I know there are a few other blogs floating around on this topic, but I've not had a chance to write a blog for a very long time, so I'm going to start my own. Sorry!
I truly believe if Clint Gutherson takes over the nine, Parramatta has a crack at the title of THIS year.
Let's just go through the qualities that make an elite level hooker, and let's use Cameron Smith as our benchmark.
And we'll tackle the first one that gets raised first - defence. WTF? I truly don't get why anyone would worry about Gutho defending in the centre. First starters, as opposed to most hookers, he's a big boy. True, if he moved there full-time he'd nugget up a little, but he's 94kg (Smith is 90kg). His front on defence is exceptional, he provides great line speed. What's not to love. He's instantly be one of the better defensive hookers in the competition.
Second attribute you want from a hooker. The ability to get out and run out of dummy half. We've already seen him making numerous scoots out of dummy half, where he's made huge metres. With his size and footwork, he'd be lethal close to the line - as we saw last night. Tick this off. He's instanlty be one of the most dynamic running hookers in the competition.
Thirdly, you need to provide good service to your forwards. So, this is something he'd have to work on - purely on the basis of constantly passing off the ground would be a little foreign to him - but he's got a good pass. He's be able to throw those long passed that open up the field, and he'd pick up the rest of the service responsibilities really quickly.
Fourth, a kicking game is a MASSIVE advantage. Being able to kick out of dummy half always gives you an additional option, and if you can kick short like Hodgson for Canberra, it's a massive weapon. TICK, TICK.
Fifth - stamina. Hookers run, and run, and run. You saw in Origin how many metres Nathan Peats did. A good hooker is always backing up in support, and always pushing. It's been said any number of times that Gutherson is the fittest player in the Eels club. Again, TICK!
And finally, and most of all, you want your hooker to be a footballer, who can read the play and know which way to go. And once again, we have a big TICK. The kid is a footballer, he's competitive and he'd give us fantastic leadership and direction from the ruck. That's particularly important in our side, where we have two halves who are natural five-eighths. I've always said a playmaker nine would provide the best balance for our side.
In short, if you could design your perfect nine - it would pretty much be Clint Gutherson. And I tihnk it's his best position. I don't think he's got the acceleration of French as a fullback, I don't think his playmaking skills or kicking are as advanced as Norman or Moses. He's not as powerful as the blokes we have in our outside backs. Gutherson's greatest atributes is what makes him such a great utility is he just has an amazing all-round game, and that makes him perfect for hooker which is where that all-round game is most needed.
In fact, I'm predicting that if Gutho makes the move to nine, he'll succeed Cameron Smith as the next Australian hooker.
I've been having this argument with people for the last three weeks since someone on here first raised it, and I decided it would be a good idea. The only thing anyone ends up saying is "he's too tall" to be a hooker. Seriously? It's worth pointing out that Smith is 6'1 and so Gutherson is only 2 inches taller than the best hooker they game has every seen.
With a player like Clint having his hands on the ball as much as a hooker does, can only be a good thing.
Replies
He's the fittest player in the team. Seriously, if Will Smith can get through making 40 tackles in a game, Clint Gutherson can do it.
I really can't see however, Brad Arthur putting Gutherson in at hooker unless there no other option or if he's reading this blog.
His job is just get into dummy half and tackle
Also Ron Hilditch was tall for a hooker
Why Mitchy? Seriously, what part of being a hooker, does Gutho fall down in terms of skill set?
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