Workhorse Watch Round 7

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 7 – The sheriff is back, Pat Carrigan scores his first DWH of the season!

• The Titans looking Fermor from Beau!
• Is the Twally ride already coming to an end?
• The Eels have found their new number 9 and he has the opposition Ryled!
• Is the King of Easter Origin bound?
• Hopgood is holding onto his WH status but just barely!

In Round 7 there were 63 players who scored a WH, with two players scoring a DWH. Injuries are starting to mount and CEO’s need to try and find a diamond in the rough to cover any players out.

WORKING HARD

Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

53 tackles, 21 runs for 179m in 82 minutes – DWH (0.90 stats per minute)

Carrigan was forced to play the full 82 minutes against the Warriors, with the Broncos having injury and HIA issues during the match. It has been a fairly consistent start to the season for Carrigan, with his average involvements per match similar to last season. The best thing about Pat this year is his dual position status of Front Row/Lock which has added to his value this season. You know what your going to get from him and he rarely lets you down.

Isaah Yeo (Panthers)

40 tackles, 21 runs for 171m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.74 spm)

What else can we say about Yeo that hasn’t already been said. The Panthers look like finally turning things around, getting a much needed result against the Roosters. Of course Yeo played a big part in that, scoring his first DWH of the season. His only real negative is his lack of consistent ME scoring, also scoring his first ME for the season on the weekend. Interestingly, with the Panthers only banking two wins so far, we may not see Yeo being rested as much during the Origin period. He will certainly play all three games if fit but the Panthers may need more from him during that period as they chase a finals spot.

Toby Couchman (Dragons)

56 tackles, 14 runs for 125m in 66 minutes – WH (1.06 spm)

What a revelation Couchman has been this season, currently averaging 59 involvements per match. Those CEO’s that took a punt on him starting this season have been rewarded with a gun front rower who will continue to improve. He also has dual position status of Front Row/Back Row, which makes him a very versatile addition to your forward pack. Whether he starts, or comes off the bench, he will almost always score a WH due to his super impressive work rate.

Jazz Tevaga (Sea Eagles)

53 tackles, 11 runs for 84m in 69 minutes – WH (0.93 spm)

Play me some Jazz! Tevaga was thought to be on the NRLCEO scrapheap but circumstances allowed him to prove he still has what it takes, scoring his first WH since Round 25 last season. Manly had injury and HIA issues on the weekend which left them short of forwards. Despite this solid performance I don’t see Tevaga being relevant this season with Manly still using Jake Simpkin off the bench to help spark their attack from dummy half.

HARDLY WORKING

Beau Fermor (Titans) 

30 tackles, 8 runs for 67m in 80 minutes (0.48 spm)

It is fair to call Fermor’s season disappointing so far. Despite playing the last two matches at centre, he still only has two WH’s for the year so far. The Titans have one of the best forward packs in the NRL but they just cant seem to find any consistency with their performance, which affects players CEO scoring. Now that Hasler has shown his hand early, there is a fair chance that we see Fermor in the centres again during the season which reduces his value somewhat. I think he is an option to trade out, if you can find a buyer that is willing to trade you a consistent WH scorer.

Alex Twal (Tigers)

27 tackles, 11 runs for 98m in 48 minutes (0.79 spm)

Twal started the season with three consecutive WH’s and CEO’s were cheering that he was once again CEO relevant. The bubble has well and truly burst, Twal has only scored one WH in his last four matches. He is clearly being impacted by Terrell May playing 70+ minutes each week, keeping Twal to 45-50 minutes a match. Sometimes that will be enough for him to score a WH, depending on whether the Tigers are playing well or not. I am a nervous Twal owner, holding for another week to see if he can turn it around.

Scott Sorensen (Panthers)

27 tackles, 9 runs for 71m in 80 minutes (0.45 spm)

I personally would never draft Sorensen due to his inconsistent WH scoring. So far this season he is scoring a WH in every second match which is truly frustrating for CEO’s. Sorensen as only averaged 40+ involvements in one season, which was 2023 where he clearly peaked. Even if Sorensen was in the spud pool I still would not pick him up.

Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

26 tackles, 9 runs for 66m in 80 minutes (0.44 spm)

It would be a brave CEO who could press the cut button on Keaon but you must be at least thinking about it, 35 involvements in 80 minutes with his team being dominated is as poor as it gets for a player of his ability. He is easily the most disappointing forward so far in 2025, scoring just two WH’s for the season, with his try double in Round 4 propping up his total score for the season. If I owned him in a comp (which i dont) I would be trying to trade him out for sure, probably to a Souths fan that thinks he will turn his form around. I don’t think I could cut him but I am certainly wondering how long I am willing to carry him if he doesn’t turn things around soon.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Ryley Smith (Eels)

37 tackles, 3 runs for 22m in 80 minutes – WH (0.50 spm)

Young Smith got through his first full NRL match starting at hooker and he just scraped home for a WH. It seems clear that Ryles wants Smith to be the Eels starting hooker for the immediate future and beyond. He will continue to improve as he learns how to navigate playing a full match and I think he will develop into a regular WH scoring hooker. The question mark of course is how his body holds up playing one of the toughest positions on the field.

