Hooker Strategy

[colmcd]

Play Robbie for 80 mins for the rest of the season. Play Luke and Josh in the halves, with Benji on the bench. If Robbie needs a rest Benji to 5/8, and Josh to no 9\. Jacob to play big minutes in ISP , with Robbie being his mentor. Not sure where this leaves Mat. 2019 Jacob to start and play 80 mins, with Tyson to take Benji's place on the bench

Yes you have nailed it, but I will add a few things here:

Firstly, 100% glad Robbie is back. But Brooks has brought out his football best without Moses and Robbie cramping his style. So now that Robbie is back at hooker, I hope he realises that he is no longer the team and the game does not depend on him.

We needed an 80 minute hooker. Robbie is our best option, but I hope at 34 he is up for it.

Mentoring is what we need. Having Robbie mentor Liddle is a good idea. Having him mentor Reynolds is a great idea too. I reckon Robbie and Reynolds would get along like a house on hire. Why am I still talking about moving Reynolds to Hooker? Because if in 2019 we sign Nathan Cleary, we then have Nathan at 7\. So what about Brooks, who has actually been loyal? 5/8 is the only other position for him.
SO for 2019:
N Cleary ->7 (if we sign him)
Farah/Benji -> retire, maybe. Were talking a 35 and 33 year olds.
Brooks -> 5/8
Liddle -> hooker (if 2x Shoulder Reconstructions have not ruined him as a player)
Reynolds -> hooker? Hold on, that's where Liddle is?

This is where things get interesting.
We have learned that Liddle isn't an 80 minute hooker and 80 min hookers are a little rare. Taylor is not a hooker.
Reynolds has played 5/8 pretty much most of his career. He could transition to hooker, but he may not be the best solution.

So I think the strategy is 2019 focused. Get a good hooker to let the team experience success in 2018, build, train up Liddle with a good mentor and Reynolds as a reserve hooker. I can see Reynolds playing as a center switching to hooker or starting as a Hooker then switching to cover.
Personally I think Reynolds would be a great center. But Cleary sees him as the long term hooking option.

 

[gallagher]

Dont think Robbie will compete for the 80
Doesn't have the match fitness for a full game of 1st grade and other teams will be running at him
Once he's made 40 + tackles he will need to be rested
Maybe move Reynolds to hooker and Gamble off the bench into the halves
If we are in front and on top then that all changes
Leave Robbie on

Agreed.Seibold rested him some weeks all together so I doubt we'll get 80 mins off him every week for 9 weeks.
Id still prefer Liddle off the bench so Cleary can get him on there as the game swings.

 

[Demps]

Farah is going to be great for the bubble boy (Liddle)

Can see Liddle going next level with Robbie's mentoring, depending on if his body can stay sharp.

 

[swag_tiger]

Farah for 80\. Strategy complete.

Agree. Simple.

Tries (5 Farah)
Goals ( 5/5 Farah)
:roll

 

[TIGER]

Farah 9
Liddle 14

 

[Demps]

:sunglasses:

Farah 9
Liddle 14

Good in theory but realistically liddle needs to toughen up before even making the 17 in any role.

 

[Tacky]

Benji is still out for another couple of weeks

 

[Harvey]

Play Robbie for 80 mins for the rest of the season. Play Luke and Josh in the halves, with Benji on the bench. If Robbie needs a rest Benji to 5/8, and Josh to no 9\. Jacob to play big minutes in ISP , with Robbie being his mentor. Not sure where this leaves Mat. 2019 Jacob to start and play 80 mins, with Tyson to take Benji's place on the bench

Yes you have nailed it, but I will add a few things here:

Firstly, 100% glad Robbie is back. But Brooks has brought out his football best without Moses and Robbie cramping his style. So now that Robbie is back at hooker, I hope he realises that he is no longer the team and the game does not depend on him.

We needed an 80 minute hooker. Robbie is our best option, but I hope at 34 he is up for it.

Mentoring is what we need. Having Robbie mentor Liddle is a good idea. Having him mentor Reynolds is a great idea too. I reckon Robbie and Reynolds would get along like a house on hire. Why am I still talking about moving Reynolds to Hooker? Because if in 2019 we sign Nathan Cleary, we then have Nathan at 7\. So what about Brooks, who has actually been loyal? 5/8 is the only other position for him.
SO for 2019:
N Cleary ->7 (if we sign him)
Farah/Benji -retire, maybe. Were talking a 35 and 33 year olds.
Brooks -5/8
Liddle -hooker (if 2x Shoulder Reconstructions have not ruined him as a player)
Reynolds -hooker? Hold on, that's where Liddle is?

