Workhorse Watch Round 17

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 17 – Stand By Jensen!

• Corey Jensen stands up to be counted with his first career DWH
• Is the Pryce right to revitalise a weary KPP?
• Are the Bulldogs creating their own Connor Watson?
• The Sharks forward pack looks out of whack, can they get their bite back?

In Round 17 there were 56 players who scored a WH, with 3 players scoring a DWH. It is good to see some different players being welcomed into the DWH club.

WORKING HARD

Corey Jensen (Broncos)

49 tackles, 19 runs for 169m in 68 minutes – DWH (1.00 stats per minute)

Corey stepped up in the absence of Haas and Carrigan to produce a career first DWH. Jensen now has 11 WH’s so far in 2024 which is also a career best. He was a great late round draft pick at the start of the season, having scored enough WH’s to remain as a starter in your team. At 30 years of age, he is likely peaking this season and next. He does have Xavier Willison breathing down his neck for minutes but for now it is Jensen’s spot to lose.

Max King (Bulldogs)

45 tackles, 20 runs for 155m in 61 minutes – DWH (1.07 spm)

King is the leader of the Bulldogs pack and what a job he is doing. It is a 2nd DWH for King, his first coming way back in 2017 in his debut season with the Titans. He has really found a home at the Bulldogs, scoring a WH in every match played this season, except for Round 1 when he missed by 1 involvement. His run metres per game are also up in 2024, averaging 115 metres per game compared to 92 last season. King may not get the wraps like Haas and AFB, but he is very reliable and consistent.

Cameron McInnes (Sharks)

48 tackles, 17 runs for 152m in 59 minutes – DWH (1.10 spm)

McInness notches his 2nd DWH of 2024. There are not many players that give 100% every week but McInnes is certainly one of them. McInnes is the type of player that every club needs, but the big question we all want answered is – who is his Dentist?

Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

60 tackles, 4 runs for 27m in 84 minutes – WH (0.76 spm)

Reed ‘The Pest’ Mahoney is getting under the skin of opposition players every week. Love him or hate him, he is invaluable to the Bulldogs, directing them around the field. His run metres have been down over the last month, although he has never been the type of Hooker that scores many ME’s. He needs just 3 more TA’s for a career best 13 which is helping to elevate him into MVP calculations.

HARDLY WORKING

Brendan Hands (Eels) 

37 tackles, 1 runs for 13m in 52 minutes (0.73 spm)

Hands looked like he was going to be an 80 min hooker after Round 13, alas it has all gone down hill from there. First it was Joey Lussick reappearing on the bench, now rookie Matt Arthur is coming off the bench to steal his minutes. CEO’s need to act now and cut him, I don’t think he is going to score a regular WH any time soon.

Kai Pearce-Paul (Knights)

30 tackles, 7 runs for 56m in 80 minutes (0.46 spm)

KPP looks to be fatigued in his first full season in the NRL. He hasn’t been able to crack 100 metres in his last 5 matches and has missed a WH in 3 of those matches. I think the Knights look at their best with KPP and Lucas on the edge and Frizell playing in the middle. Perhaps with Will Pryce coming in to five eighth, he can form a combination with his compatriot which could reinvigorate KPP’s form.

Thomas Hazleton (Sharks)

26 tackles, 9 runs for 69m in 28 minutes (1.25 spm)

Hazleton has been relegated to an impact role off the bench which is killing his NRLCEO prospects for the rest of 2024. His work rate is still great but there is no guarantee that he gets enough minutes with the return of Rudolf into the starting side. With finals fast approaching it is time to let the cult figure go and look for someone who is performing now.

