The 2014 Workhorse Awards
For the first time ever, the Workhorse Watcher Geoff Adams presents to you the Workhorses – the Annual Workhorse Awards.
Of course the workhorse is something unique to NRLCEO. It’s something that sets us apart from the rest, so whilst you can read your late mail elsewhere and you can easily identify the top try scorers, Workhorse Watch brings a new approach.
One of the most popular segments all year, so I present to you, the Awards!
This award recognises young forwards who have emerged through the course of the season and is not limited to forwards who are in their first year. Given that forwards take some time to mature the criteria on what makes a young workhorse is pretty flexible.
The nominees are: George Burgess who scored 15 WH tries in 2014, up from 9 last year and will take on an even bigger role next year following the departure of his brother Sam;
Jesse Bromwich, who despite having played over 100 games is only 25 and scored 17 WH tries, up from 10 last year. One of the Storm’s most consistent performers;
Manu Ma’u, an unknown until this season who scored 5 workhorse tries in 12 games before getting injured; Loads of potential.
And Tinirau Arona who, in a torrid year for the Sharks stood up and scored 12 WH tries for the season.
WINNER: Jesse Bromwich
It’s one of the most talked about topics in NRLCEO and if you’ve read even just one Workhorse Watch this year you’ll know who is getting this award but in the interest of proper formalities and to recognise some other forwards who would have made many NRLCEOs lives that much harder, here are the nominees.
Alex Glenn
Jared Waerea-Hargraves
Robbie Rochow
Tim Mannah.
All had similarly frustrating seasons and in fact Alex Glenn and Tim Mannah actually finished tied on 12 games where they had between between 35 and 39 involvements. However on a count back of most 39s in a season, there becomes one clear winner.
“WINNER”: Tim Mannah
Some highly sought after players from 2013 take their place in the overall Close But No Cigar Team of the Year – the least prodigious team of them all.
8. Tim Mannah
9. Michael Ennis
10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
11. Alex Glenn
12. Robbie Rochow
13. Tohu Harris
14. Paul Vaughan
15. Jack De Belin
At the beginning of the season I gave my thoughts and predictions in a season preview. The nominees for best prediction are: James Graham whose workhorse output extended beyond the fact he had a suspension free season; Nathan Peats who was a NRLCEO gun before injury cut short his season; Adam Blair who, with 10 workhorse tries for the season would have been a handy pick up later on in the draft; and Sam Moa who only finished with 8 workhorse tries but that was double his 2013 return.
WINNER: James Graham
For every accurate prediction there was an equal number I got very wrong. The nominees are Robbie Rochow who scored just 8 workhorse tries in 2014 compared to 18 in 2013; Jayson Bukuya who I predicted would relish the move to New Zealand but finished with 6 workhorse tries (the same as he got in 2013); Joel Riethmuller who I crowned the heir apparent to Dallas Johnson but who only played 5 games and scored 1 workhorse; and Tohu Harris who only had 5 workhorse tries compared to 11 in 2013.
WINNER: Joel Riethmuller
Workhorse tries are not limited to forwards with competitions now able to be tailored to include players scoring workhorse tries whilst playing in the backs. Contenders in this category include Albert Kelly (Titans), Ben Hampton (Storm), Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea-Eagles), Josh Reynolds (Bulldogs), and Todd Carney (Sharks). Players who are able to play both in the forwards and backs are ineligible for this award which rules out back rowers/centres and is a tough break for players like Daniel Mortimer who finished with four workhorse tries for the year which were all whilst playing halfback.
WINNER: Albert Kelly
The nominees are: Andrew Fifita for playing with a broken arm in round 22. Robbie Farah for overcoming a bout of boils in round 1. Nigel Plum for playing every game with an array of injuries requiring more bandages than Tutankhamun. And Wade Graham who played the whole season with a chip on his shoulder after refusing to paint a picture for ASADA before finally pleading guilty to their charges and seeing out his suspension with a holiday in Bali.
WINNER: Wade Graham
This award does to the workhorse who suffers a season ending injury that most likely had the biggest impact on NRLCEO’s premiership aspirations and is likely to be the first player mentioned in any end of year excuse making. The nominees are Shaun Fensom (Knee, Round 21); Elijah Taylor (Knee, Round 21); Liam Fulton (Concussion, Round 16); and Nathan Peats (Knee, Round 9).
WINNER: Nathan Peats
Whether it results in a double workhorse try or not, you can’t help but marvel at some of the involvement rates by certain players at times. Some of the highest involvements in a single match included: Shaun Fensom (72 – Round 2) Nate Myles (73 – Round 3) Nathan Friend (75 – Round 5) Andrew McCullough (73 – Round 6) Jake Friend (71 – Round 6) Adam Cuthbertson (70 – Round 9) Robbie Farah (71 – Round 13) Sam Burgess (70 – Round 17) Josh McGuire (71 – Round 16). All great efforts but there was only one man who posted an 80+ game.
WINNER: Shaun Fensom (81 – Round 5)
Each player that made the Workhorse Pack of the Year scored 20 or more workhorse tries for the season.
Special mention to Andrew McCullough, Matt Ballin and Nathan Friend who all had over 20 WH for the season but couldn’t fit into the team.
8. James Graham
9. Robbie Farah
10. Josh McGuire
11. Corey Parker
12. Trent Merrin
13. Sam Burgess
14. Cameron Smith
15. Jake Friend
Now to the big one.
Unlike the Dally Ms, the contenders for Workhorse of the Year have not been kept a secret.
Watching the best of the best duke it out each week has been fascinating and well worth talking about. There were a lot of great workhorses this season but ultimately it came down to two players, Sam Burgess and James Graham. At the end of the NRLCEO regular season (Round 22), Burgess lead the league with 25 WH with Graham trailing with 22. But 7 workhorse tries in the last 4 games saw Graham draw level with his fellow countryman on 29 for the season thus giving us joint winners!
JOINT WINNERS: Sam Burgess & James Graham
JUST QUICKLY
- That’s it for 2014. What a great season!
- Thanks to JB for his assistance with the pictures and graphics that have accompanied the Workhorse Watch each week.
- Thanks to everyone for reading. It’s been great writing about a unique aspect of fantasy football and sharing my opinions on rugby league in general. The feedback has been nothing but positive.
- Enjoy the rest of the season, and catch you next year. Don’t forget to hit me up on Twitter – @geoffadams81
Geoff Adams
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Hi mate, just a heads up for the “Worst prediction of the year”. Kev Kingston might be worth a shout out. Leading tackler in the NRL from last season I believe and this year spent most of it in NSWCup. Cheers