John D H wrote:
Because I reckon anyone half decent can play hooker these days to a decent standard. Roby is considered one of the best hookers in the league but all he is really is a failed half back who's quick out of dummy half. Same goes for Scott Moore, Craig Wing, Ryan Hudson, Mick Monaghan (in his Manly days) New Zealand won a world cup with Thomas Lulueai (sp) playing hooker, and they even won a Tri-Nations with Motu Tony at hooker.
It's the position teams are tending to want their best player at nowadays, which shows how influential it is.
It's changed, that's all. Ten of fifteen years ago, in those circumstances, we probably would have put JJB at acting half. What is needed from the role nowadays is speed off the mark, then passing, then defence, although out use of the fullback in the role took away the defensive workload.
