Mozer will be locked in as the 14.
He's shown he's not ready to start yet, especially defensively. No obviously I'm not Madge, but I suspect he'll keep him on the bench for another 12 months continuing to build his game time.
Out of the remaining three hookers, Billy has the best defence and best ability to soak up the early onslaught before we unleash Mozer in tiring defensive lines. Which is why I think Madge will go with him.
I agree with Mozer likely being on the bench and I think people need to stop seeing the 14 jersey as a downgrade.
Everyone will know that Mozer is the number 1 hooker when he starts playing the majority of the minutes. I think the plan this year will be about building his minutes up so he's taking the majority... and I dont care if that's happening with him starting from the bench.
Coaches should only want to sub their 9/14 once during a game and they should be arranging their team so the best players finish the game... unless Mozer can play 80mins out of the gate (he cant), then start him from the bench with the plan being that he finishes the game.
Harry did this with BSmith starting and then shifting to 13.
Rorters sometimes start Watson at 9 and then bring BSmith on with Watson going to 13
GC have been flipping between Randall and Verrils... with Randall shifting to 13, etc.
It happens all over the place because there are very few 80mins hookers nowadays.
It's why I dont mind Smoothy staying with the club... he could be someone that starts at 9 then moves to 13 (Patty to prop) or drops back to the bench, but comes on later as a middle.
I would also like to see how Billy could go as a pure ball playing middle ala Salmon, Hayward, etc. at the dogs... his defence is strong enough to cut blokes in half. Being a pure ball player in the middle reduces pressure and decisions that he's making at dummy half (Salmon is just a link man), but means we'd have an actual half in the middle doing what Patty is currently doing and Patty could move to prop for stints through the game... or actually get a break off the field.