Workhorse Watch Round 14

2024 NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 14 – Alex the Great!

• Alex Who?
• Rabbit Stew – are we seeing the end of Jai Arrow’s CEO career?
• Is this the 2nd coming of Burbo?
• A young Knight is having a breakout CEO season!

In Round 14 there were 54 players who scored a WH, with no players scoring a DWH. There was some high scores in the NRL this week so it was no surprise that there were no DWH’s scored.

WORKING HARD

Alex Seyfarth (Tigers)

55 tackles, 11 runs for 83m in 76 minutes – WH (0.87 stats per minute)

Alex, Alex, who the fuck is Alex? Seyfarth has a decent work rate but he has not been able to develop into an 80 minute forward on an edge. There is a not a lot of depth at the Tigers at the moment so he could be a handy pick up for a few weeks, I am sure he is sitting in a lot of spud pools.

Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

45 tackles, 15 runs for 140m in 70 minutes – WH (0.86 spm)

Carrigan showed no signs of letting up after playing Origin on wednesday night, playing 70 minutes in a tough loss for the Broncos. He is on track for a career best CEO season (142 pts in 2020) but he will need a rest at some stage so be wary of Kevvie giving him a spell, perhaps at the conclusion of the Origin series.

Briton Nikora (Sharks)

44 tackles, 13 runs for 119m in 80 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

Nikora has had a quiet season by his standards but he stood up in the absence of Teig Wilton on the weekend. His attacking stats are abysmal for 2024, the Sharks will need him to lift even more if they are to challenge for a title.

Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

54 tackles, 2 runs for 23m in 80 minutes – WH (0.70 spm)

Mahoney was huge in defence for the Dogs in their comeback win against the Eels. He lacked any spark out of dummy half, failing to register an attacking stat for the first time since Round 10. Reed currently sits as the top scoring Hooker for 2024 but it will be short lived as the Dogs have the bye next week.

HARDLY WORKING

Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs) 

26 tackles, 13 runs for 109m in 80 minutes (0.49 spm)

Arrow just isn’t quite the same player that he was at the Titans. He now has only scored 2 WH’s from his 7 matches this season but he has had quite a number of injuries which may have taken a toll on his body. Arrow turns 29yrs next month and you have to wonder if he will ever get back to being a regular WH scorer. He seems to have peaked in 2022 and all signs point toward his CEO career fizzing out.

Griffin Neame (Cowboys)

28 tackles, 10 runs for 87m in 37 minutes (1.03 spm)

Neame has only just been missing out on a WH the last few weeks, due only to his lack of playing time. I think he has what it takes to be playing 45-50 minutes a game at least and that would be enough for him to get a WH and maybe the odd ME. Todd Payten seems to loathe playing his big men for large periods, evident in the way that Taumalolo has been used. Make no mistake, Griffin Neame is a WH scorer, he just needs the opportunity to show it.

Scott Sorensen (Panthers)

31 tackles, 8 runs for 67m in 80 minutes (0.49 spm)

In his 4th game back from an injury layoff, Sorensen has scored just 1 WH in his 4 matches played. He only just missed out on the weekend so there is hope that he can get back to his 2023 form. He would be useful as trade bait at the moment, sell him on his potential rather than what he has produced so far this season.

Davvy Moale (Rabbitohs)

19 tackles, 17 runs for 167m in 48 minutes (0.75 spm)

A tough few weeks for Moale owners, failing to reach a WH in his last 3 matches. He started off well in his first 2 matches since starting as a prop but he has now stalled. The Rabbitohs as a team have had a couple of big wins in their last 2 matches and this would impact Moale’s ability to score a WH as there is less defence to do. He scored a ME and a TRY to help offset the lack of a WH, he is a hold at the moment to see if he can improve.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys)

44 tackles, 11 runs for 88m in 80 minutes – WH (0.69 spm)

Finefeuiaki seems to be developing nicely, scoring a WH in his last 2 matches, playing 80 minutes in both. He is off the to the Dolphins next year which will see them start with a back row of Finefeuiaki, Lemuelu and Gilbert which is very solid. I think he has a good CEO future ahead of him and he would definitely be on my radar in contract/keeper leagues.

Ben Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)

38 tackles, 13 runs for 98m in 80 minutes – WH (0.64 spm)

Burbo has quietly gone about his business since he returned to the starting side, scoring a WH in his last 2 matches. Is this a false dawn, or can he actually deliver on the potential we thought he all had at the start of the season. He has great job security so I think he is worth picking up if you need some cover at Back Row.

Shaun Lane (Eels)

29 tackles, 16 runs for 152m in 47 minutes – WH (0.96 spm)

Why the heck can’t Lane play like this when he started? In 47 minutes off the bench he smashed a WH and a ME, spending some time playing in the middle. I don’t know what has happened at the Eels for Lane to fall out of favour but he may yet still have something to offer in NRLCEO. He does turn 30yrs old this year so that doesn’t leave a lot of time but keep an eye on his stats over the next few weeks if your not a believer yet.

Heilum Luki (Cowboys)

39 tackles, 5 runs for 45m in 62 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

The other Cowboys starting back rower has also scored a WH in his last 2 matches, which makes 3 WH’s in his last 4 matches. He didn’t play the full 80 minutes either which is a good sign. I am not sold on him as a solid NRLCEO back row option just yet, I want to see more before I am ready to draft him.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

30 tackles, 22 runs for 206m in 80 minutes – WH (0.65 spm)

Cameron who? Does Murray go straight back to lock when he returns? It would be hard to move Murray to an edge but given the form of Koloamatangi in the middle there is at least a discussion to be had. Hopefully he can reproduce his current form if he does move back to an edge as he has been outstanding. He scored a WH and a DME for the second week in a row, making him a juicy option as Captain!

Dylan Lucas (Knights)

24 tackles, 20 runs for 194m in 80 minutes – (0.55 spm)

Lucas is a player on the rise! He was switched to centre at the last minute to cover for injury yet he still produced a WH, a ME to go with 2 TRIES and a LB. It is already a career best season in just his 2nd season in the NRL but it is his high work rate and willingness to always get involved which is a highlight for me. He is a must for contract/keeper leagues.

Beau Fermor (Titans)

18 tackles, 14 runs for 153m in 80 minutes – (0.40 spm)

I am not sure why Des sees the need to put Fermor in at centre. Yes they have injuries but they also have enough cover in their squad in the outside backs. Fermor is a gun back rower and that is where he is at his best. Perhaps this short time at centre will help reinvigorate his running game, although the Titans already have a quality running back rower who hogs the ball. CEO’s will be hoping that he gets back on an edge soon, I would certainly be holding onto him.

Samuel Hughes (Bulldogs)

18 tackles, 12 runs for 107m in 36 minutes – WH (0.83 spm)

Hughes has been limited to 35-40 minutes a game since he became a starter which is annoying for CEO’s trying to get a read on his WH ability for the future. He has a decent work rate for a big man and in his time playing in the NSW Cup he was known for his huge work rate and big engine. Ciraldo has stated that he wants to take it slow with Hughes so it is likely he will not be CEO relevant this season.

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

8. Reuben Cotter (7) (Cowboys) – 53

9. Reed Mahoney (3) (Bulldogs) – 56

10. Alex Twal (1) (Tigers) – 53

11. Alex Seyfarth (1) (Tigers) – 66

12. Briton Nikora (1) (Sharks) – 57

13. Patrick Carrigan (2) (Broncos) – 60

(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