#5 James Hanson
Another in the current era of players to decide his best options lay elsewhere. Hanson has been battling with another test hooker in Saia Faingaa for the starting #2 jersey for a number of years. However just when it seems he’s been producing the type of form we’ve been waiting for, on the back of some regular starting appearances, Chibba is off to Melbourne. Hanson played for Melbourne in the 2007 version of the ARC and has been apparently considering his options away from the Reds for some time.
We’ve been told that the spur for this decision is a word from Wallaby and Waratah coach Michael Cheika that for Saia and James to be considered for the Wallaby jersey they need to be playing basically full games. With Faingaa still signed for another year, Hanson has decided to chance his arm at the Rebels.
Unfortunately this stinks a little of the Stephen Moore departure and Reds fans, although wishing the best for Hanson, hope we haven’t let go another future Wallaby captain and forward leader. With Saia seemingly suffering an increasing number of injuries, and the raw Andrew Ready next in line, Queensland’s hooking strength is all of a sudden under threat.
