Retired Wallabies and ACT Brumbies star Jeremy Paul said his former Super Rugby team lacks a clear replacement for outgoing hooker Stephen Moore.
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Paul, himself a former hooker, said replacing a player of Moore's stature is never easy.
"It's always going to be big shoes to fill, he's a Wallabies captain and was instrumental for the Brumbies making it to the finals this year," he said.
"Robbie Abel has been in the squad now and Josh Mann-Rea as well but he's also not a long-term fix as well because of his age."
Paul is now an assistant coach for the Western Sydney Rams who played the Canberra Vikings and Abel on Sunday in the National Rugby Championship, and he said this competition is vital for building the next Brumbies players after Moore, David Pocock, Christian Lealiifano, and Matt Toomua.
"I don't know the other young hookers coming through but Robbie was OK today, it wasn't really at Super Rugby level but he is a good player and I'm sure if he gets the opportunity he'll take it," said Paul.
"You always go through transitional periods but it"s just about making sure there is depth coming through but that's why this NRC competition is so important because it allows players to be able to play at a higher level than normal club rugby."
The Vikings moved into second position on the ladder after overcoming the Rams 22-16 at a drenched Viking Park.
Coach Wayne Southwell said it was a "pretty ugly" game but he was happy to come away with the win.
"It was pretty tough in the conditions to play our style because we want to open it up as much as we can and the conditions didn't suit us too well but the guys stuck it out and we got away with it."
He applauded his vice-captain Blake Enever who was named man-of-the-match, as well as the strength of his front five.
"He worked very well on their line-out, he was really strong in the air and the point of difference was our defensive line-out. It certainly kept us in the game," said Southwell.
Vikings fly-half Robbie Coleman came off the field bleeding from the head.
"It looked a bit nasty at the moment but it will settle down I'm sure," Southwell said
NRC ROUND 4
Canberra Vikings 22 (L. Taliauli, S. Taula, C. McInerney tries; N. Jooste 2 conversions) bt Western Sydney Rams 16 (A. Latunipulu, S. Toleafoa tries; P. Asquith conversions)
