You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Hardest middle men to stop: Sharks' advantage, Knights win big

An analysis of the toughest middle forwards in the NRL to bring down reveals a big advantage to Cronulla and a huge boost amongst Newcastle's recruitment drive.

High-profile Knights recruit David Klemmer was the toughest middle forward to bring down in 2018, drawing three or more defenders on 75% of carries and being brought down one-on-one on just 1% of his carries, according to NRL.com Stats.

The good news doesn't stop there for Knights fans however: journeyman recruit James Gavet finished ninth on that list, drawing three or more defenders 65% of the time and getting stopped by a lone tackle on just 6% of carries.

Daniel Saifiti also comes in at 22nd, drawing two or more defenders 97% of the time and three or more 58% of the time.

Manly have two players in the top 10 in Martin Taupau, who drew three or more tacklers 71% of the time to hold second spot on the list and Addin Fonua-Blake (eighth) who drew at least three defenders 65% of the time.

Cronulla had two players in the top six and two more in the top 25 in rep forwards Matt Prior (drawing three defenders 70% of the time), Aaron Woods (69%), Paul Gallen (61%) and Andrew Fifita (57%).

The analysis, which looks at middle forwards with a minimum of 150 carries in the 2018 season, found George Burgess was third hardest to stop while Roosters starting props Siosiua Taukeiaho and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were seventh and 11th respectively.

Acknowledgement of Country

North Queensland Cowboys respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.