This is where things get interesting.
We have learned that Liddle isn't an 80 minute hooker and 80 min hookers are a little rare. Taylor is not a hooker.
Reynolds has played 5/8 pretty much most of his career. He could transition to hooker, but he may not be the best solution.

So I think the strategy is 2019 focused. Get a good hooker to let the team experience success in 2018, build, train up Liddle with a good mentor and Reynolds as a reserve hooker. I can see Reynolds playing as a center switching to hooker or starting as a Hooker then switching to cover.
Personally I think Reynolds would be a great center. But Cleary sees him as the long term hooking option.

Cleary under contract at Penrith til the end of 2019.

 

[Brett Thurbon]

:sunglasses:

Farah 9
Liddle 14

Good in theory but realistically liddle needs to toughen up before even making the 17 in any role.

I agree, we need an 80 min hooker, and cant afford to carry Liddle on the bench

 

[TigerSJ]

Hate to bring some common sense but it is a week to week proposition. There are too many factors that come into it - least of which will be injuries, but a lot will depend on Liddle's progress over the coming weeks in combination with how Farah actually fits in and whether he brings what the team needs. All I know is that this coming week the 9 should be Farah for 80 mins and Liddle needs 80 in ISP..

 

[balmain boy]

See how Farah goes. If he's up to it he can play another month or two while Lidz gets his fitness and strength up to scratch. If Lidz plays the next 4 matches x 80 mins then he can get called up to NRL. Farah is there as a backup until Liddle is ready so how much he plays depends on both of their forms and fitness.

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

Play Robbie for 80 mins for the rest of the season. Play Luke and Josh in the halves, with Benji on the bench. If Robbie needs a rest Benji to 5/8, and Josh to no 9\. Jacob to play big minutes in ISP , with Robbie being his mentor. Not sure where this leaves Mat. 2019 Jacob to start and play 80 mins, with Tyson to take Benji's place on the bench

Yes you have nailed it, but I will add a few things here:

Firstly, 100% glad Robbie is back. But Brooks has brought out his football best without Moses and Robbie cramping his style. So now that Robbie is back at hooker, I hope he realises that he is no longer the team and the game does not depend on him.

We needed an 80 minute hooker. Robbie is our best option, but I hope at 34 he is up for it.

Mentoring is what we need. Having Robbie mentor Liddle is a good idea. Having him mentor Reynolds is a great idea too. I reckon Robbie and Reynolds would get along like a house on hire. Why am I still talking about moving Reynolds to Hooker? Because if in 2019 we sign Nathan Cleary, we then have Nathan at 7\. So what about Brooks, who has actually been loyal? 5/8 is the only other position for him.
SO for 2019:
N Cleary ->7 (if we sign him)
Farah/Benji -retire, maybe. Were talking a 35 and 33 year olds.
Brooks -5/8
Liddle -hooker (if 2x Shoulder Reconstructions have not ruined him as a player)
Reynolds -hooker? Hold on, that's where Liddle is?

This is where things get interesting.
We have learned that Liddle isn't an 80 minute hooker and 80 min hookers are a little rare. Taylor is not a hooker.
Reynolds has played 5/8 pretty much most of his career. He could transition to hooker, but he may not be the best solution.

So I think the strategy is 2019 focused. Get a good hooker to let the team experience success in 2018, build, train up Liddle with a good mentor and Reynolds as a reserve hooker. I can see Reynolds playing as a center switching to hooker or starting as a Hooker then switching to cover.
Personally I think Reynolds would be a great center. But Cleary sees him as the long term hooking option.

Reynolds is not a DH
And as a centre he’d be a disaster, HEs a 5/8 and not always a good one.
And should never have been signed.
If you have doubt about Farah, get a video of his recent games for Souths,

 

[colmcd]

Reynolds is not a DH
And as a centre he’d be a disaster, HEs a 5/8 and not always a good one.
And should never have been signed.
If you have doubt about Farah, get a video of his recent games for Souths,

Ok I actually agree with most of what you say. *Gold coast tiger quoted me above but the thread was getting long so I reduced it.
Reynolds hasn't played Hooker in any real capacity. He has grit and a running game. Not the best passer but hey.
My choice would be to push Reynolds to the Centers. Why he has a running game and good defense. His passing game isn't the best but with 1 person as a target (i.e. say Reynolds and Nofo getting used to each other) he won't do too badly.
Cleary's choice I think is Hooker for Reynolds. That's the one that counts.
I agree with you Reynolds hasn't played any Hooker and so far appears to suck at it. Cleary however I think is Moulding him into a Peter Wallace style. He wants a ballplaying hooker.

