What happens with the hooking position?
- Thread starter Milky
- Start date
goldcoast_tiger
New member
Liddle looks too small to be at 5/8to me.
I don't Like the idea of wasting a bench spot on another hooker.
I'd rather work on whichever one eventually gets the spot to get his time up as close to 80 mins, there may be some who can give him a break without losing a bench spot
I don't Like the idea of wasting a bench spot on another hooker.
I'd rather work on whichever one eventually gets the spot to get his time up as close to 80 mins, there may be some who can give him a break without losing a bench spot
Ballins contract ends at the end of this year (2017). I would presume he will not be offered an extension. I would play him when / if he is fit and uninjured this year with Mac on the bench.
Ballin is a very good player if we can get him on the pitch.
If Ballin is not available then obviously it is Mac with Liddle on the bench. Little needs time in the NRL this year and to build himself up for next year.
Little was the choice of hooker for the future, that is why we let Cherrington go to the Sharks.
I think Liddle will be a terrific DH - very quick off the mark, good short kicking game and can defend pretty good for a little guy and that will only get better as he bulks up.
However we do not need to make a decision at the moment.
Ballin is a very good player if we can get him on the pitch.
If Ballin is not available then obviously it is Mac with Liddle on the bench. Little needs time in the NRL this year and to build himself up for next year.
Little was the choice of hooker for the future, that is why we let Cherrington go to the Sharks.
I think Liddle will be a terrific DH - very quick off the mark, good short kicking game and can defend pretty good for a little guy and that will only get better as he bulks up.
However we do not need to make a decision at the moment.
Both MM & JL are our hooking options for years to come.
Ballin has been a waste of time…..not his fault, but lets be serious he was only ever signed so Farah could be pushed out of the club. In fact it has created nothing but problems as we had to pay Farah's salary this year, probably paid a little of Ballins over the past two years and we gave Kapoaw to Manly a year early even though he was contracted to us.
I think JT had a major hand in all of this, and on that alone probably deserves what happened to him a few weeks ago.
Ballin has been a waste of time…..not his fault, but lets be serious he was only ever signed so Farah could be pushed out of the club. In fact it has created nothing but problems as we had to pay Farah's salary this year, probably paid a little of Ballins over the past two years and we gave Kapoaw to Manly a year early even though he was contracted to us.
I think JT had a major hand in all of this, and on that alone probably deserves what happened to him a few weeks ago.
KingOvKingz09
New member
@ said:
100%
Matty & Liddle will be our options for years (depending on if we can keep them both)…Although i do see Liddle as our permanent 9\. Ballin has just been a waste of Cap space these last 2 years... But in saying that can be a great mentor to both of them as they're both still young.
@ said:
Better fix that then.
WestsBenTigers
New member
@ said:
Yeah, good point.
I think that based on current form MM is playing better than Isaac Luke.
They are the only two NZ hookers (apart from Cherington who's not even playing FG).
If I were picking the New Zealand team I would pick McIllwrick.
Luke is the incumbent and will probably get selected before MM but McIllwrick is playing out of his skin and Luke is just a dud
@ said:
and THIS^
That being said Ballin was great at Manly, top hooker, NEVER should have been hired to kick Farah out the door. JT was right however to push Robbie to the side, he was dead set wrong though to throw a top clubman on the curb like he did. The worrying part of JT was he never seemed like a people person and would rub people the wrong way. I am sure that we could have said to RF, Play here for 3 years and we are going to look for a contract for you in England. You get a nice farewell as a clubman, everyone goes YAY, you retire and wack on an english jersey for 2 years.
Instead we blow our cap on hooker after hooker and do nothing about defense. Had we saved our powder for Tamou or Fensom we would be in a far better position.
@ said:
Luke is NOT a dud, but he is out of form for some reason. He is a smaller player and probably taken too many knocks.
I doubt Mcllwrick will be picked because he isn't working with many in the NZ team. If you are picking Foran then you will pick Luke to get the combo (if you are picking Foran and Johnson, why would you not pick Luke?). NZ will want a good spine, not just a good player. Otherwise would be happy for Mcillwrick to be picked.
Donald_Trump
New member
:master: McIlwrick should have his Opal card topped up by the club - clearly on the bus.
Ballin - not so much
Ballin - not so much
Yeah I was supportive of Ballin's signing but it's more than apparent now that he will just never get right. Matty Mc and Liddle are the way forward.
MM is perfect for our team. Just gets it done and growing in Confidence.
Ballin - I would be surprised to see him play of FG. Ps is this his last year on contract?
Ballin - I would be surprised to see him play of FG. Ps is this his last year on contract?
@ said:
Yeah, I'd say it's his last year in the game also.
Tiger_Watto
New member
You keep both…
McIilwrick starts and plays the opening 25-30min. He then goes to the bench and is our back-up for any backrow injuries/interchange etc.
Liddle plays out the match.
I did notice Matt and JLJ switching in defence alot on Saturday to _to allow Matt to last longer minutes. I'm not sure you have that luxury once Luke come back?_
McIilwrick starts and plays the opening 25-30min. He then goes to the bench and is our back-up for any backrow injuries/interchange etc.
Liddle plays out the match.
I did notice Matt and JLJ switching in defence alot on Saturday to _to allow Matt to last longer minutes. I'm not sure you have that luxury once Luke come back?_
Tim Sheens
Well-known member
@ said:
_Yeah, thought that may have been to limit Hess a little as well._
