Liddle ready to make the most of starting spot

[Cultured_Bogan]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Since it all starts with the hooker in attack I say yes. We are far poorer a team this year without him here.

There's a lot of holes in the roster. We need two good quality centres, after yesterdays game watching Mikaele and Tamou I would certain say we need two more props, Luciano and Blore are serviceable but I'd like another quality second rower and we need a first grade hooker. I also think we should cut our losses on Nofoaluma and find another winger.

 

[TigerWest]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Since it all starts with the hooker in attack I say yes. We are far poorer a team this year without him here.

There's a lot of holes in the roster. We need two good quality centres, after yesterdays game watching Mikaele and Tamou I would certain say we need two more props, Luciano and Blore are serviceable but I'd like another quality second rower and we need a first grade hooker. I also think we should cut our losses on Nofoaluma and find another winger.

But at this stage, I don’t see we have players who can advance his contributions.
I guess what I’m suggesting is, get those players first?

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Since it all starts with the hooker in attack I say yes. We are far poorer a team this year without him here.

There's a lot of holes in the roster. We need two good quality centres, after yesterdays game watching Mikaele and Tamou I would certain say we need two more props, Luciano and Blore are serviceable but I'd like another quality second rower and we need a first grade hooker. I also think we should cut our losses on Nofoaluma and find another winger.

But at this stage, I don’t see we have players who can advance his contributions.
I guess what I’m suggesting is, get those players first?

I'd wager players will come here to play with him.

 

[Needaname]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Since it all starts with the hooker in attack I say yes. We are far poorer a team this year without him here.

There's a lot of holes in the roster. We need two good quality centres, after yesterdays game watching Mikaele and Tamou I would certain say we need two more props, Luciano and Blore are serviceable but I'd like another quality second rower and we need a first grade hooker. I also think we should cut our losses on Nofoaluma and find another winger.

But at this stage, I don’t see we have players who can advance his contributions.
I guess what I’m suggesting is, get those players first?

I'd wager players will come here to play with him.

We might as well hit both him and Cheese up. Can’t hurt making an each way bet.
Part of me thinks Cheese suits Melbourne’s style better.

I don’t think we need to move Liddle on. If he want to look for another opportunity fair enough but I’d be trying to keep he and Simpkin even if we were to recruit either of the two Melbourne hookers for 2023.

Liddle still has improvement. First full season of a being an 80min hooker. Grant didn’t even get through last year playing 80 all game. It happens players need match fitness to get to a point where they can maintain their energy and build their defence and attack off it.
I wonder if there is a stat for 1st man in tackles.
I’d say Liddle would be close to leading that as he is regularly left to make 1st contact before the forwards join.

 

[Guest]

He's too structured for my liking and his passing game is not up to scratch - his service is too slow, and too often passes find the ground instead of a player. Needs a rest and really needs to work on his game. Would have thought with all the assistance Farah has given him over the past few years that he would have come on stronger given he's been injury free this year.

 

[DJG]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Grant in our squad this year, we'd be in the top 8.

The thing that Liddle doesn't have - which I believe changes the whole dynamic of a number 9 is a kick in his game.

 

[hobbo1]

I’d be punting him .. he stifles our go forward .
I thought his fitness would’ve been up there by now .. pretty poor to see him gassed after 20 mins
That’s why we continue to suck .. we hang onto the nuffies for too long ..
Nofoalooza
Brooks
Liddle
Twal
Then we bring in more mediocre players like Joffa , Tamou etc
And so the endless cycle continues

 

[voice_of_reason]

Liddle still has improvement. First full season of a being an 80min hooker. Grant didn’t even get through last year playing 80 all game.

It's easy to forget Harry was struggling towards the end of last year. Getting fatigued, missing a few tackles etc. He's also not playing 80 minutes this year. Melbourne have the luxury of two of the best current hookers in the game so can afford to nurse them along as needed.

 

[Newtown]

Keep Liddle and keep Simpkin. They supplement each other well within a full match.



ke

 

[Tiger5150]

He didn't play 80 today (I think) and he was still the same (average)

No but did play 60 straight. Gets asked to do too much defence.

He is the Hooker. Its his job. Its in the job description. He made 28 tackles and missed 2. Jeremy Marshall King made 44 tackles, Hodgson 46 tackles, ...and so on. His defensive load is no more than any other hooker.



