Quick question- Hooker in 2023 ?

[Tragic Eagle]

I would give DCE a shot at 9. The reasoning is that he is quick likes to run and is quick off the mark, and in close he is unlikely to expose us out wide running up out of the line in defence. Also he likes to kick from dummy half. Give Humphries the keys at 7 with a brief to take a steady controlling approach and Schuster just needs to be a little patient knowing he will get plenty of game time. With Tommy at Fullback we retain half of our current spine.

 

[NREagle]

I would give DCE a shot at 9. The reasoning is that he is quick likes to run and is quick off the mark, and in close he is unlikely to expose us out wide running up out of the line in defence. Also he likes to kick from dummy half. Give Humphries the keys at 7 with a brief to take a steady controlling approach and Schuster just needs to be a little patient knowing he will get plenty of game time. With Tommy at Fullback we retain half of our current spine.

Not sure if he would manage 40+ tackles a game though, which would then put even more responsibility on Jake.

 

[40 nil]

Not sure if he would manage 40+ tackles a game though, which would then put even more responsibility on Jake.

If there is a second dummy half on the bench such as GCKT, Lawton or Segeyaro, this would be less of a problem.

 

[NREagle]

If there is a second dummy half on the bench such as GCKT, Lawton or Segeyaro, this would be less of a problem.

Agree with that, but would prefer GCKT or Lawton over Segeyaro. Bonus with Lawton is he can also cover other positions for the inevitable injuries/HIAs during the game.

 

[BOZO]

The Number Nine Reality Perspective ...

Kermit is a likable number nine that tries hard and to his Kredit has over exceeded his Kapabilties

Competent number nines are not only capable of making tackles

Competent numbers nines are capable of breaking tackles and are game breakers

But without a capable number 9 which plays a critical role in a teams spine

We wont be capable of matching it with the top teams and fight it out for the top prize

In 2023 we need to evolve if we are to solve our teams inefficiencies and let our evolution be the Revolution for our success

What does Revolution really mean ?
a dramatic and wide-reaching change in conditions, attitudes, or operation:

Let the Great Manly Revolutions begin

 

[bigd1972]

Any thoughts about Tyson Smoothy? Plays 9 for Sunshine Coast Falcons - part of the Storm system and has played a handful of games for them in the last year. Can goalkick which could come in handy if Garrick is out at any time.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

If Croker is our 9 next season (remember DCE is our 7), Schuster is just learning at 6, apart from Tom, that's a very poor spine (in comparison to the decent teams in the comp). I couldn't see us beating any of the current top 7 next season (let alone the continued failures against the top 4) for the past 3 years.

Come on MOD, I gave you the update today , the 9 for the Toomelah Tigers is a real gun , one of the top players at the aboriginal knock out so we are SWEET!!

 

[Supreme Leader]

I've heard she goes down very easily but the positives are she has quick hands and doesn't mind getting stuck in among the big fellas

sounds very versatile, but what is impressive is her ability to change positions

 

[Ryan]

Come on MOD, I gave you the update today , the 9 for the Toomelah Tigers is a real gun , one of the top players at the aboriginal knock out so we are SWEET!!

Don't get me wrong mate, I really like Croker as a person and character. If every player had his work ethic and attitude we'd be world beaters.

BUT, I also loved Chris Hicks, Paul Stephenson and Scott Donald too, but they were replaced (and we're decent players in their own rights) by upgrades in Steven Bell, Steve Matai, Jamie Lyon and others.

We are at that crossroads again. Tough decisions need to be made with some decent players, if we are to regain heavyweight status. Unfortunately for mine, Croker is in that boat.

 

[robbiea]

We should enquire about Roosters Ben Marschke ,He mustn't be loving the B Smith signing .
Or same with Josh Cook from Bulldogs.
Both up and coming hookers with positions made redundant from new signings at their respective clubs this year.

 

[joeboy]

Cook from the bulldogs or Soni Iuke at the panther are the ones id be after.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

Our spine is critical and whilst we have Croker we still need another specialist Hooker. We need a mean and nasty prop and a gun centre. If injuries dobt devimate us that wound give us a competitive squad if coached appropriately and they played smart patient football.

