Quote: Mick Amos 9 WTW "I think far too many people are placing too much emphasis on the hooker position in respect of why we are losing etc.
Against Wigan a non hooker plays and it's 6-6 at HT. Recognised hooker plays second half and it ends up we lose 34-6.
Against St Helens non hooker plays 23minutes and it's 0-0. Recognised hooker comes on and plays until 73 mins and it's 34-0 against us. Non hooker comes on and we score and it ends up 34-6.
V Hull recognised hooker starts and plays 32 minutes and we are losing 8-0. Non recognised hooker comes on and it ends up 20-14.
Crowther isn't a convential hooker or someone who you would want as hooker if you can help it. However he's made a decent fist of it. Facts are when he's been on the field we've competed and been in the game! When he's gone off we've struggled.
I think there's wider problems with our star men who haven't given us the Xfactor. We've some phenomenal players who haven't played well enough, consistently enough. I'm sure they know that deep down.
In a team there's everyone who plays their part and are equally important. The grafter who tackles everything, the finisher, the line breaker, the person who can finish when they're put through a gap, the ball handler, the kicker, the person who links in etc..
Despite some being injured if our match winners start performing we should see a few wins in the next few weeks'"
It's not Crowther's fault at all. When he's been on he's gone a long way to keeping those scores tight.
But having him at half back slows the distribution, so eventually they start scoring and we can't go with them.
To be honest, it's easy to coach from my keyboard but I think I'd have put Westy in the line earlier and just used 6 or 7 at half back and let Crowther just concentrate on tackling.