Andrew McCullough - The Great Enigma

[Old Mate]

Only if we signed Smith otherwise it wouldn't be worth it.

 

[Huge]

My take on Macca is that he has the skills but not the vision of the top shelf hookers. If he hears that he should run more he goes and does just that. The problem is he tries it all the time and is simply too small/ weak to overcome someone when caught usually ending up with a slow play the ball. What Smith and Buderus and a few other good ones do is be alert for the time when someone gets half way through and gets a very rapid play the ball. I am constantly amazed how often Smith and others are on it like a seagull on a chip. Time after time they are the first one there. Macca seems to lack concentration and staying in the moment, a lot like Sutton used to do a few years back.

 

[rnabokov]

If we don't get Milford he could find himself at 5/8.

Hmmm. I suggested that once and got torched.

In any case, a significant measure of how your hooker plays is the speed of the play the balls, and the support runners.

We sucked at both.

Let's see if the head coach learns anything from watching the relentless momentum of the Roosters, Manly, Souths and Storm in the finals.

 

[vertigo]

Bump.

What are your thoughts on McCullough this year and how Bennett will use him next year?

In pre-season I thought playing 80 mins would help him make the position his own and fulfill his potential which he did up until that injury half way through the season, unfortunately he faded after that..

Bennett should start him off playing 80 to give him every chance but just know that if he can't be consistent then he'll get benched.

 

[Big Pete]

More of the same really.

I didn't think playing 80 minutes was all that important. Jake Friend doesn't play 80 often and he's one of the best hookers in the competition...

The only benefit I saw of it was that it meant that we weren't going to get that hot or cold stint from Hunt or have somebody like Capewell fill in for the sake of it.

Outside of that, it was the same old story from McCullough. Started strong but tapered off as the season got going...usually he finishes strong too but he was pretty ordinary in the final rounds as well.

I'll be interested to see what Bennett does with him...he was the one who decided to blood him as an 18 year old after all.

 

[CaptainHook]

I'll be interested to see what Bennett does with him...he was the one who decided to blood him as an 18 year old after all.

and that was in the halves. Hunt and Macca in the halves could form quite a good combination I reckon. Am starting to think he doesn't have the speed to be hooker but it's too late to turn back now.

 

[Super Freak]

I'm guessing there will be a McCullough/Waddell rotation next year, but I wouldn't mind if Waddell starts and McCullough comes off the bench. At least until McCullough can improve on his service out of dummy half.

He could be quite dangerous around the ruck when the forwards are tired. I think his running game would benefit us at the back end of each half.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Still waiting for him to take his game to the next level. I don't think it will happen by the looks of it.

 

[Big Pete]

and that was in the halves. Hunt and Macca in the halves could form quite a good combination I reckon. Am starting to think he doesn't have the speed to be hooker but it's too late to turn back now.

He played one game in the halves - spent the others at hooker.

 

[Foordy]

We need to start a rumor that a top hooker will be joining us the following year.

It was after the Smith rumor was over that his form started dipping.

And unfortunately having Waddell as his back up won't put much pressure on him to perform.

 

[Alec]

I can't imagine Bennett rates him particularly highly if he actually signed Waddell...who is arguably the worst "specialist" hooker in the NRL.

 

[Big Pete]

I don't think you can buy the Waddell as any indication other than Wayne has a bit of time for the kid and is willing to keep him around especially since nobody else in the NRL wants him.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Broncos linked to other hookers next season. Not that there's many on offer - Ballin would be 32 in 2016 and the rest are either fringe players or rookies with McInnes the best of the bunch.

I wonder what the go is with Matt Srama? Hasn't re-signed with the Titans yet according to Zero Tackle. I wouldn't be against ta belling him an offer.

 

[theshed]

I went back and watched some games with Waddell at hooker. He's no superstar but he can pass off the ground from what I saw.

edit; he played well in the 2013 Allstar match but shit watching that game makes me almost cry over how far Barba had fallen.

 

[I bleed Maroon]

It's time to face the fact that McC is just a very average hooker.

 

[vertigo]

Gotta admit if he doesn't perform consistently next season he's falling into the same category as Wallace at halfback for us, every year our whole membership group were just willing him to be the player we needed and it never happened.

 

[Mitch06]

Should never have let Granville left

 

[Foordy]

Why is it that every time someone leaves, we just "let them leave". we offered him a contract for next year, he decided he would have a better chance at being a starting hooker at the Cowboys.

 

[jarro65]

Hopefully Bennett can give him the kick up the arse that Hook didn't/couldn't.

Macca should be really coming into his own now as a top shelf hooker, but has really floundered a bit this year.

Walters might be able to give him some pointers to help speed his game up a bit too.