Workhorse Watch Round 3

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 3 – Haas in rare form as he bucks the Cowboys!

• can Thomas play, yes he Cant!
• has JT got any juice left at the Cowboys?
• something is not KK at the Rabbitohs!
• Has someone put a curse on the Storm wizard?
• who are these backs that think they are forwards?

In Round 3 there were 66 players who scored a WH, with one player scoring a DWH. Match fitness has begun to set in as we slowly see an increase in workhorse scoring each round.

WORKING HARD

Payne Haas (Broncos)

41 tackles, 21 runs for 205m in 71 minutes – DWH (0.87 stats per minute)

Haas has begun this season on fire! He scored a DWH and a DME to go with a TRY, two LB’s and a LBA. It was a mammoth performance that will have Laurie Daley licking his lips about Origin. Perhaps Haas has been watching Terrell May at the Tigers and didn’t want to see his mantle as the games bets prop taken off him.

Thomas Cant (Knights)

52 tackles, 18 runs for 137m in 80 minutes – WH (0.88 spm)

Cant announced himself to the NRLCEO world with a massive 70 involvements in his first NRL start. He is a good chance of staying in the team for a few weeks after their bye in round 4, given Lucas is out injured and Kai Pearce-Paul is suspended. Currently signed until the end of 2026, Cant could be a regular starter from next season with the Knights losing Leo Thompson as well as KPP and Adam Elliott off contract this season. Those in contract/keeper leagues should be signing him up long term.

Siua Wong (Roosters)

55 tackles, 8 runs for 66m in 80 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

Wong has stormed back into workhorse contention, scoring a WH in all three of his matches this season. I don’t know if Wong continues to start once the Roosters get some troops back, he will likely battle the Butcher brothers for minutes when all three are fit.

J’maine Hopgood (Eels)

49 tackles, 12 runs for 93m in 56 minutes – WH (1.09 spm)

Hopgood has had a steady start to the season after missing the second half of 2024 through injury. Playing in a side struggling for some cohesion in both defence and attack, Hopgood will look to replicate his form of 2023 where he scored three DWH’s.

HARDLY WORKING

Harry Grant (Storm) 

37 tackles, 1 runs for 8m in 80 minutes (0.48 spm)

It appears someone has placed a curse on Grant to start 2025, as Captain Donut gave a lot of CEOs headaches over the weekend. Its hard to imagine their has been a plan at the Storm for Grant to do less work in defence in order to give him more energy in attack, especially given his one run for 8m against the Panthers. I am sure Grant will be back to his best, probably this weekend against a Dads Army Dragons oufit.

Shaun Lane (Eels)

29 tackles, 8 runs for 55m in 61 minutes (0.61 spm)

Lane was at the top of his game in 2022, fast forward to 2025 and he is definitely in the slow lane. The Eels have a number of back rowers languishing in their squad, at least Lane is fit and starting but there is nothing else to be happy about if you have him in your squad. Perhaps the injuries over the last few seasons have taken its toll on his body and he will never be able to get back to what he did in 2022. I wouldn’t be hanging around to find out, sharpen your axe!

Apisai Koroisau (Tigers)

31 tackles, 6 runs for 46m in 80 minutes (0.75 spm)

Api is close to undraftable now! He has lost the goalkicking to Doueihi and he is sharing minutes with young Tallyn Da Sylva who is lighting it up when he comes on. At least last season you could rely on his goalkicking to give you some points and then the odd WH but now he will just have his attacking stats. You could try and trade him now before his value drops even further, otherwise he will end up on the cut pile.

Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

24 tackles, 10 runs for 79m in 49 minutes (0.46 spm)

Has there been a more disappointing player after three rounds then Keaon? With Cam Murray out we all expected Keaon to play in the middle again this year and rack up the WH and ME points. Bennett has shafted us and moved him back to an edge where he has been quiet. It is time to pray to the footy gods and hope that Bennett makes the change and ignites both Keaon’s and the Bunnies season. He could also be a potential trade option but I would hold for the moment.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Kitione Kautoga (Eels)

37 tackles, 3 runs for 24m in 67 minutes – WH (0.60 spm)

Kautoga got his first start at the Eels after a late switch and he looked ok to be honest. His stats would have been better if he had not gone off for a HIA. There was a lot of raps on him at the Bulldogs but he made the move to the Eels hoping for some bigger minutes. If he keeps the start this week I would be keen on him given his first outing.

Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys)

29 tackles, 12 runs for 134m in 46 minutes – WH (0.89 spm)

Is there a chance we will ever see JT CEO relevant again? The Cowboys simply need him to play bigger minutes, we only really need him to average another 5 to 10 minutes more a game in order to score the WH. If he continues to start then he will always be a chance I guess, but only the true believers will be picking him up now, before they see some more evidence.

Siosiua Taukeiaho (Sea Eagles)

28 tackles, 17 runs for 132m in 46 minutes – WH (0.98 spm)

Taukeiaho got on the workhorse scoreboard for 2025 and at a good clip of 0.98 spm. I think he is a decent pickup this week, given the season ending injury to Taniela Paseka. He is now their #1 prop as both Aloiai and Sipley struggle for consistency. He could easily become a regular WH scorer as a result so get in quick before its too late.

Harry Hayes (Bulldogs)

33 tackles, 14 runs for 129m in 42 minutes – WH (1.12 spm)

Hayes looks better every week, he could be a CEO gun in a few seasons. He has a great build for a forward, plenty of size but still very mobile. I love his impact off the bench but If I was Ciraldo I would be tempted to start him ahead of Salmon. If this guy starts he is a must have!

WORTH MENTIONING…

Sean Keppie (Rabbitohs)

27 tackles, 8 runs for 56m in 40 minutes – (0.88 spm)

If it feels like a trap, ITS A TRAP! Keppie could not back up the minutes this week, playing 24 minutes less than the week before. If you are holding him, it is purely because you want to be that CEO who owns him if he ever comes good regularly.

Trey Mooney (Raiders)

34 tackles, 13 runs for 96m in 44 minutes – WH (1.07 spm)

Mooney has been on the cusp of regular NRL for a few seasons now but the Raiders keep signing pommies to play in front of him. He is signed until the end of 2027, so I would say he takes over Papalii’s role next season after the big man retires. He is still only 22 years of age and he is a player to keep in mind if you are in contract/keeper leagues.

Moeaki Fotuaika (Titans)

33 tackles, 9 runs for 103m in 43 minutes – WH (0.98 spm)

Mofo was a player I steered clear of this season, given his patchy WH form over the last two years as well as the arrival of RCG on the Gold Coast. So far he has silenced the doubters with a WH in both his matches this season. Tino will always score a WH as he is their leader and captain, but I still fear the rest of the pack will be sharing minutes.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)

24 tackles, 8 runs for 84m in 66 minutes – (0.48 spm)

Kulikefu just does not seem to have an engine built for WH scoring. He scored five WH’s in 2024 at the Cowboys and failed to make a lasting impression. If your banking on him being a starting edge player in your team then I think you should be very nervous.

BACKS IMPERSONATING FORWARDS

It is time we paid some attention to those skinny little bludgers who think they can play in the forwards. There may be some comps out there that reward backs for scoring a WH, so lets call them out, if only to shame the forwards in their pack for not doing the work themselves.

Jamie Humphreys (Rabbitohs)

43 tackles, 6 runs for 54m in 80 minutes – (0.61 spm)

Humphreys had an unfair advantage as he played half of the match at lock, with Jayden Sullivan coming into the halves. Is Wayne thinking of making a change and naming a ball-playing 13?

Chad Townsend (Roosters)

38 tackles, 4 runs for 24m in 80 minutes – (0.53 spm)

Is there anything the Chad cannot do? The Warriors aimed a lot of traffic at Townsend on the weekend but he was up to the task, he notched the 3rd highest tackles for his team. JWH would be fuming from the other side of the world!

Fletcher Sharpe (Knights)

32 tackles, 8 runs for 92m in 80 minutes – (0.50 spm)

The new wonder kid didn’t shirk his task against the Titans, making more tackles than Frizell and as many as Jacob Saifiti. Shame on you blokes!

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

POSITION	PLAYER	TEAM	INVOLVEMENTS	PACK OF THE WEEK
Front Row	Payne Haas	Broncos	62	1
Hooker	Peter Mamouzelos	Rabbitohs	60	1
Front Row	Terrell May	Tigers	61	2
Back Row	Thomas Cant	Knights	70	1
Back Row	Siua Wong	Roosters	63	1
Lock	J'maine Hopgood	Eels	61	1

WH – Workhorse

DWH – Double Workhorse

ME – Metre Eater

DME – Double Metre Eater

SPM – Stats per minute played