Workhorse Watcher: 2018 Season Preview
This time last year Dave Taylor couldn’t put a foot wrong. At the Raiders in train-and-trial capacity, Taylor was the model player who made every session, shed kilos and did enough to earn a one year deal. Fast forward to present day and with a three year, million dollar contract in his back pocket, Taylor’s breach of Toronto Wolfpack protocol was so bad, it was grounds for instant dismissal. What changed? Do all footballers perform better when they’re playing for a contract and how can a NRLCEO take advantage?
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
In 2017, 60% of forwards coming off contract performed better or equal to the previous season. And while that number doesn’t make allowances for players who just got more opportunity it also doesn’t consider injuries among those whose numbers declined. (We’re only somewhat scientific here at Workhorse Watch HQ).
One of the breakout stars of 2017 was Felise Kaufusi. The Melbourne second rower scored 20 workhorses after scoring just one in 2016. While Kevin Proctor’s departure provided the opportunity for him to shine, the form that lead to seven workhorse tries in the opening seven games would’ve given the Storm hierarchy plenty of confidence in signing him to a three year deal in late April.
Speculation around Paul Gallen’s retirement has been floated for several seasons. After winning the premiership in 2016 many thought he might might call it quits. But he signed on for one more year and never ruled out another run around in 2018. His form last year made it impossible for the Sharks not to extend his deal another season with the Cronulla captain scoring 24 workhorse tries in as many games.
Andrew McCullough is one player who knows when it’s contract time. McCullough’s 17 workhorse tries last year was the best he’s done in a season since the last time he was off contract which was back in 2015 when he scored 23. His 17 workhorses last season came in just 18 games compared to the 13 workhorse tries he scored in 19 games in 2016.
When it comes to big contracts there have been none bigger than the 10 year deal Jason Taumalolo signed to stay at the Cowboys. While Taumalolo signed just three weeks into the season, the hulking back rower had notched up two workhorse tries in two games (after scoring zero workhorse tries in the opening three games of the previous year) while taking his average metres per game from 166 metres in 2016 to 257.5 metres in the two games prior to inking his new deal.
And while Taumalolo’s might have been the biggest contract in 2017, the most talked about was undoubtedly Aaron Woods’. The “will he or won’t he” was excruciating and after ignoring Ivan Cleary’s deadline to commit to the Tigers he later signed with the Bulldogs as he amassed 20 workhorse tries in the year he was off contract, a marked improvement on the 13 he scored in 2016.
HELP ME, HELP YOU
So who can we expect to raise their stocks in 2018 in the hope of signing a lucrative new contract? There’s plenty to choose from, not to mention the up and comers who aren’t yet on the workhorse map, but here are the players whose stories are particularly compelling.
Whenever Josh Papalii is up for a new contract he makes sure he scores in double digits for workhorse tries that season. In 2013, after reneging on a contract at Parramatta, he chose to stay with the Raiders for a further three years and finished the year with 10 workhorse tries. The following season he dropped down to just four. Although he still had a year to go on his contract in 2015, in November of that year he penned a new three year deal after scoring 10 workhorses and a career best 8 tries.
This season marks the final year of Issac Luke’s contract at the Warriors. Luke scored 12 workhorse tries last season which doesn’t compare too badly to the 13 he scored in his final year at the Rabbitohs until you consider he played three more game last year compared to 2015. Furthermore his overall output last year (73 points) was down on both 2016 (91 points) and 2015 (94 points).
Ethan Lowe made his mark in the workhorse ranks back in 2015 when he scored 20 workhorse tries. In May of that season, with seven workhorse tries in eight games (including his first ever double workhorse) Lowe signed on till the end of the following year. 2016 was another highly productive one for the Goondiwindi junior scoring 19 workhorse tries prompting him to sign on for a further two season through until the end of this season. Last year was the first time in a while Lowe wasn’t looking to sign a new deal and despite playing every game last season, he only managed 13 workhorses.
There’s no telling what Parramatta’s Nathan Brown* could be capable of this year. Brown first came to my attention in 2016 when he broke through for his inaugural workhorse try and finished the season at Souths with six to his name. He signed to join the Eels and since then has gone from strength to strength. So after going from zero to six the last time he was looking for a new deal, what will he end up on this season having racked up 22 workhorse tries last year?
When Korbin Sims signed a two year deal with the Broncos in 2017 he was coming off 10 workhorse tries with the Knights the previous year. And while it was always going to be harder to make a mark in the Broncos’ pack compared to the Knights’, one solitary workhorse last season ain’t gonna cut it.
Finally, the hooking role at a number of clubs remains unclear but Cameron King looks to have first dibs at Parramatta. With five workhorse tries in the final six rounds of 2017 and with a new contract to be earned, King could be in for a big year. Other hookers off contract this season include Jazz Tevaga who struggled last year but may get more of an opportunity in the back row given the log jam at #9. Speaking of log jams, Mitch Rein may not see much game time behind Nathan Peats but the last time he was off contract he had 26 workhorse tries for the Dragons compared to 11 the year before.
Oh and Cameron Smith is also off contract but I don’t think we can classify him as a player who only lifts come contract time.
- This article was originally written for the 2018 NRLCEO Season Guide which was published in January and at the time Nathan Brown had not re-signed.
Geoff Adams
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