Workhorse Watch Round 10

2024 NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 10 – Welcome back Mr Cotter!

• Reuben Cotter is doing everything he can to turn around the Cowboys fortunes.
• Jaimin Jolliffe is doing his best Tino impression.
• A young Rabbitoh is finally reaching his CEO potential
• An Eels forward is wishing he was somewhere else

In Round 10 there were 64 players who scored a WH, with no player scoring a DWH.

WORKING HARD

Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)

57 tackles, 12 runs for 107m in 68 minutes – WH (1.01 stats per minute)

Cotter was given a joint captaincy role this season and he has become a much more consistent WH scorer as a result. He has scored a WH in every match played in 2024, 10 overall, which is only 4 short of his total Whs scored in 2023. He almost had a WH by halftime against the Titans but it wasn’t enough to end the Cowboys losing streak.

Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

61 tackles, 1 runs for 11m in 80 minutes – WH (0.78 spm)

Mahoney is developing into an A grade pest on the field but he is still getting through his work at a high rate. The Bulldogs attack struggled against the Panthers with Mahoney only managing 1 run out of dummy half. His attacking stats are on track to surpass last season, due to the Bulldogs improved attack overall. Over the next couple of seasons I see Mahoney rising to number 2 CEO hooker behind only Grant, as the Dogs continue to build and improve.

Jaimin Jolliffe (Titans)

41 tackles, 17 runs for 150m in 69 minutes – WH (0.84 spm)

Jolliffe is no Tino but he has performed admirably in his place. CEO’s that picked him up after Tino went down are content with their guaranteed WH every week. He managed a ME against the Cowboys, his first ME since round 13, 2021, with more on the way if his minutes remain consistent. His 8 WH’s this season are a CEO career best already but he should be cracking 20 by seasons end.

Cameron McInnes (Sharks)

48 tackles, 9 runs for 82m in 80 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

McInnes was everywhere against the Storm as the Sharks tried to overcome the loss of Hynes. CEOs can rest easy now that Finucane has retired and McInnes is back to being a regular starter. His form has been good enough to have him being mentioned for a bench role for NSW. It would be very nice to see Hynes sit out magic round and have McInnes start at hooker again to pick up the dual position.

HARDLY WORKING

Shawn Blore (Storm) 

27 tackles, 12 runs for 81m in 73 minutes (0.53 spm)

Blore only just missed a WH on the weekend but that is the third match in a row he as not scored a WH. How quickly all the hopes of a regular WH can disappear. Blore was tremendous in rounds 6 and 7 but has taken a few steps backwards since then. He is being dropped in a few comps but I would hold him for a little longer to see if he can improve.

Chris Randall (Titans)

31 tackles, 6 runs for 61m in 80 minutes (0.46 spm)

Despite consistently starting for the Titans, Randall is not being utilised in a CEO friendly way by Des. Verrills has been coming off the bench and stealing his minutes and now he is potentially playing in the halves as the Titans deal with an injury crisis. As a starting hooker, Randall has the potential to be a CEO gun, it just doesn’t look like that will be the case for the time being. If he is your starting hooker, you need to find a better solution.

Ryan Matterson (Eels)

25 tackles, 14 runs for 125m in 58 minutes (0.64 spm)

It has been a very disappointing season so far from Matterson with only 4 WHs from 9 matches this season. Watching him play at the moment, he looks like he would rather be anywhere else other than a footy field. There is no intent or energy in anything he does, he is just going through the motions of being a rugby league player. For CEOs this is a nightmare and he is very close to a drop for mine. You could try trading him out but I don’t think there will be many bites for him.

Joey Lussick (Eels)

35 tackles, 1 runs for 6m in 61 minutes (0.59 spm)

Lussick has missed a WH in his last 2 matches, with CEO’s cringing at the sight of Brendan Hands on the Eels bench. Lussick had the opportunity to make the position his own but he has failed to provide any spark out of dummy half. 4 WH’s from 9 matches is not good enough to be a starting CEO hooker. If we continue to see Hands on the bench then Lussick is a drop.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Luke Garner (Panthers)

35 tackles, 13 runs for 101m in 79 minutes – WH (0.61 spm)

I have never been a fan of Garner but he is finally starting to show some CEO form. With Scott Sorensen out injured indefinitely, Garner has assumed his role and has lifted his involvements. It was just his 2nd WH of the season but he has also scored 3 tries in his last 2 matches and is looking much more confident in the Panthers side. This pick up is a big gamble but it might be worth it if Sorensen is out long term.

