Stat Attack: Props having a field day as try scorers

The front-rowers in the NRL are doing more than just making the hard yards in the middle of the field in 2019, they're also scoring tries with increasing regularity.

Gone are the days where props would celebrate with gusto after scoring their lone try for the year.

NRL.com Stats can reveal a strong increase over the opening six rounds of the 2019 Telstra Premiership across nearly all clubs for tries scored by starting or specialist bench props.

After just eight tries were scored by props in the first six rounds of 2015, that total has risen to 23 in 2019 - an increase of almost 300 per cent.

Dual position players like Matt Eisenhuth, Tim Glasby and Ryan Sutton were not even included to highlight the significant jump in numbers for tries scored by middle men this season.

The figure of 23 easily made light work of the 18 total in 2018, while the 2016 and 2017 numbers were also fewer than the past two seasons after six rounds.

The gradual increase over the past four seasons can be put down to several factors including reduction of interchange leading to higher minutes on the paddock and the overall structures of sides in utilising their middle forwards.

Other tries can be put down to just pure luck.

Melbourne lead the way with five tries by props to start the year with two apiece for Jesse Bromwich and Tui Kamikamica, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona has also got over the line.

Injured Bulldogs prop Dylan Napa hadn't scored a try in two years but managed to find a pair across a fortnight of games in round's two and three before injury.

His replacement at the Bulldogs, Ofahiki Ogden, also got over the line in the side's 14-6 Easter Monday loss to the Rabbitohs.

Other round six try scorers included Andrew Fifita, Tim Grant, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Ben Matulino in a heavily beaten Wests Tigers side.

If averages are anything to go by, expect at least a further three to get over the line in round seven.

In particular, those who failed to score a try last year including seasoned internationals David Klemmer and Martin Taupau, will be hoping the trend continues.

Raiders prop Dunamis Lui is also high on the list and has to reminisce all the way back to round 17, 2014 for his last four-pointer.