9 days until the Super League season kicks off, so I've had a look at my top pick hookers of the 2015 season....enjoy!
Daryl Clark – Super League’s 2014 Young Player of the Year, Steve Prescott’s Man of Steel 2014 winner, Castleford’s Player’s Player of the year and Castleford’s Player of the Year – not much then. Daryl Clark certainly impressed in 2014.
This young hooker was certainly the best, most impactful player of the 2014 Super League season, and every-time he touched the ball nobody knew what he was going to produce. He had a massive impact on the field for Castleford in 2014 and fans hated it when he was playing against their team.
In the 2014 Super League season, the 21-year-old made 24 clean breaks (the sixth most in the Super League), made 269 carries, 2920 metres, 96 tackle busts and 10 try assists. This player certainly is a special one.
Warrington have managed to secure this talent for four-years, but throughout that time I can imagine there’s going to be a lot of offers from some – if not all – NRL sides.
Clark topped off his 2014 year by being selected into the England squad for the 2014 Four Nations, where in his first touch he managed to set up his former captain Michael Shenton to score against Samoa.
With the likes of Hill, Sims and Westwood by his sides, Clark is going to have a massive impact on the Wolves in 2014. I’m already nervous for when he plays my side...
James Roby – This player is one of the best leaders in the game, even though he’s not St Helens’ captain. I’d compare him to the likes of Thurston and Cameron Smith over in the NRL, and St Helens are certainly lucky to have a player of such great talent.
The 2007 Man of Steel winner has played his whole career with St Helens, and I can imagine that last year’s season was his favourite. Although almost-everyone doubted them, they managed to win the League Leader’s Shield and beat favourites, Wigan Warriors in the 2014 Grand Final to go on to lift the Super League trophy in front of a crowd of over 70,000 people.
Roby, who won the Harry-Sunderland trophy in the 2014 Grand Final, made the most runs from dummy half in 2014, over 100 more runs than second place Scott Moore, made the most tackles (1054), most market tackles (210), the second-most amount of carries (509), the eight-most amount of metres and a total of 20 try assists. Not bad for a 29-year-old, ey?
Roby is a player, like Clark, that makes oppositions panic whenever he runs from dummy-half. Personally, watching him the Grand Final certainly did me no good health. As always, he will be an inspiring player for his team in 2015 and I think another Man of Steel award could be on the plate for him at the end of the coming season.
Michael McIIorum – A bit of a controversial pick, I can presume you’re thinking...
This player is a bit like marmite. You either love him or hate him. Unless you’re a Wigan Warriors fan, I’ll presume that you hate him...
Now I’ve not just picked this player because I’m a Wigan fan, but simply because I rate this hooker. He has a big impact on the field for the Warriors and when he’s not on the field-of-play you can certainly tell the difference. He leads and orders his forwards expertly and controls the game well when he has the ball in hand.
His defensive work is also a big part of his game, being a very-strong defender and causing disrupt for the attacking opposition. Although, he is known for getting a bit rough in the defence and is seen as being a little ‘dirty’, but being tough is a part of his game and talent – in all fairness, he only gave away 8 penalties in the 2014 season, which is good comparing it to other hookers of the game, such as Hodgson (24), Tommy Lee (14) and Scott Moore (23).
The ex-Ireland and current England-international’s 2014 season was a bit of a rollercoaster, picking up several injuries along the way, giving him a total of just 15 Super League appearances in 2014. This also included being sidelined for the 2014 Grand Final, which he could have had a massive impact on if he was fit enough to play.
Wane will have to try his best to keep this hot-headed player under control for the 2015 season, but it’s all apart of his love for the game and for his team.
Being a Wigan fan, I’m hoping he can produce more of his magic for the 2015 season and I can’t wait to see what he does.
Daryl Clark – Super League’s 2014 Young Player of the Year, Steve Prescott’s Man of Steel 2014 winner, Castleford’s Player’s Player of the year and Castleford’s Player of the Year – not much then. Daryl Clark certainly impressed in 2014.
This young hooker was certainly the best, most impactful player of the 2014 Super League season, and every-time he touched the ball nobody knew what he was going to produce. He had a massive impact on the field for Castleford in 2014 and fans hated it when he was playing against their team.
In the 2014 Super League season, the 21-year-old made 24 clean breaks (the sixth most in the Super League), made 269 carries, 2920 metres, 96 tackle busts and 10 try assists. This player certainly is a special one.
Warrington have managed to secure this talent for four-years, but throughout that time I can imagine there’s going to be a lot of offers from some – if not all – NRL sides.
Clark topped off his 2014 year by being selected into the England squad for the 2014 Four Nations, where in his first touch he managed to set up his former captain Michael Shenton to score against Samoa.
With the likes of Hill, Sims and Westwood by his sides, Clark is going to have a massive impact on the Wolves in 2014. I’m already nervous for when he plays my side...
James Roby – This player is one of the best leaders in the game, even though he’s not St Helens’ captain. I’d compare him to the likes of Thurston and Cameron Smith over in the NRL, and St Helens are certainly lucky to have a player of such great talent.
The 2007 Man of Steel winner has played his whole career with St Helens, and I can imagine that last year’s season was his favourite. Although almost-everyone doubted them, they managed to win the League Leader’s Shield and beat favourites, Wigan Warriors in the 2014 Grand Final to go on to lift the Super League trophy in front of a crowd of over 70,000 people.
Roby, who won the Harry-Sunderland trophy in the 2014 Grand Final, made the most runs from dummy half in 2014, over 100 more runs than second place Scott Moore, made the most tackles (1054), most market tackles (210), the second-most amount of carries (509), the eight-most amount of metres and a total of 20 try assists. Not bad for a 29-year-old, ey?
Roby is a player, like Clark, that makes oppositions panic whenever he runs from dummy-half. Personally, watching him the Grand Final certainly did me no good health. As always, he will be an inspiring player for his team in 2015 and I think another Man of Steel award could be on the plate for him at the end of the coming season.
Michael McIIorum – A bit of a controversial pick, I can presume you’re thinking...
This player is a bit like marmite. You either love him or hate him. Unless you’re a Wigan Warriors fan, I’ll presume that you hate him...
Now I’ve not just picked this player because I’m a Wigan fan, but simply because I rate this hooker. He has a big impact on the field for the Warriors and when he’s not on the field-of-play you can certainly tell the difference. He leads and orders his forwards expertly and controls the game well when he has the ball in hand.
His defensive work is also a big part of his game, being a very-strong defender and causing disrupt for the attacking opposition. Although, he is known for getting a bit rough in the defence and is seen as being a little ‘dirty’, but being tough is a part of his game and talent – in all fairness, he only gave away 8 penalties in the 2014 season, which is good comparing it to other hookers of the game, such as Hodgson (24), Tommy Lee (14) and Scott Moore (23).
The ex-Ireland and current England-international’s 2014 season was a bit of a rollercoaster, picking up several injuries along the way, giving him a total of just 15 Super League appearances in 2014. This also included being sidelined for the 2014 Grand Final, which he could have had a massive impact on if he was fit enough to play.
Wane will have to try his best to keep this hot-headed player under control for the 2015 season, but it’s all apart of his love for the game and for his team.
Being a Wigan fan, I’m hoping he can produce more of his magic for the 2015 season and I can’t wait to see what he does.
Check back again tomorrow for my top pick of number 8s.
Don't forget to follow my on Twitter @RLLatest
Thanks for reading
Don't forget to follow my on Twitter @RLLatest
Thanks for reading