The future is Liddle

[Tim Sheens]

@happy_tiger With both taking field, the answer was spelt out in the last quarter on Saturday for both years.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Farah was probably our 4th best player v Roosters , just missed my one vote

Probably Liddle's biggest issue is defence ...which is Robbie's strength imo

The problem I see is what is more important to the WT's ....2019 or 2020 ??

Answer that question and you answer who should be in the 9 jersey

I know what you’re getting at but whatever ones answer may be the result is the same ..... if we keep Liddle we need to buy a good quality number 9 for 2020 as insurance.

As for this year I would really play them both. Robbie is versatile enough to play hooker and cover as utility.

I also think and hope that Maguire will take a realistic approach to things pretty soon and treat this year as what it is for this squad..... a trial to see what the players are capable to deliver ... and I mean the full 30 + the development players.

 

[Harvey]

I think Liddle has as much upside as most the dummy halves being suggested. Korisau is good, but I think he may have reached his peak.

If Liddle does not end up our first choice hooker, he will be someone else’s.

Biggest factor in his future is being able to string games together without injuries.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

How much longer are we going to keep playing for the future? Farah is the best hooker we have and has been playing well. I want the finals this year. Liddle can play when Farah is out, but if he is fit he is a definite starter.

I don't want this year being sacrificed again for the sake of #nextyear.

 

[jirskyr]

Pretty clear-cut for me. Liddle needs to be able to stay on the park. Plenty of talented footballers did not have the injury-resistance to make a career in first grade.

In my opinion, if Liddle is consistently fit then he starts to get picked regularly. If he gets picked regularly, he increases his minutes and shows his ability.

We already extended his contract, right? So we have another season or two to figure this out.

I would not at all discount Farah playing another season 2020. In terms of fitness and commitment he's doing just fine so far 2019.

 

[Geo]

Pretty clear-cut for me. Liddle needs to be able to stay on the park. Plenty of talented footballers did not have the injury-resistance to make a career in first grade.

In my opinion, if Liddle is consistently fit then he starts to get picked regularly. If he gets picked regularly, he increases his minutes and shows his ability.

We already extended his contract, right? So we have another season or two to figure this out.

I would not at all discount Farah playing another season 2020. In terms of fitness and commitment he's doing just fine so far 2019.

Liddle is off contract this season...we need to recruit another hooker beyond this season anyway..2 if Farah hangs them up..

 

[happy_tiger]

Pretty clear-cut for me. Liddle needs to be able to stay on the park. Plenty of talented footballers did not have the injury-resistance to make a career in first grade.

In my opinion, if Liddle is consistently fit then he starts to get picked regularly. If he gets picked regularly, he increases his minutes and shows his ability.

We already extended his contract, right? So we have another season or two to figure this out.

I would not at all discount Farah playing another season 2020. In terms of fitness and commitment he's doing just fine so far 2019.

Farah has been great but don't we need to draw a line in the sand for Liddle's sake (and confidence )

It would probably come down to who we recruited forward wise and size wise

If we got some size and mobility for the bench with a good starting pack and Robbie was happy to play the starting 20 and that was it ....maybe yes for 2020

 

[balmain boy]

Farah's form has dropped off a fair bit the past few weeks. I've counted at least 7 times that he hasn't realised it's the last tackle and passed the ball to a prop on the last, rather than a half or make a play himself. That's simply not good enough.
Then there's the increased number of passes that are hitting the grass behind players, several of those too. Yes he was good the first 2 weeks, he's defensively solid and did take advantage of a great run and play the ball by Mikaele to score, but his overall game has been getting worse.
You could see how much better our attack looked while Liddle was on the field. We almost scored 2 tries and had the Roosters on the back foot a bit. Forwards were hitting the ball up and the we actually made some breaks, something we've had immense trouble with this year. Lids needs to gradually get more and more game time. Farah is only there as a caretaker. If Liddle is fit and playing well he needs to get the gametime ahead of Farah.
Of course another injury and his future with us will be clouded, but he possesses so many traits which our team lacks right now with the lethargic Farah at hooker. That hopeless intercept he threw to Mitchell was pathetic too. Incredibly naive and risky pass, which even if it got to Fonua he still had 2 opponents to beat with no support. There was no overlap, it was just an incredibly poor play highlighting that we can't use Farah as a playmaker.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

@Balmain_Boy
I agree that he has making of a great hooker.
But he needs to build up his frame and improve his defence.
There’s no argument from me that he is the man for the job but the doubt remains about his ability to clock on every game. We need a back up.

 

[upthetigers]

At least the lethargic Farah can tackle and play 80 minutes...

 

[TheDaBoss]

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[gallagher]

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I'm not sure about him. I feel he may be another Michael Brown, stuck behind a champion and earmarked as the next big thing but never amounted to much when given the reins.
I'd rather stick with Liddle and sign an established player like Koroisau or Segeyaro.

 

[TheDaBoss]

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I'm not sure about him. I feel he may be another Michael Brown, stuck behind a champion and earmarked as the next big thing but never amounted to much when given the reins.
I'd rather stick with Liddle and sign an established player like Koroisau or Segeyaro.

He runs hard and can defend, i have high hopes for him

but i do agree with the points u have made

 

[Snake]

I have noticed that Farah is struggling injury? Age? Probably a bit of both ... it is Farahs swan song ,but realistically Liddle has to be selected it would be crazy not to . The club needs to know if he is up to it week in week out , give Farah a couple of weeks to freshen up then bring him back .

 

[2005magic]

I think liddle has to be selected for the next few weeks- at least to give him the chance to see if he is worth re-signing and succeeding Farah or we part ways end of season and WT look elsewhere for main hooker. If he breaks down injured again, we have our answer and have to look elsewhere. Also if we are looking to sign another hooker it makes huge difference in negotiations if you're wanting back up or main role hooker.

 

[Goanna57]

@Balmain_Boy Yes we almost scored 2 tries almost and yes if Liddle is fit and that’s a big if let’s just get rid of all that experience to please the Farah haters because that’s what most good teams do with experience

 

[bythebeardofzeus]

Well Madge certainly managed Cook & Farah’s game time well at Souths. Hoping he can do the same here with Liddle & Farah.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I don't want it to seem like I am rooting for him to fail like a Brooks basher. I would genuinely like to see the kid succeed. I remember last year telling my uncle to keep an eye on this kid. However, I remember when he made his debut back in 2016. If somebody told me then that he still would not be an established first grader, yet is constantly being talked up still as the next big thing, I'd have asked what the hell was the hold up.

 

[gallagher]

Well Madge certainly managed Cook & Farah’s game time well at Souths. Hoping he can do the same here with Liddle & Farah.

I would like to know how Madge feels that worked out actually. He played both of them for most of the year but they had a poor year finishing 12th. Does he think it was the best thing for the team?

 

[kiwitiger]

@GNR4LIFE likewise don't want to see him fail. But let's be honest he is still just potential after 3 years.
The weird thing is people want him promoted because he is younger than the incumbent.
Really our juniors have to show something other than potential. I feel like we are always waiting for the next big thing. Waiting and waiting.