Workhorse Watch Round 20

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 20 – Josh Curran is BIG!

• Josh Curran goes BIG against the Cowboys!
• the Knights are looking to offload some dead wood
• should the Tigers forget Stefano and put Fonua in Pole position?
• a young Cowboy is firing after a tough run with injury

In Round 20 there were 60 players who scored a WH, with 3 players scoring a DWH. It really is raining DWH’s at this point with some unheralded players stepping into the CEO limelight.

WORKING HARD

Josh Curran (Bulldogs)

41 tackles, 24 runs for 187m in 72 minutes – DWH (0.90 stats per minute)

Curran scores his first ever DWH, leading the Bulldogs pack in the absence of max King. He played 72 minutes  and got through a mountain of work as he usually does. CEOs are rejoicing Curran’s move to the Bulldogs, as he has is having a career best CEO season with 15 WH’s and 6 ME’s so far in 2024. He is a good chance to get a few more DWH’s over the coming weeks given the Dogs lack of middle forwards.

James Fisher-Harris (Panthers)

47 tackles, 18 runs for 160m in 68 minutes – WH (0.96 spm)

JFH gets his second DWH of the year as he looks to bow out with another premiership at the Panthers. His playing time has increased this season, likely due to the departure of Spencer Leniu to the Roosters. The Panthers have a number of young forwards coming into NRL and JFH is leading by example. JFH will be 29 years of age when he turns up to Warriors pre season training so the Warriors are getting him while he is still in his prime. He should produce similar numbers next season if not better.

Corey Jensen (Broncos)

43 tackles, 18 runs for 153m in 73 minutes – WH (0.84 spm)

Jensen has been on a tear lately, scoring his 3rd DWH in his last 4 matches. Can he keep this up given he is sharing minutes with Haas and Carrigan? It is well and truly a career best NRLCEO season for Corey.

Wayde Egan (Warriors)

57 tackles, 5 runs for 64m in 80 minutes – WH (0.78 spm)

Egan fell just 6 metres short of a DWH against the Raiders. You would not think of Egan being a consistent CEO scorer, as he always seems to get injured or go off with a HIA, but consistent is exactly what he has become. He is on track for a career best CEO season, needing just 2 more WH’s to break his best of 13 WH’s in 2021. His running metres are at an all time high, averaging 53 metres a game this season.

HARDLY WORKING

Jayden Brailey (Knights) 

31 tackles, 5 runs for 28m in 71 minutes (0.51 spm)

71 minutes is more than enough time for a Hooker to get a WH. Brailey appears to be on the way out at the Knights as they look to clear some space in their salary cap. His form has been average in 2024, he is yet to register a single attacking stat this season. Defensively he gets through his tackles, but h appears to be horribly out of form and down on confidence after being dropped to the bench in favour of Phoenix Crossland. Knights have the bye this week but if he is named on the bench for Round 22 then cut your losses and dump him.

David Fifita (Titans)

16 tackles, 17 runs for 115m in 80 minutes (0.41 spm)

Most people were critical of Billy Slater’s decision to leave Fifita out of the Qld side during this years Origin series, however his CEO season has fallen away in that period to perhaps indicate some reasoning behind his omission. Fifita started the year well, getting through a lot of work, even in defence. Recently he has managed just 1 WH in his last 4 matches with only 1 TA to go with it. Fifita still seems to show signs of laziness in games, evidenced on the weekend by his constant running from dummy half close to the try line in an attempt to score a try, rather then getting back behind the line and attacking at speed with some power.

Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs)

26 tackles, 11 runs for 88m in 80 minutes (0.46 spm)

Kikau has never been a regular WH scoring forward. It takes a lot to wind him up and then when he has his run, he needs the rest of the set and possibly the next to recover. He is an impact player and CEOs have to rely solely on his attacking stats for points. Even in his peak season for the Panthers in 2021, he scored 119pts with only 5 WH’s. In terms of drafting, I would only consider him for a bench role and I wouldn’t be drafting him until the later rounds (15 – 22).

