Hookers

Demps said:
Agree.

Liddle looked sharp in the first 20, 30 minutes. He, imo... is the most likely to get chopped though.

It's been rumoured he and his family really dislike the coach.

The tale of him punching on with teammates in training.

Plus, I see him being the weakest out of the options with the lowest ceiling.

Simpkin, I like... but he's also a good option for the dolphins 🐬

Api is locked in.
Rua is impressing at every chance and he can play lock as well as hooker so has some bench/utility value.

Tannous is a club man through and through. Coming through the ranks, doing everything that is asked of him. If he can get his body under control, has a big future.

This is how I'd see it playing out but it's the clubs choice in the end. This is the club that backed Brooks for a decade.

No hard feelings though, if you're a Liddz fan or whatever.
Click to expand...

I’d be trading Simpkin for someone we need… (a back rower) his level is unknown atm, but he’s not local - at some point he’s going to be hard to keep… I also feel we’ll get a good trade on him.
We have Api for 2 years, Rua can play Play peacheys role - or back up for Api… and tannous is there or there abouts.
That should tie us over for the next 2-3 years and beyond - hopefully we have something coming through behind them.

Don’t know we’ll get much for Liddle but he’s fine for ressies or as backup for the backup… but we need to develop some local halves… I thought tannous would make a good 6, seems to have bulked up a bit and lots of energy around the ball…
 
For this year, best case scenario would be Simpkin to start- he's our best defender at 9. Liddle to come on and add some spark in attack after 25-30 mins. Go with the flow of the game to see who figures most in the latter stages of the game.
Rua to be injected into the squad sporadically after Round 10 in place of whoever is performing worse out of Liddle and Simpkin.
How many hookers will will need apart from Api in '23? Probably 2. Tannous being out for an extended period sucks, would of been good if the club could gauge his development before Api lobs so they could make a decision on who are the keepers and who to cut adrift.
Simpkin needs more time to show what he's got in attack this season. Does anyone who followed lower grades rate his attacking game I wonder?
 
Liddle will leave, plenty of teams need a hooker which he would walk into those sides. With Api coming no way he would be selected infront of him. He will be 26 next year also so I can't see we will look to retain him over youth.

Simpkin has another year with us, I think this year he needs to become our number 1 option by mid year option otherwise he could be swept aside.

Rua is a few years off NRL I think, he showed sparks but went all in and ran out of puff in a trial within 10-15mins. Alot of upside but the great news is he has time.
 
Fade.To.Black said:
For this year, best case scenario would be Simpkin to start- he's our best defender at 9. Liddle to come on and add some spark in attack after 25-30 mins. Go with the flow of the game to see who figures most in the latter stages of the game.
Rua to be injected into the squad sporadically after Round 10 in place of whoever is performing worse out of Liddle and Simpkin.
How many hookers will will need apart from Api in '23? Probably 2. Tannous being out for an extended period sucks, would of been good if the club could gauge his development before Api lobs so they could make a decision on who are the keepers and who to cut adrift.
Simpkin needs more time to show what he's got in attack this season. Does anyone who followed lower grades rate his attacking game I wonder?
Click to expand...
Jake Simpkins attack is his best quality - in reserve grade he was topping the charts for try's and try assists before being moved into first grade.
 
Mighty_Tiger said:
Liddle will leave, plenty of teams need a hooker which he would walk into those sides. With Api coming no way he would be selected infront of him. He will be 26 next year also so I can't see we will look to retain him over youth.

Simpkin has another year with us, I think this year he needs to become our number 1 option by mid year option otherwise he could be swept aside.

Rua is a few years off NRL I think, he showed sparks but went all in and ran out of puff in a trial within 10-15mins. Alot of upside but the great news is he has time.
Click to expand...
In Rua's defence though it's still February. Hopefully he busts his guts on the training paddock because he has shown he has got what it takes to make an impact.
 
Fade.To.Black said:
In Rua's defence though it's still February. Hopefully he busts his guts on the training paddock because he has shown he has got what it takes to make an impact.
Click to expand...

