Because of age and also the fact I dont believe Nick will let Friend go, I would be more than happy with Connor Watson at 9 and he would not be expensive.If we can't get Friend then we should be looking at Connor Watson as hooker for 2021
Also assuming we don't get GrantBecause of age and also the fact I dont believe Nick will let Friend go, I would be more than happy with Connor Watson at 9 and he would not be expensive.
JMK could be playing behind the best pack ever assembled and do nothing.Do we really need to recruit a 9? Im going to get a lot of x for this but i reckon we can get by with jmk.
Im not partial to having jmk but my opinion is he will be a much better player behind a stronger pack than what we currently have. Sure, every hooker will improve behind a better forwards but jmk will benefit heaps more. He has some running game that can trouble the opps imo.
What im saying is lets not jump into a conclusion that hooker is a recruitment priority based on what we have seen. Not many of them would look good in our current team and structure.
We will get on by like the last few years.. continuing to struggle to score points..Do we really need to recruit a 9? Im going to get a lot of x for this but i reckon we can get by with jmk.
Its been our number 1 priority for the past 2 years. The club realises thisDefinitely has to be our number 1 recruitment for 21,we re tarts in the very very position
So assuming Friend and Mahoney re-sign, backup options if the dream of Grant or Wombat doesn't pan out would be:Its been our number 1 priority for the past 2 years. The club realises this
They have tried twice to sign Harry Grant and also Api Korosau.
Disappointing that those deals were not done but even the current board and coach arent dumb enough not to realise we need a top quality hooker. But its one thing to recognise it and another thing to get it done.
I cant see us signing a gun hooker next year for 2 big reasons :
1. There isnt really anyone available ; and
2. Even if there was, our club isnt that attractive to gun players at the moment
We will probably need to take a punt on youngster who isnt getting much game time elsewhere
I haven’t seen most of them play mate .So assuming Friend and Mahoney re-sign, backup options if the dream of Grant or Wombat doesn't pan out would be:
Watson, Starling, Cotter, Randall, Kenny, Roache (if he ever isn't injured), Havilli and Clarke or Parcell if they're even available from the ESL.
Can anyone think of other options? I'd take Starling or Cotter. Ideally they'd sign two hookers so we have capable backup for once.
Let's be honest we are up shit creek without a paddle as far as hooking options go.So assuming Friend and Mahoney re-sign, backup options if the dream of Grant or Wombat doesn't pan out would be:
Watson, Starling, Cotter, Randall, Kenny, Roache (if he ever isn't injured), Havilli and Clarke or Parcell if they're even available from the ESL.
Can anyone think of other options? I'd take Starling or Cotter. Ideally they'd sign two hookers so we have capable backup for once.
Watson is a gamble for sure. And his injury history isn't great. But he does provide a great running game, decent service and would thrive with the new rules. But he's not an 80 minute hooker, I agree...I haven’t seen most of them play mate .
Not sure about Watson . I doubt he has the finesse and footy smarts to be a top hooker. He is pretty much the perfect utility
Pretty much. But that's the likely situation they'll find themselves in.. It's about trying to find the best of an average bunch. None have anywhere near the upside of Grant or B.Smith.Let's be honest we are up shit creek without a paddle as far as hooking options go.
All those players bar Grant and Wombat (which are very long odds of being at Belmore) are more stop gap options that aren't going to improve things very much.
And its pretty hard to spot any good youngsters at the moment because there are no reserve grade comps on.Pretty much. But that's the likely situation they'll find themselves in.. It's about trying to find the best of an average bunch. None have anywhere near the upside of Grant or B.Smith.