There is a news article in today`s League Express, regarding Andy Ackers.

He has returned to Swinton after Wire didn`t offer him a contract after his loan period.

The decision leaves us with only Daryl Clark, & Micky Higham, as recognised hookers, with Brad Dwyer on a season long loan to London. However we currently have surplus of half backs & utility players who could play there as stop gaps.

Thoughts?

We need to have a third hooker lined up. I realise we have a few players who could fill in but an injury or two would leave us very vulnerable.
I would think (and hope) that we have a plan for such an event.

Quote Boss Hog="Boss Hog"There is a news article in today`s League Express, regarding Andy Ackers. He has returned to Swinton after Wire didn`t offer him a contract after his loan period. The decision leaves us with only Daryl Clark, & Micky Higham, as recognised hookers, with Brad Dwyer on a season long loan to London. However we currently have surplus of half backs & utility players who could play there as stop gaps. Thoughts?'" viewtopic.php?f=21&t=578180

Quote Boss Hog="Boss Hog"There is a news article in today`s League Express, regarding Andy Ackers. He has returned to Swinton after Wire didn`t offer him a contract after his loan period. The decision leaves us with only Daryl Clark, & Micky Higham, as recognised hookers, with Brad Dwyer on a season long loan to London. However we currently have surplus of half backs & utility players who could play there as stop gaps. Thoughts?'" viewtopic.php?f=21&t=578180

Isn't Matty Russell also a recognised stand in hooker ?

in some peoples minds, aye.

Would it be that difficult to get Ackers back if something happened in the season?

Potentially four hookers in the U19s plus Myler and Grix (when fit) can cover the role.

God help us if Russell has to play there lol

It would every unfair to go back to Ackers again, we would simply be mucking him about. I thinks he has now been finally rejected.

Russel at hooker is a definite no, no for me.

Outside of the current squad, I think we would need to go to Dwyer. We have some very good prospects coming through, but they have not even been tried at Championship level yet so I would be surprised if TS went down that path. We must surely have an agreement with London that Dwyer can be released in some circumstances ? basic contract drafting.

Cant argue with that, definitely think Russell at hooker is a no go.

Matty winger or fb only agreed...

...on loan.

Unfortunately the loss of the Academy means that even though we might be bringing good hookers through the under 19s they may have already had to move on to other clubs before we can use them in the first team.

We've had this debate before about Russell playing hooker and there are those who are adamant that he'll never make a hooker. I'll say the same again that from what I've seen he has the potential to be a really good "scooter" from dummy half. The argument against is that he lacks the passing and game awareness skills to succeed. I would think that these skills are at least up to the Micky Higham standard and he's been a superb hooker over the years. I think Tony Smith will be giving Russell a short spell at hooker very soon. Thankfully Smith tends to be a little more flexible and imaginative in his thinking than one or two regulars on this forum.