@hybrid_tiger said:
Yes i am entitled to my opinion as you and everyone else is on here. We all have differing ones and i respect that.
No doubt Farah has shed the same blood, sweat and tears as Blocker did, i have never called that into question and in actual fact through my posts in various threads on here you can clearly see i have been one of Farahs supporters. I as much as anyone else have stuck up for him and pointed out (when others have called for him to be moved on or sacked) that he gives his all for this club and has had a terrible time of it this year through injury and suspension, and given some continuity will prove he is as good as ever.
As for Blocker not saying what he did….....again i absolutely agree. In the post you have quoted and numerous others in this topic i have stated over and over it is ridiculous, foolish and unprofessional that a member of the coaching staff would make these comments publicly. In fact every time i look at this topic again, it just makes me more "furious"for want of a better word, that whether it was Blocker or anybody else that said it involved with the side, that it was made public weeks before the side has even been picked.
In Blockers opinion, and no doubt that of the other fool that is in charge of NSW, Robbie Farah is not suited to Origin. Do i agree? Of course not! And it doesn't matter whether i do or not, i have no bearing unfortunately on who they pick. There is no doubt that Roach should not have said publicly what he did and yes i agree it was disgraceful.Not because he is an ex Tiger, but because he is a member of the current NSW coaching "squad". Publicly is the key word. Should some of the former greats of this club have publicly called the side soft? It clearly upset some of the current playing roster, whether it was true or not. So should the former greats be not allowed near the club? This is Farahs opportunity, despite the fact i don't believe he will get picked to put egg all over their faces by playing that well that everyone sees what imbeciles they are.
I respect your opinions Hybrid, and mostly over a long stretch of time on this and other forums i have agreed with them ( particularly when it came to the early years of WT) but on this occasion we will just have to agree to disagree. Blocker was there and in the thick of it for Balmain, NSW and Australia through a major part of all the success these teams had from the mid to late 80's (as i know you know) and therefore will always be a part of Wests Tigers.
G
Guest
Guest
Buderus blues push Ennis and Farah into NSW frame
May 3, 2012
NORMAL service is set to be resumed in the battle for the contentious NSW hooking job, with perennial contenders Michael Ennis and Robbie Farah to fight it out once again following dim injury news for veteran Danny Buderus.
A former Blues captain, Buderus, 34, had been guaranteed the NSW No. 9 jumper for the first State of Origin match in Melbourne on May 23.
However, Newcastle yesterday ruled him out for up to a month with achilles tendonitis, meaning he is surely at long odds to enter into calculations when NSW coach Ricky Stuart and selection adviser Bob Fulton sit down to choose a team in 10 days' time.
Another potential dummy half is Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe but the utility is shaping as a possible replacement for Kurt Gidley from the Blues bench after the Knights captain dislocated his shoulder on Monday night for the second time this year.
Since Buderus's exit from the NRL at the end of 2008 - he spent three seasons in the English Super League with Leeds - Ennis and Farah have squared off for the position, with the Canterbury captain playing seven games to his rival's two. If he can successfully prove he has shaken off a lingering knee injury, starting against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night, Ennis could put his nose in front.
Stuart rang both of them last month to tell them Buderus, having since returned to Newcastle this year, was ahead of them in the race for selection for Etihad Stadium but now will watch both closely over the next two weekends after losing his top option.
The coach's decision is complicated by the fact that Ennis, 28, has been inhibited by a knee complaint this season, an injury that prompted him not to accept a call-up by Country last month when Buderus withdrew from that squad. Bulldogs coach Des Hasler, however, says his feisty skipper is ''just about right now'' in terms of fitness.
Then there is the public slanging matches about the merits of Farah, the Wests Tigers captain.
Balmain great and Blues assistant Steve Roach was reported as saying that Farah was not up to State of Origin standard, a stinging assessment that came after Tigers coach Tim Sheens said publicly that his No. 9 should be playing for NSW.
While Roach was scathing of Farah's credentials the indications have been that with Buderus a non-starter the 28-year-old Tiger is still in the mix for an Origin recall. Farah was the man of the match for City in last month's traditional Origin trial in Mudgee but has had a disrupted campaign so far due to a hand injury, a broken nose, concussion and suspension amid the Tigers' dismal start to 2012.
