Workhorse Watch Round 16

NRLCEO Workhorse Watch Round 16 – welcome Mr. May, Mr Grant and Mr Watson, oh and that Keaon bloke!

• the Roosters have found the formula to unlock Watson’s running game
• Collins looks set for the nudie run at the end of 2025!
• we call time on Mark Nicholls WH career!
• Stefano bucks the trend of players improving at the Storm
• Foketi is quietly finding a home in the Roosters pack

In Round 16 there were 72 players who scored a WH, with four players scoring a DWH. It is that time of year when the Trade window comes to a close, get your deals done before its too late!

WORKING HARD

Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs)

41 tackles, 25 runs for 204m in 80 minutes – DWH (0.83 stats per minute)

Not even a fractured eye socket can slow this man down, busting out for his 3rd DWH of the season, to go with his 2 TWH’s. Some CEO’s thought there would be some respite with Keaon possibly missing a few games but no, he smashes out another DWH and DME. As long as Souths are still in reach of a finals spot, Keaon will keep doing his thing.

Terrell May (Tigers)

40 tackles, 21 runs for 172m in 68 minutes – DWH (0.90 spm)

May has scored 22 WH’s this season with six DWH’s. To give that some perspective, 23 was the highest number of WH’s by a front rower in 2024 and only 5 players scored more than 22 WH’s in total last season. He is now averaging 64 involvements and 161m a match in 2025.

Harry Grant (Storm)

50 tackles, 10 runs for 79m in 84 minutes – DWH (0.71 spm)

The wizard of AAMI park scores his first DWH for this season and only his 2nd in the last two years. It has been a disappointing CEO season from Grant, missing a WH in three of his games as well as sitting out injured for a few weeks and you can add Origin to that as well. It really makes you question whether Grant is still the logical choice for number 1 draft pick?

Connor Watson (Roosters)

45 tackles, 15 runs for 150m in 80 minutes – WH (0.75 spm)

Watson scored his 2nd DWH of the season, running for a massive 150m to also add a DME. I think we got a look at how the Roosters will run for the rest of this season, Watson starting at hooker but then moving to a running 13 role once Beniah Ioelu comes on. This will ensure Watson runs for enough metres to score the DWH, he will just need the involvements.

HARDLY WORKING

Tyson Frizell (Knights)

26 tackles, 11 runs for 96m in 49 minutes – (0.76 spm)

Frizell turns 34 at the end of this season, as his NRL career nears its end. He has a mutual contract option for 2026, so expect a decision on his playing future soon. His CEO value has dropped significantly this season, scoring just 6 WH’s so far in 2025. He is playing on reduced minutes to avoid injury, I would be looking to replace him in your squad or have him as cover only.

Lindsay Collins (Roosters)

25 tackles, 13 runs for 93m in 41 minutes (0.93 spm)

Collins had a decent work rate but he once again failed to score a WH, leaving him stuck on a duck egg this season. It has to be one of the biggest falls for a player in NRLCEO, scoring 19 WH’s in 2023 to 0 WH’s in 2025. He has had his issued with injury and HIA and the Roosters are the best club at looking after players with HIA concerns, so its no surprise that Collins is playing less minutes than he has in previous years. Collins looks destined for a life in the spud pool.

Mark Nicholls (Dolphins)

21 tackles, 15 runs for 123m in 44 minutes (0.82 spm)

Nicholls WH career appears to be over, failing to score a WH since round 9, despite the Dolphins missing a number of key forwards. The big man loves a run close to the line in the search for a try but even that would seem beyond him now. I will never forget his 2 Try, WH and DME performance in round 24 of season 2021 for the Bunnies. I am calling it, time of death – Round 16 2025!

Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm)

28 tackles, 6 runs for 64m in 35 minutes (0.97 spm)

Usually when players make the move to the Storm they improve. Stefano has scored 8 CEO points this season, that is horrendous. Perhaps Bellamy is teaching him quality over quantity as he has only scored a single WH so far. If you drafted him and he is still in your squad you deserve every uppercut you get.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Oryn Keeley (Dolphins)

31 tackles, 12 runs for 97m in 62 minutes – WH (0.69 spm)

Keeley is being given a chance to impress with a host of players out injured in the Dolphins pack. He scored his 2nd WH of the season, although his first was back in round 2. He did go off for a HIA on the weekend yet he still managed a WH in 62 minutes. He is competing for minutes with Lemuelu, who is coming off the bench for now. I believe Keeley has the potential to become a regular WH scorer, but it might be a few years before he can grab a permanent starting role.

Jacob Laban (Warriors)

34 tackles, 11 runs for 86m in 71 minutes – WH (0.63 spm)

The Warriors have their back row set for the next decade in Laban and Halasima. They are both hard running edge players who will feast on opposing halves. Laban scored his second career WH and his first for 2025, filling in for Kurt ‘Origin’ Capewell. Laban would be a great pick up for those CEO’s in contract/keeper leagues.

Salesi Foketi (Roosters)

39 tackles, 11 runs for 82m in 80 minutes – WH (0.63 spm)

Foketi scored his first career WH on the weekend, filling in for the injured Siua Wong on an edge. I have liked what I have seen from Foketi since his debut in round 1, however he has not impressed with his work rate. If he is the player named to replace Wong after the Roosters bye, then he will could be good for a few WH’s in that period. He also has the benefit of being a triple position player, covering all but Hooker in the pack.

Liam Henry (Panthers)

38 tackles, 16 runs for 141m in 53 minutes – WH (1.02 spm)

Henry looks to be reaching peak form as the Panthers embark on an end of season run. This guy is a machine and will be a WH gun in future years when he is a starter. He scored his 4th consecutive WH, and 6th of the season against the Warriors. If he is available in your spud pool, do not sleep on him as he is dual position as well.

WORTH MENTIONING…

Isaiah Papali’i (Panthers)

24 tackles, 15 runs for 114m in 40 minutes – (0.98 spm)

Oh the despair as Papali’i falls a single involvement short of a WH after last week missing out by 2 involvements. With Sorensen facing a 2 match suspension, surely Cleary starts him over Garner. His performance has been decent when he gets on, just needs to play bigger minutes.

Samuela Fainu (Tigers)

38 tackles, 11 runs for 94m in 80 minutes – WH (0.61 spm)

Fainu scored his first WH since round 7, in a performance that will have CEOs keeping one eye on him. His runs and metres were up on his previous few weeks, in a sign that he may have overcome his knee complaint that his bothered him this season. If he find his form from last season then he could be a very handy pick up going into the CEO finals.

Tevita Tatola (Rabbitohs)

24 tackles, 19 runs for 178m in 44 minutes – (0.98 spm)

Tatola has scored 2 WH’s in his last 3 matches, hopefully being spurred on by Keaon in the middle. He scored his first ME of the season and could be on the cusp of starting up front again in the near future. I would not be surprised to see Aitken make a permanent move to the centres for the rest of this season, Arrow back to an edge and Tatola at prop.

Corey Jensen (Broncos)

24 tackles, 9 runs for 72m in 42 minutes – (0.79 spm)

I think it is time to put a line through Jensen for 2025. I know quite a few CEOs have been holding on, hoping that Madge would move Carrigan back to lock. Well that has now happened but Jensen is still short of playing enough time to score a WH.

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.

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

21 tackles, 22 runs for 189m in 80 minutes – WH (0.54 spm)

Herbie is a beast at centre but this is his first WH since round 12, 2023. You want Herbie filling his runs column, not so much his tackles. He was on a try scoring tear which ended against the Knights when he failed to cross the line for the first time since round 6.

Jamie Humphreys (Rabbitohs)

32 tackles, 8 runs for 63m in 84 minutes – WH (0.48 spm)

Humphreys had to work hard in defence against the Storm, who ran plenty of forwards at him. He scored his 2nd WH of the season, which is no surprise given he could easily play hooker if needed.

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