I agree. Although I think McShane has/had the ability to be a very good player. Perhaps not the application.

But generally we seem to be looking at the wrong sort of players for hooker. Too many dwarfs who can scoot when what you need is someone who has a football brain but also not afraid of the tough stuff. Just like a halfback who's only skill is running 80m at junior level, we really shouldn't be focusing on kids who can make hay from acting half at that level either.

What you want at its most basic is someone who can pass both ways, tackle, and has good stamina. You can see our problem with Burrow right there.

Agree. I think that's partly an issue with the amateur game as well where the ability to scoot from acting half is coached/encouraged more than consistent, quality passing from acting half or the reading of a game.

Because there aren't many top quality hookers coming through anywhere really. In the past 10 years there's been 4 maybe? Roby, McIlorum, Houghton & Hodgson?

What you have done there though is name the four main ones. Toby wasn't even an hooker in his younger days.

There was no difference between the players you mentioned and the likes of McShane, Hood, Milner, etc, in their amateur days. It's what happens next that seems to stump. I agree on the scooting encouraged though at amateur level. I just think without the hooker no longer a skilled position, coaches do not know the best play.

Daryl Clark?

clarke and roby are scooters.

McIlorum and roby operate with some nouse as well.

I'm not saying roby and clarke don't but their main game is based off scooting. Roby won MoS simply for 10 scooting for 5 mins at the end of each half in 2007.

My point was Clark is a quality hooker produced in the last 10 years. Clark has a lot more to has game than scooting.

Warrington score lots of tries out wide that would not be possible if all Clark did was scoot - its one of the problems Leeds have when Burrow is playing 9

What Clark is very proficient at is knowing when to scoot and making sure it counts when he does.

Clark is no genius, one marker and he goes - every time. He's got gas so he keeps it very simple. He's patient with it, two marker and he passes. He's not the great ball player but his pass goes where it needs to most of the time.

McIlorum is way behind the others mentioned in skill terms. What he has, that the others don't, is the ability to raise the level of the other players around him.

Yep forgot about Clark.

The point of naming those 4 (5 with Clark) was to point out that there's relatively few top hookers being produced across the game. Which would point to it not being a solely Leeds issue.
I'd say hooker is a skilled position it's just those skills have changed and part of the reason why it's difficult to tell who will make a good hooker is because those skills are similar to that needed to play in the halves.

Also, if we improved the amateur game as a whole with better coaching, better environments and skills coached rather than results then the whole sport will benefit. And we'd get more players through who can actually play hooker rather than just run from dummy half.

One of the differences between us and the NRL is the quality and consistency of passing and the most obvious gap is the passing from acting half. Theirs is far more consistent than ours.

What about Cameron smith for the future? I've heard you say he has the physical attributes of a forward with the ball skills as a half, could it be a good move to line him up as our future 9?

Sorry that was to gotcha by the way

He is not quick enough to play hooker

Leeds confirm they are interested in Mitch Rein.

Not big on NRL,s he any good ?

Who cares? He's called Mitch so we're having him.

Where is the link?

Sky sports reported it

Mitch Rein is a criminally underrated player from what I've seen. To be honest, I'd rather sign him than Farrah.

Completely agree with this. He's a fantastic defender, quick, good distribution and loves a scoot.... There has actually been some suggestion he does a little too much scooting and tackling which make his figures look excellent, but can actually limit his impact to the team, but I certainly don't see that as an issue - particularly if he was at Leeds.

we need a leader, farah would bring that even if he is over rated and over paid

Maybe we're signing both hookers

.... and Thurston too



They will all go very well in the championship

No idea if links to farah or rein are credible. Would prefer rein. Think Farah could be bad news. Seems to have fallen out with the last 3 coaches at tigers. If you can fall out with mick potter, you can probably start a fight with yourself in a phone box

Rein has been in better form this year. He's been bagged a lot by St George fans in the past, but I' be surprised if they let him go TBH.

Dragons in talks over a new 2 yr deal. IF and i repeat IF we are chasing him maybe 5 yr of security could seal the deal but I doubt it.

Seems to me that the only way NRL players come to SL now is if no NRL team wants the player or if its an old veteran wanting to extend his career.