Workhorse Watch Round 24

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 24 – Spider Cam, Spider Cam!

• Cameron Murray is a super hero but even he can’t save the Bunnies!
• Liddle no more, this Dragon is on fire!
• Finefeuiaki perhaps not as fine as we first thought?
• Klese Haas steps out of big brother’s shadow!

In Round 24 there were 56 players who scored a WH, with 3 players scoring a DWH. Injuries and suspensions are coming at the wrong end of the season, will it cost you a CEO title?

WORKING HARD

Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)

55 tackles, 22 runs for 181m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.96 stats per minute)

Murray scores his first DWH of the season and just the 4th in his career. Murray was huge, back in his preferred 13 jersey, racking up 77 involvements playing the full 80 minutes. Murray would be fresher than most players after sitting out 8 weeks due to injury mid season. Sadly for him and the rest of the Rabbitohs, they will not be playing finals in 2024. Regardless of where Bennett plays him next season, you know what your going to get from Murray most weeks. He has become susceptible to a HIA in recent times, which may be a concern for CEOs in the future.

Cameron McInnes (Sharks)

56 tackles, 15 runs for 97m in 85 minutes – DWH (0.84 spm)

McInnes scores his 3rd DWH of the season, with CEOs benefitting after McInnes was named at hooker for the Sharks but still played his usual role in the middle. McInnes is off contract next year and at 3o years of age he is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. I would expect the Sharks to offer him an extension as he is worth every penny at 550k a year. As he is off contract at the end of 2025, his form is likely to be as good as 2024 or better as he hopes to gain an extension or impress a potential new club.

Jacob Liddle (Dragons)

53 tackles, 7 runs for 112m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.75 spm)

Liddle caps off an amazing CEO season for a player of his stature, scoring his 2nd career DWH and first for 2024. His 126 pts so far this year put him hot on the heels of the top scoring hookers in our game.

Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

51 tackles, 17 runs for 143m in 80 minutes – WH (0.85 spm)

Yeo continues to lead the Panthers forward pack, as injuries and suspensions continue to upset the Panthers forward rotations. Who would have thought that Yeo would get even better in 2024, his 152 pts this season is officially a career best CEO season. The only concern with Yeo is what year his fade will begin?

HARDLY WORKING

Joseph Tapine (Raiders) 

28 tackles, 11 runs for 94m in 44 minutes (0.89 spm)

Tapine has missed a WH in his last 2 matches, the first due to a sin bin, and then he was given a spell as the Cowboys ran rings around the Raiders last week. It was a terrible time of the year for Tapine to miss a couple of WH’s, potentially costing your team a win in a final.

Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins)

30 tackles, 7 runs for 52m in 65 minutes (0.57 spm)

It has been a mixed bag the last month for Lemuelu, scoring a WH in 2 of his last 5 matches. That was after he scored 7 in a row and was looking like a gun back rower. Will he be a starter next year with Bennett moving on? I think he will continue to improve as a player, he just needs to get more involved with the ball as he can be a damaging ball runner.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Cowboys)

26 tackles, 10 runs for 79m in 80 minutes (0.45 spm)

Kulikefu has not come on as I thought he would this season. As a starter the last few weeks he has not been able to score a WH, despite playing 80 minutes. His 5 WH’s this season is obviously a career best in his 2nd year in the NRL but I am not convinced he can be a player that will score 10-15 WHs a season. As it stands now I think he is more likely to be a 5-10 WH’s a season type player. Steer clear from him when drafting.

Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles)

21 tackles, 14 runs for 173m in 80 minutes (0.44 spm)

Haumole has been a big let down this season, scoring just 6 WH’s for the year after racking up 14 in 2023.  His average running metres are about the same as last year but his attacking stats are well down. He has missed a few games to injury and suspension but those are just excuses. I would not look at drafting him in the early rounds next year, try to get him in the middle rounds to get more value out of him. I think he will be enigmatic during his career, sort of in the same mould as David Fifita, he could explode 1 year then be average for 2 more years then explode again.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Joe Ofahengaue (Eels)

47 tackles, 14 runs for 84m in 59 minutes – WH (1.03 spm)

Ofahengaue is dual front row/lock and he will likely start at lock to cover for the injured Ryan Matterson who looks to be out for the rest of the season. Joe is a proven worker who just needs enough playing time to get you the WH.

