Our Hookers - and is Seu Seu leaving?

[slide rule]

I just read in the Daily Telegraph that Seu Seu is off contract and that many other clubs are after him. (It was only a small section; I doubt it would be on the internet.)

I could be wrong, but I don’t remember this ever being discussed on here.

It seems to be commonly thought on this forum that he will be used in rotation with Morris next year.

But is he even going to be with us?

I think he is a great player and should be given more game time. We look so much more dangerous with him in dummy half. He adds a lot to our team and gives us a spark which we have lacked for the last couple of seasons.

In my opinion he would be a big loss. Personally, I would like to see him groomed to be a full time hooker who plays 80 minutes. I don’t know why he couldn’t be. I see our team as being far more dangerous with him as hooker rather than Morris.

I know Ricky loves using hookers in rotation (he also did it with De Gois and at the Roosters), but I’m not a big fan of doing it for the sake of it. I always thought De Gois should have been our 80 minute hooker and I’m starting to think the same about Seu Seu.

The rotation of hookers is widely used in the NRL, but the game’s best hookers still generally play the 80 minutes. Smith, Farah etc.

If Ricky does want to use a rotation, then Seu Seu must be the best option available for this. I don’t think there is a better option at the club or on the market.

Seu Seu also looked very dangerous when he was playing for Newcastle before he got sacked. Usually I am against retaining players which have had a poor behavioural record in the past. But I have heard that Seu Seu has settled down a lot since having a kid.

So my questions are:

Should we retain Seu Seu?
If so, should he be used as an 80 minute player or on rotation?
Does Ricky have a 'standard policy' of using hookers on rotation? If so, is this the right way to go?
If Ricky does have a 'standard policy' of using hookers on rotation, who will be used with Morris if Seu Seu leaves?

 

[maco_magic]

i reckon seu seu is a reallly good play with a lot of promise... i wouldnt play him the whole 80 but he does deserve more minutes definately...

 

[hitman124]

Yes we should retain him
He is a rotation player, but has potential to improve over summer to become a more used starter.

If we kept Isaac, i might be ok with him leaving, get rid of steggles hughes!

 

[SharkBoy]

Hughes said on the Footy Show last week that he was probably going to retire. Yay! But yes, I'd like to see Seu Seu stay at the club. He's very dangerous and gives us that spark off the bench. I think he and Morris would be used good in rotation.

 

[moruya shark]

We need to keep Seu Seu, he is really starting to find his feet and I think he will be an asset to the club.

 

[D.D]

God i hope we dont loose him, Definently sign him up!. He would be great for us next season starting and Morris of bench. Unless were after Monaghan for Hooker which i would love. I know people dont like Monaghan, but he would be a very classy hooker and a classy player to have in the team. But definently hope we resign Seu Seu, big fan of him, n go big for other positions, ie centres! n a prop.

 

[gosharks]

Hughes said on the Footy Show last week that he was probably going to retire. Yay! But yes, I'd like to see Seu Seu stay at the club. He's very dangerous and gives us that spark off the bench. I think he and Morris would be used good in rotation.

agreed

 

[moruya shark]

I like the idea of Monahan but he wants too much money !!

 

[baanya]

So my questions are:

Should we retain Seu Seu?
If so, should he be used as an 80 minute player or on rotation?
Does Ricky have a 'standard policy' of using hookers on rotation? If so, is this the right way to go?
If Ricky does have a 'standard policy' of using hookers on rotation, who will be used with Morris if Seu Seu leaves?

- yes deinfately retain seu seu... i have loved watching him bring some spark to our attack from dummy half when Huges gets a rest...
- he isn't an 80 minute player at the moment... but in a few years defintely should be!
- rotating hookers policy.... no idea..
- i reckon Morris will be a far better hooker than Seu Seu next year... seu seu should learn alot though.. but i dont think we can win a title with seu seu playing 80 minutes at hooker at the moment....

as i have said many times hooker is fast becoming the most valuable position on the field...need to have either one great hooker or a good rotation system...

