Our hooker for 2026

[MissKate]

I thought we bought one of the Large bros who is a hooker, how’s he developing

 

[Rocky]

Mahoney is marginally better than Croker and is paid twice as much.

He's not the answer.

But I do get the desire to get someone new, as i don't really think Simpkin will be better than a fringe first grader.

Long term Zaidas and Ashton Large seem super promising, but in the interim we may just have to run what we have here with Croker/Simpkin and try and upgrade other positions in the pack.

 

[jbb/james]

Better to work with mahoney possible flaws than other options taken. Imagine going into next season with mahoney croker fogarty tom, lehi and brooks , not mentioning simpkin, arthur and walsh


Maybe Tom Will play 6 and brooks could make way for mahoney. Mmmm
Brooks $$$ isnt crazy hard to offload

Wouldnt be a bad directional change possible. Still not sold on tom at 6

 

[TJ55]

Id be throwing money at Mahoney.

Apart from being a niggler he is a solid mobile player and a workhorse, he deffinetly would be a worthwhile addition to a teams rosters regardless of the grug label

 

[maxta]

I thought we bought one of the Large bros who is a hooker, how’s he developing

Very well and potentially 1 of the better "young guns" in the game....but at 17, is still a couple years off any serious discussion.
The fact is our dummy half impact is maybe the bottom of the NRL ladder and in such a key position, I find this a very worthy thread for discussion.

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

Mahoney is marginally better than Croker and is paid twice as much.

He's not the answer.

But I do get the desire to get someone new, as i don't really think Simpkin will be better than a fringe first grader.

Long term Zaidas and Ashton Large seem super promising, but in the interim we may just have to run what we have here with Croker/Simpkin and try and upgrade other positions in the pack.

Thats a far stretch. Mahoney does a lot running from dummy half and is a better passer with better awareness. Youre also comparing someone who is a specialist to someone who isnt a natural.
Mahoney was also selected for QLD in 2021. I dont think Croker was ever close to getting selected for NSW.

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

Just buy/develop a specialist hooker. Da Silva from the Tigers would be a good get.

Sounds better than using a makeshift hooker.

 

[TheSoaringEagle2023]

Even though I hate the guy but I love it if he play for us. You're right we do need these type of grub that we havn't had for a long time, as long as he doesn't go overboard and give away penalties or get bin also he'll get us a few penalties too.

I can name a few Manly great grubs of all time, Roberts, Cliffy, Gibbs, Spuds, Close were some of the best at it and no one messed with them.

Look at the successful Panthers era. They had Luai and Crichton who are grubs within their own right. Having those sort of players allows your best players to do their work and takes the focus off them.
Roosters had Jake Friend / Radley as their grubs. Every good team has them.

 

[Kalvin]

Just buy/develop a specialist hooker. Da Silva from the Tigers would be a good get.

Yes and they seem to be our feeder club so should be possible!

 

[Jay Eagle]

I agree we lack spark at 9 with any very little zip to put pressure on the most vital place on the field - the ruck....but Brooksy is a longshot
I think you will find Muagututia, a youngster we nabbed from Dogs will push for this position in 2026, initially off the bench, with either croker or Simpkin starting....personally feel Simpkin was on the improve and the most stable looking dummy half we have had in a while so not sure why Manly did not persist there, as it was the smoothest we have looked in a long time and improving.
There is a gun in Ashton Large, rated by many good judges as a potential star of the future, but I think is still only 17yo, so a couple seasons away....attack is absolute top shelf and can actually tackle well also.

I think Ashton is 15..just turned
He has basically played all his juniors up 2 or 3 years
I read somewhere that he played in a highschool carnival at 14 against 17/18 year old
He's school made the final and lost bit he was awarded player of the carnival..so he's got talent

 

[maxta]

I think Ashton is 15..just turned
He has basically played all his juniors up 2 or 3 years
I read somewhere that he played in a highschool carnival at 14 against 17/18 year old
He's school made the final and lost bit he was awarded player of the carnival..so he's got talent

Actually 16, but has played 1-2 years up for some time.....my bad stating 17 earlier, but this is the age he plays against currently
Not really an option at NRL level for some time....so the next 2 years at least, will hopefully find some better options

 

[Rocky]

Thats a far stretch. Mahoney does a lot running from dummy half and is a better passer with better awareness. Youre also comparing someone who is a specialist to someone who isnt a natural.
Mahoney was also selected for QLD in 2021. I dont think Croker was ever close to getting selected for NSW.

I'm not denying we need to upgrade from Croker - but to pay Mahoney double what Croker is on doesn't make sense to me when i see him as a marginal upgrade.

By the way QLD, have no Origin depth at hooker, so yes Mahoney would be in contention for Origin if Harry Grant and Hunt were unavailable, as there is literally no one else.

 

[eaglebuzz]

Muagututia will be the next man up unless we recruit a hooker. He's only 18 (19 now maybe?) so he might get some chances off the bench from next year. I don't think we will see him this year unless both Croker and Simpkin are injured.

 

[Ben]

I thought we bought one of the Large bros who is a hooker, how’s he developing

This kid is an absolute weapon. He can single handedly carry a team on his back. And for a dummy half to be so impactful is incredible!
Still 3 years off but for the long term he is our man