Workhorse Watch Round 21

We have arrived at the business end of the NRLCEO season. Time to trim the fat and find a diamond in the rough, but where did the DWH’s go?

In Round 21 there were 73 players who scored a WH, with no players scoring a DWH. Ryan Gray is the little bunny who could, racking up an impressive 70 tackles against the Sharks.

• Prestomania is alive as the Dogs pile on the points!
• Are some Raiders forwards at risk of being spelled before the big games?
• the Broncos are still on the Hunt for some spark out of dummy half.
• the Dragons need Luciano to put the pies away and play some footy!

THE DWH TREND

2023 – 17

2024 – 32

2025 – 39 so far…

WORKING HARD

Ryan Gray (Rabbitohs)

70 tackles, 4 runs for 32m in 69 minutes – WH (1.07 stats per minute)

Ryan Gray is not the name you would expect to see at the top of the workhorse watch but here he is, the NRL’s latest tackling machine. I am not sure how much value he holds given that the Bunnies have Mamouzelos returning from HIA and they also have Bronson Garlick arriving in 2026 from the Storm.

Jackson Ford (Warriors)

56 tackles, 13 runs for 114m in 74 minutes – WH (0.93 spm)

Ford has been immense for the Warriors, filling a gaping hole left by the season ending injury to Mitch Barnett. Ford is signed until the end of 2027 and he will continue to play from the bench when the Warriors are at full strength. He certainly has the ability to score a WH when coming off the bench so I would pencil him in as a very handy late round draft pick next season.

Jacob Preston (Bulldogs)

48 tackles, 15 runs for 110m in 80 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

Preston was very busy in both attack and defence against the Sea Eagles. I still think he is under rated in NRLCEO, he is a guaranteed WH when he starts and can find his way to the try line. He has scored a WH in every game he has played this season to go with his 7 tries. The thing he is lacking in is his running metres, having scored just the one ME in 2025. I can see him developing a great combination with Lachlan Galvin on the Dogs right hand side and if it wasn’t for him missing 4 games in the middle of the year, he would be sitting just behind the top ranked back rowers in NRLCEO.

Terrell May (Tigers)

48 tackles, 15 runs for 131m in 71 minutes – WH (0.89 spm)

May did his usual thing except for hitting his running metres, meaning he fell short of his regular DWH. He looks certain to be crowned NRLCEO MVP at the end of the regular season, with injury looking like the only thing that could potentially stop him. It will be fascinating to see where he is drafted next season, will anyone have the nerve to draft him with the first pick of the draft?

HARDLY WORKING

Joseph Tapine (Raiders)

25 tackles, 13 runs for 139m in 49 minutes – (0.78 spm)

It is very clear now that Tapine is either dealing with an injury or coach Ricky Stuart is saving his legs for the big games to come. He has now missed a WH in his last 3 matches and with the Raiders continuing to blow teams off the park, it would seem Tapine will continue to play less minutes whilst they allow the younger forwards to continue their development. Trades are likely closed this late in the season so it would be a brave CEO to dump him on the eve of the finals so you will likely have to ride it out.

Siua Wong (Roosters)

28 tackles, 9 runs for 64m in 53 minutes – (0.70 spm)

Wong made his return from injury on the weekend, named on the bench with Foketi preferred to start. I suspect this was just to ease Wong back into the team and I expect him to be named as a starter again this week. Wong has been a revelation this season, scoring 12 WH’s in his 15 matches played. With Robson arriving next season and Watson likely to play lock, it would leave Wong and Radley to fight for that last edge spot. They also have Salesi Foketi and Blake Steep coming through who are both very capable, so Wong’s 2026 prospects are risky at best.

Tom Starling (Raiders)

29 tackles, 7 runs for 74m in 66 minutes – (0.54 spm)

Starling is another Raider who’s WH form could be hindered by the team’s hot form and the need to give Owen Pattie some more playing time. Whilst the Raiders are putting on big scores, it takes time out of the game and lowers players involvements. Ricky Stuart may also use the next few weeks to give Owen Pattie some more playing time, thus limiting Starling’s ability to score a WH. Starling has been one of the form hooker’s in CEO this season, scoring 15 WH’s which is easily a career best. He has also improved his attacking stats, scoring 4 Tries and 6 TA’s which has elevated him to the one of the top Hooker’s in NRLCEO.

Ben Hunt (Broncos)

34 tackles, 1 runs for 10m in 55 minutes – (0.64 spm)

A lot of CEO’s were expecting Hunt to come out of his shell once he got the start at Hooker but all we are getting is donuts. Hunt has looked lifeless since his move to dummy half, a shadow of what he has produced while playing for QLD in that same role. The Broncos need him to take control of the ruck and allow Reynolds and Walsh to dominate off the back of that. He has now earned the Hooker position and CEO’s will be hoping that he can start to lift.

