Alker: Modern day hooker

Boots 'n All launched a special investigation into the age-old issue of the rugby league scrum.

Can it be improved? And if so, how? Should it even be contested? Is it about time we found a more competitive replacement?

"I think there are certain areas of the game, like the competitive scrum that should come back," said Jim Mills former GB, Wales and Widnes forward.

"You need a little bit of breathing space and you don't want the game to be predictable."

While there are no laws saying you cannot attack the opponents scrum, few sides actually do so.

"I think most coaches accept now days that if you knock on the other team deserve to get the ball," said Stuart Cummings, RFL match officials director.

"Our message to the referees is that cosmetically you have to get it looking right."

In the old days, the aim was to compete for the ball by any means necessary.

"The thing was to see how far you could get across the scrum," said former GB hooker Keith Bridges.

"Anyone can be a hooker now, it is a bit of a farce really, I think they should try and make them a little more competitively."

Malcolm Alker, who plays hooker for Salford City Reds, agrees that the role of the hooker has changed.

"To a certain degree you have become sort of another outback. You still do the defensive role but my role is between the two scrum lines -- if it goes out of those I don't follow the ball at all."

Back in the studio Stevo believes it should be scrapped all together.

"It is a complete farce. To go back to what the scrum was in the olden days? No ways. I spent a third of the time in the game on the floor. We don't want that."

To see the Boots 'n' All investigation into the scrum, click on the video link on the right-hand side...