Workhorse Watch Round 22

Workhorse Watch 2023 – The Tackler!

There is a new superhero in town and they are calling him ‘The Tackler’. Cameron McInnes set a new record last weekend for most tackles in an NRL game (officially 84 but we know its really 87). The Sharks continued their slide with a donut against the Panthers whilst the Bulldogs held off the fast finishing Dolphins for a much needed win. The Raiders faulted but the Knights are surging. There were 66 players who scored a WH in Round 22 with no player earning a DWH. Good luck to all CEOs in their finals!

WORKING HARD

Cameron McInnes (Sharks)

87 tackles, 9 runs for 126m in 80 minutes – WH (1.20 stats per minute)

An out of this world performance from McInnes with a whopping 87 tackles (52 in the first half) as he almost broke the 100 involvements barrier. Unfortunately for CEOs it still only amounted to a single WH, but we tip our hat to the new record holder.

J’maine Hopgood (Eels)

58 tackles, 14 runs for 92m in 75 minutes – WH (0.96 spm)

What a season it has been from Hopgood, scoring 23 WH’s so far with 3 DWH’s. He should be one of the first forwards chosen in next year’s drafts, especially given the lack of quality scoring lock forwards.

Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles)

58 tackles, 3 runs for 26m in 80 minutes – WH (0.76 spm)

Croker has scored 5 consecutive WH’s and looks to be playing the full 80 minutes for the rest of the year. It was looking grim for Croker owners up until 5 weeks ago when he only had 5 WH’s for the season to date.

Isaah Yeo (Sharks)

40 tackles, 16 runs for 142m in 57 minutes – WH (0.74 spm)

Yeo is the ultimate professional. He is so clinical in his work, yet he is almost 50 points behind J’maine Hopgood (although Yeo missed 3 matches during Origin). Almost racked up the DWH last week but fell just short.

HARDLY WORKING

Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) 

34 tackles, 4 runs for 23m in 45 minutes (0.84 spm)

Cotter is almost at the point where I would drop him but I just cant bring myself to do it. What is coach Payten thinking? Cotter should be starting and playing 60 minutes at a minimum, after all he was voted Player of the Origin Series so you would want him out there longer than he has been.

Adam Elliott (Knights)

23 tackles, 11 runs for 80m in 42 minutes (0.81 spm)

Elliott has seen his minutes reduced which is probably why the Knights are going so well. I have never rated Elliott as a smart footballer, but he certainly puts in whilst he is out on the field. He has now missed a WH in 3 of his last 4 matches.

Jacob Liddle (Dragons)

26 tackles, 8 runs for 87m in 71 minutes (0.48 spm)

Liddle was going so well since getting the starting Hooker spot at Saints. The Dragons have added rookie Connor Muhleisen to their bench which is going to have an impact on Liddle’s WH chances. Could be worth looking at other options if available in your spud pool.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Jack Williams (Sharks)

51 tackles, 11 runs for 93m in 75 minutes – WH (0.83 spm)

With Finucane out for the year there will be extra minutes available for Williams. He has scored 3 WH’s in his last 4 matches and will likely pick up a few more before the end of the season.

Jarrod Wallace (Dolphins)

40 tackles, 14 runs for 136m in 70 minutes – WH (0.77 spm)

This is a real gamble given his history with Sin Bins, also the fact that his stats are inflated cause of HIA’s on the weekend. Still he has a history of being a decent WH scorer earlier in his career and he likes to get involved with the ball in attack. Remember I said gamble!

Kelma Tuilagi (Sea Eagles)

34 tackles, 10 runs for 95m in 80 minutes – WH (0.55 spm)

There has been quite a few injuries to Manly forwards of late and Tuilagi looks to have benefitted from that. He has scored a WH in his last 2 matches, however he still looks absent minded in attack and does not seem to threaten the line for a LB.

Lindsay Smith (Panthers)

27 tackles, 15 runs for 112m in 44 minutes – WH (0.95 spm)

The future gun got his 4th WH of the year on the back of a rare start. The Panthers have lost Leniu to the Roosters and I think you will see Smith transition into a starter over the coming season, with Leota playing from the Bench to replicate the effect of Leniu.

WORTH MENTIONING….

Thomas Hazelton (Sharks)

48 tackles, 10 runs for 81m in 40 minutes – WH (1.45 spm)

Hazelton has quickly become a cult figure in the shire, but can he become a regular WH scorer? I feel like he deserves to be given a start to see how he goes, however Fitzgibbon would be loving his impact from the bench.

Stefano Utoikamanu (Tigers)

33 tackles, 15 runs for 135m in 52 minutes – WH (0.92 spm)

It looks like its the late season Stefano show again. His 10 WH’s are a season high so he is improving year by year. His best is certainly ahead of him, probably in 2 or 3 years time.

Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)

24 tackles, 14 runs for 159m in 55 minutes – WH (0.59 spm)

Big Mo just missed a WH last week, playing on less minutes than he has most weeks. Hopefully for Fotuaika owners this is just a blip and he gets back on track next week. His currently in a career high year for CEO points scored.

 

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

8. Thomas Hazelton (Sharks) – 58

9. Lachlan Croker (Sea Eagles) – 61

10. Jack De Belin (Dragons) – 55

11. Nat Butcher (Roosters) – 55

12. Joe Stimson (Titans) – 52

13. Cameron McInnes (Sharks) – 96

WH – Workhorse

DWH – Double Workhorse

ME – Metre Eater

DME – Double Metre Eater

SPM – Stats per minute played