While Stuart said in his newspaper column at the weekend that he could use Farah's creativity he hinted that if Ennis, the incumbent Blues hooker, was fit and firing he would likely be preferred. In another boost for Ennis's hopes Stuart also disputed suggestions the Bulldogs rake was out of favour with him.
Hinchcliffe, meanwhile, received the endorsement of his coach at the Storm, Craig Bellamy, Stuart's predecessor at NSW. Bellamy believes the 27-year-old's versatility makes him a good fit for Gidley's spot on the bench in Melbourne.
''He'd be an ideal guy for that bench spot,'' Bellamy said. ''He can't play fullback or five-eighth or halfback like Kurt can but he can certainly play hooker and in the back row and, at a pinch, he could slip into the centres.
''I think he'd be a real good fit for them but … I don't want to start telling Rick and his selectors what to do because I think he's getting enough advice.''
May 3, 2012
NORMAL service is set to be resumed in the battle for the contentious NSW hooking job, with perennial contenders Michael Ennis and Robbie Farah to fight it out once again following dim injury news for veteran Danny Buderus.
A former Blues captain, Buderus, 34, had been guaranteed the NSW No. 9 jumper for the first State of Origin match in Melbourne on May 23.
However, Newcastle yesterday ruled him out for up to a month with achilles tendonitis, meaning he is surely at long odds to enter into calculations when NSW coach Ricky Stuart and selection adviser Bob Fulton sit down to choose a team in 10 days' time.
Another potential dummy half is Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe but the utility is shaping as a possible replacement for Kurt Gidley from the Blues bench after the Knights captain dislocated his shoulder on Monday night for the second time this year.
Since Buderus's exit from the NRL at the end of 2008 - he spent three seasons in the English Super League with Leeds - Ennis and Farah have squared off for the position, with the Canterbury captain playing seven games to his rival's two. If he can successfully prove he has shaken off a lingering knee injury, starting against Parramatta at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night, Ennis could put his nose in front.
Stuart rang both of them last month to tell them Buderus, having since returned to Newcastle this year, was ahead of them in the race for selection for Etihad Stadium but now will watch both closely over the next two weekends after losing his top option.
The coach's decision is complicated by the fact that Ennis, 28, has been inhibited by a knee complaint this season, an injury that prompted him not to accept a call-up by Country last month when Buderus withdrew from that squad. Bulldogs coach Des Hasler, however, says his feisty skipper is ''just about right now'' in terms of fitness.
Then there is the public slanging matches about the merits of Farah, the Wests Tigers captain.
Balmain great and Blues assistant Steve Roach was reported as saying that Farah was not up to State of Origin standard, a stinging assessment that came after Tigers coach Tim Sheens said publicly that his No. 9 should be playing for NSW.
While Roach was scathing of Farah's credentials the indications have been that with Buderus a non-starter the 28-year-old Tiger is still in the mix for an Origin recall. Farah was the man of the match for City in last month's traditional Origin trial in Mudgee but has had a disrupted campaign so far due to a hand injury, a broken nose, concussion and suspension amid the Tigers' dismal start to 2012.
While Stuart said in his newspaper column at the weekend that he could use Farah's creativity he hinted that if Ennis, the incumbent Blues hooker, was fit and firing he would likely be preferred. In another boost for Ennis's hopes Stuart also disputed suggestions the Bulldogs rake was out of favour with him.
Hinchcliffe, meanwhile, received the endorsement of his coach at the Storm, Craig Bellamy, Stuart's predecessor at NSW. Bellamy believes the 27-year-old's versatility makes him a good fit for Gidley's spot on the bench in Melbourne.
''He'd be an ideal guy for that bench spot,'' Bellamy said. ''He can't play fullback or five-eighth or halfback like Kurt can but he can certainly play hooker and in the back row and, at a pinch, he could slip into the centres.
''I think he'd be a real good fit for them but … I don't want to start telling Rick and his selectors what to do because I think he's getting enough advice.''
One of the most disappointing things about this whole episode is that a former 'great' of one of our foundation clubs has come out publically and stated that our current captain is not suitable for origin. It is akin to betrayal more than expressing an opinion. I have heard Roach use the words' rock solid' before but he forgot about that phrase in this instance. Perhaps it would be different if Farah was an average footballer, but he is not and it is clear that he has been the subject of unfairness in regards to SOO selection at a time when NSW continues to be drubbed by QLD. If Roach wanted to he helpful, as a former club great looking out for a current club great, he would have been better placed talking about Farah's strengths and suggesting improvements, in private, person to person. I wonder whether he has ever taken the time, as an insider in the NSW camp to sit down with Farah and discuss how he could improve parts of his game to 'appeal' to the selectors?? That would be more in keeping of a former club great looking after his current club mates.