I noticed that again there were metres plenty for the dogs up the middle when he was off.

I noticed that Nick Meaney ran straight through him when he was on.

He has had long enough in first grade to see what he is made of. Its not good news. We all here have been optimistic about him because for years we have been excitied about his speed out of DH and ability to make a break, which is real and 100% exists. Trouble is THAT is his game and all the critical fundamentals of a 1st grade hooker he doesnt have. Poor defence, poor stamina, poor passing game, good running game.

Its a real shame after all the years invested, but unfortunately, its not going to be him.

 

[Demps]

Liddle isn't an 80 minute player.
He looks cooked out there.

He was at his best, coming off the bench when we had a super star in Harry Grant.

I think that's his role.
14 impact hooker.

 

[Zach]

Liddle is im afraid not the future. Passing is poor, and is it just me, he seems to be always a step too slow at the play the ball

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Liddle strength is his speed/running game.
He isn’t a starting or 80min hooker and is being used at the wrong times of games. He is often found out, he isn’t running the ball, his ball service doesn’t creat momentum and he is being over worked around the ruck in defense.

Used in 40mins spurts and we would see better quality and more impact. He is nrl level if a team wants impact just not a starter or 80min hooker quality.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I’d be punting him .. he stifles our go forward .
I thought his fitness would’ve been up there by now .. pretty poor to see him gassed after 20 mins
That’s why we continue to suck .. we hang onto the nuffies for too long ..
Nofoalooza
Brooks
Liddle
Twal
Then we bring in more mediocre players like Joffa , Tamou etc
And so the endless cycle continues

Unfair on Twal mate. Guy will never be explosive but he's an honest worker. Makes good metres and defensively sound. We'd leak a lot less points with a couple more players like him in the middle.

 

[TigerWest]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Grant in our squad this year, we'd be in the top 8.

The thing that Liddle doesn't have - which I believe changes the whole dynamic of a number 9 is a kick in his game.

You have no way of knowing if that is true? I’m not saying he isn’t a good player, just we need others to be prioritised first.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I'm prepared for the club to cut their losses on him. As Hobbo said, chuck a million at Harry. Make an offer he can't refuse. I can't imagine Melbourne paying him, Hughes, Pappy and Munster all close to a million when they still have NAS, Bromwich 1 & 2, possibly the Cheese and Welch who would all command good money too.

I don't know what Liddle is on (say $300k), do you believe Grant will make a $700k difference to us?

I just think, we have other priorities than a 9 atm.

Grant in our squad this year, we'd be in the top 8.

The thing that Liddle doesn't have - which I believe changes the whole dynamic of a number 9 is a kick in his game.

Doubt it. He was injured back end of last year and missed heaps of this year. We didn’t make the 8 with him last year. Grant’s biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. He goes far too hard at the game which has taken a negative effect on him this year. He isn’t the Cheese who is a hyperactive freak.

 

[hobbo1]

I’d be punting him .. he stifles our go forward .
I thought his fitness would’ve been up there by now .. pretty poor to see him gassed after 20 mins
That’s why we continue to suck .. we hang onto the nuffies for too long ..
Nofoalooza
Brooks
Liddle
Twal
Then we bring in more mediocre players like Joffa , Tamou etc
And so the endless cycle continues

Unfair on Twal mate. Guy will never be explosive but he's an honest worker. Makes good metres and defensively sound. We'd leak a lot less points with a couple more players like him in the middle.

Put a rock in his shoe .. give us a step / anything / something.

 

[Joel Helmes]

How about using him at lock again? That seemed to work pretty well last year.

 

[earl]

We’d leak a lot less points with a couple more players like him in the middle.

We'd have no go forward either. Twal is a good solid player. He reminds me of Elijah Taylor but not as good. I actually like him It's just you can have one of these guys in our team.

The difference between having Mikaele and Stef along with a plodder type in Tamou or Twal is huge. We were running with two plodders in Tamou and Twal and it was a disaster.

 

[earl]

How about using him at lock again? That seemed to work pretty well last year.

It's basically the same role. There are some locks who are different to the standard middle forward in that they are quicker or have more to their game but Twal/Mikaele/Joe O play exactly the same at lock or prop.