Cowboys.com.au are providing an in-depth positional analysis of the 2021 North Queensland Toyota Cowboys squad. We continue the series with an intriguing race for the starting hooker position.
The players are ranked by their NRL experience with their career numbers of games in brackets next to their name.
>>> Part 1: 2021 squad analysis - fullback
>>> Part 2: 2021 squad analysis - outside backs
>>> Part 3: 2021 squad analysis - halves
>>> Part 4: 2021 squad analysis - middle fowards
>>> Updated: Cowboys 2021 squad list
Jake Granville (143)
Granville held a mortgage on the No.9 jersey for his first five seasons in North Queensland. From 2015 to 2019, Granville played in excess of 24 games in all five seasons. In 2020, the premiership-winning dummy half played just eight games due to the emergence of young guns Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter. Granville will look to impress the new coaching staff in the pre-season in order to win his prized No.9 jersey back for 2021.
Reece Robson (23)
A hamstring tear cut short what was a brilliant first season in North Queensland for Reece Robson. The 22-year-old scored five tries in 14 games for the Cowboys, including doubles against the Titans and Roosters. Robson returned to pre-season injury-free and will battle Granville and Reuben Cotter to be named Round 1 dummy half.
Reuben Cotter (15)
After registering five games in his debut 2019 season, Cotter added another 10 in 2020. The Sarina Crocs junior is renowned as one of the Cowboys fittest and proved that when given the chance at NRL level. Cotter produced four consecutive 80-minute performances to finish the season, including an outstanding 61-tackle performance against Penrith in Round 19.
