Other than who will be playing Left Centre, the other position in question is the 14 spot. It is basically down to a few players;.One being Brendan Hands/Joey Lusssick whoever loses the starting Hooker spot. From reports and my own observation from how 2023 ended, Lussick is the favourite to start at Hooker so Hands will be referenced for the 14 spot here. Though the other in contention is Kelma Tuilagi. Now Wiremu Greig has been left out of most predicted 17 lists, i think this purely on the fact he has missed most of the pre-season due to injury so BA might want him to gain some fitness in Cup. Also we already have Ofahengaue and Matterson as middles so Tuilagi makes more sense. If you ask me Greig is a must have, but just saying what i think might be the case (Not gospel just opinion).
So the bench if announced tomorrow will be Matterson, Ofahengaue, Tuilagi/Greig. Three of the four spots are set in stone, though who gets that last spot? Will either Tuilagi or Greig make it four forwards or will Hands get a spot on the bench? Or could a smokey like Moretti come in onto that spot as the fourth forward? Let's start with history under BA.
Historically, BA has preferred four forwards on the bench, or mainly not carrying a second Hooker. Yet, for some reason we have never really been in search for a Jazz Tevaga, Brandon Smith or Cameron McInnes type that can play at Lock but also fill in at Hooker if need be. That type of player is exactly a BA type of 14. Though we do not have that so need to make do. BA has carried two hookers before, usually come Round 7-10 he starts to slowly introduce a second Hooker onto the bench to give the starting Hooker a breather after playing the full 80 for the first 6 or so weeks of the season. 2021 he brought Lussick in around round 12 for a few games to relieve Mahoney, same in 2022 with Rein but a bit earlier in Round 5. 2023 Hands was brought onto the bench in Round 4. 2020 there was no need as the season stopped for a few months due to COVID and was shortened Mahoney was sweet. The only season where BA used a second Hooker a bit was in 2015 where he played Peats and De Gois in the same team, though they also were able to use Peats at Lock for periods of the game in that scenario. BA has not had a Hooker like that since. So history states BA will lean towards using an 80 min Hooker. Also this year with Hodgson and Hands, though that was due to Hodgson not being able to last the full 80, in order to keep his starting Hooker going for longer Hands was required. BA i feel was forced into using Hands, if Hodgson was able to play full 80 then Hands of course would not be in the 17.
Should he have four forwards in favour of a second Hooker? Well It has been mentioned that BA will look to limited the minutes slightly of Paulo and RCG as they get older, having Matterson, Ofahengaue and Greig pick up the slack. To do that, it is nice to have an extra forward on the bench if the minutes are getting spread more evenly. Adding a second Hooker will be a waste, with limited interchanges it does not makes sense having a starting Hooker play two stints. BA this year had Hodgson start and Hands comes on for remainder of the game. Though we saw it did not work as the team looked better once Hands came on. In only two games did Hodgson return to the field after being subbed out. Each week his game time became less and less and BA eventually reverted back to one Hooker (Also Hodgson was finished but BA more likely preferred it anyway). Then came Lussick where Hands played in two games after the arrival, Lussick was settled and Hands was dropped in favour of an extra forward. With the limited interchanges it is hard to argue in favour of having a specialist Hooker on the bench unless they can fill in as a forward. Arguement can be made that Hands can fill in the halves, the one game he did however he was dreadful. Either Hands or Lussick i feel can do the job for us at Hooker at 80min, Hands will be fitter and better in 2024 compared to 2023. But i think BA will do the same of having one Hooker then slowley ease the workload mid year by having a second Hooker, then finish the year with one Hooker again. Or could do opposite approach and start the year slowly with the starter. The reason i do feel there is a discussion, despite the obvious history past, is due to both Lussick and Hands being the same in level of ability. Neither you would say is clearly better than the other. Both have positives and negatives different to the others. Hands has decent distibution and movement passing the ball while Lussick runs and kicks more plus has more experience.
Though on the other side, four forwards can be a bit conjested. Where is a second Hooker might get very limited minutes, they are still very important to have incase of injury. Though with RCG, Paulo, Lane and Hopgood guarenteed minimum 50-80mins and Matterson getting big minutes too between four forwards, the minutes are spread thin and fourth forward might not even get on. They may not even pose an option for injury in the backline either making their addition not really useful. BA loves his back-rowers playing the full 80. With Matterson being able to fill in most places makes him an asset, then Ofahengaue and Greig are middles only with Tuilagi being an edge player and Greig a middle only. Other than Matterson, not a lot of versatility. If replacing the three middles for a portion is the case then having a second Hooker might be worthwhile even if they don't play as a better safe than sorry situation. Hooker is a specialist position though different to any other position on the field due to the skills while also being smack bang in the middle in defence while backing up in attack by touching the ball up to 90-95% of the time, it is a physically demanding spot that also is important for a player like Moses who needs great reception to get the attack going. Hopgood filled in during the year though we are weakening our middles to accommodate resting our Hooker? With having a makeshift Hooker giving mediocre service in the meantime?
Anyway as pre-season goes i think we will start to get an idea of where it is going. But it is one area we should look at to see how it will develop.
Replies
That is true, though still fine to discuss. At the end of the day it is a what would you do discussion added with what we think might happen. BA is the only one who has final say on it but it is fun to speculate.
Cunt of a thing to say Grunta
Good write up , personally hope Hands is 14 come Rnd 1, if not then he starts and we run with 4
I like Hands, just seems it was all a bit rushed for him. Coaching staff probably saw him as an emergency option during the year but doubt they thought he would be debuting before Round 10-15 nonetheless Round 4.
He was rushed only playing 1 NSW Cup game at Hooker, limited minutes then in his 3rd game was asked to play the full 80. After that he played 6-7 games in a row averaging around 70-75mins. It took a toll you could see that. I happens to rookies. Look at Will Penisini in 2022, full-time FG and his body was suffering. 2023 he looked more settled as his body was used to it. Hands will be more prepared, physically and mentally.
Honestly Marty, to each to their own. Though he has said much worse to me on my blogs, so I'll take this as being pretty tame and can cop it.
I personally like 1 hooker and to me Hands is the best option with more up side, with Carty on the bench he can fill in if Hands needs a break and is more usable as can fill in at halfs, center, 2nd row or even lock in case of injuries as can Matto.
They are both average, never carry two average players for the same position, period.
Two hookers is pretty common for a reason.
Hands has been great for a rookie and will settle with more experience, there is no reason to believe he won't continue to improve.
Also, Lussick can play 13 if he has to.
I don't like 4 forwards, it's hard to get them all ample playing time. I'd rather we just rotate the 17 jersey between Moretti, Kelma, Ogden and Doorey with Mataele getting a taste.
I personally love 2 hookers, especially thai ones. They have good Hands
My preferred bench would be Paulo, Matterson, Ofahengaue and Moretti.
Size, speed, power and skill.
Hands should be an 80 minute hooker but if he isn't up to it then drop him for Lussick.
My starting props would be RCG and Greig to take the sting out of the game and get us on the front foot so Paulo can come in and weave his magic.
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