Workhorse Watch Round 15

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 15 – Addin Fonua-Blake joins the DWH gang with a statement performance against a timid Dragons side.

• Wong making the right moves at the Roosters!
• the Cowboys have a flat McIntyre
• Molo is now the man at the Dolphins
• Kulikefu is on his way to becoming a CEO gun

In Round 15 there were 49 players who scored a WH, with two players scoring a DWH. Bye round #2 is in the wind as CEO’s start finalising their squad for a finals run!

WORKING HARD

Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)

47 tackles, 16 runs for 162m in 67 minutes – DWH (0.94 stats per minute)

AFB is not in the top tier of middle forwards this season but he produced his best performance of 2025 to remind everyone of what he is capable of. His form was patchy from rounds 7 – 10 as the Sharks reduced his minutes in an effort to improve his impact on a game. Injuries to outside backs forced AFB to play longer minutes in this match to I don’t expect to see another DWH from him this season.

Blayke Brailey (Sharks)

52 tackles, 10 runs for 121m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.78 spm)

Brailey made it a Sharks double, scoring his first ever DWH (they are really letting anyone into this club now). The one thing that Brailey needs to focus on is his running game, averaging 43m a game in 2025. He has consistently been around the 45m mark for the last few seasons and perhaps this is an area he could look to improve further, which would in turn help the Sharks attack.

Siua Wong (Roosters)

61 tackles, 12 runs for 110m in 80 minutes – WH (0.91 spm)

Wong continues his breakout CEO season, scoring his 12th WH for the season. At dual position front row/back row, he has nailed down an edge spot at the Roosters and has been fairly consistent this season. The Roosters could look to get him involved more in attack, averaging just 84 metres a game which is well below the top tier edge forwards. Wong scored his first try for the season in a solid effort play chasing a kick.

Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

48 tackles, 21 runs for 137m in 69 minutes – WH (1.00 spm)

Keaon was well on his way to another DWH on the weekend but he fell short of the 150m needed thanks mostly to a fast moving Bulldogs defensive line. He also then suffered a fractured eye socket in a collision with Viliame Kikau which has ruled him out for the next 4-6 weeks which means those CEOs will need to think about their choice of captain once again.

HARDLY WORKING

Samuel McIntyre (Cowboys)

31 tackles, 8 runs for 51m in 73 minutes – (0.53 spm)

Its fair to say McIntyre prefers to play in the middle as he slumped to his third consecutive match without a WH. Prior to that he scored 6 WH’s in a row to be one of the real value options for 2025. He has scored 8 WH in total this season which is a career high and CEO’s will be hoping he is named at Prop again quick smart.

Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins)

34 tackles, 5 runs for 31m in 61 minutes (0.64 spm)

JMK missed a WH for the 2nd game in a row after returning from injury. I don’t think there is much to worry about as the Dolphins ran riot, taking time out of the game with all their tries. His work rate was still decent enough to score a WH but he only played 61 minutes in a sign that he may not have fully recovered just yet.

Kurt Donoghoe (Dolphins)

28 tackles, 9 runs for 66m in 59 minutes (0.63 spm)

With no Gilbert or Plath for the rest of the season it appears Donoghoe is set to wear the 13 jersey for the time being. He is a crafty player, similar to that of Plath, with a high work rate and the ability to ball play. I suspect his numbers were down purely to the domination of the Dolphins in attack and hopefully he can adjust to playing bigger minutes now as a permanent starter.

Sam Verrills (Titans)

32 tackles, 2 runs for 22m in 75 minutes (0.45 spm)

Verrills had a poor work rate on the weekend but we will put that down to coming back from injury. The concern is that he played 75 minutes which is more than enough for him to score a WH. Verrills needs to run the ball more often, especially off the back of the big Titans pack getting quick play the balls.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Lachlan Hubner (Rabbitohs)

35 tackles, 5 runs for 39m in 39 minutes – WH (1.03 spm)

With Keaon missing for at least the next month, I expect Hubner’s minutes to increase which will likely mean a guaranteed WH. He bounced back with a WH in each of his last 2 games after missing out in the previous 2 matches.

Francis Molo (Dolphins)

25 tackles, 18 runs for 163m in 49 minutes – WH (0.88 spm)

Molo was outstanding against the Cowboys, scoring a WH and a ME for the first time this season. With the news that Daniel Saifiti is out for the rest of the year, on the back of Flegler, Gilbert and Plath, there are extra minutes available and Molo could be the beneficiary. Could be a sneaky good pick up.

Mathew Croker (Knights)

36 tackles, 10 runs for 76m in 52 minutes – WH (0.88 spm)

Croker scored his 4th consecutive WH on the weekend, becoming a real Mr Fixit in the Knights pack. I think he will be the starting lock once Thompson returns so it is likely that his WH scoring continues. He is currently still available in a few spud pools.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Naufahu Whyte (Roosters)

34 tackles, 18 runs for 162m in 55 minutes – WH (0.94 spm)

Whyte has been enormous this season, earning a starting role ahead of Collins and Leniu. He scored his 9th WH of the season on the weekend, returning from injury after 4 weeks out and he didn’t miss a beat. He has only missed a WH twice this season and one of those was a HIA. He is a player of the future and those CEO’s in contract/keeper leagues should have him as a target long term.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)

31 tackles, 11 runs for 99m in 80 minutes – WH (0.53 spm)

Kulikefu is becoming a real weapon on an edge at the Dolphins. After a shaky start to 2025, he has now scored a WH in 9 consecutive matches since round 6. The Cowboys will be ruing letting him go given they only really have Nanai as a quality back rower. If he can increase his running metres and score a few more ME’s he will develop into a quality back rower.

Mark Nicholls (Dolphins)

19 tackles, 11 runs for 125m in 38 minutes – (0.79 spm)

Nicholls could be a handy pick up for the next 2 weeks with Felise Kaufusi out suspended. You would expect him to start at prop and be able to score a WH in both weeks. His work rate is still decent, he has just been reduced to an impact player rather than play big minutes.

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.

Hugo Savala (Roosters)

42 tackles, 5 runs for 44m in 80 minutes – WH (0.59 spm)

Savala has been impressive since coming into the top grade, more so for his kicking game but this week he was a tackling machine. His 42 tackles was the most ever for a halfback in the NRL era.

Jackson Hastings (Knights)

28 tackles, 12 runs for 89m in 80 minutes – WH (0.50 spm)

Hastings had CEO’s reminiscing of season 2022 when he was playing at lock. Decent effort for his first NRL match of 2025.

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

POSITION	PLAYER	TEAM	INVOLVEMENTS	PACK OF THE WEEK
Front Row	Jaimin Jolliffe	Titans	60	1
Hooker	Jayden Brailey	Knights	70	1
Front Row	J'maine Hopgood	Eels	64	2
Back Row	Jai Arrow	Rabbitohs	59	3
Back Row	John Bateman	Cowboys	56	2
Lock	Reuben Cotter	Cowboys	67	1