The "Division" of greatest concern to some and interest to others going into the 2010 Super 14 Season at the Western Force has been the Front Row and, more specifically the Hookers.

While there have been some significant gains in the experienced Dunning, Fairbrother and Henderson to offset our departures and join the rising Cowan and rapidly developing Longbottom, even the greatest of optimists would look at our two Hookers with some degree of nervousness.

Certainly they have the weight (at 114kg they are the equal heaviest in Australia) and Whittaker proved in his limited time last year to have the heart and the skills required to make his mark, but what of experience for this young pair?

Tyrrell rising from a promising local Club career, joining his team mate Longbottom as the second of the "Made in WA" Forwards after several years in Academy land. Others on TWF will have seen him playing at Club level.

Whittaker a raw rookie one year and a starter the next, with Australia A Schoolboys and Australia U20 Reserve credentials behind him. Certainly the youngest professional Hooker in Australia, if not the Super 14.

Assuming Whittaker will be starting, the Force Front Row will be in the reasonably rare position of having the Hooker considerably taller than both of his Props. This will add further challenge for the experienced Sharpe to overcome from the engine room.

Personally, in terms of match day, I am quite optimistic as I believe both young men are up to the task. The concern for me, as with most others, is the capacity of these two to make it through the pre-season and 13 to 15 matches of one of the toughest competitions on offer.

Starting out rubbing ears against the regular Wallaby pair of Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander, it is then on to New Zealand powerhouse the Hurricanes (Hore and Tialata) followed by the grinding Chiefs (De Malmanche and Mc Gougan/Taumalolo/White). After a well earned Bye it will be then on to the rest of Australia’s stocks (Reds, Waratahs) before heading off into the unknown for the rest of the season.

Only time will tell however, if we do make it through 2010 then the future for the Western Force Front Row is looking the goods!

Name Height Weight Position DOB

Pekahou Cowan 185 116 Prop 2/06/1986
Matt Dunning 182 115 Prop 19/12/1978
Tim Fairbrother 183 119 Prop 12/03/1982
Nic Henderson 185 117 Prop 1/05/1981
Kieran Longbottom 181 113 Prop 20/12/1985
Ryan Tyrrell 183 114 Hooker 9/11/1983
Ben Whittaker 189 114 Hooker 10/10/1989

For comparison here is Australia’s full “Hooker Squad”:

Name Height Weight Province DOB

Ryan Tyrrell 183 114 Force 9/11/1983
Ben Whittaker 189 114 Force 10/10/1989
Stephen Moore 186 112 Brumbies 20/01/1983
Huia Edmonds 183 103 Brumbies 10/10/1981
Sean Hardman 183 102 Reds 6/05/1977
Saia Faingaa 187 105 Reds 2/02/1987
James Hanson 181 102 Reds 15/09/1988
Tatafu Polota-Nau 181 113 Waratahs 26/07/1985
Adam Freier 175 98 Waratahs 20/03/1980
Damien Fitzpatrick 182 104 Waratahs 8/06/1989