 

[kiwishark]

- yes deinfately retain seu seu... i have loved watching him bring some spark to our attack from dummy half when Huges gets a rest...
- he isn't an 80 minute player at the moment... but in a few years defintely should be!
- rotating hookers policy.... no idea..
- i reckon Morris will be a far better hooker than Seu Seu next year... seu seu should learn alot though.. but i dont think we can win a title with seu seu playing 80 minutes at hooker at the moment....

as i have said many times hooker is fast becoming the most valuable position on the field...need to have either one great hooker or a good rotation system...

I think we are lacking in this spot to be honest we have not filled the void left by Degois, to be fair to Seu he has done a good job considering we are not getting quality go forward and he is playing mostly of slow play the balls.
Morris will help the rotation, but neither will factor with out the addition of another quality Prop for next year

 

[fitz]

Great thread Slider… it’s something that I’ve also been thinking a fair bit about lately.

Whenever, you’re trying to build a Rugby League team they say you start with the “backbone” – Fullback, Halfback, Five-Eighth and Hooker. Once you’ve got that sorted, much of the rest of the team falls into place around that.

With the way the game appears to be going:- with the two refs cleaning up the tackle and speeding up of the play the ball, I think players like De Gois, Ennis and Seu Seu are coming into their element. I’ve said it in this forum before, but I reckon Terry has a very similar game to Isaac.

One of the things that I keep coming back to though is “depth”. Our whole season got totally hammered when Kearney and Ross got injured in the first game. Add to that the great Buster problem and the fact that Corey Hughes seems to be only waiting around in the Departure Lounge, Baz being injured and the suspended…. And there goes your whole backbone.

Unlike a chain, some links need to be stronger than others

The way I see it is that the whole squad of 25 players needs to be up to the task – yeah, superstars exist but unless you’ve got someone who can slot in seamlessly in case of injury, suspension or rep duties then you’re going to find it hard to be there at finals time.

So yeah, keep Seu Seu if we can but don’t have a mindset that hooker is the only position he can play and have him trained up as utility player – maybe in the mold of someone like Cliff Lyons who played second row, hooker, five-eighth… and then at the end of his career as a super sub. Likewise, I can see Tupou standing out in the centres.

This is the season that I’m hoping to forget really quickly – roll on 2010 with a clean slate and fresh ideas.

 

[D.D]

I like the idea of Monahan but he wants too much money !!

Hes worth a good 250, at 29 years of age.. If he was younger, id go bit more, he is a class act. But rumour is Canberra want him for half back. Hel be with his bro there and play his fave position.

I think Seu Seu would be great in the same roatation next season, but starting because we always start slow, and he brings that spark. Then Hopefully Morris can come on and continue that momentum.

 

[Sharkyle]

I think seu seu and morris would work well together.

Retain him and give him more game time!

 

[Blix]

Hes worth a good 250, at 29 years of age.. If he was younger, id go bit more, he is a class act. But rumour is Canberra want him for half back. Hel be with his bro there and play his fave position.

I think Seu Seu would be great in the same roatation next season, but starting because we always start slow, and he brings that spark. Then Hopefully Morris can come on and continue that momentum.

No way $250, we would be much better with someone else for that money

 

[Bundy]

I'd keep him. I rate him. You mention the good hookers Farah, Smith etc playing for 80mins. They also have a good kicking game. Seu Seu doesn't seem to have any real kicking game. Morris will.
Joudo is a very bright young star for us in the hooking role and if Seu Seu was to go I'd imagine it would be him that rotated with Morris.

 

[Blix]

Keep him as long as his' price is realistic, otherwise look elsewhere, even monaghen would be good.

Cux2 would be worth 150 to 175 max.

 

[Sixgill]

I agree with the consensus. Keep him.

 

[Ramzyv1]

Had no idea he might be off-contract as he is not on any list i have seen. Can anyone confirm?

He is a good player but i dont feel he is a "must keep", if someone better can be found then i would prefer it but he is good and if he isnt looking to be replaced and its hoped TC will be the backup then retain him as TC has too many injury concerns and is patchy (even though i rate him also)

 

[Blix]

Yeah he doesnt show up anywhere as this being his' last year, can someone confirm either way?

 

[sharkarm]

What i like about Seu Seu is that he has opposition sides in 2 minds at times as we all know his big hits on opposition forwards can be real bone rattlers, yes his game needs some work but he learnt a lot from DeGois and Hughes,

so keep him i say, we need intimidation in our pack just as much as we need flair in attack, that will come in time trust me