Workhorse Watch Round 6
A shudder went through the league on Saturday night as Robbie Farah, looking in considerable pain, was led off the ground. Farah was playing out of his skin and scored a double workhorse try, a try, 2 try assists and a line break and line break assist for good measure. Unfortunately this year’s leading point scorer is now out for 6 weeks with NRLCEO’s scrambling to pick up his replacement Joel Luani.
Just a week after Dave Taylor made only 5 tackles against Melbourne (which was the second time this season he’s been able to add up his tackle count without taking off his socks and boots) the Titans forward has broken through for his first workhorse try of the year. Taylor made 24 tackles and 17 hit ups to make his first solid contribution in 2014.
In fact there were a number of high profile forwards breaking through for their first workhorse try of the season with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Liam Fulton and Luke Douglas each scoring their first of the year. Bodene Thompson who despite playing 80 minutes a game for all but one game this season also scored his first 27 tackles and 14 hit ups. Meanwhile both Scott Bolton and Joel Reithmuller came off the Cowboys bench to have 45 and 40 involvements respectively.
But far from having the Midas touch in the case of Taylor, it appears your humble correspondent is just as adept with the commentator’s curse. A week after highlighting the strong work rate of Adam Cutherbertson, the Avalon junior was unceremoniously dumped, along with David Fa’alogo to NSW Cup to make way for Chris Houston and Zane Tetevano. There won’t be too many NRLCEOs worried about Fa’alogo as the former Kiwi International is yet to register any points this year but Cuthbertson had been proving to be a handy bench player this season; capable of scoring a workhorse try every other week. Meanwhile Houston made the most of his return to first grade scoring his second workhorse try of the season with 39 tackles and 10 hit ups.
WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK:
Shaun Fensom: The Raiders lock again takes the spoils with the highest number of involvements among the five players who scored double workhorse tries on the weekend.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (Round 6)
8. Sam Burgess: 43 tackles + 20 hitups = 63
9. Cameron Smith 47 tackles + 10 hitups = 60
10. Nate Myles: 45 tackles + 15 hitups = 60
11. Trent Merrin: 42 tackles + 17 hitups = 59
12. Corey Parker: 41 tackles + 17 hitups = 58
13. Shaun Fensom: 50 tackles + 17 hitups =67
14. Robbie Farah: 40 tackles + 15 hitups = 55
15. Andrew McCullough: 67 tackles + 6 hit ups = 73
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Five players fell one involvement short of a workhorse try, included two from my own NRLCEO team. Can you guess which two? Fortunately I had 3 players that made the Team of the Week so it wasn’t all bad.
Aiden Guerra: 31 tackles + 8 hitups = 39
Brent Kite: 23 tackles + 16 hitups = 39
Jeremy Smith: 29 tackles + 10 hitups = 39
Kevin Proctor: 27 tackles + 12 hitups = 39
Tim Mannah: 25 tackles + 14 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
Ray Thompson was the stand out this week, coming off the bench with 48 tackles and 5 runs in just 39 minutes for a work rate of 1.39SPM.
As far as potential recruits go Mark Minichiello (1.21SPM) could be worth a look especially with Origin around the corner. The Titans back rower scored his second workhorse try of the season with 30 tackles and 11 hit ups in just 34 minutes. Having started the season injured he may still be sitting on the free lists of a few leagues.
Last week the Workhorse Watch took a look at Sebastine Ikahihfo and his workhorse try potential. The young Warriors forward was on track with 19 tackles and 3 hit ups in the first half before a head knock saw the doctors rule him out for the second half.
JUST QUICKLY
- At least Todd Carney turned up for work. The last time I had a shit haircut, I took 2 weeks off until it grew out a bit.
- Using Gus Gould logic that only players can comment on concussion, one assumes Penrith’s groundskeeper was once a blade of grass.
- How bad were Widnes on the weekend? Not only did they lose to strugglers Catalan, Ben Pomeroy scored 2 tries against them.
- If the Hound & Arya Stark had an NRLCEO team, I think they’d start by picking Idris & Soward. Or Taylor and Kelly.
Geoff Adams
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