Croker played 74 - 80 minutes 13 times this year. I think the back up hooker on the bench is overstated in our team last year.
Jake (if needed) can cover hooker as well as Lawton can and Walker is already coming on to play lock anyway.
I do agree having a genuine gun #9 on the bench would be a huge bonus but I don't think Lawton really is that #9. IF Fainu was free, you would definitely carry him but having a guy on the bench just because he "can" cover hooker isn't a great idea in my opinion.
Well sighted - didn’t realise he played as many high minute games as he did.
Jake could cover hooker, I would argue not as great as Lawton - but still a valid point.
I honestly think if we had Fainu fit, you would start him - and as unfair as it would be to Croker, I would find it hard to fit him on the bench.
Whilst Lawton isn’t a gun 9, he offers great versatility - which in the modern game is valuable. Plays second row well, and hooker well - and will come in as a second row until Croker comes off (most of the time).
NRL Physio put up stats throughout the year on Facebook to show that the new rule set / pace of the game is coinciding with a higher injury count - can’t hurt to have those contingency plans in place in terms of good bench coverage.
Just on that too, if given the ultimatum of; Bullermor lock / 2nd row, and Jake hooker
Or
Jake lock, and Lawton hooker
All whilst Croker is off (if needs to) I find it hard to go past the latter - and that’s no diss to Bullermor - it’s that I have more trust in Lawtons ability to play second row than Jakes ability to play hooker.
The teams in a good place if we’re having a discussion of which of our talented depth players with get the last bench spot - you could argue there’s 4 of them eyeing it off in Davey / Bullemor / Lawton and Sipley