Beswick's favourite position is hooker, but he'd never get a look in at Widnes when Smith was fit, because having watched the two players for the last few years for us, Smith is bar far the better hooker. I'd agree that Penky is a better player than Smith, but it's even with Gleeson. Gleeson can't play for 80 minutes, otherwise he'd still be at Warrington, and Penky doesn't play 80 mins either, Smith does every week.

When Smith doesn't play, it has a major effect on us as his passing, defence and organisation is all very good. Some people judge hookers on alot more than scooting from dummy half.

Penky can play 80 minutes, he's just not as effective. Look at all the best teams, they've all got 2 good hookers who interchange, Saints with cunnigham and roby, Leeds with Diskin and buderus. Not sure who your back up hooker is? but the reason why smith possibly plays 80 minutes every week is that your reserve hooker is a big step down from smith.

Exactly right, but thats my point that if Smith was an interchange hooker, he may scoot more etc. as Penky and Glees can do.

Our reserve hooker is Brett Robinson who we got from Wigan's A team, and is a million miles behind Smith by the look of things/

Has Duffy ever played there? I'm sure some people will say it's a bad shout but he's playing loose forward now which he hasn't played much of so could be worth a go at hooker. Plus if it gives Smith a chance to rest he could be more effective.

Not really, he went there for short spells pre-season when McCormack was giving everyone game time but he wasn't too effective. Maybe he needs more time there to learn the role? Certainly an option.

McCormack was a fan of Smith playing the full game as he never used him and Beswick amongst the hookers, Beswick always played loose forward. Now I don't think Cullen has a choice, though with regards to when he was at Warrington he used Clarke and Gleeson as interchange hookers so he may look into it.

My first choice Hooker outside SL would definately be Gleeson.
I agree that Penky is, at times, devastating. But he has a habit of making some poor decisions, particular about his passing. He often fires passes at prop forwards chests which are almost impossible to hold on to and on far too many occasions he give the flat pass too late, and the ball, attacker and defender all arrive in the same place at the same time.
Gleeson plays mistake free rugby, looks to have all the time in the world with the ball in hand, hardly seems to break in to a jog and oppostition still struggle to get 2 hands on him. Defensively he is solid as a rock.

Halifax have the best 2 hookers in the division, and with beswick we have one of the best all round rugby players.

Gleeson is an outstanding Hooker but imo when Smiths at his best, he has to be the best outside superleague. Will tear defences up left right and centre.

When was he last at his best then?

We've got not just the three best hookers in the league, but argubly three of the best players in the division.

Bout 3 seasons back.

This thread must be killing Vikingman. You know you want to reply.

Indeed . . . there is always a lot of hype about Smith, but when has he actually shown he is up there with the best?

another lets talk about how good fax and widnes players are thread

there are some very good players in this league who you be suprised to hear dont play for fax or widnes

You are absolutely correct. But given that Halifax and Widnes have just played each other twice in the last couple of weeks, the thread seems to be about them.

Why dont you join in and tell us who you think the best hooker in the league is?

Boo Hoo!!!!

The thread is about who the best hookers are in this league . . . we feel that Gleeson, Penky and Smith/Beswick are . . . who do you personally feel is best then at the hooking role?

Nobody is disputing there are other good players in this league . . .we are merely debating who the best hooker is, that's all! Since this is a Halifax forum, where most topics are likely to be Fax based!

Gregg McNally is very good in the Halfback role, However He's now a Huddersfield Giants player loaned back to you, Well done on developing a good talent and enjoy having him playing for Whitehaven while he does.

FWIW Andy Ellis, The Barrow Hooker was ok, but wouldn't get a #9 Jersey at Fax

Don't worry we're coming up on Easter Monday to bolster your self esteem with our usual loss!

Carl Sice used to change the game for Haven whenever he came on against us. Think he has moved on now to Workington tho.

Thought he was turning out for Kells??

Didnt think he had fallen that far. He was quality IMO. Although he always had the advantage of playing behind a massive pack.

This is the Halifax forum isnt it????????????????????

You're a bit of a spanner really aren't you? Welcome to the HALIFAX RLFC forum. Guess what - it tends to be bias towards Halifax RLFC. Go figure.

team of the month would say otherwise

Ian Mort (Leigh)
Jermain McGilvery (Batley),
Lee Patterson (Halifax),
Liam Harrison (Barrow),
Paddy Flynn (Widnes),
John Duffy (Widnes),
Gregg McNally (Whitehaven),
Said Tamghart (Halifax),
Andy Ellis (Barrow),
Karl Edmondson (Whitehaven),
Dave Larder (Halifax)
Michael Knowles (Gateshead),
Leroy Joe (Whitehaven)

coach of the month go on have a guess

Ged of course

Team of the month means very little as a team can have a run of easier games like Haven have had and played more games

Gateshead 9th
Featherstone 8th
Toulouse 11th

Plus got knocked out the Rail Cup and Challenge Cup by sides below them

Whilst Fax have only played 2 games against 2 of the top 3

Barrow 3rd
Widnes 2nd

And Haven or whoever can have individuals who shine but struggle to play as a team that well. So its really not worth that much though good to see some recognition for players.

Haven, Barrow as other clubs in this league have good players like Ellis, Harrison, Mcnally for example. But Widnes and Fax have a number of players who are SL quality in key positions and why they are highly rated. Players like Smith, Gleeson, Penky, Paul Smith, Webster, Gannon etc have played in the SL for a number of years and have shown they could still play there. With respect to Haven, Barrow, Fev etc not too many have played at that level week in week out. Thats not too say they are not good players or not good enough to play there but they likely lack that bit of experience and know how that will probably see Fax and Widnes finish in the top 2. Thats not to say Fax or Widnes will not lose games this year nor that Fax and Widnes are the only teams to consider as each team has the potential to beat the other.

thats the Rugby League Week team of the month, Beswick gets the hooker role in the Rugby League World team