Workhorse Watch Round 10

Please sir, can we have some more? Oliver Pascoe announced himself to the NRLCEO world with a DWH in his debut start for the Titans. Not to be outdone, Reece Robson also saluted with his first DWH in a few years, in the same match. We are starting to see a fall in the overall number of WH’s being scored this season compared to last which could lead to a throwback to the old ways of drafting a quality pack before signing any outside backs. CEO’s need to start planning for the Origin period and the big bye rounds, have you got enough cover?

Big Burning Questions

• Is Oliver Pascoe the real deal or just a flash in the pan?
• Is the game now too fast, reducing the number of players that can score a WH
• Can Ativalu Lisati fill the big shoes of Eli Katoa?
• Is Angus Crichton worth holding, or do you look to trade up?
• Will Liam Henry be the Perth Bears alpha forward in 2027?
• The are so many Fainu’s but is Sione an upgrade from Samuela?

Workhorse Flow

The last 2 rounds has seen a significant gap in the number of WH’s, with 9 less WH’s being scored in both rounds 9 and 10 this season compared to last season. This is because of the pace of the game this season and the high scoring matches, leading to more overall fatigue and therefore less stats for players. Some fringe WH scoring players are now needing to play bigger minutes in order to score a WH. The players that are fit and can play big minutes are now the prime candidates for WH scoring. If this trend continues for the rest of the season then we might see a throwback to the days or drafting a quality pack before signing any outside backs.

WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK

Oliver Pascoe (Titans)

62 tackles, 10 runs for 93m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.90 spm)

Pascoe was quickly snapped up around the league and there was a quiet expectation that he could do well as a starter for the Titans. Expectation quickly became a reality as Pascoe scored a DWH in his first ever NRL start and CEO’s that got him are salivating. With Sam Verrills leaving at the end of the season it is almost a lock that we will see Pascoe starting each week, giving him great job security. Pascoe is a running Hooker which makes it easier for him to score a DWH and he did it easily on the weekend. If he is somehow still available in your league then sign him up!

WORKING HARD

Reece Robson (Roosters)

54 tackles, 7 runs for 83m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.76 spm)

Robson was not going to be upstaged by the young Titans rookie, scoring his own DWH in the same match. It his is first DWH since Round 5, 2023 which is a long time between drinks. After a slow start to the season Robson has found form in a Roosters side that is firing on all cylinders. It is his first ME of the season though so he would need to improve his running metres (averaging 57 per game) to be a chance at more DWH’s. I did call him out last week in the Hardly Working group so is obviously a follower of ours.

Ryan Couchman (Dragons)

42 tackles, 18 runs for 160m in 65 minutes – DWH (0.92 spm)

Another young gun making big waves in NRLCEO is Ryan Couchman, scoring his first ever DWH. Despite his young age, he is already a staple in the Dragons pack, as the club looks to build a team around their young forwards. Ryan looks slightly more mobile than his brother making him more suited to the pace of the modern game. It will not be long before we see Ryan as a regular in the starting side as well and he is someone who should be on your draft radar next season.

Patrick Carrigan (Broncos)

50 tackles, 13 runs for 106m in 80 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

It is almost a let down that Carrigan doesn’t score a DWH when he plays 80 minutes. He comfortably gets the involvements, its just his metres letting him down of late. With an average of 63 involvements a game this season, he just needs to run the ball a little more to score a DWH each week. As we come into Origin time, will Carrigan be able to back up for the Broncos, or will he need to be rested at some point?

Reed Mahoney (Cowboys)

56 tackles, 6 runs for 61m in 78 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

Mahoney continues the dominance by Hookers this round, falling 14m short of a DWH. His running metres are slowly climbing as he looks to have finally settled into the Cowboys lineup and their attacking style of play. He is averaging 31m a game this season, compared to 20m a game last season and seems to have gotten himself out of a little form slump (thanks to the Bulldogs!) With Soni Luke picking up an injury last week we can expect Mahoney to play the full 80 minutes for the next few weeks.

HARDLY WORKING

Harry Hayes (Bulldogs)

30 tackles, 6 runs for 46m in 44 minutes – (0.82 spm)

It has been a disappointing season so far for Hayes, scoring just 3 WH’s from 6 games as well as missing games due to injury and suspension. There was so much promise for him leading into this season even with the signing of Leo Thompson to bolster the Dogs pack. With all respect to Sam Hughes, Hayes is good enough to be starting and I would have him either at Prop or on an edge. When King returns, Hayes has the size and ball running ability to be effective playing in the back row. I would hold him for now and hope that his form improves soon.

Dylan Egan (Dragons)

29 tackles, 7 runs for 49m in 70 minutes – (0.51 spm)

Egan finally returned to the NRL on the weekend but it was not the quality that CEO’s had become used to. Despite the fact the Dragons were getting pumped by the Knights, Egan’s work rate was very poor by his standards. Perhaps it will take him a few weeks to get match fit as he only had one full game in NSW Cup before returning to the top grade. He is definitely a hold as we all know what he is capable of once he gets going.

Angus Crichton (Roosters)

26 tackles, 12 runs for 84m in 80 minutes – (0.48 spm)

Crichton has missed a WH in his last 3 matches and has become a concern for CEO’s. He is clearly carrying a knee injury after it was reported that he would miss a month of footy but then he was named and played in Round 10. I suspect that he will not be picked for Origin given the injury he is carrying and he could potentially see some reduced minutes as well as a reduction in his stats as other players pick up his slack. I would be looking to trade him out as there are too many factors that lead to him not being at his best, including the fact that he is off to Rugby at the end of the year.

