Workhorse Watch Round 23

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 23 – Mad Max Plath!

• Max Plath is fast becoming a Dolphins mainstay
• Has Des shown his hand, appointing Verrills as his number 1 dummy half
• Mavrik Geyer has been unleashed at the foot of the mountains
• A Sharks fan favourite is hitting back after a mid season slumber

In Round 23 there were 58 players who scored a WH, with no players scoring a DWH. It is getting right to the business end of the season, can your forward pack perform when needed?

WORKING HARD

Max Plath (Dolphins)

65 tackles, 6 runs for 60m in 83 minutes – WH (0.86 stats per minute)

After just 2 appearances in 2023, Plath has enjoyed a breakout CEO season in 2024, hitting the 100 points mark against the Warriors on the weekend. Plath has been a solid replacement for the injured JMK, scoring 10 consecutive WH’s since tarting at Hooker and 15 overall for the season. He will likely play off the bench in 2025 with JMK and Gilbert to return from injury. He has the ability to score a WH from limited minutes whilst starting from the bench and would be a great late round draft pick for depth cover in your squad next season.

Jacob Liddle (Dragons)

57 tackles, 5 runs for 54m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.78 spm)

Liddle is on track for his best NRLCEO season so far, needing to eclipse his 128 points from 2021, he is currently on 110 points with 4 matches to play. As mentioned here previously, it will be interesting to see what the Dragons do with Damien Cook next season. The form of Liddle should not be ignored, meaning that it is possible that Cook could play 13 and Liddle at 9 in 2025. It would be risky to draft Liddle in the early rounds next season with Cook in the picture.

Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)

44 tackles, 15 runs for 115m in 80 minutes – WH (0.74 spm)

It has been a disappointing return for Cam Murray owners in 2024, with just 10 WH’s for the season. He seems to have taken to his new role on the edge well, so much so his running metres have been well above average in his 3 starts there. In the back row he is averaging 112 running metres, compared to 83 running metres when starting at lock. It will be interesting to see what Bennett does next season, if Murray remains on an edge he may add some ME points to his CEO resume.

Sam Verrills (Titans)

54 tackles, 3 runs for 28m in 80 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

It looks like Des Hasler is going to run with Verrills as his starting hooker moving forward. Verrills has better movement out of dummy half and links well with the rest of the Titans spine in attack. Chris Randall is a more defensive minded player and not a natural attacking player. If Verrills is the starting hooker next season, I think he offers tremendous value as a mid season draft pick, having the potential to be a consistent WH scorer as well as provide some attacking stats.

HARDLY WORKING

Karl Lawton (Sea Eagles) 

30 tackles, 7 runs for 76m in 63 minutes (0.59 spm)

Lawton feels like the type of player who will score a WH in quick time and he was a popular pick up when he was starting at hooker a few weeks back. Sadly for CEO’s Lawton was just fools gold, scoring just 2 WH’s since round 12 whilst starting in most of those matches. I think we can safely put a line through Karl as a potential injury or bye replacement in the future.

Taniela Paseka (Sea Eagles)

26 tackles, 10 runs for 119m in 45 minutes (0.80 spm)

I was one of many CEO’s that predicted Paseka to have a breakout NRLCEO season this year. He showed potential in the early rounds but he was way too inconsistent to be considered as a starter in your team. The Sea Eagles see him as the main big man moving forward but perhaps his engine is not seasoned enough to be a regular WH scorer just yet. It would take a brave CEO to take a punt on him in the draft next season.

Griffin Neame (Cowboys)

27 tackles, 9 runs for 83m in 43 minutes (0.84 spm)

I am still holding out hope for Neame to become a regular starter in the Cowboys pack. He has only scored 4 WH’s in 2024 but I still believe he has the potential to become a regular WH scorer. If he can improve his fitness and even trim down a little, he would be ball running beast in the middle or on an edge. Neame is only contracted until the end of next year so he is on the open market from November 1st. I think he would be a player in demand on the open market, he turns 24 at the end of this year and will be coming into his prime over the next few years.

