After a few pre-season games now who do we think should be the starting hooker? I suspect it will be Hallas but personally I would prefer Butterworth to be first choice. Hallas is a great clubman who runs his blood to water but to me lacks craft around the ruck. Halafihi also a great clubman who will play anywhere asked by his coach and give his all. Butterworth I feel has the guile, craft and speed around the ruck which the others don't. What do we think?

Hallas is a 45 tackle a game man.

I appreciate what you're saying and he is a great tackler but I would prefer a hooker with better attacking options. The PTB passing from Hallas on Friday was very slow and looping, allowing the defence time to be in the first receivers face on taking the ball. The passing from Butterworth is faster and flatter giving the receiver more time. Also Butterworth is not a bad tackler himself and is much quicker and direct when scooting from acting half.

Hallas starting Butterworth on the bench

It catch your drift. I appreciate a good distributor.

I think we've been a little spoiled these last few seasons in terms of hookers. First we had O' Brien and then Scott Moore - both very, very good hookers. Now we're left with Hallas, who I think is more of a LF than a hooker, and Butterworth who looks promising but is very young.
For this league our options are probably just about good enough but if we ever do manage to get back to the championship I think a new hooker will definitely need to be on our shopping list.

Unless young Butterworth gets sufficient game time to develop into the player he appears to be capable of developing into. In a couple of years he has every chance of being a first team regular.

Definitely. We could do with someone at the back end of their career for Butterworth to be understudy to in the meantime.

Is he a hooker or a half back?

Is there a great deal of difference nowadays?

To me a modern day hooker is just a half who can tackle.

Saying that, I've seen Butterworth play both and I think he looked just as handy in both positions. Which to me makes him the perfect interchange player this season to allow him some game time without too much pressure, but he covers both halves as well as hooker (and technically loose forward too as Hallas could move there).

Is it possible that neither get in and we try Rogers lad or someone else especially against some of the bigger packs. Do you need a small nippy hooker or a very good utility player who can play a bit.

That's a good point. I would like to see Hallas and Butterworth both get plenty of game time at hooker this year, different type of players.
When Sam was in the Leeds academy with my lad, he's a year younger, he played a bit at prop. I think his game is a lot about his work rate, which is exceptional, Butterworth looks like he's a more natural hooker. Think there is room in the 17 for them both.

Regarding my lad, I would say I'm probably his biggest fan and also his biggest critic. Getting the ball at first man is not where he is most effective, I would say maybe about 3rd man in the line, after a natural half back has done his bit first and he can try do his bit as a loose forward with a decent pair of hands. Only my opinion

I would agree with you Roger on the small evidence I have seen. and we need that sort of threat away from the hooker/halves.

I think all three hookers have their strengths and weaknesses. Shame we can't merge them to make one great hooker.

As has been said Hallas offers defensive solidity and a great workrate. Butterworth offers zip out of dummy half and the ability to create space when he engages the markers before passing. Halafihi has a great pass from dummy half that is quick and accurate.

It means it's good competition for places. Personally I'd start Hallas at hooker and have Butterworth come off the bench against tired opponents. Halafihi as backup.

Seems about right for the pecking order though, given the injury setback to Joe Keyes and the fact we haven't seen Chissy with a shirt on yet, I wouldn't be shocked to find one of those three in the halves for the opening game.