north queensland hooker jake Granville as the linchpin of his side and I reckon he needs a major improvement this year if the Cowboys are to get back in the top eight with Jonathan Thurston now retired Granville is more of a vital cog in that Cowboys machine than ever and he needs to get them humming I've always rated Grandville highly but watching him last year I thought he lacked the spark and impact that he's had when the Cowboys won the competition in 2015 after having a look at some of his stats I know that they were down as well compared to the best hookers in the competition and well down on his 2015 season as an example he made on average 3.8 domi half runs per game and 35 point three meters per game on average pair that to damien cook who had seven runs per game out of their inmate seventy eight point eight meters on average if your numbers are down as hooker your team is going to feel the pinch a few seasons ago Jake Granville was one of the best hookers in the game and when you set the standard there is an expectation that it will at least continue that position of hooker is so important the greats like Cameron Smith run the entire shell out of there Granville has done it before but even more so now they need him to step up out of there this year Smythe can get into that play making role and play like a half he speeds up a game and slows it down and maybe Granville needs to look at some old videos of how Smitha goes about his business jake has a great running game in can read the game as well he is a smart footballer his passing game is there but for some reason it went awry last season you could say that for the entire cowboy side with a season they have just had Paul Green is the man to get the best out of Granville he did wonders with him a twin a manly and then took him up to the Cowboys where he developed him from a bit part player at the Broncos - an NRL regular and Premiership winner without Thurston they are all going to have to lift at the Cowboys you can't underestimate what a loss he will be it was the same one Allen Langer left the Broncos until those grapes go you don't realize it I remember when L would miss games we think will be right but funny enough we always struggled the key factor that will help Granville in and around the ruck where he is so quick is the forward pack he will play behind this year they should have a fit Jordan McClain and Matt Scott Josh Maguire is going to add a lot because he is so mobile and has such a high work rate then you have got guys like Jason town Malolo and Coen Hess as well I think Jordan cajú is a good signing for the Cowboys as well talent wise he has it all going for him he can play anywhere in the backline and he kicks goals this season is a big challenge for Greene as the coach it will test him the Cowboys have fired under him since he arrived in 2014 and then last season was a major drop-off nothing seemed to go right I know he is a stickler for detail and he will have them primed to go and they need to start winning early this season they are notorious slow starters and need to get competition points early this year if Granville fires that will go a long way towards the Cowboys returning to finals buddy [Music]