Davvy Moale (Rabbitohs)

40 tackles, 8 runs for 77m in 55 minutes – WH (0.87 spm)

Moale is a must have now if he is in your spud pool and you are short up front. He looks great as a starter and his work rate is very high. I expect him grow from here as the Rabbitohs don’t have a lot of options in the forwards.

Tyson Smoothy (Broncos)

44 tackles, 1 runs for 9m in 68 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

Smoothy could be a sneaky good pick up for the next few weeks. Billy Walters looks to be out for a couple of weeks and with Reynolds out long term, there is a chance Walters spends some time in the halves which is great for CEO who have Smoothy. He gets through his tackles at a decent clip and will only need approx 55 minutes to get a WH. He looks good out of dummy half as well so he might even score some attacking stats for you.

Josh Aloiai (Sea Eagles)

26 tackles, 15 runs for 126m in 38 minutes – WH (1.08 spm)

Manly forwards are very risky as Seibold likes to run with 4 forwards on his bench. Lodge, Brown and Sipley do enough to steal minutes away from Paseka and Aloiai. Aloiai has scored a WH in his 2 matches, although just barely breaking the 40 involvements. He would be a very risky add but he also has the ability to keep scoring WH’s if he gets the minutes.

WORTH MENTIONING….

Terrell May (Roosters)

26 tackles, 13 runs for 90m in 38 minutes – (1.03 spm)

Frustratingly for May owners, coach Robinson has reduced his playing time over the last month. It is hard to believe that he isn’t starting over Lindsay Collins at the moment. May is a future CEO gun so he is an absolute hold in contract/keeper leagues. Given how often injuries are happening in the game at the moment, I would be holding him in my comps even if his form is a bit erratic, as things can change very quickly.

Dylan Lucas (Knights)

27 tackles, 16 runs for 171m in 80 minutes – WH (0.54 spm)

It would seem that Lucas has overtaken KPP as a starter for the Knights, which is hard to believe as KPP has been very good. The form of Dylan Lucas has to be rewarded though and he has been tremendous on the field for the Knights. Tyson Frizell looks to be injured again this week so Lucas looks a certain starter on an edge. Lucas has the potential to be a CEO gun back rower in the coming years so sign him up if you are in contract/keeper leagues. He is also a hold for this season, even off the bench he has the chance to get a WH.

Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs)

29 tackles, 11 runs for 111m in 80 minutes – WH (0.50 spm)

Arrow is still a bit of a mystery, its hard to tell whether he is still carrying an injury and even if he is not, he is not far away from his next one. He has scored a WH in his last 2 games which is a good sign at least. He is a shadow of the player he was in 2022, the Bunnies need him to step up and perform given their ladder position. I am very nervous if I own him and would very happily trade him out for someone more reliable.

Siliva Havili (Rabbitohs)

28 tackles, 8 runs for 73m in 40 minutes – (0.90 spm)

I was a little disappointed with Havili on the weekend. His stats were decent but he only played 40 minutes. He has always had a great work rate and when I saw him at lock I thought he would easily punch out a WH. He will pick up dual Hooker/Lock this week if he is named their again, unless they start with Duncan. Give him another week and see what he can produce, either way he is a short term option until Murray returns.

WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (most involvements by eligible position)

8. Reuben Cotter (5) (Cowboys) – 69

9. Reed Mahoney (2) (Bulldogs) – 62

10. Jaimin Jolliffe (2) (Titans) – 58

11. Nat Butcher (3) (Roosters) – 57

12. Klese Haas (1) (Titans) – 54

13. Cameron McInnes (2) (Sharks) – 57

(1) – number of times featured in the Workhorse Pack of the Week

WH – Workhorse

DWH – Double Workhorse

ME – Metre Eater

DME – Double Metre Eater

SPM – Stats per minute played