Workhorse Watch – Round 22
Last week the NRL celebrated with their Women In League week. A round that has grown over ten years to now where we are on the verge of the NRL’s first crack at showcasing the women’s game. But what’s happening on the field is simply catching up to what’s been happening away from the top tier for decades.
My private competition, the UV2RL has a long, but not necessarily decorated history of female players. Back in our inaugural season in 2003 we had two female CEOs and sure, those two hold the record for the lowest amount of points scored in a match (6-2), but it does not take away from their involvement in the league. On the contrary, it show that the girls have just as much right to field battler teams as us boys.
Right cross NRLCEO there are plenty of women indulging in their love of rugby league by playing fantasy football. Victoria Motu who you may have heard on the Tantasy Podcast joined her partner’s comp two years ago and hasn’t looked back.
“He knew how much I loved league so asked if I wanted to join his league,” says Victoria.
“I watch it (the NRL) very closely . I watch every game, every week. I hate when it finishes because I don’t know what to do with myself. I think it makes the games more intense watching.”
Sounds like a regular NRLCEO fanatic to me.
“The last two years I have played it has taken over my life in a sense. Constantly checking team lists and late mail to be sure my players were playing.”
But what about recruitment strategy?
“The first year I picked based on my heart. So I’d choose players for my team that I personally knew.”
That strategy worked out OK in Victoria’s first year where she finished second, especially getting some inside information thanks to her brother being Storm hooker Brandon Smith, but this year things have been a little tougher.
“I had a lot of players that are meant to be consistent, not be so consistent this year. For example, Cam Smith and Taumalolo. I picked up Taumalolo thinking he would be an easy workhorse but this year has been hit and miss. Coen Hess and Kaufusi have been some consistent stand outs.”
And while the results haven’t gone Victoria’s way this season the results that really matters certainly have.
“My partner hasn’t been able to beat me since I started. I think guys underestimated me at the start because maybe I didn’t know as much I’ve proved that wrong.”
“I love that this league I play in treats me like one of the boys too and the banter we have can be gold.”
Being ‘one of the boys’ is just the way Victoria grew up. Women In League round and the upcoming women’s premiership is merely an extension of how she has always approached the game.
“I played from a young age of 5 to 13 because my brothers played and I wanted to be around them more. Being a tomboy I started to play and I loved it. They were just as tough on us and didn’t play softer because we were girls which I liked because I didn’t want to be treated differently.”
“I wanted to be applauded because I could play, and play to the standards of the boys. My dad was also very keen for me to play so he was hard on me as well. Even with a broken arm I was made to play!”
Victoria is one of just five female NRLCEOs that the Commish was aware of. They are rare, but valuable to our geeky fantasy community! We would welcome many more.
Workhorse of the Week:
Jazz Tevaga. Back to back honours for Tevaga. There were nine players who had more involvements than the Warriors forward but being a hooker makes all the difference, only he and Damien Cook scored double workhorse tries this week.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- Ryan James: 45 tackles + 16 hitups = 61
- Jazz Tavaga: 43 tackles + 12 hitups = 55
- Herman Ese’ese: 39 tackles + 17 hitups = 56
- Angus Crichton: 54 tackles + 7 hitups = 61
- Josh Papalii: 38 tackles + 18 hitups = 56
- Jake Trbojevic: 45 tackles + 11 hitups = 56
. - Damien Cook: 41 tackles + 9 hitups = 10
- Jake Friend: 57 tackles + 6 hitups = 63
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Luke Lewis: 26 tackles + 13 hitups = 39
Jai Arrow: 23 tackles + 16 hitups = 39
Joel Thompson: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Nelson Asofa-Solomona: 30 tackles + 9 hitups = 39
Jesse Bromwich: 25 tackles + 14 hitups = 39
Gavin Cooper: 31 tackles + 8 hitups = 39
Viliame Kikau: 28 tackles + 12 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
Golden point extra time did little to help a number of players in the Titans versus Panthers game with three players falling agonisingly short of a workhorse try. Titans Kevin Proctor (39) and Jai Arrow (39) didn’t play extra time, however Viliame Kikau (0.46 SPM) played the full 84 minutes but still fell short, landing in the No Cigar Club for the second time this year. Kikau has just four workhorse tries this year despite playing the full game on 12 occasions.
Better fortunes though for Moeaki Fotuaika who used the extra time to collect the four involvements he needed (2 tackles and 2 runs) to get to the magic 40. It was his most efficient workhorse try to date with the Titans forward only playing 43 minutes (0.93 SPM). His previous two workhorse tries this season came from 62 and 57 minute stints. His overall SPM for the season sits at an impressive 0.85.
Also in the No Cigar Club this week is Nelson Asofa-Solomona who has just one workhorse try to his name which is on par with his output last year. His SPM isn’t bad at 0.72 but averaging just 42.8 minutes per game, he’s always going to struggle to post decent numbers. It makes you wonder why anyone would recruit him in the first place. Anyone who did, would be destined not to win their NRLCEO competition. (Can you tell the minor premier in my comp has him in his ranks?)
Geoff Adams
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