Workhorse Watch Round 1

After weeks of agonising over team line-ups and injuries, the footy is here!! Once again we kicked off the season in style in Vegas, with the NRL still trying to sell the game to the world. CEO’s have spent the off season trying to predict who will start and who is on the outer whilst also hoping to land a future gun. Workhorse Watch is your weekly analysis of the players that are Workhorse guns and the players that have to the potential to be soon.

• Cook proves that an old recipe can still thrive in the modern game
• the Storm have to fit 3 into 2 as the race to replace Katoa heats up
• a few top line props get off to a slow start
• is Haumole trending towards WH oblivion?
• look out Big Red, the Raiders have unearthed a Big Mullet!

There were 71 WH’s in Round 1 with 2 players scoring a DWH.

WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK

Damien Cook (Dragons)

69 tackles, 9 runs for 84m in 90 minutes – DWH (0.87 stats per minute)

Cookie turned back the clock to score his first DWH as a Dragon. Although he had the benefit of golden point in Vegas, this was a great sign for CEO’s who think he still has something to offer in NRLCEO. His running game clearly was not up to scratch last season, with Jacob Liddle often out performing him when he was on the field. Important to note that Liddle did not suit up in Vegas and is due back over the next few weeks which may still impact Cook’s scoring.

WORKING HARD

Ativalu Lisati (Storm)

44 tackles, 18 runs for 153m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.78 spm)

Lisati has put his hand up to replace Eli Katoa this season, surprising everyone with his first ever DWH. He was a beast on one edge for the Storm as they ran riot over the hapless Eels. The big question is how does 3 fit into 2, with Shawn Blore expected to be back soon and Joe Chan also standing tall on the weekend. At 25 years old, Lisati is a late bloomer, starting his career in the Panthers system before joining the Storm in late 2024. You simply cannot ignore a DWH to start the season and I cannot see him being overlooked for the immediate future.

Max King (Bulldogs)

57 tackles, 13 runs for 111m in 54 minutes – WH (1.30 spm)

It was a huge effort from King in Round 1, with 70 involvements in just 54 minutes of play, an incredible 1.3 stats per minute. King is in his prime at the moment and along with Thompson (when he returns), they give the Bulldogs a solid middle to continue their charge towards a premiership. Whilst not being a DWH candidate due to his lack of metres (averaged 127 per game in 2025), he is certainly one of the more reliable front rowers in our game.

Nat Butcher (Roosters)

59 tackles, 9 runs for 64m in 80 minutes – WH (0.85 spm)

Butcher has found his way back into the Roosters starting pack and CEO’s will be hoping he can capture some of the form he showed 2022/23. He seemed to be a forgotten man in a lot of drafts this season, being picked up in the late rounds as CEO’s were not sure where he would play. The Roosters have a lot of young forwards that are developing well and Butcher is likely to be the first to make way when the time comes, although with Crichton leaving at the end of the year he could remain on an edge for next season as well. Butcher will almost always score a WH when he starts, its his lack of metres that are a concern as he is more of a defender than a ball runner.

Corey Horsburgh (Raiders)

Big Red was at his fiery best to start the new season, helping the Raiders to a narrow win. You know what your going to get with Horsburgh, a whole hearted effort with lots of niggle. He was 16 metres short of a DWH and is a candidate for a few of those this season, although he only managed one DWH in all of last season. I expect Horsburgh to move up to the front row at some stage this season which will see Papali’i come off the bench, potentially earning Horsburgh a dual position.

HARDLY WORKING

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Titans)

26 tackles, 12 runs for 87m in 49 minutes – (0.78 spm)

It was an underwhelming start to the season for Tino, failing to score a WH in just 49 minutes of action. Picture yourself as the club captain and on field leader, its your first game in a season filled with renewed hope and you come out with a display like that. Who is going to follow you with that effort? I know it’s only round 1 but I have always held concerns over Tino’s leadership qualities and I do not think he is the right person to lead that club. There has not been any reports of injury concerns for Tino so CEO’s will be hoping that round 1 is just a short term glitch.

Joseph Tapine (Raiders)

28 tackles, 8 runs for 67m in 55 minutes – (0.65 spm)

Tapine was another big man to fall short of a WH in round 1. Coincidentally he also missed a WH in round 1 last season so it may just take the big fella a few games to get his match fitness up, particularly as he did not play any of their trial matches.

Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles)

22 tackles, 12 runs for 114m in 77 minutes – (0.44 spm)

I have big concerns over Haumole’s future NRLCEO career as he fails to score a WH in his opening game, although he did cross for a try to somewhat cover that miss. He is trending down in terms of WH scoring;

• 2023 – 14
• 2024 – 7
• 2025 – 4
• 2026 – ?

