Hookeris one of thepositionsin arugby leaguefootball team. Usually wearing jersey or shirt number 9, the hooker is one of the team's forwards. Duringscrumsthe hooker plays in the front row, and the position's name comes from their role of 'hooking' or 'raking' the ball back with the foot.[5]For this reason the hooker is sometimes referred to in Australia as therake.[6] Hookers have a great deal of contact with the ball, as they usually play the role of acting halfback ordummy half,picking the ball up from theplay-the-ballthat follows atackle.[7]Hookers therefore have much responsibility in that they then decide what to do with the ball,[8]whether that be to pass it (and to whom), run with it, or occasionally to kick it. Therefore, together with the two halves andfullback,hooker is one of the four key positions that make up what is sometimes called a team's 'spine'.[9]A trend of halves converting into hookers followed the introduction of the 10 metre rule,[10]and many players have switched between these positions in their careers such asGeoff Toovey,Andrew Johns,Craig GowerandPeter Wallace.
Thelaws of rugby leaguestate that the hooker is to be numbered 9.[11]However, in some leagues, such asSuper League,players can wear shirt numbers which do not have to conform to this system.
One book published in 1996 stated that in senior rugby league, the hooker andstand-off/five-eighthhandled the ball more often than any other position.[12]In the2013 NRL seasonthe top six players with the most tackles were all hookers.[13]
Notable hookers
editHookers that feature in their nations' rugby league halls of fame are New Zealand'sJock Butterfieldand Australia'sKen Kearney,Sandy Pearce,Cameron SmithandNoel Kelly.The most-capped British international hooker was Wales'Tommy Harris.[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Ward, Roy (2021-03-10)."'The right time to finish': Storm great Smith retires from rugby league ".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved2021-03-10.
- ^Wolfgram, Jason (12 April 2019)."Smith breaks point-scoring record as Storm beat Cowboys".NRL.com.Retrieved23 October2019.
- ^Walter, Brad (25 October 2020)."If this was Captain Cam's swan song he hit the perfect note".National Rugby League.Retrieved25 October2020.
- ^Gardiner, Gilbert."Cameron Smith, the humble everyday champion who has given so much to Victoria".Herald Sun.News Corp.Retrieved5 November2020.
- ^news.bbc.co.uk (12 September 2005)."When is a scrum formed?".Rugby League: Laws & Equipment.BBCSport.Retrieved12 July2012.
- ^Garry, Chris (17 July 2013)."State of Origin to decide the game's best hooker".The Courier-Mail.Retrieved21 July2013.
- ^Hadfield, Dave (22 January 1994)."Russell is hooked by hooking".The Independent.Retrieved24 June2012.
- ^news.bbc.co.uk (12 September 2005)."Positions guide: Hooker".Rugby league: Laws & Equipment.BBCSport.Retrieved11 July2012.
- ^Read, Brent (11 February 2012)."Coach Tim Sheens yet to crack Wests Tigers' backbone".The Australian.Retrieved11 July2012.
- ^Reilly, Thomas (1997).Science and Football III.Wales: Taylor & Francis. p. 13.ISBN9780419221609.Retrieved23 September2016.
- ^The International Laws of the Game and Notes of the Laws(PDF).RLIF.2007. p. 9. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-11-14.Retrieved2012-07-28.
- ^Tim Rogers and Richard Beesley (2006).Fitness for Rugby League(PDF).Australia: coachrugbyleague.com.au. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-10-21.Retrieved2012-07-12.
- ^"NRL 2013 Player Stats".The Sydney Morning Herald.14 September 2013.Retrieved14 September2013.
- ^"Wales rugby league legend dies".News Wales.3 October 2006.Retrieved5 November2012.