Workhorse Watch – Round 23
Despite getting a good look, I’m not sure what’s happened between Andrew Fifita and the Sharks’ coaching staff since that gesture on Saturday night but hopefully there was a ‘thank you’ and maybe a round of beers coming from the Sharks’ forward.
If we are to believe Fifita’s explanation, that his actions were aimed at assistant coach Jim Dymock for giving him a rev up at half time then he should be forever grateful he has man like that in his corner.
There are plenty of coaches out there that only coach from the neck down, focusing on plays, fitness and wondering when their Centres of Excellence will be built. And while all that’s important, the best coaches coach from the neck up and know how to get the best out of players, particularly those with a lot to unpack like Fifita.
He should also be a little embarrassed.
Embarrassed that wasn’t playing to the best of his ability in the first place and needed to be prodded to produce against the current wooden spooners.
Bad news for NRLCEOs as well as Dragons fans with Paul Vaughan set to miss the remainder of the season. After a slow start in 2018, where Vaughan registered only two workhorse tries in his first five games, the prop came good and was on track to equal his record of 19 workhorse tries from last year before an ankle injury put him on the sideline. Vaughan has 14 workhorse tries for the season and prior to going down in Round 21, had scored 9 consecutive workhorse tries.
The Workhorse Watch exists for one reason and one reason only. To ensure forwards get the recognition they deserve and not let those fancy backs get all the accolades. Tom Trbojevic had a hell of a game on the weekend scoring three tries, and setting up two others to go with a swag of line breaks and line break assists not to mention a double metre eater. But in my mind Jake Trbojevic was just as impressive scoring two tries of his own, along with a workhorse try (41 tackles, 14 runs) as well as a line break and a line break assist. Meanwhile, Tommy Turbo missed three tackles while Jake missed none!
Tepai Moeroa scored a timely double workhorse try on the weekend, his first of his career. Moeroa had 44 tackles and 16 runs to just get there against the Storm. His double workhorse and those of teammate Nathan Brown and Titan Ryan James were welcomes ones after no non-hookers scored a double workhorse last weekend.
Workhorse of the Week:
Unfortunately Brown is out injured this week after scoring his 15th workhorse try of the year with a season high 48 tackles along with 15 runs.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- Ryan James: 42 tackles + 19 hitups = 61
- Nathan Peats: 45 tackles + 9 hitups = 54
- David Klemmer: 36 tackles + 17 hitups = 53
- Matt Eisenhuth 55 tackles + 10 hitups = 65
- Tepai Moeroa: 44 tackles + 16 hitups = 60
- Nathan Brown: 49 tackles + 15 hitups = 64
. - Damien Cook: 42 tackles + 8 hitups = 10
- Aiden Guerra: 45 tackles + 13 hitups = 58
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Herman Ese’ese: 26 tackles + 13 hitups = 39
James Tamau: 23 tackles + 16 hitups = 39
Sauaso Sue: 24 tackles + 15 hitups = 39
Sam Burgess: 31 tackles + 8 hitups = 39
Zane Tetevano: 28 tackles + 12 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
When it comes to stats per minute, Emre Guler had a stellar game against the Roosters last week. Guler played just 28 minutes but had 36 involvements (1.29 SPM) to fall short of what would have been a stunning workhorse try on debut. As pointed out by the Commish after the game, Guler is a big minute player in reserve grade and prior to the call up on Sunday had posted 36 tackles and 15 hit up against Wests (0.74 SPM) and 46 tackles and 18 hit ups against Newcastle (0.97 SPM) in his last two outings.
Shaun Lane continues to quietly assemble an impressive run of form. The Sea Eagles backrower scored his fourth straight workhorse try on the weekend and his 7th of the season with 36 tackles and 12 runs (0.71 SPM).
Wayde Egan has been handed the number 9 jersey at the expense of Sione Katoa in one of caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo’s first axings since taking over. Katoa did score a workhorse try on the weekend (0.76 SPM) but only ran for 35 metres in his 54 minutes on the park. Egan meanwhile played just 28 minutes and made 43 metres. Egan has enjoyed a stat per minute score of 0.78 in the limited minutes he’s gotten this season.
JUST QUICKLY:
Damien Cook is just toying with everyone now. Exactly 50 involvements this week, 77 metres to just get a double workhorse try with his 51 involvements last week. He’s doing just enough to remain being the undisputed king!
Geoff Adams
Latest posts by Geoff Adams (see all)
- 2018 Workhorse Watch Awards - September 3, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 24 - August 29, 2018
- Workhorse Watch – Round 23 - August 22, 2018
