Workhorse Watch Round 4

2024 NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 4 – The Toothless Shark!

Cameron McInnes had a huge night for the Sharks against the Raiders. In a round dominated by locks, this toothless warrior racked up a massive 75 involvements. In Round 4 there were 69 players who scored a WH with three players scoring a DWH.

WORKING HARD

Cameron McInnes (Sharks)

55 tackles, 20 runs for 167m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.94 stats per minute)

CEO’s were concerned about McInnes not starting in recent times with Dale Finucane occupying the 13 jumper. I think the position now belongs to McInnes as Finucane is injury prone and at the back end of his career so will likely come off the bench. I don’t think he will play 80 minutes every week but when he does he will go very close to a DWH each time.

Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

43 tackles, 17 runs for 193m in 74 minutes – DWH (0.81 spm)

After a quiet round 1 performance, it has been full steam ahead for Carrigan. Add to that the injury to Payne Haas and he has had to carry the load for the Broncos. He finally landed an elusive DWH with his last involvement of the match. When Haas returns, expect Kevvie to reduce his minutes for a while to avoid burning him out.

Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

41 tackles, 19 runs for 181m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.75 spm)

Yeo is another player who has stepped up to cover injuries to key Panthers, including Nathan Cleary. Yeo is the link man in the Panthers attack and his extra carries this week helped get him to the elusive DWH. I also expect him to perhaps miss a WH or two during the year as he is rested in matches that the Panthers are winning comfortably in.

Nat Butcher (Roosters)

69 tackles, 4 runs for 24m in 80 minutes – WH (0.91 spm)

Butcher returned to the starting side after Siua Wong was dumped to NSW Cup and he got straight into his work with a massive 69 tackles. He will always get you a WH if he starts, but its his attacking stats that CEO’s want to see as this elevates him into the higher level of quality back rowers.

HARDLY WORKING

Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors) 

13 tackles, 15 runs for 130m in 44 minutes (0.81 spm)

That is four matches now without a WH this season and I think there is real concern here for his season. He does not have a contract to play for any more and it appears to have affected his work rate. I would be entertaining a trade for a guaranteed WH front rower and let someone else deal with the issue of AFB coming good or not.

Jordan Riki (Broncos)

31 tackles, 6 runs for 65m in 80 minutes (0.46 spm)

Cut him now and cut him quick. What on earth is this bloke doing for 80 minutes each week? He started with a bang in Vegas but quickly reverted back to his lazy ways. He should be the dominant edge forward after the loss of Capewell and then an injury to Piakura, yet he just does’nt rack up the involvements despite playing the full 80 minutes. Get rid of him.

Brandon Smith (Roosters)

29 tackles, 6 runs for 30m in 52 minutes (0.67 spm)

Aaaah the enigma that is Brandon Smith. He just doesn’t look comfortable in the Roosters setup. Robbo clearly doesn’t think he can be an 80 minute hooker so perhaps his fitness is not up to scratch. He looks a shadow of the player that he was at the Storm and after a full year and the start of this season, nothing seems to be changing. If he is your starting hooker in CEO then you need to get a replacement if you can.

Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters)

26 tackles, 7 runs for 52m in 54 minutes (0.61 spm)

Sitili is a gun when he plays 80 minutes, a guaranteed WH and also can find the try line. Sadly he is stuck in a rotation in which he is only playing the first 50-55 minutes of a match and is not CEO relevant as it stands now. I would be looking for something better in the spud pool.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Jacob Host (Rabbitohs)

34 tackles, 10 runs for 89m in 80 minutes – WH (0.55 spm)

Host has always had injury problems and has not been able to string a lot of matches together in a row to get himself match fit. He could be a decent pick up given that Jai Arrow is potentially out long term (or could be back in a couple of weeks depending on which reports you believe). Host isn’t an out and out worker but he runs a good line and makes his tackles.

Liam Henry (Panthers)

32 tackles, 11 runs for 86m in 40 minutes – WH (1.08 spm)

Hard to believe that he is still available in some spud pools. Henry is a future CEO gun and is relevant right now. With a spm of 1.08 last week, he only needs to play about 40-45 minutes to get a WH. His numbers and minutes may drop when the Panthers get some troops back, however if you are in a contract/keeper league I would be locking him up for as long as you can.

Jack Williams (Sharks)

25 tackles, 17 runs for 172m in 45 minutes – WH (0.93 spm)

Williams is another player with a high spm. He will likely remain on the bench for the Sharks even with all their injuries in the forwards. He is developing into a quality forward in the NRL and I wouldn’t be surprised to see teams trying to sign him as he is off contract at the end of this season. I can see Williams having his best CEO season this year, with three WH’s so far, he needs eight more to break his season best of ten.

Luciano Leilua (Dragons)

30 tackles, 12 runs for 125m in 80 minutes – WH (0.53 spm)

It is time to take a chance on Leilua. I know he can be lazy and it is frustrating to own him, but I think Flanno can get the best out of him once he settles in to the Dragons. He carried the ball well against the Sea Eagles but he needs which is a good sign because he is not a player that will make huge amounts of tackles, you want him running the ball and creating attacking stats. He could have a decent season from now.

WORTH MENTIONING….

Samuela Fainu (Tigers)

31 tackles, 7 runs for 73m in 37 minutes – (1.03 spm)

This kid looks the goods. He isn’t quite getting the minutes as yet but his work has been impressive with a spm of 1.03. If there is an injury to one of the Tigers forwards then grab him as his minutes will increase and he only needs 40-45 minutes to get a WH. If you are in a contract/keeper league then he is another to grab for the long term.

Nathan Brown (Sea Eagles)

19 tackles, 17 runs for 156m in 49 minutes – (0.73 spm)

It was a solid performance from Brown against the Dragons and I am sensing a change coming in the Manly forward pack. I feel like Brown would better serve Manly starting at either Lock (moving Jake Turbo to Prop) or Prop. I think Aloiai drops back to bench rotation. If you hear any whispers about him starting then grab him because we know what he is capable of as a starter.

Chris Randall (Titans)

43 tackles, 2 runs for 19m in 66 minutes – WH (0.68 spm)

It is hard to know what will happen with the Titans hooking role. Randall has scored two WH’s so far as the starter but the Titans have struggled. With Verrills on the bench you cannot guarantee either player gets enough minutes to score a WH. There could even be a change coming with Verrills given the start to see if that changes the Titans fortunes.

Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

29 tackles, 16 runs for 158m in 80 minutes – WH (0.56 spm)

I have to give a shout out to Hynes even though he is a halfback. Three consecutive WH’s which has put a lot of starting forwards to shame. The sharks may be better served trying to get Hynes to do less defence so he can focus on leading their attack.

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

8. Terrell May (1) (Roosters) – 59

9. Reed Mahoney (1) (Bulldogs) – 58

10. Lindsay Smith (1) (Panthers) – 57

11. Nat Butcher (1) (Roosters) – 73

12. Kurt Capewell (1) (Warriors) – 58

13. Cameron McInnes (1) (Sharks) – 75

(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