Hooker (rugby league)

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.

[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.

[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.

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.

[13] 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.

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.