Alex Seyfarth (Tigers)

28 tackles, 7 runs for 60m in 48 minutes (0.73 spm)

Seyfarth was good performer during rounds 10-16, since then he has been garbage. He has scored 7 WH’s for the season which is a career best for him but only 1 WH in his last 6 matches which puts him back in the spud pool. He is certainly a player who has a great work rate but he spoils that with a poor temperament. Seyfarth is also only contracted until the end of next season and I don’t think he would be in the Tigers plans moving forward. I see him changing clubs multiple times during his career and I don’t know if we will ever see his best on a regular basis.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Jack Williams (Sharks)

32 tackles, 23 runs for 196m in 80 minutes – WH (0.69 spm)

I have always liked Williams as a player and would love to see him get a regular start again. He was the heir apparent to Paul Gallen but didn’t take his opportunity. He had a monster game against the Titans, reminding everyone of what he is capable of. There is some uncertainty surrounding Teig Wilton so we may see some more WH’s from Williams before the season is done.

Mavrik Geyer (Panthers)

37 tackles, 11 runs for 83m in 72 minutes – WH (0.67 spm)

We finally got a look at young Geyer playing some decent minutes and he didn’t disappoint. In what is likely to be the first of many WH’s, Mav scored his first ever against the Eels after Sorensen went off injured. The Panthers will be without both their starting back rowers this week which means Geyer will likely start. Sorensen could be out for several weeks so Geyer could make it into a few CEO grand final teams.

Harry Hayes (Bulldogs)

30 tackles, 13 runs for 112m in 33 minutes – WH (1.30 spm)

Harry Hayes should be a name that all CEO’s will bank in their memory after his performance against the Dragons last week. 43 involvements in just 33 minutes is an outstanding work rate, a 1.30 spm. Hayes looks like he could develop into a quality player in very quick time so keep him in mind for Contract/Keeper leagues. For the last few matches this year, he could well score a few WH’s from the bench if he can keep that work rate up.

Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)

27 tackles, 13 runs for 113m in 83 minutes – WH (0.48 spm)

This is only if you are really desperate and have looked the list over a few times and just cannot find another option. Kaufusi is a dual back row/front row so he provides good position cover but he only just managed a WH in a golden point match. The Dolphins have more injury concerns in the forwards with Mark Nicholls failing a HIA on the weekend.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

41 tackles, 3 runs for 26m in 57 minutes – WH (0.77 spm)

Some concern for Reed Mahoney last week after coming off with a shoulder injury. He had already scored a WH when he came off but if there are any lingering issues as a result of the injury, he may need to be spelled during games over the next few weeks. This could be costly during CEO finals so if you have good cover at Hooker it might be worth considering benching him for a safer option.

Tavita Pangai Junior (Dolphins)

29 tackles, 13 runs for 121m in 39 minutes – WH (1.08 spm)

TPJ scored his first WH since his NRL return 7 weeks ago. He comes up against his former team this week in the Bulldogs so he could be in for a big game. TPJ covers back row/front row so if you need some bye cover, he could do a job for you this week.

Thomas Hazleton (Sharks)

33 tackles, 11 runs for 94m in 39 minutes – WH (1.12 spm)

Hazleton has bounced back from a mid season slump (only 3 rounds) to score a WH in his last 4 matches. This brings his total to 12 WH’s for the season in what is definitely a breakout CEO season. With Addin Fonua-Blake on his way to the shire in 2025, will this affect Hazleton’s ability to score a regular WH? I think Halzeton will be a decent mid round draft pick next season but the later you can draft him, the better value he will be. At 25 years of age, I think he is a great option for Contract/Keeper leagues as well, for teams that can sign him for multiple seasons.

Jaimin Jolliffe (Titans)

34 tackles, 11 runs for 81m in 48 minutes – (0.93 spm)

Jolliffe returned to WH form last week, his first since Round 10, after a long injury layoff. With Moe Fotuaika serving a 1 match suspension this week, Jolliffe will see increased minutes to cover his absence and will surely even get close to a DWH. Jolliffe is another player who may be under valued during drafts next season after his time off with injury, as his stats will not reflect a full season.

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

8. Reuben Cotter (10) (Cowboys) – 53

9. Jacob Liddle (2) (Dragons) – 62

10. Addin Fonua-Blake (3) (Warriors) – 50

11. Cameron Murray (1) (Rabbitohs) – 59

12. Kurt Capewell (2) (Warriors) – 52

13. Max Plath (2) (Dolphins) – 71

(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