You simply cannot afford to carry him as a starter whilst he is not regularly scoring a WH most weeks. He will supplement that with some attacking stats but that will not be good enough. A SPM of 0.44 is criminal for a player with his ability and Manly must find a way to get him more involved.

Lindsay Smith (Panthers)

16 tackles, 14 runs for 107m in 46 minutes – (0.65 spm)

Smith is another Front Rower who struggled in round 1, as the Panthers dominated a wasteful Broncos side. Smith played just 46 minutes in a game where the Panthers dominated possession. Smith proved last year that he belongs amongst the top props in the game, missing a WH in just 2 of his 23 matches.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Noah Martin (Raiders)

45 tackles, 8 runs for 80m in 82 minutes – WH (0.65 spm)

Noah Martin could end up being the pick up of the season if you were quick enough to grab him. The word is that he has earned his spot on merit, forcing Zac Hosking to the bench in a potential middle reliever role. With Matty Nicholson now facing time on the sideline with a shoulder injury, the spot is his if he can maintain some form.

Ryan Couchman (Dragons)

47 tackles, 10 runs for 94m in 56 minutes – WH (1.02 spm)

Ryan made his return from a full season layoff due to injury and he has not disappointed. A few brave CEO’s signed him early on, knowing the potential he has to be a WH gun. Coming off the bench he had a huge 57m involvements in just 56 minutes of play. I do not think there is a starting spot for him just yet but I can see him finding a home on an edge in the coming seasons, probably at Leilua’s expense.

Arama Hau (Titans)

35 tackles, 10 runs for 62m in 80 minutes – WH (0.56 spm)

On the back of some strong trial form. Hau won the open back row spot at the Titans. Josh Patston was originally thought to be the front runner but he missed out in round 1 due to injury. I am not sold on Hau’s first performance as they got belted by the Sharks and were never in the contest. It will likely be either Patston or Hau so whoever stands up first with some consistent effort will earn it.

Matthew Croker (Knights)

36 tackles, 8 runs for 64m in 56 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

Croker surprised last season, scoring 11 WH’s which is a career best for him. He got a late call to start but he certainly has what it takes to be a regular WH scorer if he gets enough minutes. If he can make the Lock position his own then he is great value as he will get you a WH each week.

WORTH MENTIONING….

Jake Simpkin (Sea Eagles)

58 tackles, 1 runs for 12m in 82 minutes – WH (0.72 spm)

Simpkin owners will be please with the his first hit out, easily scoring a WH with 59 involvements. We would like to see some attacking stats and a few more running metres but first things first. The other issue for Simpkin was seeing Joey Walsh in the 14 jersey and despite him not seeing any minutes in round 1, it is going to be a concern for Simpkin moving forward. The mail is that Walsh will come on tom play five eighth and Luke Brooks will spend time at dummy half. Hopefully Simpkin can get his tackles in before he gets subbed off. Watch this space!

Bailey Hayward (Bulldogs)

57 tackles, 1 runs for 8m in 90 minutes – WH (0.64 spm)

Hayward also passed his first test of the new season, smashing out 80 minutes as starting Hooker, in a match that went 90 minutes thanks to golden point. Hayward was there in the 90th minute to provide a perfect long pass to Stephen Crichton to kick the Dogs to victory. In time Hayward could develop into a quality number nine, as long as he gets a WH each week, his attacking stats will start to flow as their combinations develop.

Heilum Luki (Cowboys)

50 tackles, 7 runs for 66m in 80 minutes – WH (0.71 spm)

Luki made his long awaited return to the NRL after sitting out last season with injury. He was good for the Cowboys, scoring a WH and a try, rewarding CEO’s who remembered his ability when he first burst into the NRL. If he can remain injury free he can become a useful weapon for the Cowboys with his strong line running, which can lead to more than the odd try, maybe Gavin Cooper style?

Morgan Knowles (Dolphins)

48 tackles, 3 runs for 29m in 67 minutes – WH (0.76 spm)

I think we got exactly what we expected from Knowles, a high work rate but mostly a defender in the middle. He did come with some modest attacking stats from his last season in the Super League, scoring 8 tries and 7 line breaks. I think it will take time for him to get used to the speed of the NRL and hopefully he will start to develop some attacking play.

Trey Mooney (Knights)

37 tackles, 14 runs for 108m in 49 minutes – WH (1.04 spm)

Those CEO’s that spent draft capital acquiring Mooney will be fairly pleased with his first hit out. 51 involvements in just 49 minutes is a fantastic return and he also managed a sneaky meat pie as well. It has been a long time coming for Mooney, stuck behind a powerful Raiders pack and unable to develop his game further. Now he almost certainly becomes the leader of the pack at the Knights for years to come.

WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK

• Max King – 70
• Damien Cook – 78
• Nat Butcher – 68
• Ativalu Lisati – 62
• Dylan Lucas – 61
• Corey Horsburgh – 61