Sharks Forever Choice 2010: Hooker

[Megashark]

OK since the Sharks Forever positional selections for 2010 have been such a hit so far, let's move on to one of the key playmaking positions: hooker.

We seem to have had a high turnover in players competing for this position in recent seasons; in 2008 we had De Gois and Kingston, last season Hughes, Seu Seu, Caine and Joudo, and this year we have yet more new arrivals in the shape of Aiton, Morris and Flanagan.

Ricky has tended to go with two hooker/dummy halves in his team selections so please specify in the thread who your starting and bench hookers would be, and select two options in the attached poll. Happy voting!

 

[Super Shark]

Start with Morris and have Aiton come off the bench

 

[Mark^Bastard]

I'm hoping in the long run that it'll be Aiton and Flanagan. Hopefully Morris will find a full time position as bench utility only.

 

[Mr Wright]

Hoping Aiton gets the starting gig with Flanagan off the bench. Aiton really impressed me this year at the Panthers and in the RLWC. As bad as it sounds, I hope Morris' career falls off the rails a bit and he plays NSW Cup.

 

[ABshark]

Huzzah! This is the one I care about most strongly. I reckon if the club gets this one right, we'll go fine in 2010 (injuries/f***ups notwithstanding).

This has to be where we were worst last year... CU2 had the occasional good run, and Hughes defended well, but they stymied our attack horribly with slow passing, insufficient running game and awful work engaging the markers to get Doug and Snow and Gal over the advantage line. And hardly a kick from dummyhalf to be seen, despite us having only one half on the field for several games (when we had SFP and Weirdo or Wright in the halves).

Flanagan and Aiton have to be our hookers. Not Morris. Not Joudo. Not Morris!

Flanagan is a fast, attacking, skillful hooker. Ignore his time at the riaders and the fact he's only on a one year deal and wasn't one of our supposedly 'big' signings like Morris. Give Flanagan the #9 and the responsibility that goes with it and let him build confidence, watch our attack improve out of sight. At 23, Flanagan's got the talent and the background to be our starting hooker for a long while to come.

Aiton has the capacity to be the best impact hooker around, and he can play some lock for us off the bench too. Pace, plenty of little trick passes and plays.

Between those two, we'll have one of the best dummyhalf combinations in the comp.

JMo is a good footballer, undoubtably. You don't play as many first grade as he has without being competent, particularly in such a range of positions, but he's a classic example of a bloke who is cursed by the dreaded 'utility' tag. Thing is, that's what he's good as- a very experienced bloke to have in your squad as backup for 6,7,9,13 and even the centres, and a good trainer and mentor for the younger fellas.

Please Ricky, go with the talent! Flano and Aiton.

 

[IronShark]

Start with Morris and have Aiton come off the bench

What he said.

I don't know enough about Flanagan to give him a guernsey yet but I know alot of you blokes have big raps on him so I'm looking forward to him getting some game time at some stage.

 

[Wilson]

The preferred option has to be Morris. One of, if not the fittest blokes in the NRL and his experience is invaluable. His best position is hooker and I have no doubts given just the one position to play in will see him thrive. I do see Flanagan as the future option, but for 2010 it's gotta be Morris.

 

[ABshark]

Bah! If we're going to take a punt on a talented but unproven player for the future, this is the one.* Flanagan's 23, not 19- he's ready to play 1st grade for Christ's sake!

This talk of Morris "flourishing" at hooker- it may be his best position, but that's only becuase he's very average at half and five-eighth. Ask a tigers fan and hear them tell you about his performances there... the horrible passes, the slow runs. He's fit... so what? So's Gal, but no one's suggesting he should be the dummy half.

Edit: *By god we need to take a punt on some talent.

 

[Doctors_Advocate]

Morris to start with Flano on the bench.. he was at the Tigs for a while so im sure he would have pickd up a few things from Farah!

 

[baanya]

Not up to speed on Flanagan .... as far as im aware though Aiton to start and Morris off the bench as a utility an the 2nd hooker...

 

[pandapat]

Aiton to start, Morris off the bench, or vice-versa doesnt bother me.
It's good to see all the options we have though.

 

[Lumpy]

Huzzah! This is the one I care about most strongly. I reckon if the club gets this one right, we'll go fine in 2010 (injuries/f***ups notwithstanding).

This has to be where we were worst last year... CU2 had the occasional good run, and Hughes defended well, but they stymied our attack horribly with slow passing, insufficient running game and awful work engaging the markers to get Doug and Snow and Gal over the advantage line. And hardly a kick from dummyhalf to be seen, despite us having only one half on the field for several games (when we had SFP and Weirdo or Wright in the halves).

