Workhorse Watch Round 23

It has been a weird and whacky couple of rounds in the NRL, CEO’s just want the normal to return in time for the big games.

In Round 23 there were 63 players who scored a WH, with 1 player scoring a DWH. The wet weather and a couple of blow outs have seen the number of overall WH’s reduced across the league. Jaimin Jolliffe got it done though, scoring his first ever DWH!

• Hopgood finds his place in the new Eels order
• has Leo Thompson checked out of the Hunter early?
• Luciano must be looking for a new contract as he finds form at the Dragons
• Nikora loses his head as Burns is the hot choice this week

THE DWH TREND

2023 – 17

2024 – 32

2025 – 42 so far…

WORKING HARD

Jaimin Jolliffe (Titans)

45 tackles, 15 runs for 162m in 70 minutes – DWH (0.86 stats per minute)

Jolliffe produced his first ever DWH on the weekend, which is a surprise given his high work rate. In the absence of Tino, Jolliffe smashed out 70 minutes against the Bunnies in a narrow defeat. Unfortunately Jolliffe is surrounded by players with high work rates which means they share the workload when they are all playing. Nothing will change next season, as it currently stands, Tino, Mofo, RCG and Jolliffe are all contracted to the Titans. It really makes you wonder how they can win the spoon with that middle forward rotation.

Jayden Brailey (Knights)

67 tackles, 3 runs for 34m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.88 spm)

Brailey of the Jayden variety has been in solid WH form, scoring 6 WH’s in his last 7 games. This coincided with Phoenix Crossland moving to lock, allowing Brailey to start at hooker and play 80 minutes. It is hard to see him being CEO relevant in 2026, signing with the Raiders who already have Tom Starling and Owen Pattie. At 29 years of age he is still capable of starting in the NRL, which makes you wonder if Ricky Stuart is thinking of moving Starling into a ball playing lock?

Reuben Cotter (Cowboys)

54 tackles, 13 runs for 124m in 80 minutes – WH (0.84 spm)

Reuben Cotter doing his usual thing, although he doesn’t usually play the full 80 minutes. He was very close to an elusive DWH, having not score one since Round 8, 2023. Cotter has the ability to play anywhere in the forward pack but I see him continuing in the lock role for 2026, given Bateman and Nanai are both signed for next season.

J’maine Hopgood (Eels)

48 tackles, 16 runs for 135m in 65 minutes – WH (0.98 spm)

Well it is official, Hopgood is a prop! How it took coach Ryles so long to discover we will never know, as the evolution of rugby league seems to be heading towards smaller, more mobile middle forwards. Hopgood fits that mould perfectly and has a very high work rate as well. They are also lack depth in that position moving forward, so I expect Hopgood to remain at prop going into 2026. He has scored 4 consecutive WH’s since starting at prop and his average metres run has also increased.

HARDLY WORKING

Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs)

12 tackles, 1 runs for 14m in 16 minutes – (0.81 spm)

It is safe to say that Mahoney is cooked for 2025 as far as CEO scoring goes. Coach Ciraldo confirmed in his press conference that Bailey Hayward will start at hooker for the immediate future. I think Mahoney still has a role to play off the bench but he likely will not play enough minutes to score a WH.

Harry Hayes (Bulldogs)

25 tackles, 11 runs for 75m in 43 minutes – (0.84 spm)

Hayes missed a WH for the second game in a row, this time the wet weather slowed the game down after last week going off with a HIA. I don’t think you can trust his WH form as a starter in your pack for the rest of the season, there are just too many workers in the Dogs pack when they are at full strength. Moving forward though, he is a prime candidate for those CEO’s in contract/keeper leagues to lock him up for a few years, he will be a WH gun when he becomes a starter.

Junior Paulo (Eels)

24 tackles, 12 runs for 115m in 59 minutes – (0.61 spm)

The game is just too fast for the big guys and fatigue sets in after a while. Paulo has missed a WH in 2 of his last 3 matches, as some of the Eels younger brigade have begun playing bigger minutes. His 11 WH’s for 2025 is actually a massive effort and it is his 2nd best WH season to date (13 WH’s in 2020). It is also highlighted by the fact he failed to score a single WH in 2024.

Charlie Guymer (Eels)

23 tackles, 9 runs for 73m in 47 minutes – (0.68 spm)

Guymer was replaced after 47 minutes against the Cowboys and did not return. He didn’t seem to be injured so he must have been taken off to allow some of the Eels bench to play some minutes. The Eels went with four forwards on the bench and Kelma Tuilagi played the rest of the match on the edge after returning from a suspension. Tuilagi may be considered to start over Guymer moving forward as he seems to be a favourite of coach Ryles (god knows why).

