VB Hard Earned: James built for the tough stuff
Be it at his old home on the Gold Coast or his new digs in Canberra, Ryan James has always epitomised hard work.
After spending almost two years on the sidelines due to back-to-back knee injuries, the 29-year-old front-rower persevered and has returned to the NRL with the Raiders this season as strong as ever.
In Sunday's 12-10 win over the Sharks, James posted a VB Hard Earned index score of 70 - fifth among all interchange players.
In doing so, James rose far above the baseline of hard work. The average score off the bench is 37.9 and 56.5 for a starting prop.
The former Titans captain's stats, according to data provided by VB, included 13 runs (seven for eight or more metres), 130 total metres, 25 tackles, five tackle-busts and four decoys in 40 minutes.
Elsewhere, Isaah Yeo celebrated his 150 NRL game the only way he knows how - by working to a standstill for the Panthers.
Penrith's co-captain (90) earned the highest index score of the round in his team's 28-0 shutout of the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Yeo churned out 34 tackles, four tackle-busts, 14 runs (11 for eight or more metres), 127 total metres and eight decoys.
His Panthers teammate James Fisher-Harris consolidated his lead atop the overall leaderboard by scoring 89 to follow his effort of 101 last round. Knights prop David Klemmer (82) remains second.
Yeo has leapt into third spot while Newcastle's Tyson Frizell and South Sydney's Jai Arrow have improved their rankings.
Champion Rooster James Tedesco (89) enjoyed a field day against his former team Wests Tigers - and that was reflected as he easily surpassed the average score for a fullback (44.4)
Meanwhile, star Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster was another little man to punch above his weight despite a loss to the Eels, managing to record 61 when his positional baseline is just 29.5.