100% It's very early days for the kid, he is the 1st youngster for a while to make a clear standout impact not just once but 2 games in a row. He has a huge amount of upside if he pushes himself and we support him very well through the next few years.
 
Demps said:
Well the plan all along when we were chasing Hodgson... and I assume, the same plan when we landed Api.

Is to have a very solid experience first grader mentor the youth coming through.

You said we have Liddle and Simpkin.
Also young Rua, but we also have Tannous who the club is reported to be developing as a hooker too.

We're quite set, however these ambitious young men aren't going to wait around.

I would really like us to make the right decision here but its so hard... any could be big stars.

My personal move would be...

Api, Rua and Tannous.

No hard feelings.
Click to expand...
OMG.
I still remember us having 4 hookers on the books with Farah, Anthony Cherrington, Matt Ballin and someone else no name.

I believe this was one of our worst times. We were just signing hookers.
We need to make it clear, 3 hookers tops.
But hey, we need a ball playing lock, so pick a muscular hooker and train them that way. Otherwise 2-3 games to prove themselves or punt.
Lets indicate to players that if they stick with us AND PERFORM we will back them.
 
crazycat said:
OMG.
I still remember us having 4 hookers on the books with Farah, Anthony Cherrington, Matt Ballin and someone else no name.

I believe this was one of our worst times. We were just signing hookers.
We need to make it clear, 3 hookers tops.
But hey, we need a ball playing lock, so pick a muscular hooker and train them that way. Otherwise 2-3 games to prove themselves or punt.
Lets indicate to players that if they stick with us AND PERFORM we will back them.
Click to expand...
😂😂😂Unfortunately that's all Ballin was: on the books.
He was the equivalent of buying a car and sending it over a cliff on your first time behind the wheel. Uninsured.
 
crazycat said:
OMG.
I still remember us having 4 hookers on the books with Farah, Anthony Cherrington, Matt Ballin and someone else no name.

I believe this was one of our worst times. We were just signing hookers.
We need to make it clear, 3 hookers tops.
But hey, we need a ball playing lock, so pick a muscular hooker and train them that way. Otherwise 2-3 games to prove themselves or punt.
Lets indicate to players that if they stick with us AND PERFORM we will back them.
Click to expand...
Manaia Cherrington
 
crazycat said:
OMG.
I still remember us having 4 hookers on the books with Farah, Anthony Cherrington, Matt Ballin and someone else no name.

I believe this was one of our worst times. We were just signing hookers.
We need to make it clear, 3 hookers tops.
But hey, we need a ball playing lock, so pick a muscular hooker and train them that way. Otherwise 2-3 games to prove themselves or punt.
Lets indicate to players that if they stick with us AND PERFORM we will back them.
Click to expand...
Manaina Cherrington.
Anthony's bro. Lol.
 
Demps said:
Agree.

Liddle looked sharp in the first 20, 30 minutes. He, imo... is the most likely to get chopped though.

It's been rumoured he and his family really dislike the coach.

The tale of him punching on with teammates in training.

Plus, I see him being the weakest out of the options with the lowest ceiling.

Simpkin, I like... but he's also a good option for the dolphins 🐬

Api is locked in.
Rua is impressing at every chance and he can play lock as well as hooker so has some bench/utility value.

Tannous is a club man through and through. Coming through the ranks, doing everything that is asked of him. If he can get his body under control, has a big future.

This is how I'd see it playing out but it's the clubs choice in the end. This is the club that backed Brooks for a decade.

No hard feelings though, if you're a Liddz fan or whatever.
Click to expand...

simpkin if he gets match fit should kick on he has only played 9 games
 
Liddle id imagine will be gone end of the year if he does well enough to attract interest.

Simpkin is the obvious one to spend a couple of trs off the bench and then take over from Api. Rua played well but when comoaring the 2 Rua is a year older then Simpkin who has a year of NRL behind him - so the club clearly sees one over the other but id hope to keep both because I think both have lots of potential and you could have both once Api is finished
 
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