Victor Radley (Roosters)

24 tackles, 12 runs for 92m in 42 minutes – (0.86 spm)

Radley still has a decent work rate but he is playing on limited minutes which makes it impossible to trust his WH scoring. He has scored 2 WH’s from his 5 matches so far and I do not see that ratio improving much as the season goes on. On top of that he is placed on report at least twice a game which makes him a huge risk to sin bins and/or suspensions. Despite the fact he is a dual position player, I would be looking elsewhere to fill the spots in your pack.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Liam Henry (Panthers)

39 tackles, 12 runs for 127m in 41 minutes – WH (1.24 spm)

Henry finally made his comeback from injury in Round 10 and he stunned with a hug 51 involvements in 41 minutes. With so many injuries in the Front Row, he is a huge asset to have in your CEO squad, scoring a WH in limited minutes off the bench. He is going to be a weapon for the Panthers in the back half of the season and he will be a player I think they will regret losing as he looks to build on his career at the Perth Bears. He would have to be a starting prop in their side next season and I would be jumping all over him in drafts next year. If he is somehow still available in your spud pool then go get him.

Sione Fainu (Tigers)

35 tackles, 13 runs for 118m in 72 minutes – WH (0.67 spm)

All eyes were on Sione to see if he could fill his brother’s role on an edge at the Tigers. He held his own, scoring a WH and a ME which is a perfect base for a back rower. He seems to have a higher work rate than Samuela so CEO’s can feel more comfortable about him being able to WH. As long as he hold his spot in the starting side he is a very handy pick up as Samuela will be out for a couple of months.

Cooper Clarke (Storm)

36 tackles, 11 runs for 96m in 47 minutes – WH (1.00 spm)

It is difficult to get a read on Clarke as he has had mixed results as a starter and playing from the bench. He has scored just 2 WH’s for the season but you can see the way he plays that he can become a regular WH scorer if he plays regular minutes. He had a point to prove against the Tigers as they were the club that let him go, so his stats will be inflated from the match on the weekend. There is clearly huge potential there but I don’t think we will see enough of it this season. That being said if you have a spot in your squad to stash a player as a ‘wait and see’ then he is a perfect candidate. For those in contract/keeper leagues he is also worth picking up long term if you can.

Sean Keppie (Rabbitohs)

30 tackles, 10 runs for 79m in 55 minutes – WH (0.73 spm)

The G.O.A.T has once again become CEO relevant, scoring a WH in 3 of his last 4 matches. He has earned the start over Tatola and has been impressive up front for the Bunnies. Its a real ride watching to see if he will get the WH cause he barely makes it when he does. He is already half way to reaching his 2025 total score so Keppie is on the way up!

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT……..

Ativalu Lisati (Storm)

36 tackles, 17 runs for 149m in 80 minutes – WH (0.66 spm)

It was an impressive return to the field for the player that shook the NRLCEO world in the opening round. He now stands as the premium edge player for the Storm after the loss of Eli Katoa and Lisati could be just as strong the way he is playing. Those CEO’s that held firm whilst he was injured will be reaping the benefits over the coming weeks as the Storm have also found form which will help Lisati’s potential attacking stats.

Cooper Bai (Titans)

24 tackles, 9 runs for 55m in 36 minutes – (0.92 spm)

Bai has a tremendous work rate so it is bizarre that he would get the start at lock for the Titans but then be limited to just 36 minutes of action. I think they need to persist with him as a starter because he has so much potential upside once he finds his feet in the NRL. He has the ability to be a gun WH scorer in CEO as well but you will need to play the long game with him. You could not be confident starting him in your CEO squad but I would be holding him for the moment to see how it plays out.

Loko Pasifiki-Tonga (Dragons)

22 tackles, 12 runs for 118m in 35 minutes – (0.97 spm)

I am liking what I am seeing from Loko, 34 involvemenst in 35 minutes off the bench in a team being dominated is quite the effort. I think the Dragons will be giving him a chance to start over the coming weeks and if his minutes can push up 45 minutes a game then he will be in WH scoring territory. He is a big body forward, something which the Dragons are lacking and he could form a nice combination with Toby Couchman over the coming years. It is a little early to jump on him just yet but keep an eye on his production over the next few weeks and if he gets a start it might be worth pulling the trigger.

Samuel McIntyre (Cowboys)

37 tackles, 8 runs for 68m in 82 minutes – WH (0.55 spm)

I have been a little bit disappointed in McIntyre after showing a lot of promise in the early stages of 2025. Does he really have a good motor or does he fall away after a few games? He has scored 4 WH’s this season but only one since Round 4 after missing a couple of games with injury. I don’t know that he is the right fit for the Cowboys on an edge, I think he is more effective in the middle. With Luki on one side, I would be putting Thomas Mikaele on the other side as he is a much more damaging ball runner. McIntyre seems like a good player to have in your squad as he is triple position but I just don’t see him lasting the season in the starting side.

WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK

• Corey Horsburgh – 61 (involvements)
• Oliver Pascoe – 72
• Joseph Tapine – 55
• Beau Fermor – 60
• Teig Wilton – 59
• Ryan Couchman – 60