a handful of players capable of scoring big in every possible way, bar goal kicking. Even last year the former NSW vice-captain managed seven workhorse tries, 10 try assists and 16 line break assists. But the writing was on the wall this year and when it became apparent Cook needed to be the Bunnies #1 number nine, Farah could no longer be a player on my radar, let alone on my keepers list. It didn’t take long for us to see the upside of Farah’s demotion with Cook scoring a double workhorse try against the Warriors. NRLCEOs will be licking their lips over what Cook can produce this year.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- Ryan James: 36 tackles + 19 hitups = 55
- Damien Cook: 44 tackles + 8 hitups = 52
- Aaron Woods: 33 tackles + 16 hitups = 49
- Elijah Taylor: 53 tackles + 12 hitups = 65
- Aidan Guerra: 40 tackles + 18 hitups = 58
- Jake Trbojevic: 56 tackles + 12 hitups = 68
- Api Koroisau: 63 tackles + 4 hitups = 67
- Trent Merrin: 49 tackles + 8 hitups = 57
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
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Ultimately, entry into the Close but No Cigar Club comes down to pure numbers, but the thought of excluding one unsavoury individual this week did cross my mind. Then again he probably would’ve just bashed the door down anyway.
- Matthew Lodge: 25 tackles + 14 hitups = 39
- Jake Granville: 36 tackles + 3 hitups = 39
- Issac Liu 30 tackles + 9 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
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Addin Fonua-Blake broke through for his first workhorse try with 47 involvements in just 48 minutes. (0.98 SPM). However NRLCEOs should be cautious in drafting him into their side – Fonua-Blake was a major benefactor from the golden point extra time in that match; making seven tackles and one run to go from the No Cigar Club into the workhorse scorers club.
Fair play to you if you decided to take a punt in Herman Ese’ese this year. The Newcastle prop had 45 involvements in 52 minutes (0.87 SPM) along with a metre eater thanks to 160 metres made – the most by any Knights player. Like Fonua-Blake, Ese’ese was a major benefactor of the extra time where he made four tackles and five runs (for 38 metres) to go from zero to hero. Nevertheless he got there and his form will make interesting viewing this year; who knows, he could follow in the footsteps of Jarrod Wallace who had a huge year after he parted with the Broncos.
John Sutton was another surprise workhorse try scorer this round making 34 tackles and 7 runs in 80 minute (0.51 SPM). But once again, it’s a case of buyer beware, Sutton scored a workhorse try in the opening round of 2017 as well, but only managed two more workhorses for the rest of the season. He does however bring a lot to the field, especially in terms of line breaks and line break assists so if you do have him (or are thinking about getting him if he’s still available) you’ll get some value out him even if it isn’t in terms of workhorses.
Geoff Adams
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