Class number nines can make such a huge different to a team's fortunes.
Cameron Smith, for over a decade, pulled the strings for the Storm. Despite Melbourne losing millions of dollars of talent, they never really dipped thanks mainly to Smith's genius.
2024 saw a host of class hookers emerge. It did make ranking them very tough.
Please remember that these rankings are compiled using 2024's form only. This isn't necessarily a list of the best hookers, per se.
Below are the top 10 hookers from 2024:
4. Apisai Koroisau
The Tigers may have finished last but it was through no fault of their outstanding number nine Api Koroisau.
Across his 22 games he had five tries, nine try assists, eight line-break assists, 54 run metres per game and tackles at over 86%. Throw in two forced dropouts and 43 goals for good measure.
As a Sharks fan I will never forget the early season game where Koroisau, fighting gastro, tore the Sharks to shreds at Leichhardt Oval.
The Tigers struggled in 2024 but Koroisau, Galvin and Samuela Fainu were three points of excitement for the side. Api lead them extremely well in equally extreme circumstances.
