Workhorse Watch Round 14

The Broncos don’t have to look far to replace Payne Haas next season as Xavier Willison is is getting through a mountain of work! The Workhorse pack of the week is full of the new brigade of WH guns, other than Terrell May who just always seems to be there. The Dragons could have a scary good forward pack on the next few years if they can keep them all together, as well as adding Koloamatangi and Watson next season. If Liam Henry is not on your 2027 radar than you are not playing to win!

Big Burning Questions

• What is Xavier Willison’s best position in 2026?
• What does Ricky Stuart have against Smithies?
• Does Jason Ryles have enough faith in Tallyn Da Sylva?
• Piakura delivers a career best performance, can he maintain the rage?
• Wong is doing everything right at the Roosters, but has anyone noticed?
• Henry will lead the Bears pack in 2027, have you got him locked up long term?

Workhorse Flow

In Round 14 there were 74 players that scored a WH, with only 1 player scoring a DWH. This is almost identical to last season other than 2 players scored a DWH in that corresponding round.

WORKHORSE OF THE WEEK

Xavier Willison (Broncos)

45 tackles, 21 runs for 207m in 63 minutes – DWH (1.05 spm)

Willison scored his 2nd DWH of the season, in consecutive weeks, which is impressive considering the Broncos had both Haas and Carrigan playing. Willison has been enormous for CEO’s this season, scoring 12 WH’s from his 13 matches as well as 7 ME’s and 4 tries. In terms of 2027, where do we see Willison’s best position? With Barnett signing on he will likely start as one prop and I think Willison will start as the other prop leaving Corey Jensen to come off the bench. They have Riki and Piakura locked into their edges and Carrigan plays as a middle anyway wearing the 13 jumper. However, I think they would be better balanced to play Willison as an edge giving them two big weapons in Riki and Willison out wide, running at opposition halves.

WORKING HARD

Terrell May (Tigers)

53 tackles, 15 runs for 124m in 70 minutes – WH (0.97 spm)

Lots of tackling for May and the Tigers against a rampaging Panthers outfit on the weekend. The Tigers rarely had the ball and when they did they found an error giving them no chance to get into that contest. The debate about whether May should be selected for NSW Origin continues in the background but he simply does not have any real impact on a match. He is a hard worker and a good defender but he doesnt run the ball with enough force to bend the defensive line back. #1 Draft Pick Watch – Boom (36%) – Bust (64%)!

Ryan Couchman (Dragons)

48 tackles, 14 runs for 117m in 62 minutes – WH (1.00 spm)

The slightly younger Couchman is giving his brother a run for ‘Best Couchman’ as he continues to churn through the work. No ME this week for Ryan as the Dragons faded badly in the second half against the Sharks. With an influx of talent heading the Dragons way in 2027, will it have an impact on the Couchman brothers stats? It will be interesting to see how they line up next season with Koloamatangi and Watson arriving but I think Ryan remains a starter given his performances this season.

Hamish Stewart (Dragons)

49 tackles, 10 runs for 66m in 80 minutes – WH (0.74 spm)

Another of the young Dragons forwards with a big career ahead of him, Stewart continues to impress with his high work rate. He has scored a WH in every match this season at an average of 54 involvements and his attacking stats are starting to improve as well. The fact that Stewart is playing on edge may suggest has a long term future there rather than at lock.

Siua Wong (Roosters)

48 tackles, 11 runs for 96m in 80 minutes – WH (0.74 spm)

Wong has quietly gone about his business this season and was kind of forgotten about in drafts at the start of the year. He has scored 11 WH’s and 8 ME’s so far this year and is a very under rated player. He is only slightly behind the top back rowers in NRLCEO and he certainly is not valued that way. He could be a sneaky good mid round pick up for future seasons.

HARDLY WORKING

Morgan Smithies (Raiders)

34 tackles, 5 runs for 42m in 51 minutes – (0.76 spm)

Its frustrating to own Smithies in NRLCEO, some weeks he has a WH near half time and other weeks he doesn’t come on until near half time. I cannot fathom how Jayden Brailey is a better option to start at 13 than Smithies, especially if you are looking to get on top in the forwards early. We all know he is a plodder so perhaps thats why he is not starting consistently. I think while Papali’i is out they should start Smithies at prop and move big red back to lock.

Connelly Lemuelu (Dolphins)

27 tackles, 12 runs for 154m in 80 minutes – (0.49 spm)

Concern for Lemuelu owners as he misses a WH for the third time in4 matches. On the plus side he has run for his most metres all season in consecutive matches, as he features in a Dolphins attack that is very well balanced. The Dolphins clearly favour Finefeuiaki’s side of the field in attack but perhaps recent weeks has shown they are evolving their game in the lead up to playing finals for the first time.

