[Resurrected] Jake to HOOKER

[The better Robbo]

I've just heard Jake has been training at hooker as back up to Croker. Surely this sees Schuster come on the bench to play lock when Jake moves to hooker.

Whether Harper comes in at fullback or not surely Schuster comes in IF this is our game plan.

 

[Woodsie]

left field ... but I don't hate the idea ..

 

[Ranga]

I’d rather DCE pinch hit at hooker while Croker rests, Schue to five eight and Foran to halfback, but that is not going to happen.

 

[Eagle thru 'n' thru]

I got laughed at when I suggested Jake to hooker in the same way Josh McGuire did for Samoa, and made the comment that Jake would be better at it. Me and Dessy are on the same page I'm tellin ya!

 

[The better Robbo]

left field ... but I don't hate the idea ..

Agree. Hes in the middle defending anyway and it gets Jake out of the way.

If Schuster doesn't come in, the only other scenarios I can come up with is Davey will come on to backrow and Siro to lock.... OR Davey just plays Lock.

Surely Schuster to bench makes more sense however Des might feel Walker can't play 80 minutes at Fullback so needs cover there with Funa.... Which is even more reason again that Walker should play centre and Harper 80 minutes at Fullback. Schuster to bench to play lock when Jake shifts to hooker.

 

[The better Robbo]

I got laughed at when I suggested Jake to hooker in the same way Josh McGuire did for Samoa, and made the comment that Jake would be better at it. Me and Dessy are on the same page I'm tellin ya!

He could definitely hold his own. He's a great defender, he has the fitness and has some ball skills. It seems Des is really just wanting our hooker to simply distribute and tackle their ass off.
When you have Chez and Foz running the show, Schuster in the team and Turbo out the back then that's all we really need from our hooker... problem is Des hasn't named Schuster and Turbo is injured.

 

[frank stokes]

Me and Dessy are on the same page I'm tellin ya!

So are you saying that we need to start up a 'Sack Eagle thru 'n' thru' thread if we start losing?

 

[Ranga]

I don’t like the idea of Jake at 9. These new rules mean we need zip at dummy half to take advantage of a retreating backline. If Funa is on the bench, maybe he can take advantage with a few scoots.

 

[Damien2812]

In the touch footy era hookers need to run the ball more over passing constantly so not sure how Jake's running game will go.

 

[Sir Pigman]

Next cutdown of squad (19 man) is 75 minutes away.

 

[AlxFromNthNarra]

As others have said, if the hooker's role is to just feed ball to the playmakers from dummy-half, Jake isn't a bad option - has a good pass, and tackles as well as (if not better than) than most hookers.

However, Hookers are not just ball-feeders.

That is one of the main reasons I oppose Peats as a 9-option for us. Watch Peats play - he does a mountain of defensive work, but just distributes to others from dummy half and rarely runs himself.

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

Jake to hooker... lmfao. And Boyle to lock like he played in the trial. We are going to get pumped. I dont see jakey boy scooting out of dummy half at tired defenders. I hope this is all mind games and Harper will play fullback with Schuster on the bench and walks back to center. Brad parker isn't a starter just a good back up. Roberts dusted him multiple times in a short period in that trial...

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

I've just heard Jake has been training at hooker as back up to Croker. Surely this sees Schuster come on the bench to play lock when Jake moves to hooker.

Whether Harper comes in at fullback or not surely Schuster comes in IF this is our game plan.

Has to be fake news surely - only in an emergency. Yes he has a great pass - from the ground though - is another story. I was always taught as a dummy half to pass, you never stand up or move - ball direct from the ground - hit the target. Playing link man to being a good dummy half who can ping straight from the ground is very different. Plus as everyone has said - dummy halves need some pace off the mark. Jake doesn't have that quick silver speed. So maybe in an emergency or for 10 minute to give Croker a break but if he is fit as everyone says and is beating DCE in time trails - he should last the 80!

 

[Brisbane Tragic]

Jake to hooker... lmfao. And Boyle to lock like he played in the trial. We are going to get pumped. I dont see jakey boy scooting out of dummy half at tired defenders. I hope this is all mind games and Harper will play fullback with Schuster on the bench and walks back to center. Brad parker isn't a starter just a good back up. Roberts dusted him multiple times in a short period in that trial...

exactly

 

[Simonmyers11]

I think the running game of the hooker still takes a back seat to a select passing game. Im not talking about just delivery a pass, has to be a select pass. Either a short ball that brings on a running forward, or engages the defence, or an out the back ball, or just a longer ball out in front of your half. Also knowing when to run or pass, blind side or open. Cameron Smith wasn't the best runner, and watching Cheeze last night, not their biggest strong points but they deliver the right pass to the right player more often than not. That is why im not sold on Crocker. Plays like a deer in headlights. Also we need a strong defender like Api was around the ruck. We were hopeless there last year in defence. The perfect dream combo in my eyes would be a player like cheeze starting who is strong, smart, tough and has a good select pass. Then a player luke Faniu would come on and start to use his eyes up footy and mix it up with his strong running game and ball playing around the ruck.

 

[KaZa]

hes just playing games with the media. Jake would be terrible there. Way too slow.

Media just believe anything. Probably finding out where the leaks are.

 

[Waz13]

Agree. Hes in the middle defending anyway and it gets Jake out of the way.

If Schuster doesn't come in, the only other scenarios I can come up with is Davey will come on to backrow and Siro to lock.... OR Davey just plays Lock.

Surely Schuster to bench makes more sense however Des might feel Walker can't play 80 minutes at Fullback so needs cover there with Funa.... Which is even more reason again that Walker should play centre and Harper 80 minutes at Fullback. Schuster to bench to play lock when Jake shifts to hooker.

I actually think Jake going into 9 means less chance of us seeing schuster unfortunately. It’s a seemless change that will see Boyle or davey into 13 when Croker comes off. Did Boyle start at 13 in the trial? We will see Schu at sone point but if this mail is true I doubt it will be this weekend. Funa will cover back line disruption, possibly even replace a poor performer.

 

[Bring back the.... Biff?]

As others have said, if the hooker's role is to just feed ball to the playmakers from dummy-half, Jake isn't a bad option - has a good pass, and tackles as well as (if not better than) than most hookers.

However, Hookers are not just ball-feeders.

That is one of the main reasons I oppose Peats as a 9-option for us. Watch Peats play - he does a mountain of defensive work, but just distributes to others from dummy half and rarely runs himself.

I wouldn't mind peats on a 1 year deal.. we aren't the smartest of club are we. We had levi as bad as he was is better than croker as he is actually a hooker. Now we have none. The slime recognised they had a shortage if Maloney went down so they bought two back ups unless im mistaken. We are using 2 reserve grade halfs as our starting hooking options. Eeee gads man!

 

[stoodamire]

Yikes. Hope not.
We did see Sione Fainu at hooker...

 

[Budgie]

It seems Des is really just wanting our hooker to simply distribute and tackle their ass off.

Always has. Hence moving Damian Cook on.