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Liam Martin (Panthers)

30 tackles, 12 runs for 131m in 80 minutes – WH (0.87 spm)

Martin is historically a poor WH scorer, with just 7 WH’s for the season, but in the big games he loves getting amongst it. The Panthers have 3 tough games ahead, against the top 3 teams and Martin will be primed for a big few weeks. If you are short at back row, he could be a handy pick up to finish the season.

Luciano Leilua (Dragons)

22 tackles, 19 runs for 126m in 62 minutes – WH (0.66 spm)

Leilua has been in decent form the last few weeks, scoring a WH in his last 3 matches. He has also scored 2 ME’s in the same period, making him an attractive option to finish the season. He really needs to have a good lock at himself and decide which direction he wants his career to go. He has all the ability in be successful, he just doesn’t seem to want to apply himself 100%, almost as if he is just happy being a regular NRL player.

Aublix Tawha (Dolphins)

31 tackles, 9 runs for 73m in 48 minutes – WH (0.83 spm)

Ok so we are reaching a bit here but Tawha is getting better with each game. He has scored a WH in his last 2 matches, both starting at prop, although he only just got the 40 involvements against the Roosters, this was a low stats game given the high score and time out of play. He is probably only relevant for those CEO’s in supporters league where the spud pool is usually empty.

Hamish Stewart (Dragons)

38 tackles, 13 runs for 88m in 80 minutes – WH (0.64 spm)

Stewart returned to the starting pack on the weekend, this time on an edge. He scored a WH comfortably, his 8th WH for the year, in a solid debut NRL season. It would be safe to say that he will remain in that spot moving forward, at least until the return of Jayden Su’a.

WORTH MENTIONING….

Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)

45 tackles, 14 runs for 157m in 58 minutes – WH (1.02 spm)

Oh so close for AFB, missing out on his 2nd DWH of the season by a single involvement. Despite missing the DWH, it has been a successful season after making the move to the Sharks, scoring 17 WH’s for the season (his equal career best in a season). There were fears of him playing reduced minutes which had the potential to affect his WH scoring but he has been fairly consistent regardless.

Tallis Duncan (Rabbitohs)

31 tackles, 16 runs for 106m in 80 minutes – WH (0.59 spm)

Duncan made the late switch back into the pack and delivered a WH with ease. One of the most improved players in 2025, Duncan had spent the last few weeks at centre, given the Rabbitohs horror injury toll, but with Latrell back and playing centre, Duncan was able to play his preferred position. It would be a surprise to find him available but you never know these days, some CEO’s are quick to dump potential trash.

Billy Burns (Sharks)

14 tackles, 3 runs for 22m in 15 minutes – (1.13 spm)

With Briton Nikora suspended for the next 3 matches for the Sharks, Burns will step into the starting side as he has a few times this season. He is a guaranteed WH and can also find his way to the try line. Although the Sharks have the bye in round 25, he would still be a handy pick up at this point of the season.

Leo Thompson (Knights)

40 tackles, 4 runs for 25m in 40 minutes – WH (1.10 spm)

Thompson still managed to score a WH on the weekend, mostly because of all the defending the Knights were made to do, but crucially, he only played 40 minutes. 4 runs for 25m is pitiful for a starting prop on any day so it could be a case of Thompson checking out of the Hunter early, after making the decision to sign with the Bulldogs for 2026 and beyond. If he is in your starting squad this week, take caution as he may play less minutes or even be relegated to the bench for the rest of the season.

BACKS IMPERSONATING FORWARDS

Nicho Hynes (Sharks)

36 tackles, 10 runs for 96m in 80 minutes – WH (0.58 spm)

I have said it a few times, the Sharks simply cannot afford to have Hynes making 25 to 30 tackles a game. They need to find a way to hide him in the defensive line in order to preserve his energy when they have the ball. This is Hynes 3rd WH of the season after scoring 8 WH’s in 2024.

Jake Arthur (Knights)

34 tackles, 7 runs for 48m in 80 minutes – WH (0.51 spm)

Arthur celebrated his return to NRL with a WH against the Panthers, lets face it all they were doing was tackling. It is expected that Arthur will finish the season in the halves for Newcastle, which shows just how bad their halves roster is currently. All hail Dylan Brown!

Tyran Wishart (Storm)

31 tackles, 9 runs for 75m in 69 minutes – WH (0.50 spm)

Not shy of a WH, Wishart got his first for the season after spending some time in the middle when Jonah Pezet came on. Pezet looks short of match fitness and is perhaps not able to play the full 80 minutes at the moment, hence why they are going with Wishart to start until Jahrome Hughes returns.

WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK (most involvements by 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