Jacob Saifiti (Knights)

31 tackles, 8 runs for 60m in 52 minutes – (0.75 spm)

It has been disappointing form for Saifiti given that he sat on the bench for NSW in game one. Most players would elevate their game after being selected in a rep team but Saifiti has struggled the last few weeks, failing to score a WH in his last 3 matches. His running metres are also well down on what they were to start the season, having only cracked 100m once since round 6. I would be looking to offload or replace him at this point as he could be a liability coming into CEO finals.

Tallyn Da Sylva (Eels)

34 tackles, 5 runs for 45m in 62 minutes – (0.63 spm)

Da Sylva owners were saved as he crossed for a try in the second half against the Bulldogs. He has been benched for the Eels last 2 starts and it has impacted his ability to score a WH. Why do NRL coaches toy with us like this, when Ryley Smith got injured we picked up Da Sylva knowing he can be an 80 minute hooker, but no Ryles want to protect him from the opening exchanges. Da Sylva has the potential to be a quality running hooker, let him go out and prove it!

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Harrison Graham (Knights)

47 tackles, 4 runs for 28m in 56 minutes – WH (0.91 spm)

I think Graham as huge potential in the NRL, he just needs to get some consistent minutes as a starter. With an injury to Phoenix Crossland on the weekend, we could finally see Graham given his chance. He has a tremendous work rate and he can run the ball which is essential for a hooker in NRLCEO. He has also just resigned with the Knights for 2027 which is a good sign for his continued development.

Mavrik Geyer (Tigers)

41 tackles, 7 runs for 41m in 80 minutes – WH (0.60 spm)

Geyer made his first start for the Tigers on the weekend and what a game to do it in, on the end of a 68 nil thrashing. It seems Benji Marshall is searching for an answer on an edge to partner KPP whilst Samuela fainu is out injured. Sione Fainu was tried and pulled as Benji didnt like what he saw. Geyer was solid enough you cant be judged fairly when the other team has all the running. If Geyer remains as the starter that he will score a WH so he could be handy for bye cover.

Jake Trbojevic (Sea Eagles)

33 tackles, 10 runs for 69m in 69 minutes – WH (0.62 spm)

Is Jurbo back? The stats would suggest he is back in the CEO groove, scoring his 7th WH of the season and 3rd consecutive. He is also starting to run the ball more although if he scores a ME this season it would be a big surpruise. He is sitting in a few spud pools at the moment so if you trust his new state of the art headgear then sign him up!

Spencer Leniu (Roosters)

31 tackles, 9 runs for 91m in 44 minutes – WH (0.91 spm)

Leniu scored his first WH since Round 3 last season which just happens to be the only other WH of his career. He has stated recently that he wants to play more minutes so he is worth monitoring for a few weeks to see how that translates into NRLCEO. He is still contracted to the Roosters next season but something tells me he is playing for a new deal, perhaps elsewhere, meaning he could be after an early release if he can find another club.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…….

Liam Henry (Panthers)

36 tackles, 18 runs for 164m in 54 minutes – WH (1.00 spm)

Henry is looking very strong for the Panthers and also for CEO’s that waited patiently for his return. He has scored a WH in all 4 of his matches this season, after starting the year late due to injury. He is averaging 51 involvements and 120m which is almost a guaranteed 7 points, not bad for a player that comes off the bench. In terms of 2027, you have to find a way to get this guy without it costing you too much draft capital. For those in contract/keeper leagues, just get him locked up long term as he will be a gun for the Bears next season and beyond.

Brendan Piakura (Broncos)

34 tackles, 19 runs for 152m in 80 minutes – WH (0.66 spm)

After a few years of promising potential and not delivering, we finally saw what Piakura is really capable of. His 15 point haul was the single greatest of his NRLCEO career to date and Broncos fans will be hoping that he can continue to bring that form each week. After scoring just 3 WH’s in all of season 2025, he has now scored back to back WH’s in a sign that the penny has finally dropped. Are you game enough to get on board the Piakura train?

Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins)

31 tackles, 7 runs for 64m in 68 minutes – (0.56 spm)

Despite missing a WH on the weekend, JMK played 68 minutes and ran for 64m in a promising sign for the rest of the season. I expect he will start from now on and should play 80 minutes soon enough. He is a very under rated CEO performer in a team that will be launching a finals run to push for a top 4 spot.

Arama Hau (Titans)

31 tackles, 5 runs for 41m in 74 minutes – (0.49 spm)

Hau did little to keep his spot in the starting side for mine, after being preferred over Chris Randall. He started this season on fire for CEO’s but has failed to replicate that form, scoring 1 WH since round 5 after scoring a WH in all of his first 5 matches. I think we are close to seeing either Josh Patston or Adam Christensen given an extended shot at an edge spot as the Titans struggle to find a replacement for David Fifita.

WORKHORSE PACK OF THE WEEK

• Terrell May – (68 involvements)
• Oliver Pascoe – 56
• Xavier Willison – 66
• Siua Wong – 59
• Hamish Stewart – 59
• Ryan Couchman – 62