Rumoured/Confirmed Signings and General Drivel XV

[lingard]

Hooker has become the most important position on the field. Or at least one of them.

Hooker has always been one of the most important positions on the field. When the scrum was still a contest, a team needed a hooker who could win them an adequate supply of possession. In the days of unlimited tackles, if a team didn't have a good hooker, they could face an enormous inequity of possession. Likewise when the hooker was dummy-half he had to be able to rake the ball in the play-the-ball to get possession for his team. That's why most of the successful sides had very good hookers (Ian Walsh, Elton Rasmussen at Saints, George Piggins at Souths, Fred Jones, Max Krillich at Manly, etc) In the long and illustrious history of our game, there has only been a fairly brief period that the hooker has not been a crucial member of a team. Although it has only recently been called a 'spine', the numbers 9, 7, 6 and 1 have always been integral to the structure of a Rugby League team and arguably the most important positions on the field.

#themorethingschangethemoretheystaythesame

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hooker has always been one of the most important positions on the field. When the scrum was still a contest, a team needed a hooker who could win them an adequate supply of possession. In the days of unlimited tackles, if a team didn't have a good hooker, they could face an enormous inequity of possession. Likewise when the hooker was dummy-half he had to be able to rake the ball in the play-the-ball to get possession for his team. That's why most of the successful sides had very good hookers (Ian Walsh, Elton Rasmussen at Saints, George Piggins at Souths, Fred Jones, Max Krillich at Manly, etc) In the long and illustrious history of our game, there has only been a fairly brief period that the hooker has not been a crucial member of a team. Although it has only recently been called a 'spine', the numbers 9, 7, 6 and 1 have always been integral to the structure of a Rugby League team and arguably the most important positions on the field.

#themorethingschangethemoretheystaythesame

I'm sure the hooker was very important when scrums mattered, but up until a few years ago the hooker had declined in importance, at least according to Brian Smith:

Another plan I became aware of after following an experienced coach into bat was the “leave the #9 position to last” idea. This ran in sync with the “give the big pot of money to the half back because all the hooker needs to do is pass it to the half back and tackle lots” theory. A sound theory in a previous era I reckon.

This would explain why, from the mid-90s until about five years ago, most-if-not-all teams rotated two guys at dummy half, rather than entrusting one key player to the position.

 

[Sensai Cobra]

I'm sure the hooker was very important when scrums mattered, but up until a few years ago the hooker had declined in importance, at least according to Brian Smith:

I was helping train my sons rep team the other day and I asked a kid if he was the hooker, he looked at me like I was a little weird and said " no I'm dummy half"

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I guess it makes sense. They don't hook.

Also, locks don't lock, and centres no longer play in the centre of the field.

 

[strider]

when did centres ever play in the centre of the field? ... they pretty much always been out there with a winger (well one of them)

 

[Sensai Cobra]

In netball

But I think they call it a court

 

[The Phelan Folly]

I've met a couple of people that are smarter than me, but I generally avoid them.

That's why I spend so much time here.

#OnlyGayInTheVillage

Youve obviously never met ME, then.

 

[The Phelan Folly]

I was watching some clips on youtube last year about our "glory years" that had interviews with Steve Edge and Sterlo and what not but cant remember what it was called - can anyone help out an old mate?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

when did centres ever play in the centre of the field? ... they pretty much always been out there with a winger (well one of them)

No, once upon a time teams would work to one side (or have a scrum near the sideline) and spread the ball to the open side. The centres (inside and outside) would line up around the centre of the field, hence the name.

They still do this in rugby, especially from line outs. Although both league and union teams have all learnt the best place to spread the ball is from centre field, with options either side, so you don't see much spreading of the ball from one sideline to the other. Any play starting from the sideline normally works back to the middle and resets.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Youve obviously never met ME, then.

It is true I have probably not met any given person, since there are more people I haven't met than the number that I have met.

 

[strider]

No, once upon a time teams would work to one side (or have a scrum near the sideline) and spread the ball to the open side. The centres (inside and outside) would line up around the centre of the field, hence the name.