Daniel Saifiti (Knights)

21 tackles, 15 runs for 152m in 50 minutes (0.72 spm)

Saifiti is another Knight who is being shopped around with the Dragons showing interest. How the hell is this guy on 800k, he has only scored 1 WH for the season in a pathetic display. If there is anyone out there who has him in their squad, give yourself an uppercut. Daniel’s game has gone backwards in 2024 but perhaps he is a victim of the speed of the game. He may need to look at trimming down a bit in order to improve his work rate.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Ray Stone (Dolphins)

38 tackles, 9 runs for 71m in 73 minutes – WH (0.64 spm)

Stone has a great work ethic and with the Dolphins suffering a few injuries to key forwards, he could manage a few WH’s playing from the bench. He makes his tackles but offers very little with the ball in hand.

Fonua Pole (Tigers)

37 tackles, 13 runs for 132m in 55 minutes – WH (0.91 spm)

The form of Fonua Pole is putting Klemmer and Stefano to shame. He has scored back to back WH’s to bring his season total to 6, looking right at home in the 13 jumper. The Tigers should seriously start looking at the money they would save on keeping Pole and letting Stefano walk. Fonua is not as big a body as Stefano but he make up with it in heart.

Zac Hosking (Raiders)

40 tackles, 6 runs for 40m in 51 minutes – WH (0.90 spm)

Hosking is just a worker, well suited to a team like the Raiders. It seems like he will battle Matt Nicholson (UK Super League) for the Raiders #12 jersey next season but I think Hosking will likely get the start first as he has proven himself at NRL level. He scored a WH off the bench in just 51 minutes against the Warriors but be wary of Ricky Stuart’s forward rotations, he has stung CEOs many times in the past.

Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)

30 tackles, 16 runs for 143m in 82 minutes – WH (0.90 spm)

Kaufusi played the full game on an edge and played like his much younger self as he produced just his 4th WH of 2024. With Euan Aitken likely out for the year, Kaufusi could take advantage for CEOs, although I am not sure he can continue playing 80 minutes at his age.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Heilum Luki (Cowboys)

32 tackles, 15 runs for 103m in 63 minutes – WH (0.75 spm)

Luki has had a teriffic last 8 weeks, scoring 6 WH’s and 3 Tries as he looks to develop into a consistent CEO performer. It is easily his best CEO season to date and he could finish with a flurry in 2024 if the Cowboys can go on a charge into the finals. He could be a great pick up next season in the middle to later rounds of your draft. CEO’s in contract/keeper leagues might want to take a punt on him long term as well.

Lindsay Collins (Roosters)

32 tackles, 12 runs for 106m in 43 minutes – WH (1.02 spm)

It seems State of Origin has woken the beast with Collins scoring his 3rd WH in his last 4 matches for the Roosters. Impressively scored his WH on the weekend from the bench in just 43 minutes. With JWH out for a few more weeks it is safe to suggest that Collins can keep this momentum going. He was in quite a few spud pools during Origin so get in quick before he is likely taken.

Tallyn De Silva (Tigers)

43 tackles, 5 runs for 56m in 69 minutes – WH (0.55 spm)

De Silva announced himself to NRLCEOs with a huge performance for the Tigers last weekend. He scored a WH, Try, LB and 2 LBA’s as he stepped in for Api Koroisau against the Rabbitohs. He looks a player of the future, just not sure how long until he gets a decent opportunity at NRL level. Stuck behind Api at the Tigers, he may have to look elsewhere for an permanent NRL start, otherwise he will bide his time deputising for Api for the time being. He is contracted to the Tigers until 2026 so they would see him as an eventual successor to Koroisau.

Lachlan Galvin (Tigers)

23 tackles, 18 runs for 168m in 80 minutes – WH (0.51 spm)

I just wanted to highlight Galvin, who scored his 4th WH of 2024 on the weekend (which is more than David Klemmer – 3). His willingness to run the ball is key, averaging 114 metres a game this season. I think he will be a gun half in the not too distant future, and with Jarome Luai joining him next season, he could improve with a quality half playing with him consistently. CEO’s in contract/keeper leagues should be getting this kid locked up for as long as you can.

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

8. James Fisher-Harris (2) (Panthers) – 65

9. Wayde Egan (2) (Warriors) – 62

10. Corey Jensen (4) (Broncos) – 61

11. Liam Henry (3) (Panthers) – 62

12. Keaon Koloamatangi (3) (Rabbitohs) – 57

13. Josh Curran (1) (Bulldogs) – 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