Cameron Smith holds the NRL records for matches played, points scored, goals kicked, tackles made, grand final points scored and competition wins.[1][2][3][4] Hookers such as Cameron Smith usually perform the role of "dummy half", picking the ball up to start play following a play-the-ball.

Hooker is one of the positions in a rugby league football team. Usually wearing jersey or shirt number 9, the hooker is one of the team's forwards. During scrums the 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 the rake.[6] Hookers have a great deal of contact with the ball, as they usually play the role of acting halfback or dummy half, picking the ball up from the play-the-ball that follows a tackle.[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 and fullback, 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 as Geoff Toovey, Andrew Johns, Craig Gower and Peter Wallace.

The laws of rugby league state that the hooker is to be numbered 9.[11] However, in some leagues, such as Super 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 and stand-off/five-eighth handled the ball more often than any other position.[12] In the 2013 NRL season the top six players with the most tackles were all hookers.[13]

Notable hookers

Hookers that feature in their nations' rugby league halls of fame are New Zealand's Jock Butterfield and Australia's Ken Kearney, Sandy Pearce, Cameron Smith and Noel Kelly. The most-capped British international hooker was Wales' Tommy Harris.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ward, Roy (2021-03-10). "'The right time to finish': Storm great Smith retires from rugby league". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  2. ↑ Wolfgram, Jason (12 April 2019). "Smith breaks point-scoring record as Storm beat Cowboys". NRL.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  3. ↑ Walter, Brad (25 October 2020). "If this was Captain Cam's swan song he hit the perfect note". National Rugby League. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Gardiner, Gilbert. "Cameron Smith, the humble everyday champion who has given so much to Victoria". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  5. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk (12 September 2005). "When is a scrum formed?". Rugby League: Laws & Equipment. BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. ↑ Garry, Chris (17 July 2013). "State of Origin to decide the game's best hooker". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Hadfield, Dave (22 January 1994). "Russell is hooked by hooking". The Independent. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  8. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk (12 September 2005). "Positions guide: Hooker". Rugby league: Laws & Equipment. BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  9. ↑ Read, Brent (11 February 2012). "Coach Tim Sheens yet to crack Wests Tigers' backbone". The Australian. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  10. ↑ Reilly, Thomas (1997). Science and Football III. Wales: Taylor & Francis. p. 13. ISBN 9780419221609. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  11. ↑ The International Laws of the Game and Notes of the Laws (PDF). RLIF. 2007. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  12. ↑ Tim Rogers and Richard Beesley (2006). Fitness for Rugby League (PDF). Australia: coachrugbyleague.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  13. ↑ "NRL 2013 Player Stats". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  14. ↑ "Wales rugby league legend dies". News Wales. 3 October 2006. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
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