Quick question- Hooker in 2023 ?

[Damien2812]

If the club does not get a quality number 9 next season the club will again fail to make the 8.

 

[40 nil]

A specialist hooker is required which is why I'd pick GCKT and allow his game to develop in the NRL (assuming we don't purchase a new no. 9). Segeyaro could provide spark from the bench.

Croker is a tackling machine & could be a light weight lock (92 kg) in the mode of Radley (92 kg) & Murray (95 kg). He has some ball playing skills & could develop into a good link man.

 

[The Bandit]

More importantly, who are our front rowers in 23. Croker was our 9 last year and we played off for a GF slot. He has tried his gutz out in a team on the back foot every week this year and been one of our best. So before you throw the baby out with the bath water, best open your eyes and have a good look who has turned up and who has not.

 

[deanm]

More importantly, who are our front rowers in 23. Croker was our 9 last year and we played off for a GF slot. He has tried his gutz out in a team on the back foot every week this year and been one of our best. So before you throw the baby out with the bath water, best open your eyes and have a good look who has turned up and who has not.

Totally agree, I have been harping on all season that Forward momentum in the latest NRL playing field is crucial. The best teams play a power game and the 9 feeds off that. Watch Harry Grant, he only scoots from dummy half after NAS or one of their big boppers has made metres, won the ruck and got quick play the balls.

 

[jamesie]

More importantly, who are our front rowers in 23. Croker was our 9 last year and we played off for a GF slot. He has tried his gutz out in a team on the back foot every week this year and been one of our best. So before you throw the baby out with the bath water, best open your eyes and have a good look who has turned up and who has not.

Exactly, the main problem is the intensity in defence and go forward in attack. Paseka and Aloai only play half a season, the Kepster not much more and as for Boyle.....which leaves us with Tapau (leaving anyway), Sips and KDL. This is where we struggle

 

[Disco]

They aren't mutually exclusive.

We need more up front and ultimately better options at hooker.

For now I agree Croker is our best bet but we should be looking at it as an area to upgrade

 

[Matai's shoulder]

Croker. He and Foz were our best players this year IMO.

 

[bob dylan]

Max Krilich but Ray Brown is gaining on him.

 

[BOZO]

It is a minds game

And dominant hookers have the capacity to put the opposition in two minds

Croker is one dimensional

We need to raise the bar

 

[robbiea]

Priority #1
Forwards is our main need first.
We need big agressive hard men to lay the platform down.

 

[Stevo]

Fark how many threads does there need to be on this?

 

[Marto1970]

The workload in defence on Jake and Froggy effected their attack, bring a good defender 13 in (Walker was good in attack but his defence wasn't good enough always left lying on the ground in the ruck ) move Jake to prop, GCKT on the bench 14

 

[47MVEagle]

I don't reckon it matters WHO we've got in our squad - until the various factions at the club swallow their pride & work as one, whoever runs out on the field for us WON'T work as a team, no matter how much individual effort is put in.

 

[NYEagle]

I'd put the poor record down to forwards not going forward myself.

and slow play-the-balls

NYEagle

 

[Nambawan]

The Nathaniel Roache trial is interesting. I know that Roache at one stage was considered by the Warriors as a potential superstar such was his obvious exceptional talent. However, he had an exceptionally horendous run of injuries which have virtaully curtailed his career to date. Definitely worth giving him a chance, as he could have the potential to be a bargain jackpot signing.

 

[Uk eagle]

It may be a quick question, if only the answer was as straightforward

 

[jbb/james]

I think croker would be a better hooker if he had a decent halfback. How is croker supposed to carry the middle and the righr sides with DCE not running into space and avoiding the ruck

sounds ridiculous right . YEP

 

[MW66]

No issue with Croker starting. Given our paper thin defence he is essential. People talk about bleeding for the jumper - I think he along with Jake and Foran more than did that. However I would like to see an option off the bench that replaces him at the 25 min mark. Maybe that is Roach or GCT.

 

[frank stokes]

No issue with Croker starting. Given our paper thin defence he is essential. People talk about bleeding for the jumper - I think he along with Jake and Foran more than did that. However I would like to see an option off the bench that replaces him at the 25 min mark. Maybe that is Roach or GCT.

I actually think Croker has the potential to be a decent hooker but, for whatever reason (and it may be the players around him) he has not grown into the role...
I know he makes the odd lazy mistake and his passing is not generally on his highlight reel but he is relatively quick off the mark, has the ability to kick long out of hooker, reads a tired defensive effort very well and nobody can dispute his defensive ability...
The foundations are certainly there so what has stopped his development? Coaching? Team-mates? Confidence?We know he is a workhorse so it is not effort...

 

[Rafferty]

I actually think Croker has the potential to be a decent hooker but, for whatever reason (and it may be the players around him) he has not grown into the role...
I know he makes the odd lazy mistake and his passing is not generally on his highlight reel but he is relatively quick off the mark, has the ability to kick long out of hooker, reads a tired defensive effort very well and nobody can dispute his defensive ability...
The foundations are certainly there so what has stopped his development? Coaching? Team-mates? Confidence?We know he is a workhorse so it is not effort...

Possibly a combination of all you‘ve mentioned, its definitely a specialist position and no matter how much work goes into trying to fabricate a 9, I just think to play at this level in the modern game your going to have to have been a career 9, his all heart and effort our Froggy but his just never going to close the gap on players like Api, Grant, Robson and the like who‘ve spent their careers becoming first class 9’s.