Mat Croker (Knights)

33 tackles, 14 runs for 126m in 45 minutes – WH (1.04 spm)

I have liked what I have seen from Croker and I believe he will develop into a regular WH scorer if given the chance as a starter. Sadly he is off contract at the end of this season and given the roster cleanout that is about to happen at Newcastle, there is every chance he will be at another club in 2025 or even head off to the UK. Keep an eye on what happens during the off season as he is definitely the type of player who could score regularly if given the chance.

Ray Stone (Dolphins)

39 tackles, 6 runs for 47m in 56 minutes – WH (0.80 spm)

Stone has seen increased minutes over the last month and he doesn’t need that many to get you a WH. He gets the odd start but is usually playing off the bench, scoring 4 WH’s in his last 5 matches. he now has 7 WH’s for the year, equalling his best of 7 WH’s in a season from 2023. You get the feeling he will always be a gap filler player that never gets a consistent start.

Toby Rudolf (Sharks)

30 tackles, 12 runs for 111m in 55 minutes – WH (0.76 spm)

Rudolf is starting to find his best form, scoring his 3rd WH in his last 4 matches. Injuries have held him back this season and he is only now looking like the Rudolf of 2021/22. Given the Sharks have Fonua-Blake arriving next year, there will be a fight for spots in the Sharks starting lineup so I don’t see Rudolf being a draft target next season.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Klese Haas (Titans)

51 tackles, 6 runs for 42m in 80 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

The younger Haas has put together quite a handy CEO season, scoring his 8th WH on the weekend. He has also scored 3 tries and 2 LB which put him on my radar for a late round draft pick in 2025. He is behind Fifita and Fermor in the back row but he could start at lock in the future ahead of Randall. He could be a good option for contract/keeper leagues as well, the type of player who could have a breakout season over the next 2-3 years.

Kurt Capewell (Warriors)

40 tackles, 11 runs for 121m in 80 minutes – WH (0.64 spm)

Capewell has actually been putting in over the 5-6 weeks, scoring 4 WH’s and 3 tries. I have been critical of his work rate in the past but I will give credit where it is due and he deserves it after the loss of Jackson Ford. At 31 years of age he is still a very risky draft pick, I would want 2 maybe even 3 WH back rowers ahead of him in my squad before I drafted him in as cover.

Stefano Utoikamanu (Tigers)

25 tackles, 13 runs for 122m in 44 minutes – WH (0.86 spm)

Stefano has basically got one foot out the door at the Tigers, scoring just 1 WH in his last 7 matches. You would expect Craig Bellamy to be able to get the best out of him, which means he will be a player in demand come next season as CEO’s fall for his potential. I think its a gamble worth taking, its just a matter of how high up in the draft someone wants to take him.

Dan Keir (Eels)

32 tackles, 8 runs for 55m in 43 minutes – (0.93 spm)

Another player for the future, Keir scored his first career WH in just his 4th NRL match. Keir is currently without a contract for 2025 so who knows where he will be. Unlike Charlie Guymer, who is contracted as a devlopment player until 2025 then a top 30 spot in 2026, Keir will have the rest of this season to impress new coach Jason Ryles or look for a new home.

 

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

8. Lindsay Smith (2) (Panthers) – 65

9. Jacob Liddle (3) (Dragons) – 60

10. Joe Ofahengaue (1) (Eels) – 61

11. Cameron Murray (2) (Rabbitohs) – 77

12. Hudson Young (3) (Raiders) – 58

13. Cameron McInnes (5) (Sharks) – 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