I still don't get the whole thing of an impact hooker. Surely the name just points to scooting.

I'd rather have a solid hooker who distributes the ball well for 80 minutes then scooting for half of it. Surely the impact should come from the fresh forwards who run the ball in hard and offload.

Personally, aside from the semi final, if we could go back again, i'd have started clarke at 7 and monas at 9,


Strangely, and even the most rabid of clarke haters would appreciate he fills in very very well at SH.

I will agree that he does play better at scrum half or even back row. That is why he should be a squad member (a bit like grix) and not an automatic choice for the first team which results in the best hooker in SL being played out of position.

Robs team is spot on for me. Although it's not necessarily harsh on Riley as he will get plenty of chances as Hodgson and Hicks won't be playing every game/every week next year I'm sure, plus if anyone doesn't perform in that back line Riles can come straight in and do a stellar job.

The 9 debate depends very much on the form of Myler for me, it will be interesting to see what the knock-on affect of being dropped from the Challenge Cup final will have on him for next year as he could struggle, missing out on a big -game at such delicate young age could genuinely affect his confidence and form. If so, Monas will slot in at 7, Clarkey gets the nod and then Myler may not get a look in for a good few weeks. However, Myler could go down to Australia with the England squad put the disappointment of the last few weeks with his club to the back of his mind, have a few very good games down-under and once again be up there as one of the hottest prospects in the game and more importantly come back to club buzzing with confidence and enthusiasm for the new season. Of course, it's all up in the air at the moment.

1. Hodgson
2. Hicks
3. Bridge
4. Atkins
5. King

6. Briers
7. Myler

8. Morley
9. Monaghan
10. Carvell
11. L Anderson
12. Westwood
13. clarke

14. Harrison
15. Wood
16. Solomona.
17. Higham

Imo Clarke should play at 13 as he is a ball player ,Harrison is a prop or 2nd row his ball distribution isn't good enough to be a 13 he also doesn't have a kicking game imo !

The number of fans who say this is amazing as Smith has done everything in his power to make sure Clarke plays. I think he will be a certainty for the 17 next season.

I still think there might be one more signing and that signing will be a certain specialist 13.

what does higham add what monas doesn't is that he is good impact from the bench and can chage the game like he did against huddersfield. what does clarke add what monas doesn't = nothing. moving monas to 7 to accomodate clarke might work once but t doesn't consistently. plus claarke is the only 1 of the 3 not to get offered a contract under smith.

Cunningham's made a lot of players look very stupid over the years. Both better and worse than Clarke. To be done by him from 2 yards out is no disgrace, he's made it his trademark try over 16 or so years...

That despite TS saying there won't be?

I think you'll find the best hooker in SL was selected for the Dream Team.

It's funny how depending what camp someone is in, they will harp on about Jon Clarke having a bad game in either the two play-off matches, while focussing on Micky Higham's (impressive) impact in the Giants match and ignoring the fact that he was our weakest player at Wembley; or ignore the fact that Michael Monaghan has been in very indifferent form since the semi final blindly calling him "the best hooker in SL"...

I can accept people just don't like Jon Clarke. It happens to players who do unglamorous work for many years without being flash about it. Look at Mike Wainwright as another derided by fans who didn't bother to actually watch what he put into a match...

I don't think anybody is ignoring monaghan's form since the semi as it has been poor by his usual standards. But, and this is only a hunch, i think it might have something to do with him playing at scrum half and not hooker.

Thats got nothing to do with monaghan not even playin hooker but playing half back????????????

Owned.

Monagan must play at 9.