They still do this in rugby, especially from line outs. Although both league and union teams have all learnt the best place to spread the ball is from centre field, with options either side, so you don't see much spreading of the ball from one sideline to the other. Any play starting from the sideline normally works back to the middle and resets.

yeah i guess ... but surely the outside centre would have been more an inside winger

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Defences were quite compressed too. Either way, centres got their name for where they used to stand on the field. And I don't think it was the halfway line.

 

[lingard]

I'm sure the hooker was very important when scrums mattered, but up until a few years ago the hooker had declined in importance, at least according to Brian Smith:



This would explain why, from the mid-90s until about five years ago, most-if-not-all teams rotated two guys at dummy half, rather than entrusting one key player to the position.

Yes, of course. My point is that there has only been a fairly brief period in the history of the game when hookers weren't extremely important. 20 years, maybe. And now they're important again. Ironic, aint it?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Considering they touch the ball more than any other position I'm surprised they were ever less than vital.

 

[lingard]

Considering they touch the ball more than any other position I'm surprised they were ever less than vital.

Nevertheless, there was a period where their importance waned. But now hookers are back to where they always were - a crucial part in the 'spine' of a team.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Hookers were always important except for a few years ( 90's early 00's) any halfback not good enough was converted to the role , so there were a plenty of options

 

[hindy111]

Questions-If Papali never pulled out do we still sign Hock? And if Hock doesn't pull out do we still sign Peats?

 

[Casper The Ghost]

Are we sniffing around this 17 year old prop????

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-on-rugby-league/story-fni3fbgz-1226875115342

At 150kg, teen Ipswich prodigy Se’e Kali is ready to make a big impact on rugby league

• Chris Garry
• The Courier-Mail
• April 04, 2014 10:25PM

Teenage Ipswich Jet rugby player Se'e Kali is 1.9m tall and weighs 150kg. Source: News Corp Australia

THEY call him King Kali. Anyone who meets this 17-year-old 150kg prodigy will too.

There are three NRL clubs already chasing Se’e Kali, a monster from Ipswich who made his senior debut last weekend despite being in Year 11.

At 1.9m tall, Kali’s thighs are the size of most men’s torsos and he weighs 25kg more than Gold Coast behemoth Dave Taylor.

Incredibly, Kali is actually on a diet and has lost 8kg since enrolling in Ipswich State High’s rugby league excellence program this year.

Spare a thought for the staff at the school’s uniform shop who had to knit custom shirts for the gentle giant to wear.

Se'e Kali, 17, is being chased by at least three NRL clubs. Source: News Corp Australia

“My family, we’re all big,’’ Kali said. “My brothers are all big. Since I started school I have always been the biggest in the class.

“I have a diet plan now I’m here at Ipswich State High, which is a change from New Zealand where I just ate what I wanted.’’

That diet unsurprisingly relies on small portion sizes but also demands Kali eat at regular times as he had been skipping breakfast but eating late at night.

Kali has already made the Met West representative under-18 side and is expected to sign an NRL contract within three months.

He debuted for Kevin Walters’s former club Swifts in the tough Ipswich A Grade competition last week.

Despite competing against men a decade older, he was the best prop on the field.

“I’m pretty a big boy myself so it was all right playing against men,” Kali said of his senior debut.

“There is only one NRL team in New Zealand. I need to support my mother and father so Australia was the best step for me.

“Ipswich State High has changed my life and given me an opportunity to make it.’’

In news that may already start decreasing the crime rate, Kali is studying to become a police officer in case his NRL dreams are unfulfilled.

Kali shows of his size with Jets teammate Vinny Stephen in Ipswich. Source: News Corp Australia

That is unlikely, however, as he lasted 60 minutes in his A Grade debut.

“He’s a freak,” Ipswich State High rugby league coach Lee Addison said.

“Physically he’s been blessed with size but what you don’t see is his work ethic.

“He’s like a professional who does not have a professional contract.

“If people take him for what he produces rather than his weight and height he will have a great career.

“You would not look at him and think he’s fat. He’s an athlete.

“Someone who is unfit cannot play 60 minutes against men and compete.’

 

[Eels Dude]

Hopefully his diet plan works out.

 

[DOGS AND EELS!!!]

I was secretly hoping that the Panthers were going to dump Tim Grant and then we could have picked him up.