Evergreen Quins hooker Tani Fuga has admitted it is time to give Chris Brooker more of chance in the number two shirt, but not necessarily at his expense.

The 36-year-old has been in barnstorming form at the Stoop this season and with South African Gary Botha heading home is as key to the squad as he has ever been.

Brooker, an England Saxons international, has been given fleeting opportunities in the first team this season alongside new arrival Matt Cairns.

Head coach John Kingston rates the 23-year-old as a starting quality hooker and while Fuga is determined to hold on to his slot, he admits it is only right to give youth its chance.

“To me, age is just a number. As long as I am still enjoying it, I will keep playing. The moment I wake up and don’t want to go training I will stop,” he said.

“Gary going was a huge loss for us. We were happy competing for the jersey because we both knew pushing each other would help the team perform.

“It is not a case of taking on more work now he has gone. I was always wanting the starting slot anyway. It is still the same now.

“I rate Chris very highly. Giving him 20 minutes at the end is really good. That is what they need to do, to bring the young players through.”

A Chris Robshaw brace and another from rising star George Lowe kept the hosts at bay as Quins made it one defeat in six Premiership games on Friday.

But Kingston, as with last week’s win over Gloucester, was disappointed the winning margin wasn’t more convincing.

“There were times when we played really well and threatened to get away from them,” he added.

“The challenge at half-time was to get away and win by 40 or 50 points.

“That sounds silly when you win 30-27, but we weren’t good enough with the way we handled things in that second half at times.”