It has been discussed ad nauseam since the beginning of the season, as fans and commentators alike revel in the joy of the prodigal game returning.
The six-again rule has made the game faster and more gruelling. The defensive gridlock that had begun to grip the game and had caused wars of attrition to become the norm has been replaced with free and fast-flowing footy.
With fewer stoppages due to penalties and set restarts prolonging periods in defence, the tired big men through the middle can sometimes barely get to marker, let alone stop a quick dummy-half scoot from the likes of Damien Cook.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
The hooker position is one of the most vital in the sport. The most overlooked skill that a hooker can possess is passing.
Rugby league is incredibly fast, and defences are incredibly strong.
Every split second is meaningful. It is the difference between a set play putting a winger over in the corner, or falling apart in a heap. It is the difference between a raging Jason Taumalolo getting over the advantage line with full momentum, or the defenders meeting him early as he pauses to catch a pass behind his shoulder.
Yet time and again we have hookers who show flashes of brilliance yet cannot put the right pass on the right chest at the right time.
A perfect example is Jake Granville. Emerging through the ranks of the Queensland Cup as a fleet-footed outside back, he found his home at nine, winning the 2015 NRL premiership with the Cowboys.
However, as he has aged and as the game has progressed, those same opportunities are no longer being taken and he is left as a hooker who can’t get his team on the front foot in another way: with a set of perfect passes.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Cameron Smith is the greatest hooker of all time. It is the one position where there is no debate. In Game 3 of the 2017 State of Origin series, he showed exactly why. He couldn’t put a pass in the wrong place.
As he arrived at the play the ball, he had a plan, and he executed it. Set after set, he got the ball into the right hands to start every tackle. Usually that is where his involvement in the play ends, but that is all it takes for a player of that calibre to influence a result.
As we continue in this newfound glory of non-stop action, teams must look at their number nines and drill into them the importance of the perfect pass setting up a perfect play.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The last person to be asking anyone if they've mellowed is you. Explain to me again how Turbo is a mistake riddled dud and Darius is the better player , how you don't see why they would ever introduce a captains challenge in response to me saying it was a certainty, how you were so certain that Bennett was staying at the Broncos and joined a herd to ridicule posters who didn't think it was true , how you laughably declared that Bozo deliberately selected weaker NSW teams ............. the list goes on and on. You should have been kicked off the site ages ago the way you bully and abuse other posters. No I wasn't kicked off the site and even if I was it doesn't make you correct on anything.
Nambawan
Roar Rookie
When the new man at Manly, Danny Levi arrived - I was a bit worried as he seemed to be a marked come down from the very talented Manase Fainu. However, I have been quite impressed with the service Levi is supplying from dummy half - crisp accurate and long passing in front of his support player. He does have a bit of rubbish in his game and if Hasler can eradicate that trait then Levi should prove a worthwhile acquisition. But still miss Fainu.
James Cairns
Roar Guru
I might be way off here but the ball is different, union balls are lighter and shaped more like an oval. That's why it's easier for them to kick conversions from anywhere past halfway. Just a guess.
David Cairns
Guest
That first pass sets up the whole play. Timing, speed, accuracy. It's good stuff. I love the 2020 version of the game.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I don't agree that he doesn't know the rule , it sounds like he didn't explain it well at the time. It can be hard to rule on forward passes when it's close thing , no doubt about it.
Adam
Roar Guru
:thumbup: fair call.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
I once had a conversation with Wally Lewis, Paul Vautin and Michael O’Connor who said the same thing as TB. O’Connor in particular is of the opinion that spiral passes are overused in Rugby Union. I completely agree. They have their place, but 50% of the time any benefit from the ball moving through the air fast is nullified by the recipient losing momentum due to the in accuracy or difficulty in catching them.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Smith often passes off the ground like a union halfback too. Surprisingly under-utilised technique for dummy-halves.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Hunt at hooker was probably the key reason that Queensland lost the State of origin last year. Approach play the ball ... Bend over ... Pick up ball ... Stand up ... Look around ... Pass ball to forward ...Oh whaddaya know? The forward got smashed by 3 blues who had all the time in the world to line him up. His service from dummy-half was like he was playing in slow motion.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
That's all cool. My great beef is that the bunker, with all their access to tech n stuff, and time and multiple replays; stuff up - and not rarely, too blasted often to be acceptable and yet this poor touchie who needs to make a call in an instant, off the eye, makes a fair (it may have been incorrect, but the ball did go a meter forward, so fair), call and he cops a hiding while the incompetent bunker breezes through.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Mate, Annesley doesn't know the forward pass rule. He proved that in his 'lecture' with the press last year (or 2018??) {gee time flies}... when he tried to explain a floating forward pass. If the boss can't get it right...
The Barry
Roar Guru
I think league passes tend to be shorter than rugby passes, so a popped pass is easier to catch on the run for a short pass The spiral pass is good for covering distance but takes a bit longer to get through the hands The vintage Mark Ella passes where he catches out in front and accelerates the ball across his body were rarely spiral passes
Adam
Roar Guru
As someone who grew up playing union and watching league, one thing that I have always wanted to know is why so many players don't use spiral passes. Anyone share to elaborate for me?
kk
Roar Pro
Enjoy your work , James. "a poor pass from dummy-half is an energiser for the opposition"
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I am happy for try to stick. I don't really like the forensic bunker. Blatant howler, then yep overturn it otherwise let it stand. Funny thing is since the restart this seems to be what they are doing. It's really strange ,they are examing the Refs challenge with forensic detail but the post try review is usually an on the spot decision. Go figure.
Nat
Roar Guru
What does a "rocket surgeon" do? :laughing: Have you mellowed this year? You very much have claimed "... cost us the game" on many occasions. As recently as the "optical illusion" on Gagai and Jurbo last year. Didn't one of your earlier logins get booted off The Roar because you couldn't let the Walker offside v Penrith call go a few years back? You abused anyone and everyone who didn't agree and kept at it for weeks.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yeah, I still think JMK has a bit of potential as a 9 His service is good, he tackles his ring out. His running game is good but he needs to back himself more. This is his first full season as a hooker. He’s got a lot of improving to do but he is improving
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Wal was pretty well responsible for the widespread use of the long spiral in league. He could sure pass a footy.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I played league at school and a huge amount of touch footy after and when someone was great at their craft , the ball was very hard to drop , it's a subtle thing where it just starts dipping in to the bread basket at the right time and is an art in itself.
matth
Roar Guru
And it's not just that Smith makes the right decision, it's that he makes them without hesitation and no regret. So he never loses that critical half a second for his forwards.