Quote ="markrammond"Super League used to be a competition in which almost every team had one Hooker starting with another on the interchange bench.
But over the years many coaches now select just one Hooker in the matchday squad and play him for the majority of the 80 minutes with the likes of James Roby, Michael McIlorum and Danny Houghton being perfect examples of this trend.
This trend away from interchange Hookers has in itself created a surplus of experienced guys perceived as "half a game" Hookers and a lot of these guys have grown disenchanted and appeared on the market over the last 12 months with the likes of Jon Clarke, Paul McShane, Scott Moore, Shaun Lunt and Andy Ellis all circulating on the market after little gametime.
Unfortunately for Andy Ellis has been the fact that his new Head Coach (who was employed after he decided to join) is very much a one Hooker man proven in his time at Hull FC and he will select Paul Ailton when given the choice.
Would he return?
Andy was considering staying at the Broncos last season but knowing he would be in his late 20s after the deal delayed signing the deal on the table offered very early on in the season in the hope of a better offer.
In a typical example of man mismanagement the club decided they had waited long enough and just pulled the deal without giving Andy a 'last chance' to sign. He was very disappointed with this. But I think his nemesis has left and he's a great bloke, I think he'd be open to returning.
There is a huge need for a new Hooker of course with Rinaldi deciding to retire late in the season and Sam Bolger released, perhaps because he played a simple passing game rather than threatening the line himself, and we suddenly look very thin in the Hooking position.
The reality for our esteemed youth coaches is there are vacancies at all age levels at London Broncos and they would love a great talent to emerge which is probably the only position they've yet to provide us with. I'd suggest that there is only one Hooker in the youth system with outstanding potential in Liam Rice-Wilson. But he is at least three years away from selection.
So we have absoultely no one with any experience, aside from Randall, at Hooker bar Chris Melling who played a few games as a youth. And Chad Randall who will go into next season as a thirty two year old veteran but who has never really recaptured his 2009 form which were his last golden days before Mac tried to make him a Scrum Half.
For me Andy Ellis represents the premier British Hooker on the market. Its no coincidence his return to the team coincided with Wakefield's uplift.
Easy
Rammo'"
Liam Rice Wilson was in the schlorship program, but wasent given a contract so has now left the club.
