With us signing patten obviously ratchford isn't going fullback now and with the likely partnership of smith and holdsworth , what are peoples thoughts of using ratchford at hooker as in the modern day game it's like another half back postion.

I think his tackling is good enough and his passing will be alot sharper than malc's but think his biggest threat could be running from dummy half

So who is going to replace Swain at 13?

Ratchford could easily develop in to a top class 13 given the right coaching........

Well if the Wild rumour is true, then him I would think.

Am I the only one thinking that Ratchford wouldn't be any good as a hooker because his passing isn't good enough??

Rachford @ hooker, it would be worth a look the two things that bother me would be

He plays the game in too nice of a way imo to be a hooker, when was the last time you saw him clean somebody out (legal or illegal) to be a decent hooker you need that bit of venom in you as virtually all the time your in the thick of the action competing physically and mentally with people who can only be described as monsters most of the time and if you dont have the physical strenth, the mental toughness and fear factor to keep getting up and knocking the next attacker down tackle after tackle like some kind of rabid infested dog it wont work.

I just dont feel physically Rachford is their yet in his development to take over the hooking role succesfully, his defence against bigger units is pretty bad .
For me he should be used in a "Thinking winger" role like chris Bridge was at wire let him come in and be the extra pivot and get involved make the defenders think about what you might do.

M Smith would look more like a contender for space in our two man hooking unit , but he like Rachford has problems with bigger unit which in the hooking Role is bread and butter