Workhorse Watch Round 2
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. There were 63 players who scored a WH in Round 2, with two players reaching a DWH.
WORKING HARD
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)
44 tackles, 16 runs for 150m in 70 minutes – DWH (0.86 stats per minute)
Big Tino is the hardest working Titan and came up big in NRLCEO terms on Sunday night, charging over for a try and then his final run of the game got him to exactly 150m for the DWH and ME. He is now one of the Elite front rowers in our game and on NRLCEO.
Apisai Koroisau (Tigers)
41 tackles, 19 runs for 134m in 68 minutes – DWH (0.88 spm)
Api must be wondering what he has got himself into at the Tigers. Awesome effort to smash out a DWH and DME and not even play the full 80. Can’t imagine he will be getting many spells moving forward so he could be in line for a few more DWH’s this year, especially if he keeps darting out of dummy half and having nobody to pass it to.
Tohu Harris (Warriors)
57 tackles, 11 runs for 99m in 80 minutes – WH (0.85 spm)
I think Tohu would de disappointed with his run metres given the Warriors has injury and HIA issues on the weekend. Playing the full 80 most weeks takes its toll but he will surely grab a few DWH’s this season, only issue will be the metres.
David Fifita (Titans)
31 tackles, 13 runs for 123m in 80 minutes – WH (0.55 spm)
Its not spectacular but the big unit is 2 from 2 in 2023 for WH’s whilst remaining effective in attack with a try in Round 1. I think he would have dropped to a mid round draft pick in most drafts this season given his points drop from 130pts in 2021 to 76pts in 2022. If he can maintain a high WH return then his value goes up with his proven try scoring form. So this is working hard the David Fifita way – slowly.
HARDLY WORKING
Hudson Young (Raiders)
22 tackles, 8 runs for 69m in 70 minutes (0.43 spm)
Another poor effort from this 2022 NRLCEO star so I am calling him out again. I wouldn’t be hitting the panic button yet if I owned him but I would certainly look at trading him out whilst his 2022 heroics are still fresh in other CEO minds.
Jordan Riki (Broncos)
24 tackles, 8 runs for 66m in 80 minutes (0.40 spm)
After 54 involvements in Round 1, Riki managed only 32 in Round 2, which is a huge concern for CEO’s. Back Rowers need to have consistent efforts to maintain their value and he just went missing. We haven’t really seen him make a damaging edge run this year and I think he has the potential to from a good combination with 1 of his halves, however he has to maintain a weekly workhorse to be of any real value.
Jayden Su’a (Dragons)
23 tackles, 11 runs for 104m in 80 minutes (0.43 spm)
Another 80 minute back rower who has not developed into a regular WH. He got 9 WH’s in 2022 from 18 matches which is barely enough to grab a CEO bench spot. Not sure he has the motor to play hard for the full 80 minutes.
SPUD POOL LOOKOUT
Jacob Preston (Bulldogs)
44 tackles, 11 runs for 95m in 76 minutes (0.72 spm)
If this guy is in your spud pool, stop reading and go and get him. PrestonMania will only grow and he has the potential to be amongst the highest scoring back rowers this season if he keeps the starting spot (which i think he will). He had a huge preseason at Belmore and given the Dogs injury worries in the Front Row department, he will have high job security. He had a high try scoring rate in the juniors to go with a high work rate in defence.
Tom Starling (Raiders)
33 tackles, 10 runs for 86m in 46 minutes (0.93 spm)
The day will come when Ricky sees Starling as a starting hooker who can play 80 minutes and while he is not quite there yet, he has managed back to back WH’s to start 2023 in limited minutes from the bench. The Raiders look devoid of ideas in attack when Levi is out there so I am betting that Starling will become the starter or at least get increased minutes as the season goes on.
Shaquai Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
33 tackles, 16 runs for 151m in 51 minutes (0.96 spm)
I will mention Shaq again this week as he improved to a WH and a ME in Round 2. I know he has been snapped up in a lot of public leagues during the week (perhaps some of you read this last week and saw his potential). He looks really fit and is one to hold onto as he wont need huge minutes to grab a WH each week.
WORTH MENTIONING….
Mason Teague (Dolphins)
27 tackles, 9 runs for 94m in 43 minutes (0.84 spm)
It is well known the Dolphins do not posess a lot of depth in their first season. A Panthers junior so he comes from good stock and looked really good in his first run in the NRL. If they get any back row injuries then he will likely be the first one called in to start.
Alec MacDonald (Storm)
29 tackles, 9 runs for 73m in 41 minutes (0.93 spm)
One to watch as the Storm navigate their way ahead without a bulk of their 2022 forward pack. I don’t think Trent Loiero has a lock on the back row spot so keep an eye on MacDonald’s minutes over the next few weeks.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (most involvements by eligible position)
8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans) – 60
9. Apisai Koroisau (Tigers) – 60
10. Mitchell Barnett (Warriors) – 64
11. Nat Butcher (Roosters) – 54
12. Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs) – 57
13. Tohu Harris (Eels) – 68
Adz
NRLCEO Commish
NRLCEO Live Scoring Team
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