Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton's tireless running in Saturday night's 72-6 drubbing of the Wests Tigers saw him top the VB Hard Earned Index for round 24, with both the effectiveness and sheer volume of his work standing out.
Crichton was part of a three-way tie for the most carries registered last week, with Titans fullback Jayden Campbell and Sharks wing Ronaldo Mulitalo joining him with 20.
But it was what came from them that separated Crichton, with 14 of his carries at the Sydney Cricket Ground resulting in yardage gains of more than eight metres, a metric which he was again the equal leader in for round 23.
Crichton gets a quick-fire double
All up the back-rower made 203 metres, adding six decoy runs and two support runs to his tally for an Index score of 103, well clear of David Klemmer and Isaah Yeo, who finished tied for second on 89 points.
Yeo got through 40 tackles and had 14 line engagements as his side edged past the Rabbitohs 26-22, while Klemmer produced 18 runs and 29 tackles in a losing Newcastle side.
Cronulla’s rugby sevens convert Lachlan Miller was the best of the backs, finishing sixth overall for the round with a score of 80, helped along by a round-high 11 tackle busts in the Sharks’ 40-6 win over the Sea Eagles.
In his return from a rib injury Joseph Tapine made up ground on overall leader Isaiah Papali'i, with an 81-point showing as he played a key role in the Raiders' comeback victory over the Knights.
Papali'i's 69 points placed him well down in 17th for the week, but he remains clear at the top of the 2022 leaderboard for the time being.
Crichton was joined in the Index Team of the Week by his Tricolours teammates Daniel Tupou and Joseph Manu.
VB Hard Earned Index: Round 23
- Angus Crichton (Roosters) — 103 points
- Isaah Yeo (Panthers) — 89 points
- David Klemmer (Knights) — 89 points
- Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs) — 81 points
- Joseph Tapine (Raiders) — 81 points
- Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Storm) — 80 points
- Lachlan Miller (Sharks) — 80 points
- Reuben Cotter (Cowboys) — 78 points
- Cameron McInnes (Sharks) — 78 points
- Joseph Manu (Roosters) — 77 points
VB Hard Earned Index: Leaderboard
- Isaiah Papali'i (Eels) — 1614 points
- Joseph Tapine (Raiders) — 1563 points
- Joe Ofahengaue (Wests Tigers) — 1495 points
- Isaah Yeo (Panthers) — 1488 points
- Cameron McInnes (Sharks) — 1460 points
- Jai Arrow (Rabbitohs) — 1430 points
- Angus Crichton (Roosters) — 1429 points
- Keaon Koloamatangi (Rabbitohs) — 1421 points
- Jason Taumalolo (Cowboys) — 1398 points
- Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs) — 1378 points
- Payne Haas (Broncos) — 1378 points