News Bulldogs may not need to sign a hooker after all

djdeep4172

Kennel Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 29, 2014
Messages
3,545
Reaction score
6,570
Canterbury have been chasing an elite No.9 for quite some time, with the club linked to Brandon Smith quite frequently in the past six months or so.
But if Monday's performance from Jeremy Marshall-King is anything to go by, Trent Barrett may not need to go to market for a dummy half.
In his first game back from a lengthy injury layoff, the 25-year-old was arguably the best player on the field as the Bulldogs upset the Dragons at Stadium Australia.
Marshall-King crossed for a try, made a linebreak, ran for 85 metres and made 37 tackles without a miss in an 80-minute display.
While he may not be on the level of Damien Cook or Harry Grant, the Canterbury rake has shown plenty of potential during his career - he just needs to find some consistency.
With the likes of Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr headed to Belmore next year, Marshall-King is only going to improve as a player as the quality of his teammates improves.
 

Scoooby

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
Gilded
Joined
Mar 6, 2018
Messages
16,341
Reaction score
15,474
If JMK keeps consistently showing performances like last night for the rest of the year he has a lot of promise to take the 9 and make it his own.!! If we get smith, Jeremy can come off the bench.. if not well you know!!
 

B-Train

Kennel Immortal
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
Messages
32,591
Reaction score
48,171
We absolutely still need to sign a hooker as JMK has yet to play consistently during his career. Hopefully he can play well the rest of the season and earn a new deal as a backup or bench player.
 

COVENS

Kennel Addict
Premium Member
Gilded
Joined
Sep 18, 2015
Messages
5,010
Reaction score
5,160
Canterbury have been chasing an elite No.9 for quite some time, with the club linked to Brandon Smith quite frequently in the past six months or so.
But if Monday's performance from Jeremy Marshall-King is anything to go by, Trent Barrett may not need to go to market for a dummy half.
In his first game back from a lengthy injury layoff, the 25-year-old was arguably the best player on the field as the Bulldogs upset the Dragons at Stadium Australia.
Marshall-King crossed for a try, made a linebreak, ran for 85 metres and made 37 tackles without a miss in an 80-minute display.
While he may not be on the level of Damien Cook or Harry Grant, the Canterbury rake has shown plenty of potential during his career - he just needs to find some consistency.
With the likes of Matt Burton and Josh Addo-Carr headed to Belmore next year, Marshall-King is only going to improve as a player as the quality of his teammates improves.
I did this with the Meaney thread but it's the same theory.
Grant
Cook
Koroisau
Mahoney
Smith
Robson
J.Brailey
B.Brailey
Hodgson
Starling
Verrills
McCullough
Turpin
Clark
Liddle
Egan

With JMK we're looking at a bottom 4 dummy half, with Smith we're looking at one of the form hookers in the comp. What's there even to talk about here?
 

Spoonman84

Kennel Immortal
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
17,736
Reaction score
31,795
He played well yesterday but you just can't disregard his last 3 years of mostly mediocre football that he has dished up.

We still need a much better hooker than JMK if we want to go anywhere in this comp.
 

boggie23

Kennel Addict
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Messages
7,198
Reaction score
4,988
Like others have mentioned. Very valuable player off the bench. But I think that is all he will be. 1 swallow doesn’t make a summer.

Fair enough he had a decent hit out yesterday. And he can do that time to time. But let’s not forget most on the kennel were saying he needed to be dropped for katoa at the start of the season :sweatsmile:

what happens when he throws bad passes again or misses one on one tackles leading to tries?

He is best used as a impact player. Him coming on for 10-15 at the end of each half would be dynamic. Him on the bench slotting in at half or centre if needed. Him using his speed to scoot from dummy half against tired packs after quick play the balls.

An 80 min hooker he is not. But a 20-30 min super sub for say 300k a season would be handy. Especially if our number 9 wouldn’t have the endurance to punch out 80 mins of high energy football.
 

KLil

Kennel Legend
Joined
Aug 5, 2011
Messages
14,611
Reaction score
14,808
Fcuk no. Worst nightmare ever if he re-signs. 1 good game every 2 years isnt worth a contract
Nothing wrong with resigning him just not as Ur first choice hooker.. said he would be a valuable utility for any team 2 years ago and still looking like it.
 

Howie B

Kennel Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 6, 2017
Messages
3,889
Reaction score
10,402
Nothing wrong with resigning him just not as Ur first choice hooker.. said he would be a valuable utility for any team 2 years ago and still looking like it.
As someone on here said before Baz worked a lot with him in the pre season. He has never had good coaching before.

I think he is a second string hooker but I would rather keep him then sign some of the hookers that have been suggested on here like Mitch Kenny.
 
Top