Nat Butcher (Roosters)

29 tackles, 10 runs for 92m in 51 minutes (0.76 spm)

Butcher is another gun that has been relegated to a bench role. He has scored 2 WH’s in his last 4 matches, which is exactly the kind of inconsistency you can expect for the rest of the season, barring injury. It is probably too late to offer him up in a trade so its a 50/50 call on holding him or cutting him. If you have decent cover then he is a hold, but if he is one of your starters then I would be looking for better.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Tom Starling (Raiders)

51 tackles, 3 runs for 22m in 68 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

The Raiders are in need of a quality hooker to complement their forward pack, perhaps it is time for Starling to produce. It will be interesting to see if Ricky Stuart keeps Starling as his starter in an effort to spark some attack from the Raiders, who are ranked 14th in points scored this season.

Bailey Hayward (Bulldogs)

43 tackles, 11 runs for 70m in 48 minutes – WH (1.13 spm)

At first we were thinking that he is too small to play in the forwards, now we are thinking he looks right at home. I think Ciraldo sees Hayward playing a similar role to Connor Watson at the Roosters. He has been banged up a few times but he has managed to score 3 WH’s in his last 4 matches. A this stage it is looking like more than just an experiment so if you a light on at lock, Hayward is worth a look.

Samuel Hughes (Bulldogs)

31 tackles, 20 runs for 161m in 53 minutes – WH (0.96 spm)

I believe Hughes announced himself to the NRLCEO world against the Sharks. He scored a WH and a ME for the first time in the same match, just his 2nd WH for the year. This has been due to his lack of minutes, with the Bulldogs preferring to ease him into the weekly grind. Hughes is a CEO player of the future and if you are in a contract/keeper league, it is worth signing him long term.

Brandon Smith (Roosters)

43 tackles, 4 runs for 46m in 80 minutes – WH (0.59 spm)

Is this the beginning of Brandon Smith the 80 minute hooker at the Roosters? It would seem Trent Robinson has shown his hand with his preferred lineup, starting Connor Watson at lock with Radley on an edge, meaning Smith starts at Hooker, that leaves 4 forwards on the bench to provide punch in the middle. It is surprising to see the name Brandon Smith in so many spud pools but that just shows how poor he has been in NRLCEO this year.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Shaun Lane (Eels)

27 tackles, 14 runs for 115m in 80 minutes – WH (0.51 spm)

Lane looks to have benefitted in the absence of Tuilagi, scoring his 3rd consecutive WH. I am not convinced that Lane can return to his form of season 2022 but at least he is showing some good signs. He still has the ability to be a damaging edge player but he has looked down on confidence this season.

Jayden Brailey (Knights)

39 tackles, 14 runs for 117m in 80 minutes – WH (0.66 spm)

Brailey owners are still concerned despite him scoring a WH against the Eels. He will be a safe bet this week with Phoenix Crossland being out due to HIA protocol. There are rumours circulating that the Knights have told him he is free to look elsewhere even though he is signed until 2025. If he is your #1 Hooker then you are going to need a back up plan.

Toby Rudolf (Sharks)

22 tackles, 8 runs for 58m in 33 minutes – (0.91 spm)

Rudolf is not quite match fit after multiple injury lay offs this season. At his best he can be a regular WH scorer but his form sort of mirrors how the Sharks are travelling at the moment. It remains to be seen if Rudolf can get back to his best form this season. Jack Williams could be the answer here, being used to playing in the middle and being a big enough body to play Prop. It is a puzzle that needs solving if the Sharks are to trouble the top sides come finals time.

Lindsay Smith (Panthers)

27 tackles, 9 runs for 62m in 43 minutes – WH (0.84 spm)

Smith has missed a WH in 2 of his last 3 matches. Liam Henry has been on fire and has probably over taken Lindsay for minutes. Add to that the form of JFH who is also playing longer minutes, Smith looks down on confidence and form. Not too much to worry about here, should be short lived pain for CEO’s.

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

8. Corey Jensen (2) (Broncos) – 68

9. Reed Mahoney (4) (Bulldogs) – 64

10. Max King (2) (Bulldogs) – 65

11. Briton Nikora (2) (Sharks) – 58

12. Liam Henry (2) (Panthers) – 58

13. Cameron McInnes (4) (Sharks) – 65

(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