Farah's absence - a blessing in disguise ?

[Tigermama]

I wish Cherrington luck. He's going to need it. Let's hope he stays injury free the next few weeks…

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

A good opportunity, Cherry is just one player in a team of 17…..he is not perfect, none of them are. As long as the team backs each other up it's all we can ask.
I expect all the little blokes know they will be targeted in defence, I assume there will be a plan for that? hopefully it'll work on the day. looking forward to seeing him start

It'll be interesting to see how he goes against a first grade pack who aren't tired when he comes on, and someone will have to lift their game to cover for his defence .

It'll be interesting when they are tired due to the interchange adjustments. Those changes will benefit the zippy hookers.

Hopefully it will make the difference that a lot of us think it will.
Add the heat that the first few rounds are probably going to be played in, and it may make a difference.
I'm not sure that it will make as much difference as I first thought it would. It may take until the next drop in interchange numbers occurs.
We'll find out soon enough. The Warriors should give a good example of how it will go.
Although they are so up and down that who knows which Warriors team will turn up

 

[TIGER]

Lets see how much 'spark' cherry provides when he's fatigued. I hope we can score points early because i can see us in trouble.

 

[Pawsandclaws]

Tiger, your words are wise but the usual suspects will be out putting the knife to Farah.

 

[Nelson]

Tiger, your words are wise but the usual suspects will be out putting the knife to Farah.

…because everything needs to be made all about that. Give it a rest already.

 

[Pawsandclaws]

As I wrote, one of the usual suspects.

 

[Nelson]

As I wrote, one of the usual suspects.

It had nothing to do with what you wrote, I just told you to quit with the whinging (which clearly you have no intention of doing).

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Now guys, there is the whole empty weekend you can draw your six guns about RF and JT - I will be off to the surf

 

[Pawsandclaws]

As I wrote, one of the usual suspects.

It had nothing to do with what you wrote, I just told you to quit with the whinging (which clearly you have no intention of doing).

So what were you responding to? You'd try the patience of Ghandi.

 

[southerntiger]

Against Souths when halatau got injured cherrington probably played 55-60mins. I don't think he is ready for 80 mins yet but he might not be as far off we think

He is now roughly the same age as Farah when he became first choice hooker. Mania is ready. Perhaps not for 80 but the game is moving away from 80 min hookers anyway.

The test for Mania is not whether he can play 80 but whether he can hold is own in the middle of the park. His body looks more matured this season and I think he will surprise people with his defence. He has great technique. He is certainly no worse a defender than Robbie was when he came into firsts.

I have said this elsewhere, very few hookers can defend big men one on one. Even Farah had some glaring misses last year. Woods, Grant, Sue and Ava are just going to have to work harder to ensure he doesn't get exposed. If Mania becomes a target for teams, their attack will be predictable and the big boys will have no excuse for not being ready to help out Mania.

 

[supercoach]

A lot easier to protect a player in defence up the middle in a narrow space than on the edges. With some help from his mates he will get the job done but he certainly will not play 80

 

[Tim Sheens]

Lets see how much 'spark' cherry provides when he's fatigued. I hope we can score points early because i can see us in trouble.

One would expect that is when the interchange bench would be used, just as it is for many of the teams.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

**Wests Tigers skipper Robbie Farah is back, but without the © next to his name**

Date March 22, 2016 - 11:21PM

Adrian Proszenko
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/wests-tigers/robbie-farah-is-back-for-wests-tigers-without-the-c-next-to-his-name-20160322-gnoptg.html#ixzz43fsjhuG1
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For the first time in seven years, Robbie Farah will run out for Wests Tigers without the captain's armband.
Farah will slot back into his customary No.9 jersey for the Easter Monday blockbuster against Parramatta, marking the first time he hasn't run out as skipper since 2009\. The NSW hooker, who missed the first three matches with a knee injury he suffered in the pre-season, relinquished the honour to Aaron Woods when his future at the club was in doubt. However, coach Jason Taylor made good on his promise to play Farah in the top side when he named him as the starting hooker against the Eels on Tuesday.
With Woods at the helm and young halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses taking greater responsibility, Farah's inclusion has the potential to disrupt the leadership and playing dynamic. However, the Tigers believe the 32-year-old's inclusion will provide a timely boost after a disappointing loss to the Titans
"It won't change at all," Woods said of his leadership style with Farah present. "He's a leader of the side anyway. If he didn't hand it down he would still be captain. It doesn't change my role at all.

