Workhorse Watch Rd 8
George Burgess was a notable exclusion from the Rabbitohs team on Friday night with coach Michael Maguire citing a groin injury for the Englishman’s absence. As some speculate that the injury was just a cover for the fact that he was dropped, I for one really hope that the injury was genuine. The softly, softly approach of dropping players but trying to spare their feelings is everything that is wrong with modern day rugby league.
Nathan Brown dropped Kade Snowden back in Round 2 but rather than send the former Origin representative back to NSW Cup, Snowden travelled with the first grade side as 19th man even though he was never a chance of playing. Brown openly acknowledged that Snowden’s demotion was purely on form saying “he is aware as anyone of where he is at form-wise and what he needs to do”.
Since when did a stint in reggies no longer become the kick in the pants an out of form player needed? How exactly does a trip in a “mentoring” type role do anything to advance Snowden’s cause on the field? Or a made up injury to cover Burgess’ drop in form?
It should be noted that Snowden was forced into retirement last week while there is no proof that Burgess’ injury was not genuine but I suspect that the cotton wool approach emerged around the time players realised they could sign contracts that they wouldn’t necessarily have to honour. As soon as a player decides something displeases him he can threaten to leave knowing a dozen other clubs will only be too happy to sign him up so clubs feel the need to pander to their stars.
One coach who has never been afraid to wield the axe is Ricky Stuart. After two lacklustre performances Stuart made it clear to his front rowers that more was needed. Under the threat of losing their first grade positions both Paul Vaughan and Shannon Boyd bagged Metre Eaters as well as scored tries against the Tigers with Vaughan also getting a workhorse with 26 tackles and 17 runs.
Workhorse of the Week:
Paul Gallen just had his best game of the year, it must be rep-season. Another Test jersey was clearly on Gallen’s mind as the second rower racked up huge numbers including his first double workhorse for the season and his first ever double metre eater. In the same game, Trent Merrin also had 67 involvements for his first double workhorse in over a year.
WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK
- James Graham: 36 tackles + 23 hitups = 59
- Jake Friend: 58 tackles + 3 hitups = 61
- Ryan James: 43 tackles + 14 hitups = 57
- Trent Merrin: 43 tackles + 24 hitups = 67
- Bodene Thompson: 53 tackles + 12 hitups = 65
- Paul Gallen: 44 tackles + 23 hitups = 67
- Aidan Guerra: 43 tackles + 20 hitups = 63
- Michael Lichaa: 54 tackles + 6 hitups = 60
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Corey Parker: 25 tackles + 14 hitups = 39
Curtis Sironen: 34 tackles + 5 hitups = 39
Kevin Naiqama: 32 tackles + 7 hitups = 39
STATS PER MINUTE
Joe Ofahengaue scraped in for the first workhorse try of his career with 27 tackles and 13 runs on Friday night. Ofahengaue usually only sees 20 odd minutes of game time but played 44 minutes against Souths (0.91 SPM) following the withdrawal of Alex Glenn the day before. James Fisher-Harris also scored his first career workhorse try with 42 involvements against the Sharks. Fisher-Harris played 54 minutes, double the amount of minutes he’d played in an NRL game prior to that, for an SPM of 0.78.
The return of Daly Cherry-Evans meant that Api Koroisau moved back to his preferred position at hooker which enabled him to play a full game there for the first time in Manly colours. Koroisau had played just 78 minutes at dummy half for the season up until Monday, having split the minutes with Matt Parcell in the opening two games before returning at halfback in Round 5 to cover for the aforementioned DCE. Koroisau had 45 involvements in 80 minutes (0.56 SPM).
Another player returning in the Newcastle/Manly game was Daniel Levi and he tried to make the most of being the only hooker in the Knight’s line up. Levi had 56 involvements (0.70 SPM) which got him a workhorse try but in a performance that is sure to frustrate a few NRLCEOs, he ran for 74 metres; 1 metre short of the 75 required for a double workhorse try!
A late inclusion that will come as a welcome relief for NRLCEOs was that of Boyd Cordner. Playing in his first game of the season Cordner had 42 involvements in 79 minutes (0.53 SPM). The entire Roosters pack was forced to get through a lot of work against the Dragons with every member of the starting pack save for Sam Moa registering a workhorse try. Leading the way was Aidan Guerra with a double workhorse try (63 involvements) while Jake Friend had 61 but didn’t have the metres to go with it.
JUST QUICKLY:
I say this a one eyed Eels fan and as a NRLCEO with Corey Norman in his side; Norman and the Eels are kidding themselves if they don’t think Norman’s infringement on Saturday was a sin bin offence.
Geoff Adams
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