I only heard - or rather read - Royce once say that Flanagan can turn his hand to hooker if need be but it isn't his favoured position. I got the distinct impression from both Royce and Flanagan (via their interviews at different times) that cover for Robes would come from Hohaia and not Flanagan as Hohaia had played at hooker in either GFs or internationally, I can't remember which. It's likely that Flanagan would have only been called on to step in if both Robes and Hohaia were out injured.

I think it may have been me who said Flanagan had his best games at Wigan at hooker.

Royce stated he can play hooker when we signed him www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/14201618

Royce stated he can play hooker when we signed him www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/14201618

Quote brook40="brook40"Royce stated he can play hooker when we signed him www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/14201618'" Yep. I thought that was the case: Quote brook40[i"He is tough and versatile, can play in the middle or on an edge and can cover at hooker if need be." [/i'" "If need be" - at a push in other words. I thought that's what I'd read.

Quote brook40="brook40"Royce stated he can play hooker when we signed him www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/14201618'" Yep. I thought that was the case: Quote brook40[i"He is tough and versatile, can play in the middle or on an edge and can cover at hooker if need be." [/i'" "If need be" - at a push in other words. I thought that's what I'd read.

sure he has played on the wing and 6,7 and 9 when in wigans under 20's...



rogues will know more obviously

I can't recall him playing on the wing or at 7, but he has played second row and (I think) loose forward.

Isn't his favoured position 13? Dont think saints have ever filled the void from Sculthorpe, Flanagan could be the man

Part of the reason for that is that we've had a succession of coaches who have refused to play Wilkin there.

Why tho?

Perhaps they have all thought that he wasn't very good there? He might think he is, and occasionally he might be, but perhaps the coaching staff don't. Or they think he better suits second row? (to put a positive spin on it!) Royce started with him playing at 13 last season, until injuries began to bite hard and he was used as reinforcement elsewhere. But Wilkin never went back into 13 after that so far as I can recall. If it had just been one coach then it could be called a preference but it has been more than one so there must be something in Wilkin's game that persuades coaches not to play him at 13.

It is strange that nearly every coach didn't seem to like wilkin at 13. I can see royces way of thinking as he liked the extra prop at 13 ( I also like this) but as you've said, other coaches ain't played him there.

When we signed Flanagan, i didnt really remember a great deal about what he was like going forward, from his time at Wigan.



However, what i did remember is always thinking he was a good defender, and he has only cemented that view whilst playing for us, and he cant half hit.