 

[Adz]

People are complaining about Croker,have a look at Eels.
Mahoney has a decent pass from dummy half but nothing else and they are in a GF.
He has no running game,almost zero kicking game and engages zero defenders from dummy half,he is an average defender at best.
Croker is not our problem.
Grant the best 9 at the moment got the mighty Storm no further than 6th.
Verrills who is a decent defender,has a minimal running game apart from near the goal line and has minimal ability to engage defenders,got the Roosters to win a GF is surplus to requirements and cast off to the mighty Titans,but Croker is the reason we are not playing finals.

 

[R3]

Don't know if you're being facetious. If not, Api (172 cm & 88 kg) should be relegated to NSW Cup 🙂 GCKT is 91 kg & at least the same height as Api.

Is there any known intel on GCKT's current height and weight?

 

[maxta]

Is there any known intel on GCKT's current height and weight?

Similar to Api but a few kg heavier....more of that Cheese build.
Mahoney playing in the GF as 9 next week is only 1.75cm
The history of the games best players in history are not giants, in fact Bob Fulton, Johns and Lockyer all stand around this size and the mighty Tooves who drove back 7 foot giants was only 168cm
The height is irrelevant, the skillset, abilities and guts is what counts in this game.

 

[BOZO]

People are complaining about Croker,have a look at Eels.
Mahoney has a decent pass from dummy half but nothing else and they are in a GF.
He has no running game,almost zero kicking game and engages zero defenders from dummy half,he is an average defender at best.
Croker is not our problem.
Grant the best 9 at the moment got the mighty Storm no further than 6th.
Verrills who is a decent defender,has a minimal running game apart from near the goal line and has minimal ability to engage defenders,got the Roosters to win a GF is surplus to requirements and cast off to the mighty Titans,but Croker is the reason we are not playing finals.

The reason we are not playing finals is that we can not match the class of the better teams

In order to play finals we need to improve areas in our roster and the critical spine hooker position is one of them

PLayers like croker are admired for thier courage but offer no intimidation and threat to the opposition .

Players like Mahoney
GRant and Varrillis are all finals team players

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

People are complaining about Croker,have a look at Eels.
Mahoney has a decent pass from dummy half but nothing else and they are in a GF.
He has no running game,almost zero kicking game and engages zero defenders from dummy half,he is an average defender at best.
Croker is not our problem.
Grant the best 9 at the moment got the mighty Storm no further than 6th.
Verrills who is a decent defender,has a minimal running game apart from near the goal line and has minimal ability to engage defenders,got the Roosters to win a GF is surplus to requirements and cast off to the mighty Titans,but Croker is the reason we are not playing finals.

Powder puff forwards have been our issue for some time now , and 2023 looks to be much of the same.

 

[BOZO]

Powder puff forwards have been our issue for some time now , and 2023 looks to be much of the same.

Trying to look at some positives

We do have some Forwards with potential that have not reached their potential and hopefully they can step up and make a difference

We also have some young players from the lower grades and the hope is Des can change his stubborn ways and give them a go

We also have players that have reached their peak and at their peak they wont take us to any great heights and they should be let go so can invest in finding new talent because talent is what will take us to the top

 

[Ryan]

People are complaining about Croker,have a look at Eels.
Mahoney has a decent pass from dummy half but nothing else and they are in a GF.
He has no running game,almost zero kicking game and engages zero defenders from dummy half,he is an average defender at best.
Croker is not our problem.
Grant the best 9 at the moment got the mighty Storm no further than 6th.
Verrills who is a decent defender,has a minimal running game apart from near the goal line and has minimal ability to engage defenders,got the Roosters to win a GF is surplus to requirements and cast off to the mighty Titans,but Croker is the reason we are not playing finals.

Mahoney played a huge game last night according to the commentators. Not sure what you watched mate ? Him and Verrills are 10X the player of Croker at 9.

Croker while okay, is just okay, and a significant reason we can't beat top 4 (now too 8 teams). 0 X-factor, 0 running, 0 kicking, 0 anything apart from tackles out of 9 in today's game is a recipe for disaster.

Every club who had a weakness at hooker went out and sourced a new one (parra, tigers, Chooks, Titans, Dogs etc). Everyone but our dead**** recruitment team.

 

[BOZO]

The height is irrelevant, the skillset, abilities and guts is what counts in this game.

The Guts perspective

Every NRL player that plays at this Level has Guts

You need to have the Guts to make it all the way to the NRL arena

But making it to the Grand final and winning it you need to have Superior Skill , Speed and Strength

Because The fact is Superior Skill , Speed and Strength Kills the inferior