SPUD POOL LOOKOUT

Luciano Leilua (Dragons)

25 tackles, 17 runs for 138m in 80 minutes – WH (0.53 spm)

Leilua scored just his 2nd WH and ME for the season against the Cowboys as his NRLCEO career looks to be fading away. With the news that Jayden Su’a could be out for a few weeks, its a case of last man standing for Leilua and he could be the man the Dragons look to for some punch on the edge in the coming weeks. I am going to say ‘buyer beware’ as picking him up is full of risk so only if you are desperate and love to gamble.

Lindsay Collins (Roosters)

29 tackles, 12 runs for 112m in 60 minutes – WH (0.68 spm)

Collins has scored a WH in consecutive matches to show some signs of life. His minutes are slightly up and if that continues it could prove crucial to him getting a WH each week. He has WH form from previous seasons so we know he can do it and with the loss of Victor Radley, Collins is an experienced head (most of the time) that the Roosters need on the field.

Klese Haas (Titans)

31 tackles, 9 runs for 78m in 46 minutes – WH (0.87 spm)

Klese has a very good work rate, he just doesn’t get to play a full match very often. He has scored 5 WH’s this season, which is quite handy but nowhere good enough to be in your squad. That being said, with Tino out for the time being there is an opportunity for Klese to step in and fill that hole.

Demitric Vaimauga (Warriors)

38 tackles, 9 runs for 82m in 36 minutes – WH (1.31 spm)

Vaimauga scored his first ever WH on the weekend and did it a very impressive 1.31spm. The Warriors have a number of good young forwards coming through at the moment and whilst Vaimauga doesn’t possess the same skill set as a Halasima, he is a big enough body to cause some damage when he runs. Add him to your scouting list for the future.

WORTH MENTIONING….

Griffin Neame (Cowboys)

47 tackles, 13 runs for 115m in 61 minutes – WH (0.98 spm)

Neame has been huge for the Cowboys in the last month, finally showing his NRLCEO potential. He has scored 5 WH’s in his last 6 matches and his 6 WH’s for the season is his equal career best. Neame is 24 years of age now so his best years for a front rower are just ahead of him. I think he would be a great option to sign long term either next year or the following season, for those in contract/keeper leagues.

Harry Grant (Storm)

43 tackles, 15 runs for 106m in 80 minutes – WH (0.73 spm)

Grant has finally come to life in 2025, falling just short of a DWH by 2 involvements. The good thing for CEO’s was that he scored a Try, 2 x TA’s, 1 x LB, 2 x LBA’s and a ME in a man of the match performance. With Jahrome Hughes going down for a few weeks, the Storm will need Grant to lift which is great news for CEO’s coming into finals.

Josh Papali’i (Raiders)

30 tackles, 13 runs for 138m in 52 minutes – WH (0.83 spm)

Perhaps Ricky Stuart has challenged big Papa to prove that he has enough gas in the tank to earn another season in the Capital. It is no coincidence that Papali’i is currently in talks to extend, just as his form (and minutes) have lifted. The good news for CEO’s is that he is once again CEO relevant, scoring 3 WH’s in his last 4 matches and it comes at a time when Joe Tapine has missed a WH in his last 3 matches.

Stefano Utoikamanu (Storm)

27 tackles, 14 runs for 130m in 52 minutes – WH (0.79 spm)

Stefano scored his 2nd WH in his last 3 matches, once again showing signs that he can become a regular WH scorer. With Asofa-Solomona out for the next couple of weeks, it could be a good time to add him to your squad as bye cover. He is 25 years of age now and will be coming into his prime in the next few seasons and he could be a handy mid to late round draft pick in case he finally develops into a WH gun.

BACKS IMPERSONATING FORWARDS

Te Maire Martin (Warriors)

44 tackles, 5 runs for 44m in 67 minutes – WH (0.58 spm)

It was a career first WH for TMM, filling in for Wayde Egan who failed a HIA. He did play hooker but he is usually a half so we will give him the credit he deserves for making his tackles.

Lachlan Galvin (Bulldogs)

28 tackles, 19 runs for 116m in 80 minutes – WH (0.59 spm)

Galvin scored his 2nd consecutive WH and 3rd for the season on the weekend. 28 runs is enormous for a halfback but he also made enough tackles to score the WH.

Thomas Dearden (Cowboys)

34 tackles, 9 runs for 143m in 80 minutes – WH (0.54 spm)

Dearden scored his 2nd WH of the season in a dominating display against the Dragons. He scored 2 x Tries, 3 x LB’s, 2 x TA’s, 2 x LBA’s, a WH and a ME for a personal score of 21 pts (not including the WH). Dearden will be one of the best scoring halves in our game over the coming seasons.

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