Workhorse Watch Week 21
He’s done it! The Panthers’ James Segeyaro, a man whose praises I was singing only last week has scored a historic NRLCEO double-double.
What’s a double-double?
In workhorse terms it means a player who scores 2 tries and a double workhorse try in the same game. A number of players have come close this season but even then it was only off the back of some very late tries. Segeyaro was different. He crossed for his second try on Friday night in the 45th minute and was already zeroing in on 30 involvements for the game. 20 involvements in 35 minutes for a hooker was more than achievable. Having already run 56 metres up to that point, it did not appear that yardage would be a problem either. As time went on, the stats continued to accumulate. Multiple sets from the Bulldogs late in the game served only to help the former Cowboy but late tries to Tim Lafai and Sam Kasiano did not. However following the restart from the Kasiano try and with just three and half minutes to go, Segeyaro made a tackle to rack up his 50th involvement in the game and become the first player to score a double-double.
It was a disastrous week for some NRLCEOs with Shaun Fensom and Elijah Taylor suffering season ending injuries. With the finals just one week away losing either player is a blow, let alone both; which is exactly what happened to one guy in my comp. He also has Bryce Cartwright and Konrad Hurrell so despite securing the minor premiership it wasn’t a happy weekend for him. Jake Friend and Luke Lewis have also been sidelined, although Friend could be back within a fortnight and Lewis hasn’t brought a lot in terms of workhorse impact in 2014 with just the one workhorse try back in round 18.
But when the football gods slam a door, they then open a window and last week saw the return of some marquee workhorses in Matt Scott, Luke Bailey and Gavin Cooper. Scott and Bailey didn’t miss a beat and both scored workhorse tries on their return whilst Cooper had a tepid return to the NRL but did manage to score a try. In further good news, Sam Burgess, Paul Gallen and one of the Commish’s favourites, Aiden Tolman have all been named this week.
Robbie Farah might be calling the shots at the Wests Tigers but when it comes to NRLCEO there’s no “I” in fantasy team. This is why the NSW rake found himself dumped from my starting team on the weekend and in the unfamiliar number 15. Although all indicators suggested Farah would play, after a turbulent week I could ill afford for something to happen between naming my team on Friday and the Tigers taking the field on Monday that would cause him not to play. I got caught out earlier in the year when Farah withdrew due to injury but could not be replaced because my other hookers had already played. Fortunately Farah played and no harm was done but the thought did occur to me why haven’t I adopted this strategy before when it comes to players in doubt.
WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK:
James Segeyaro:
Impossible to go past the Panthers number 9. Even if someone else scored a double workhorse with more involvements I would have probably sided with Segeyaro. Tries never come into the equation when it comes to judging the Workhorse of the Week; but two tries? Irresistible! Besides, Segeyaro was the only player to score a double workhorse anyway.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (Round 21)
8. Andrew Fifita: 37 tackles + 21 hitups = 58
9. James Segeyaro: 37 tackles + 13 hitups = 50
10. Josh McGuire: 38 tackles + 19 hitups = 57
11. Bodene Thompson: 43 tackles + 10 hitups = 53
12. Matt Gillett: 40 tackles + 11 hitups = 51
13. Jamie Buhrer: 31 tackles + 18 hitups = 49
14. James Graham: 37 tackles + 15 hit ups = 52
15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves: 39 tackles + 12 hitups = 51
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Congratulations to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. After finishing with 39 last week, JWH jumped from the No Cigar Club to the Workhorse Team of the Week!
Nate Myles: 32 tackles + 7 hitups = 39
Isaac De Gois: 36 tackles + 3 hitups = 39
Mitch Rein: 34 tackles + 5 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
With so many players going down injured its worthwhile looking for some last ditch replacements if you’re able to recruit them. In Shaun Fensom’s place comes Matt McIlwrick who has only played two NRL games this season but scored a workhorse try in one of them (Round 3) and had 15 involvements in 20 minutes in the other (0.75 SPM).
Elijah Taylor’s replacement is Isaah Yeo who unfortunately is only listed as a centre which won’t do you much good this week but Tim Grant’s return to first grade might. Grant has a Stats per Minute score of 0.90 for the season so he’s a good chance of a workhorse provided he gets the minutes. An SPM of 0.90 means he needs 44 minutes on the field to notch up a workhorse; the two he’s scored this season were in rounds 5 and 6 when he played 46 and 47 minutes respectively.
Coming in for the injured Jake Friend is Heath L’Estrange who has only played in 3 NRL games this season and didn’t get a look in until Daniel Mortimer moved to the Gold Coast. L’Estrange has an SPM of 0.86 but given the great form of Jake Friend hasn’t played more than 21 minutes in a game this season so fatigue might be a factor.
Finally Tupou Sopoaga has been named in the place of Luke Lewis. I’ve been a big fan of Sopoaga this year but since scoring 4 workhorse tries in his first 5 games his opportunities in first grade have been limited. In those opening 5 games he averaged 68 minutes per game at 0.70 SPM. In the 5 games he’s played since he’s averaged just 40 minutes a game at 0.56 SPM. It probably hasn’t helped that on a number of occasions he’s been called into the side at the last minute. Hopefully with a full week to prepare and a number of injuries at the Sharks, he’ll sees plenty of minutes this week.
(NOT SO) JUST QUICKLY
- How good were the superhero jerseys on the weekend? Admittedly, the Manly vs Brisbane game was a bit confusing but over 20,000 jerseys sold so far between the 5 clubs can’t be wrong.
- That represents over $3 million in extra merchandise revenue and whilst some will argue that such a promotion takes away from the traditions and integrity of the jersey, I say hogwash! To start with, for years jerseys have been altered for everything from movie releases to junk food. And if you want to talk about not ruining the jersey for the sake of a dollar how about we talk about the endless array of sponsors that adorn every conceivable part of the jersey. (However let me add that to me a jersey without a sponsor looks kind of bare).
- Most importantly, the codes are in a constant battle to win the hearts and minds of fans, not rusted on fans like you or I, but kids. Kids who will then drag their parents to the footy. The first game I ever went to was because some players handed out some free tickets at our school. I got my grandpa to take me along to the game and I’ve been a staunch fan ever since.
- How many kids are now committed rugby league fans because they now associate a team with their favourite superhero? I’d much rather see clubs raise extra money by bringing out a superhero jersey once in a while and get money from the people who see value in it instead of having them unscrupulously raise prices in other areas like ticket prices and food and beverages.
Geoff Adams
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