@TYGA said:
@Balmain Boy said:
@TYGA said:
@goldcoast tiger said:
I' can't remember ever seeing any player , get more wraps for doing so little , and playing such small minutes, especially at the age he is with the injuries that he's had , and as already stated , was unwanted by his own club.
If he ever scores a try for us , he'll be given the keys to Concord
I hope he's just half as good as he's been built up by his fan club,
To say he was the difference between making the Semis or not is laughable
Still il be happy if he can even put a couple of good games together,
Sadly I saw a lot of eagles games in 2015 and he was poor. Missed 4-5 tackles a game and setup zero in attack. Stifled the Eagles actually worse than Farah in the midst of his slump. I would be happy to be proven wrong but management have to run with Liddle and Mcilwrick.
Lol, poor? Missing tackles? You were obviously watching the games sitting alongside Robbie.
He averaged over 40 tackles, and an avergae of 2.2 missed tackles a game. If this is poor then i welcome it. We have no-one who has or can perform remotely close to that.
Manly moved on a legend and a champion leader in Ballin because he was going well and paid part of his salary.
All good if you think he is the answer but I don't share your optimism. He was killing their attack and its funny Farah who was a great defender was smashed for his attacking game by the forum and the same people rate Ballin. Liddle is the answer long term but he may well have to start right away if we are serious about winning.
I don't know if you quite get it?
Manly and us both moved on club legends, stalwart #9s. Both clubs clearly thought the end-career service was declining and no longer to plan. Both clubs also took on new coaches. Just because one club lets a guy go doesn't mean he is a dud. There is normally far more to it than that.
Ballin does not play like Farah, so it is not unreasonable to sign a guy like that if you are planning to move Farah on.
They are both good at doing what they do; both honestly past their best, but still with something to offer.
By all accounts Ballin is very pro and positive off-field, good rehab and trainer even though he hardly played. We recall comments made by Torchie, maybe spurious, about Brooks joining the rehab group with Ballin and Lawrence and giving up rather quickly. I have definitely seen twitter posts of Ballin in rehab training during the player break end of this season.
By the similar accounts, Farah was also very pro in terms of his training application and fitness but not quite the same positive force within the club, at times very divisive and controversial.
Of course you can rate and not rate any player you want. It just seems like Tigers are pushing fairly clearly into a style where the hooker makes his tackles, as dominant as possible, gets the forwards over the advantage and distributes as quickly as possible. The Ballin and now McIlwrick signings suggest this, because they are not noted attackers.
Liddle is a different kettle of fish, he's still so young and quick, I am sure he will be encouraged to run the ball. But Robbie isn't quick and more and I cannot remember the last time he jagged a penalty from the ruck, even though he deserved about 1000 per season.
Ballin is a good footballer, he just needs to get his fitness right and he will contribute well, esp. with the emergence of Liddle who is perhaps 1-2 seasons away from cementing a starting spot, if he turns out as good as we hope.
