Liddle return "one of the great stories" for WT

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
I have nothing constructive to add to what has already been posted but still want to say it was an amazing effort from an obviously tough and talented footballer. Well done Jacob!
 
Certainly agree it's a great story. All the best Jacob, looking forward to see you match fit and firing!
 
Well played.

Did the hard work on the rehab. Improved the body conditioning and worked on strengthening areas in the body that needed working on.

Always had the talent.
 
most impressed for a return stint.
Got gassed really quickly but came back with a second wind to put some long minutes in.
 
@WT2K said in [Liddle return "one of the great stories" for WT](/post/1207355) said:
Could watch this pass on repeat. Brilliant. https://twitter.com/NRL/status/1295118136711114753?s=19

Text book pass in that situation really. Great to see Lids have such a strong return and a positive influence on the team. Can’t wait to watch more from him.
 
@tiger_one said in [Liddle return "one of the great stories" for WT](/post/1207536) said:
Liked his work.
Busy, probing, alert .......
Just what a good No. 9 should be.

Yes I admit I’ve been very critical of Liddle - always injured and what I had seen of him previously didn’t impress me much, but he was great yesterday and to play like that first game back after so much time on the sidelines was very impressive indeed. If he can keep that type of form up then perhaps Grant leaving won’t be such huge loss for us after all.
 
Tears to triumph: Liddle's 12-month bid to keep Tigers dream alive
Author
Dan Walsh
NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Sat 22 Aug 2020, 07:01 AM
Dan Walsh
Share on social media
Share via Facebook
Share via Twitter
Share via Reddit
Share via Email
A little over 12 months ago, Josh Reynolds comforted a devastated Jacob Liddle in the Brookvale Oval sheds.

Liddle's first game in the Wests Tigers No.9 – one he had been sized up for since his late teens – had lasted all of nine minutes before his ACL, MCL and PCL all went to pieces.

Another year on the sidelines. Another three months in a leg brace.

Another year of uncertainty after two previous season-ending shoulder reconstructions.

Last Sunday, the Tigers are trailing last-placed Canterbury by a converted try, having coughed up a 22-6 lead.

"I saw an opportunity there to get Josh Reynolds on and another one to get Liddsy back out there because he was steering the team around well," Maguire told NRL.com this week.

"We saw that at the back end of the game when he did that to get the field goal. He had us in the right position.

"He passed back to Brooksy [halfback Luke Brooks] to knock that field goal over.

"And you need a smart No.9 and smart halves to be able to drive your set to where you need to, otherwise you're not going to get the opportunity to take the kick properly.

"Everything Lidds has been through, the mental side of things, it builds serious resilience.

"But I saw it in Lidds that first game he played. He had a reason to be fatigued, but he was the opposite, he powered through it.

"I think we'll see that in his footy from now on."

Understandably, the hooker Tigers fans ask of first is Harry Grant, the Dally M rookie of the year front-runner on loan from Melbourne, currently sidelined after his own knee surgery.

Grant is a reasonable chance of an early return against Penrith next week.

Against the Roosters on Saturday though, as was the case against Canterbury, Maguire and the Tigers are putting their faith in Liddle.

A loss almost certainly ends their finals hopes, another dreaded ninth-placed finish looming ominously.

But considering Liddle is far too well-acquainted with surgeons for a 23-year-old footballer with 39 games to his name, the Tigers No.9 won't be shirking the hard yards against the premiers.

"The knee's pretty good now, they've tightened a few things up in with a bit of my patella, I wasn't worried about it at all out there," Liddle said after the last-gasp defeat of Canterbury.

Everything Lidds has been through ... it builds serious resilience

Michael Maguire on Jacob Liddle
"The whole way through, I won't lie, rehabbing it's not easy and there are frustrating days.

"But I was always going to come through, it's the mental side of it that's the biggest challenge. But I've got a good support network and hopefully can string a few games together now."

Nothing would please Maguire and club insiders more.

Liddle's injury battles had the potential to be delayed by COVID-19 restrictions, only for the Central Coast junior to double down on his solo recovery when regular rehab facilities weren't as accessible as usual.

So there was no hesitation from the coach about tossing Liddle back into the fray at Bankwest Stadium.

With his team's season on the line, the Tigers No.9 found his halfback Brooks with good, clean, early ball to knock over that match-winning field goal.

Keeping the club's 2020 campaign alive for another week, the kid they've watched working tirelessly just to play his part in it.

"The amount of work he has done in the background it's a real credit to him and the staff who kept him up," Maguire said.

"We'll be training on the field you see Lidds ticking away in the far distance doing his work with the physios and rehab on his own.

"The way we're living at the moment, it really is like a family.

"We go home and come back to work again, nothing else, that's the lifestyle at the moment. You're literally seeing everything, so first-hand, players have seen him navigate his challenges.

"Not that you didn't see that in the past but I think that aspect of club life has been really enhanced this year.

"He always had a smile on his face no matter what he was going through. He had tough days no doubt but you wouldn't know it with Lids.

"We saw the players, his mates, really support him, and then get to play with him and that's what makes it all the more special."

https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/08/22/tears-to-triumph-liddles-12-month-bid-to-keep-tigers-dream-alive/
 
This guy is a gun. Two weeks back from a near career ending injury and he's probably been our best performer the last two weeks.
 
He is such a talent. You would never know it’s his second game back from completely tearing every ligament in his knee. Was so happy to see him score and if he keeps injury free solves the hooking situation for next season.

Hopefully they keep giving him longer minutes. Not expecting him to play 80 yet but we need to push him towards that
 
Always had the talent. Hope he's injury free for the rest of his career.
 
As I have always said, great little player.

We certainly were a different team when he went off - chalk and cheese.
 

Members online

Back
Top