Quick question- Hooker in 2023 ?

[Woodsie]

Croker is very coachable ... he played the role Dessie wanted him to play .. ie similar to how Matt Ballin played for him ... no-nonsense distribution and endless tackling ...

However .. I am certain Croker will learn to play the way Seib's wants him to play .. if that involves more running, kicking or creative passing ... I'll back the frog to make the transition...

Write the Frog off at your own peril ...

 

[BOZO]

Croker is very coachable ... he played the role Dessie wanted him to play .. ie similar to how Matt Ballin played for him ... no-nonsense distribution and endless tackling ...

However .. I am certain Croker will learn to play the way Seib's wants him to play .. if that involves more running, kicking or creative passing ... I'll back the frog to make the transition...

Write the Frog off at your own peril ...

IMO The Ballin type of players worked well in the past NRL game era

The fast game has changed and it is dominated by more dynamic and skilful hookers

I can not see a Grant , a Smith , a Cook type player in Croker

Just Like I can not see a Chrighton , a Manu , a staggs player in Parker

To me the only way up is with an upgrade

 

[40 nil]

Write the Frog off at your own peril ...

I think we need a natural dummy half who is more intuitive and creative than Croker. GCKT may be the best option at present. I think Lawton is a better back rower than dummy half. I haven't seen Roache play. Perhaps Ipape could be enticed back to the club?

I see Croker's best role as 14 or as a lightweight lock (with Jake to prop).

 

[BOZO]

I think we need a natural dummy half who is more intuitive and creative than Croker. GCKT may be the best option at present. I think Lawton is a better back rower than dummy half. I haven't seen Roache play. Perhaps Ipape could be enticed back to the club?

I see Croker's best role as 14 or as a lightweight lock (with Jake to prop).

Perspective time

How many top 8 teams would Croker make it in too ?

 

[eagleron]

IMO The Ballin type of players worked well in the past NRL game era

The fast game has changed and it is dominated by more dynamic and skilful hookers

I can not see a Grant , a Smith , a Cook type player in Croker

Just Like I can not see a Chrighton , a Manu , a staggs player in Parker

To me the only way up is with an upgrade

But at what cost Bozo, there's only so much left in the bucket. Wishes are one thing but stark reality is another, sometimes you've got no choice but to work with what you have

 

[BOZO]

But at what cost Bozo, there's only so much left in the bucket. Wishes are one thing but stark reality is another, sometimes you've got no choice but to work with what you have

At what cost ?

At the cost of giving a junior a go and the cost of looking at potential players

No one heard of Grant and Smith before they became who they are at the storm

We always have a choice just like Des did

At Canterburry Des got rid of Cook and Inness for Micahel Lichaa

 

[BOZO]

The only limitations to our choices is within each one of us

The choice is to Persist with the players that can only take you so far

Or Peruse other players that have the potential and ability ot take you further

 

[40 nil]

How many top 8 teams would Croker make it in too ?

The same question could also be asked about other players in our current top seventeen.

Even if they are not star players, hard working individuals do fulfill roles in premiership winning squads.

 

[BOZO]

You will never win a Melbourne cuP race with donkeys

No matter who the Trainor and the coach is

If you do not upgrade to a thoroughbred

Your flogging a 4 legged friend that will take you no where

 

[BOZO]

The same question could also be asked about other players in our current top seventeen.

Even if they are not star players, hard working individuals do fulfill roles in premiership winning squads.

That does not mean we should stop upgrading and rebuilding

And upgrading and rebuilding means replacing inferior players

The hooker position in the modern era is a gun role and we need a gun to fill it

 

[BOZO]

WE REMEMBER

WE REBUILD

AND WE COME BACK STRONGER

A quote by The Black Superman
Barack Obama

 

[Ryan]

The same question could also be asked about other players in our current top seventeen.

Even if they are not star players, hard working individuals do fulfill roles in premiership winning squads.