So why not 5/8?

WE have too many of them!

If Nathan Cleary is on the cards, then Brooks needs to move to 5/8\. I don't think Cleary will leave Brooks stranded, with his current form, he will probably want Brooks and Cleary as the halves. So Reynolds has to move.

So Center or Hooker. I choose Center, but Cleary will develop Reynolds into a hooker.

Naturally Brooks may go elsewhere, we may not sign Cleary or there may be enough injuries to justify Brooks Cleary and Reynolds in the halves. I though think Reynolds is being prepared to change position.

 

[Russell]

Reynolds is not a DH
And as a centre he’d be a disaster, HEs a 5/8 and not always a good one.
And should never have been signed.
If you have doubt about Farah, get a video of his recent games for Souths,

Ok I actually agree with most of what you say. *Gold coast tiger quoted me above but the thread was getting long so I reduced it.
Reynolds hasn't played Hooker in any real capacity. He has grit and a running game. Not the best passer but hey.
My choice would be to push Reynolds to the Centers. Why he has a running game and good defense. His passing game isn't the best but with 1 person as a target (i.e. say Reynolds and Nofo getting used to each other) he won't do too badly.
Cleary's choice I think is Hooker for Reynolds. That's the one that counts.
I agree with you Reynolds hasn't played any Hooker and so far appears to suck at it. Cleary however I think is Moulding him into a Peter Wallace style. He wants a ballplaying hooker.

So why not 5/8?

WE have too many of them!

If Nathan Cleary is on the cards, then Brooks needs to move to 5/8\. I don't think Cleary will leave Brooks stranded, with his current form, he will probably want Brooks and Cleary as the halves. So Reynolds has to move.

So Center or Hooker. I choose Center, but Cleary will develop Reynolds into a hooker.

Naturally Brooks may go elsewhere, we may not sign Cleary or there may be enough injuries to justify Brooks Cleary and Reynolds in the halves. I though think Reynolds is being prepared to change position.

Totally disagree "colmcd" - I think you will find Liddle is Cleary's choice of DH going forward.

DH is too important a roll to just shove someone in because there is no position elsewhere. Reynolds is a 5/8, if he is not good enough to hold his position in the 13 he may have a life as a utility.

This is, assuming that Nathan Cleary comes to WT - I think we sort out the team without him and if he does come (very much doubt it myself) then make a decision.

1 Mbye 6 Reynolds 7 Brooks 9 Liddle is the way it will look without him.

Why create a problem before it happens.

 

[newtiger]

:sunglasses:

Farah 9
Liddle 14

Good in theory but realistically liddle needs to toughen up before even making the 17 in any role.

Agreed about Liddle but he did have 2 Shoulder reco's in the off season, needs a big pre season next year or off to the knackery.

 

[happy_tiger]

Just hope people don't expect instant success with Robbie and Mbye

It could take awhile , lets hope they can find away to tough it out this weekend for a gritty win and build from there

I hope the plan is for Liddle to be back with 2-3 weeks , I don't see what the half season purchase does otherwise

I'm not against Robbie slotting into a quasi lock role for 15-20 minutes to get the best out of Liddle and Farah

They could be very effective working together out of dummy half in attack late in halves of games as long as they run for yards and not play for penalties

 

[Russell]

Just hope people don't expect instant success with Robbie and Mbye

It could take awhile , lets hope they can find away to tough it out this weekend for a gritty win and build from there

I hope the plan is for Liddle to be back with 2-3 weeks , I don't see what the half season purchase does otherwise

I'm not against Robbie slotting into a quasi lock role for 15-20 minutes to get the best out of Liddle and Farah

They could be very effective working together out of dummy half in attack late in halves of games as long as they run for yards and not play for penalties

Agree with all you say - especially the last paragraph.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Just hope people don't expect instant success with Robbie and Mbye

It could take awhile , lets hope they can find away to tough it out this weekend for a gritty win and build from there

I hope the plan is for Liddle to be back with 2-3 weeks , I don't see what the half season purchase does otherwise

I'm not against Robbie slotting into a quasi lock role for 15-20 minutes to get the best out of Liddle and Farah

They could be very effective working together out of dummy half in attack late in halves of games **as long as they run for yards and not play for penalties**

RL is also like a chess game and you win by whatever means as long as not dangerous violence. I am shocking for milking the rules of chess but it wins me tourneys. Where is Mr Yang when we need him.