Hooker Recruitment

[Stewbojevic]

There has been a lot of criticism on here about our hookers and a lack of recruitment in that area in recent years. Interestingly, I’ve seen Manly mentioned two times in relation to hookers recently. When Jayden Brailey signed with Canberra we got mentioned as being interested and now the same for Tom Starling.

I’m actually surprised to be honest as we have Croker, Gordon, and Simpkins + Zaidas and Large coming through. But good to know we are being active in areas where we need to improve.

Raiders star draws interest from NRL rivals; ex-Panthers flyer’s return bid stalls: Transfer Whispers

Raiders star draws interest from NRL rivals; ex-Panthers flyer’s return bid stalls: Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

There has been a lot of criticism on here about our hookers and a lack of recruitment in that area in recent years. Interestingly, I’ve seen Manly mentioned two times in relation to hookers recently. When Jayden Brailey signed with Canberra we got mentioned as being interested and now the same for Tom Starling.

I’m actually surprised to be honest as we have Croker, Gordon, and Simpkins + Zaidas and Large coming through. But good to know we are being active in areas where we need to improve.

Raiders star draws interest from NRL rivals; ex-Panthers flyer’s return bid stalls: Transfer Whispers

Raiders star draws interest from NRL rivals; ex-Panthers flyer’s return bid stalls: Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

I'm not surprised because contrary to popular opinion on Silvertails Manly are not dumb.
Crokes is a Manly rock but aside from his limitations as a dummy half threat he is also very beat up and may not have a long future.
Simpkin... jury is still out (but a few of them seemed to be glaring at him)
Gordie ... verdict is in... great clubman (if he wants to stick around) and emergency dummy half (only)
Jazz ... is suitable for certain moods only. Not a specialist 9
Large... not for about 3 years (maybe)

 

[Rosko]

This has hobbled us for 5 years. As per SER8 post, we have no breakthrough in sight.
Although even more important is the lack of mental and physical resilience of our whole team.

 

[frank stokes]

I'm not surprised because contrary to popular opinion on Silvertails Manly are not dumb.
Crokes is a Manly rock but aside from his limitations as a dummy half threat he is also very beat up and may not have a long future.
Simpkin... jury is still out (but a few of them seemed to be glaring at him)
Gordie ... verdict is in... great clubman (if he wants to stick around) and emergency dummy half (only)
Jazz ... is suitable for certain moods only. Not a specialist 9
Large... not for about 3 years (maybe)

Starling to 9, Croker to lock, Jake to prop, Jazz to bench, Simpkin to 14…

Would be good to get a fast running DH - something we have missed since Stabby McChurchstab…

 

[lsz]

Also we are a great click bait headline gainer to throw in.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Also we are a great click bait headline gainer to throw in.

Very much so

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

I'm not surprised because contrary to popular opinion on Silvertails Manly are not dumb.
Crokes is a Manly rock but aside from his limitations as a dummy half threat he is also very beat up and may not have a long future.
Simpkin... jury is still out (but a few of them seemed to be glaring at him)
Gordie ... verdict is in... great clubman (if he wants to stick around) and emergency dummy half (only)
Jazz ... is suitable for certain moods only. Not a specialist 9
Large... not for about 3 years (maybe)

Excellent summation of our hooker stocks.

 

[robbiea]

Starling please.

 

[Disco]

Blake Mozer for me.

Starling has never to it together consistently. I what rep football potential in my players.

 

[Nambawan]

It is ludicrous that in the 2025 season we are starting with Tevaga at hooker whilst waiting for the likes of Croker. No wonder this side has , even at this early stage, no chance of winning the comp, or even probably achieving the top 4. Whilst we have a couple of good back-ups in a few positions, our overall depth is lamentable. And when I consider some of the very talented young players we have seemingly pushed out of the club, I'm now wondering whether the lost FULTON connection was a good move also.

 

[Buughes]

Starling much better than what we have. Quick out of dummy half. Good passing. I would get rid of one of our hookers and grab him. Good pickup if we could get him until Ashton develops.

 

[Phobia]

In total, Seibold has gone hard for Mozer, Paix, Simpkin (we got him), Brailey, and now Starling, since the back end of 2023. That's also when Croker started having some issues. I think the increase in tempo shows Croker's body might be breaking down. We signed Simpkin at the point when we thought that Croker may have to medically retire.

I'm also of the opinion that we never signed Tevaga to play hooker. GCKT is straight up not rated by the coaching staff anymore. Tevaga would never be the starting or backup hooker at any other club. Something worries the staff about both GCKT and Simpkin.

 

[Jay Eagle]

It is ludicrous that in the 2025 season we are starting with Tevaga at hooker whilst waiting for the likes of Croker. No wonder this side has , even at this early stage, no chance of winning the comp, or even probably achieving the top 4. Whilst we have a couple of good back-ups in a few positions, our overall depth is lamentable. And when I consider some of the very talented young players we have seemingly pushed out of the club, I'm now wondering whether the lost FULTON connection was a good move also.