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
@Ken Y said:
I watched this segment this morning.
Paul Kent suggested two things:
a. Robbie's defense is an issue as he lets runners push him back and drive over the advantage line and then get a quick play the ball
b. Robbie sometimes plays too laterally and this allows the markers (who are often offside in Origin) to shut him down quickly
He still picked him as his hooker.
I think the second one is a fair point, but I honestly don't see too many issues with Robbie's defense. He will not throw his shoulder blindly into tackles, but he puts his body on the line and rarely misses them. Provided the rest of the side supports him in defense he will not be a liability.
I still remember the Manly game this year, Farah made 51 tackles or some ridiculous number and only missed 1 on Tony Williams, but that is all we heard about after the game, his one missed tackle on a player twice his size, who was left isolated 1 on 1.
Farah does play laterally with us (sometimes too laterally) but that shouldn't happen with a proper 7, and it wasn't an issue in CvC when he linked well with Pearce.
Yes Hybrid, I watched fox last night as well and was suprised how they all supported FOXs selection. Probably the biggest supporter was Alexander who also said Ennis couldn't be picked on form and knee injury that's not getting better. Geyer also mentioned De Gois but was happy with Farah as was Johns (who said in a soft voice to Smith that Robbie isn't soft) he couldnt resist the jab.
So with all this support I'm definitely picking Ennis or Hinchcliffe.
So with all this support I'm definitely picking Ennis or Hinchcliffe.
It would seem that Roach isn't suited for making very intelligent comments.
It would be funny if Farah leads from the front for the rest of the year and we steam into the finals, Blocker will be odds on to be the first to perch his 300kg derriere on the bandwagon.
It would be funny if Farah leads from the front for the rest of the year and we steam into the finals, Blocker will be odds on to be the first to perch his 300kg derriere on the bandwagon.
simonthetiger
New member
@cunno said:
That's exactly how I see it.
Blocker has jumped ship to stick up for his mate Sticky who obviously isn't going to pick him.
In doing this he has betrayed all tigers,especially Robbie.
I'm really upset about this,Blocker is/was one of my all time faves,but this really is a low blow of the doggest order IMO.
king_sirro
Well-known member
Steve Roach while respected as a former Tiger international, is right up there with Geyer as a footy expert. Just because you played for australia doesnt make you a good judge. He talks absolute dribble, and i can tell you now, he doesnt rate the Tigers at all. A little conversation at a cafe confirmed what i long believed, he has NO Tiger blood.
@king sirro said:
Had this suspicion long ago.
Probably green with envy that Farah has something he'll never have: a premiership.
hybrid_tiger
Well-known member
Blocker seems concerned about Farah's defense, yet last week Ennis made George Rose look as evasive as Billy Slater with the game in the balance. Why has this not been mentioned?
The myth that Ennis is somehow a good defender is a load of garbage.
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The myth that Ennis is somehow a good defender is a load of garbage.
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Just heard A. Webster on BSB and he suggested having a nibble on Robbie's odds… for being NSW hooker.
He thinks it is neck and neck between Robbie and Ennis and that Robbie is a real chance...despite what others suggest.
Being Daily Telegraph , and they seem to get inside info then just maybe there is hope.
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He thinks it is neck and neck between Robbie and Ennis and that Robbie is a real chance...despite what others suggest.
Being Daily Telegraph , and they seem to get inside info then just maybe there is hope.
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Yes Chris, but in this context, neck and neck is a good thing for Robbie, even though we all know Ennis is nowhere near the class of Robbie. It's just good to finally hear some whispers that Robbie might have a chance for NSW instead of all the nonsense we've heard lately
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GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
Why do the NRL allow betting agencies to open rubbish markets like this? they seriously will open markets on anything these days
westTAHger
Well-known member
before the origin team gets picked;
robbie has one game to show his ability.
ennis has two.
if selectors, in their view, don't want Robbie then so be it.
their loss.
robbie has one game to show his ability.
ennis has two.
if selectors, in their view, don't want Robbie then so be it.
their loss.
