Jason Hooper : Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:10 pm  

Anyone else miss him? His energy and hard as nails approach was fantastic for us, as was his disregard for opposition kickers.

Anyone know what he's up to now?

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:17 pm  

He was awesome. Everyone from other clubs hated him because he was always right in his opponents' faces.

He ran good lines as well.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:22 pm  

he rented out quite a few houses in 'tellins that was just after he finished, not seen him for years though

Re: Jason Hooper : Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:35 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Anyone know what he's up to now?

Injured.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:15 am  

Dux wrote:

He was awesome. Everyone from other clubs hated him because he was always right in his opponents' faces.

He ran good lines as well.

You couldn't have made up the irony of the nature of his retirement though. All those late shoulders took their toll eventually.

A lesson in application over ability if there ever was one.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:33 am  

I think we've missed his guile in the past couple of seasons more than some realise.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:08 am  

getdownmonkeyman wrote:

A lesson in application over ability if there ever was one.

Indeed.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:30 pm  

Hooper gave us great value for money. He was tireless in attack and defence. He covered a number of positions without needing many matches to acclimatize to its demands. As mentioned he ran great angles. His support play was good. When fit he was physically challenging to opponents (his fend was textbook). From forty yards out he had enough pace to hold off all but the quickest defenders. He was very adept at reefing the ball and he terrorised SL's kickers (has there been a better player at challenging the kicker since?).

Tragically, a succession of serious injuries robbed him and us of his prime and turned him into a pitiable imitation of his former self. It was pretty distressing and a reminder to everyone that all the talent in the world is only one piece of cruel misfortune away from ruin.

I miss Hooper's enthusiam for the game, but I don't think the team misses him much. Yes, it would be handy to have someone who could pressurise the kicker in a similar fashion, but Flannery is just as effective and moreso in other areas.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:35 pm  

One of my favourite ever Saints players.

His ability to annoy Lee Briers should be enough to write him into Saints folklore.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:50 pm  

Mugwump wrote:

I don't think the team misses him much. Yes, it would be handy to have someone who could pressurise the kicker in a similar fashion, but Flannery is just as effective and moreso in other areas.

Not for me, I know Flanders had a good day last friday, but for me, Hooper was a vastly underatted player, mainly in terms of the basic direction he could give to a team.