Australia coach Mal Meninga says hooker will be the most difficult position for him to select at this year's Rugby League World Cup but has revealed the race is down to five contenders.
Meninga plans to name two out of Harry Grant (Melbourne), Ben Hunt (St George Illawarra), Damien Cook (South Sydney), Api Koroisau (Penrith) and Reece Robson (North Queensland) in his squad of 24 for the World Cup in England in October.
The coach says all five men would be worthy inclusions.
"It's going to be difficult," Meninga told SEN.
"Hooker is such an important position in your footy team.
"They touch the ball the most of anyone. They're the ones that make most of the decisions as to which way the ball goes."
Form at Origin and club levels will be taken into account as Meninga determines his squad.
But the coach said Robson's omission from NSW's Origin side and Hunt's failure to rouse the Dragons to a finals berth would not necessarily work against them when it came to choosing his squad.
"I work on it really every day on what that 24 might look like. It changes most weeks," Meninga said.
"(Robson) has had a great year. All year he's been terrific.
"Benny Hunt was so good starting for Queensland."
Meninga said defensive steel and strong kicking and running games would also be looked upon favourably.
"You want a hooker who can bring the forwards onto the football so the subtleties around your (hooker) become really critical," he said.
"Obviously defensively you've got to be sound because you are a target.
"You want a running nine, that's where I think Queensland got it right with Ben and Harry Grant interchanging (during the Origin series).
"If you can kick the ball, it allows on-field chase from your team and it's not expected.
"Every one of those five guys could do that."
Hunt appears a strong chance to snare one of the two hooker spots. His NRL form had him leading the Dally M Medal tally before voting went behind closed doors in May, while Meninga says his ideal candidates for hooker would also be able to play other positions.
Hunt plays halfback for the Dragons at club level, can switch onto the other side of the field as five-eighth in a pinch and had a stellar Origin series at hooker.
"Giving players time in different positions I think works a trick because when you get into semis or the grand final, you've got players who have played good game time," he said.
"But also you know you can trust them to play a number of positions if you get injuries."
Cook played hooker in Australia's last match in 2019 but incumbency will count for little given how much time had elapsed.
"There's a lot of water under the bridge, unfortunately," Meninga said.