Players I think would make it into other top 8 teams:

01. Tom Trbojevic
02. Jason Saab
03. Tolu Koula
04.
05. Reuben Garrick
06. Josh Schuster
07.
08.
09.
10.
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12.
13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Karl Lawton
15.
16.
17.

To me at this stage, the others are either youth (Weekes) who need to prove themselves OR NSW Cup quality

 

[eagleron]

At what cost ?

At the cost of giving a junior a go and the cost of looking at potential players

No one heard of Grant and Smith before they became who they are at the storm

We always have a choice just like Des did

At Canterburry Des got rid of Cook and Inness for Micahel Lichaa

Not against bringing up juniors with ability Bozo, I obviously misread your post mate and thought you were talking about bringing in established first graders, my bad and my sincere apologies, just another senior moment from moi, 🙃

 

[BOZO]

Not against bringing up juniors with ability Bozo, I obviously misread your post mate and thought you were talking about bringing in established first graders, my bad and my sincere apologies, just another senior moment from moi, 🙃

No need to apologize my feathered friend

I always like your passionate views and always like hearing from you "

Haver a great day 🙂

 

[Heckenberg]

Players I think would make it into other top 8 teams:

01. Tom Trbojevic
02. Jason Saab
03. Tolu Koula
04.
05. Reuben Garrick
06. Josh Schuster
07.
08.
09.
10.
11. Haumole Olakau'atu
12.
13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Karl Lawton
15.
16.
17.

To me at this stage, the others are either youth (Weekes) who need to prove themselves OR NSW Cup quality

Aloiai, and maybe the starting Australian halfback you’d think? I also think croker is fairly underrated. He’s making the 17 in most teams off the bench easily.

 

[ManEagle]

But at what cost Bozo, there's only so much left in the bucket. Wishes are one thing but stark reality is another, sometimes you've got no choice but to work with what you have

Bozos buckets are pretty big though Ron.

I'm prepared to give Crocker another season before lynching him, he has improved out of sight and If he can continue that trajectory till young Gordon is ready all good.
I just worry with crocks dummy half IQ 🤔 but then the whole teams suffers that at times 😀

 

[Ryan]

Aloiai, and maybe the starting Australian halfback you’d think? I also think croker is fairly underrated. He’s making the 17 in most teams off the bench easily.

Aloiai is too inconsistent, immobile & injured.
Croker isn't making any other roster - look at The Raiders for example - their utility is Starling. Croker can't kick, run, have x-factor. All he does is tackle and try hard.
DCE is the highest paid player to have ever not been able to carry a team on his back. Sorry, don't rate him. At ALL. I also think this is the beginning of the end for his rep chances for Australia. He shouldn't be captain with us, we need someone who leads by example

 

[Rocky]

Aloiai is too inconsistent, immobile & injured.
Croker isn't making any other roster - look at The Raiders for example - their utility is Starling. Croker can't kick, run, have x-factor. All he does is tackle and try hard.
DCE is the highest paid player to have ever not been able to carry a team on his back. Sorry, don't rate him. At ALL. I also think this is the beginning of the end for his rep chances for Australia. He shouldn't be captain with us, we need someone who leads by example

What you say about DCE is likely correct.

But the question was would he make another team. And for about 13 other teams it's a yes.

 

[Rocky]

Croker is very coachable ... he played the role Dessie wanted him to play .. ie similar to how Matt Ballin played for him ... no-nonsense distribution and endless tackling ...

However .. I am certain Croker will learn to play the way Seib's wants him to play .. if that involves more running, kicking or creative passing ... I'll back the frog to make the transition...

Write the Frog off at your own peril ...

Yep interested to see what the new brains trust thinks of the 9 position.

Des loved that hard tackling, pass only type hooker.

Where does that leave the frog?

 

[BOZO]

Where does that leave the frog?

We are ALL in the same boat as the frog in this competitive world

Its dog eat frog out there

Its ruthlessness out there