What talent are we really taking about
Humphries and Weekes.. we can't keep them all.

Weeks was always going to be behind Turbo and Brooke's, and now we have Lehi he's well and truly behind him.

And the "Fulton" connection. What have we lost
Who are they or rather what are they doing now

Fafita- can't crack into St George team that's average- reserve in NSW Cup

Tuitavake- now a reserve in Super League

The Fainu bros- seriously average players for the $$$ they are on..

Samuela was supposed to be the next big thing, had his first run after 24 minutes the other night for the Tigers, A STARTING back rower not running the ball once inbthe opening 24 mins and the Tigers had all the ball.

Tigers are wanting to offload Sione. Big slow and average prop.. again the next big thing 3 seasons ago..apparently

Latu ( the new messiah) is possibly the most injury prone player in the NRL and that's a big statement considering we have Tom.

Josh Feledy- can't crack the Tigers team..reserve for the NSW Cup

So then look at who we added
Onatoni Large
Ashton Large
Joey Walsh
Christian Patolo
Zaidas Muagututi
And we got Zane Dunford back
I guarantee we get 3 or 4 quality NRL first graders out of that list alone in the next 2 to 3 years

So let's call it for what it is..the actual reality

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

What talent are we really taking about
Humphries and Weekes.. we can't keep them all.

Weeks was always going to be behind Turbo and Brooke's, and now we have Lehi he's well and truly behind him.

And the "Fulton" connection. What have we lost
Who are they or rather what are they doing now

Fafita- can't crack into St George team that's average- reserve in NSW Cup

Tuitavake- now a reserve in Super League

The Fainu bros- seriously average players for the $$$ they are on..

Samuela was supposed to be the next big thing, had his first run after 24 minutes the other night for the Tigers, A STARTING back rower not running the ball once inbthe opening 24 mins and the Tigers had all the ball.

Tigers are wanting to offload Sione. Big slow and average prop.. again the next big thing 3 seasons ago..apparently

Latu ( the new messiah) is possibly the most injury prone player in the NRL and that's a big statement considering we have Tom.

Josh Feledy- can't crack the Tigers team..reserve for the NSW Cup

So then look at who we added
Onatoni Large
Ashton Large
Joey Walsh
Christian Patolo
Zaidas Muagututi
And we got Zane Dunford back
I guarantee we get 3 or 4 quality NRL first graders out of that list alone in the next 2 to 3 years

So let's call it for what it is..the actual reality

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

 

[Not Paul Kent]

Blake Mozer for me.

Starling has never to it together consistently. I what rep football potential in my players.

Great prospect but awful timing with DCE, don’t want a rookie 9 and 7 at the same time, unless the plan is to shift turbo to 6? In which case we’d probably want a dominant 9 to help with organising anyway!

 

[Brookie Bob]

Very much so

I'll say

 

[Disco]

Great prospect but awful timing with DCE, don’t want a rookie 9 and 7 at the same time, unless the plan is to shift turbo to 6? In which case we’d probably want a dominant 9 to help with organising anyway!

DCE aint going anywhere IMO.

So Mozer who have a year if not two to settle

 

[BOZO]

This has hobbled us for 5 years. As per SER8 post, we have no breakthrough in sight.
Although even more important is the lack of mental and physical resilience of our whole team.

Our long Hooker Hobble was due to all the coachers that were responsible could not think outside the Croker square . They always put all their eggs in the Croker basket as our starting number one priority hooker
Des Mark 2 started the Croker trend and Seibold is following it .

The only Hooker Breakthrough in sight is this ...
The latest 2025 starting hooker breakthrough our current coach has is the near retirement utility Jazz Tevaga

To some one here who think that Croker is the answer
I hope you are right
Because at the end of the day All of us want Manly to win a Premiership this year

 

[HoldenV8]

Our long Hooker Hobble was due to all the coachers that were responsible could not think outside the Croker square . They always put all their eggs in the Croker basket as our starting number one priority hooker
Des Mark 2 started the Croker trend and Seibold is following it .

The only Hooker Breakthrough in sight is this ...
The latest 2025 starting hooker breakthrough our current coach has is the near retirement utility Jazz Tevaga

To some one here who think that Croker is the answer
I hope you are right
Because at the end of the day All of us want Manly to win a Premiership this year

TBH to Des, to a point ... he kinda got stuck with Croker as the No.9 largely because we'd let Api go and put all of the eggs into the Fainu basket. Croker was literally supposed to be the back up, the bench player who could cover the halves and dummy half.

Until Manase McStabby went to a church dance.....

But back to now ... seriously, both Simpkin and more to the point Gordon must be on the nose with Seibold to be starting Jazz at hooker.

 

[eaglebuzz]

I'm hopeful that Zaidas might not be too far off first grade. But Ashton Large looks the goods, so realistically we are looking for a 1-2 year fix in this area.