Bronson Garlick (Storm)

39 tackles, 3 runs for 14m in 51 minutes – WH (0.82 spm)

Those CEO’s looking for some short term cover at hooker may want to add some Garlick to their recipe. He scored a WH in just 51 minutes against the Dolphins, sharing the role with Tyran Wishart. With the Storm backline in disarray due to injuries, Wishart may be needed to cover Wing or Centre which would allow Garlick to potentially play 80 minutes. Grant is due back in about 4-5 weeks so this will be a short term option.

Matthew Croker (Knights)

39 tackles, 9 runs for 74m in 53 minutes – WH (0.91 spm)

Croker is a no frills player who has always had a good work rate. He started at lock on the weekend and could do so again for a few more weeks until the Knights get some forwards back from injury. I don’t know that he has what it takes to be a regular starter in the NRL but if he ever lands a starting spot, be sure to pick him up if he is available as he will likely score a WH when starting.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)

27 tackles, 13 runs for 128m in 80 minutes – WH (1.02 spm)

And just like that Finefeuiaki turns it around with back to back WH’s. He is slowly improving as a CEO back rower but I am still not convinced he will be a regular WH scorer. He only got 42 involvements in Round 6 and then the minimum 40 on the weekend against the Storm, although he also scored a ME. He certainly looks the part but he will need to improve his involvements to become CEO relevant. He is worth a gamble at the moment if you are light on back rowers.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Max King (Bulldogs)

33 tackles, 26 runs for 220m in 60 minutes – WH (0.65 spm)

Max King had a day out feasting on the bunnies at Easter, finishing just 1 involvement short of a DWH. He scored his first try in 80+ matches to go with a LB, WH and DME. Look for King to continue this form when he comes up against a big Broncos pack on Thursday night. I almost put the captain on him on the weekend but was hesitant due to the Dogs being so dominant of late. In a positive sign for King owners, he has scored more ME’s (4) this season, than he has in any other CEO season in total.

J’maine Hopgood (Eels)

33 tackles, 7 runs for 59m in 38 minutes – WH (0.92 spm)

Hopgood has had his minutes reduced over the last 3 weeks and it is causing CEO’s some headaches. His average involvements in his first four matches was 52 per game but in his last three matches, that number drops to 40 per game. He doesn’t look to be carrying an injury so this is clearly a tactical change, perhaps to give some of the other young forwards a larger role, which was evident against the Tigers. The good thing is that despite only playing 38 minutes, Hopgood still managed to score a WH and he has only missed a WH in one match this season. At least the experiment of him playing hooker is done with, now we just need him to stay on the field a little longer.

Isaiah Papali’i (Panthers)

18 tackles, 12 runs for 119m in 35 minutes – (0.86 spm)

Papali’i had his best game so far in a Panthers jersey, looking like the Ipap of old. He ran the ball with energy and was rewarded with a try for his efforts. I think the Panthers need to give him a start on an edge and move Sorensen to the bench. If they can develop a combination between Cleary and Papali’i on an edge, that could be devaststing for opposition teams and reward loyal CEO’s who have been holding on to him all this time. He needs to start to be a WH scorer, if he remains on the bench than he may as well be in the spud spool.

Alex Seyfarth (Tigers)

33 tackles, 4 runs for 31m in 80 minutes – (0.46 spm)

Seyfarth’s form has fallen away, missing a WH in his last three matches. He was on fire from Rounds 2-4, scoring a WH in each as well as a TRY in round 3. He simply doesn’t run the ball enough, evidenced by his lack of metres, and he needs to get more involved to become a regular WH scorer. I would not want him as a starter in my team right now but he has been close to a WH when he has missed so hold him for now.

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. Take note that in  some public comps you can name backs in bench position 1 and 2 where they are eligible to score a WH.

Fletcher Sharper (Knights)

27 tackles, 13 runs for 171m in 80 minutes – WH (0.53 spm)

Sharpe scored his second WH of the season to go with a TRY and a ME. This kid is a footballer and he plays what is in front of him, never taking a backward step. It will be interesting to see where he plays next season, with Dylan Brown arriving at the Hunter. One of them will likely play halfback but to be honest they are both running halves which could make it difficult to form a combination, or they could play either side of the ruck and give the Knights a running option on both sides.

 

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

POSITION	PLAYER	TEAM	INVOLVEMENTS	PACK OF THE WEEK
Front Row	Patrick Carrigan	Broncos	74	1
Hooker	Jazz Tevaga	Sea Eagles	64	1
Front Row	Toby Couchman	Dragons	70	4
Back Row	Jackson Ford	Warriors	64	1
Back Row	Thomas Cant	Knights	60	3
Lock	Isaah Yeo	Panthers	61	3

WH – Workhorse

DWH – Double Workhorse

ME – Metre Eater

DME – Double Metre Eater

SPM – Stats per minute played