Ha Ha George, I have fallen into a bit of a trap of believing some of what I read on these threads.
A usually reliable (as reliable as anyone is on here) Gaggerlander seemingly aligned with Shore had put up a 1sts selection with no Cater, and when questioned, the growth spurt issue was raised as the reason why he was in the Shore 2's.
Other Gaggerlanders had promoted Glasson (albeit last year) as if he was the future solution to the Wobs propping issues, and now you tell us that he is playing hooker for Joeys, throwing lineouts but operating in the loose as an #8.
Talk about interchangeability.
Your point about too big for club/school but Goldilocks for Rep level is very valid.
IIRC Jonah Lomu played all his schoolboy footy as an #8 for rather obvious reasons. The Lords of Darkness saw his potential as a outside back, and it took 2 years for him to learn the trade skills necessary for an International Wing, and the rest, as they say, is history. (a rather extreme example).
It must be tough on the kids who are played out of position because they are considered to be too big to play that position for school, therefore they get played "out of position". Meanwhile their "better" sized (for their school/club) "opponents" get more experience in the position.
Hooker seems to be one of those positions that there would be plenty of kids "misemployed" as props or 6/7/8's due to their comparative size.
Rep quality #6's and #7's often find them selves playing lower level footy at #8.
Similarly mobile 2nd rowers end up at #6 or #8, and "big" #8's end up in the second row for school/club.
The Princesses are also similarly mix and matched. 15 or wing. Kellaway (Scots) is a #15 in most eyes, but Scots have him as a #10.
Taane Milne was selected as a #11 for NSW Schools last year despite playing #13 for School. This is a case where I think School got it right, although it was a pretty tough choice for #13 between Milne or Stewart (Scots).
Who'd be a selector, or Coach for that matter?