Flanagan and Aiton have to be our hookers. Not Morris. Not Joudo. Not Morris!

Flanagan is a fast, attacking, skillful hooker. Ignore his time at the riaders and the fact he's only on a one year deal and wasn't one of our supposedly 'big' signings like Morris. Give Flanagan the #9 and the responsibility that goes with it and let him build confidence, watch our attack improve out of sight. At 23, Flanagan's got the talent and the background to be our starting hooker for a long while to come.

Aiton has the capacity to be the best impact hooker around, and he can play some lock for us off the bench too. Pace, plenty of little trick passes and plays.

Between those two, we'll have one of the best dummyhalf combinations in the comp.

JMo is a good footballer, undoubtably. You don't play as many first grade as he has without being competent, particularly in such a range of positions, but he's a classic example of a bloke who is cursed by the dreaded 'utility' tag. Thing is, that's what he's good as- a very experienced bloke to have in your squad as backup for 6,7,9,13 and even the centres, and a good trainer and mentor for the younger fellas.

Please Ricky, go with the talent! Flano and Aiton.

Agree with AB on this one. We need to get it right. In 2008 we were flying because of De Gois. This year well the less said the better. Very important position for us and I think Sticky has got it right. Will be keen to see what happens.

 

[Babikam65]

Huzzah! This is the one I care about most strongly. I reckon if the club gets this one right, we'll go fine in 2010 (injuries/f***ups notwithstanding).

This has to be where we were worst last year... CU2 had the occasional good run, and Hughes defended well, but they stymied our attack horribly with slow passing, insufficient running game and awful work engaging the markers to get Doug and Snow and Gal over the advantage line. And hardly a kick from dummyhalf to be seen, despite us having only one half on the field for several games (when we had SFP and Weirdo or Wright in the halves).

Flanagan and Aiton have to be our hookers. Not Morris. Not Joudo. Not Morris!

Flanagan is a fast, attacking, skillful hooker. Ignore his time at the riaders and the fact he's only on a one year deal and wasn't one of our supposedly 'big' signings like Morris. Give Flanagan the #9 and the responsibility that goes with it and let him build confidence, watch our attack improve out of sight. At 23, Flanagan's got the talent and the background to be our starting hooker for a long while to come.

Aiton has the capacity to be the best impact hooker around, and he can play some lock for us off the bench too. Pace, plenty of little trick passes and plays.

Between those two, we'll have one of the best dummyhalf combinations in the comp.

JMo is a good footballer, undoubtably. You don't play as many first grade as he has without being competent, particularly in such a range of positions, but he's a classic example of a bloke who is cursed by the dreaded 'utility' tag. Thing is, that's what he's good as- a very experienced bloke to have in your squad as backup for 6,7,9,13 and even the centres, and a good trainer and mentor for the younger fellas.

Please Ricky, go with the talent! Flano and Aiton.

Agree wholeheartedly!

 

[rahnos]

Aiton to start..Flan off bench..Morris to reserve grade for the whole season... fingers crossed

 

[Mr Wright]

Man the votes just don't measure up to what everyone has been saying in this thread.

 

[kiwishark]

Aiton to Start with Morris on the bench as cover for 6,7 & 9 the rest I have not seen enough of to judge them fairly

 

[Megashark]

Aiton to Start with Morris on the bench as cover for 6,7 & 9

I will also go with that to start the season at least, if one or both fails to impress then we have Flanagan and Joudo awaiting their opportunity. At least we have plenty of depth in that position, despite having no one of the quality of De Gois.

 

[Lumpy]

I will also go with that to start the season at least, if one or both fails to impress then we have Flanagan and Joudo awaiting their opportunity. At least we have plenty of depth in that position, despite having no one of the quality of De Gois.

Hopefully De Gois will be back in 2012!!!!!!

 

[kiwishark]

I will also go with that to start the season at least, if one or both fails to impress then we have Flanagan and Joudo awaiting their opportunity. At least we have plenty of depth in that position, despite having no one of the quality of De Gois.

Yeah totally agree Mega, do you think that Aiton has the ability to be something special under Ricky? When the guy is on he is very sharp but he was inconsistant with the Panthers, maybe Ricky can bring a bit more out of the guy and have him playing to his potential week in week out

 

[Ramzyv1]

Start with Morris and have Aiton come off the bench

Agreed, i think Aiton will be a good impact player this way the way Michael Sullivan used to be. Having said that the argument is also there to be made that it will be good to have Morris on the bench as a utility and Aiton starting.

To Mark Bastard, i get what ur saying but still with urs you would have 3 hookers in the team with 2 on the bench. It just wastes a bench spot.