"We'll just get Robbie to chime in at the right time. Obviously in the last couple of weeks we've gotten out to leads and teams have come back. We just need Robbie to be that calm head and take control of the game in the moments we need him most. If Robbie can do that, we'll go a long way towards winning."
Farah participated in half of Tuesday's training session at Concord Oval before convincing the coaching staff he had done enough to prove his fitness. Brooks, who has combined well with Moses and fullback James Tedesco during a bright start to the Tigers' campaign, believes the young trio will still get the ball they require despite the presence of another dominant playmaker.
"Not at all," Brooks said. "We have that balance of how we want the ball and when he will give it to us. I don't think it will hinder us at all.
"Obviously he's going to make some calls at hooker. He's got great vision out of there and he's going to make some calls.
"It won't really change my game; we all know what we need to do. Robbie will help bring the forwards onto the ball and we have to back it up."
Vice-captain Dene Halatau said Farah was noticeably calmer after relieving himself of the responsibility of skippering the side.
"He's really relaxed this off season," Halatau said. "Usually Robbie rides the rollercoaster of how Liverpool is going in the Premier League but I haven't noticed it as much. Maybe with Woodsey taking the captaincy role it's given Robbie less to worry about, more to think about his own individual footy and his own prep most of the time. It's worked out well for him."
Asked what Farah will bring to the side, Halatau said: "Just his work rate in the middle. He's a leader on the field, he's very competitive and he's always in good nick.
"Whenever he's come back from injury he's always been in good shape. No doubt it will be the same for us on the weekend and he'll tackle himself to a standstill and provide good service to the halves."
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/wests-tigers/robbie-farah-is-back-for-wests-tigers-without-the-c-next-to-his-name-20160322-gnoptg.html#ixzz43fsCqudA
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The inside story seems a curse exposed rather than a blessing in disguise

 

[Spartan117]

Regardless of Last years antics and salaries… We need RF to get angry on the park this Monday and prove to the world why he is one of the Best Hookers in the Game.

in the three games this year our team has had a massive lapse midway, RF can help the young stars to stay calm and play smart footy.

This "Smart Footy" is where games are won.

 

[Guest]

I think Farah's inclusion this week is a huge boost. He's a lot sharper around the ruck than Halatau and hopefully he does help steady the ship for when the team is under the pump, which will happen at stages against the Eels.

 

[Tigerdon]

I'm really looking forward to seeing Farah at number 9 on Monday. He will be good around the ruck.

 

[Harvey]

I think Farah's inclusion this week is a huge boost. He's a lot sharper around the ruck than Halatau and hopefully he does help steady the ship for when the team is under the pump, which will happen at stages against the Eels.

As long as he does not spend his energy running at defenders who are not square at marker or not back 10 and then appealing for a penalty

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

I think Farah's inclusion this week is a huge boost. He's a lot sharper around the ruck than Halatau and hopefully he does help steady the ship for when the team is under the pump, which will happen at stages against the Eels.

As long as he does not spend his energy running at defenders who are not square at marker or not back 10 and then appealing for a penalty

Hey, I paid my admission to the ground I want to abuse the ref. As long as lazy markers can't get square, I want Farah to run at them while we get in the ref's ear. Wouldn't be a day at the footy otherwise.

 

[Harvey]

I think Farah's inclusion this week is a huge boost. He's a lot sharper around the ruck than Halatau and hopefully he does help steady the ship for when the team is under the pump, which will happen at stages against the Eels.

As long as he does not spend his energy running at defenders who are not square at marker or not back 10 and then appealing for a penalty

Hey, I paid my admission to the ground I want to abuse the ref. As long as lazy markers can't get square, I want Farah to run at them while we get in the ref's ear. Wouldn't be a day at the footy otherwise.

Love it. When we get the first penalty after 3 mins, can point out that they have been doing it all day

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

I think Farah's inclusion this week is a huge boost. He's a lot sharper around the ruck than Halatau and hopefully he does help steady the ship for when the team is under the pump, which will happen at stages against the Eels.

As long as he does not spend his energy running at defenders who are not square at marker or not back 10 and then appealing for a penalty

When one's team is not the richest and best in the comp sometimes you have to pull a few swiftys to even things up and give the fans something to cheer about.