Ballin should be medically retired

[Mario chalmers]

Nothing personal as he seems like a nice bloke when interviewed but the facts are these:

- 33 years old
- hasn't played in 2 years
- doesn't seem all that confident in his knee holding up based on the media reports I have seen
- would be on decent money (Manly covered his contract this season but we'd be picking up the full tab this year)
- you cannot carry 3 hookers in your top 25 these days
- WT cannot afford to play Liddle (a specialist hooker) off the bench these days with only 8 interchange. Pick him to start or not at all and carry a utility who can cover dummy half at a pinch if needed.

Ballin would be eligible for career-ending injury allowance although we did sign him 6 weeks after he did his ACL. Clearly a stupid, spiteful decision by Taylor who wanted to pressure Farah into leaving.

The club is very short on backrowers with size. With the freed up funds I would chase an edge forward.

 

[Tigers1986]

He played a month last year before unfortunately reinjuring himself. These things happen.

I spoke to him at Members Day and at the Cowboys trial about the knee and his recovery. He says it's much better than last year and he's confident of a great season ahead.

McIlwrick doubles as a second-rower and Ballin will play 80 minutes. Liddle will be in NSW Cup most of the year to develop.

Farah was leaving regardless. He was a cancer to the side and the way he treated Sheens and Potter, then Taylor, was just abhorently awful. He and Souths are a match made in the cold depths of hell.

 

[innsaneink]

"Ballin would be eligible for career-ending injury allowance..."

I doubt it.

 

[jadtiger]

Nothing personal as he seems like a nice bloke when interviewed but the facts are these:

- 33 years old
- hasn't played in 2 years
- doesn't seem all that confident in his knee holding up based on the media reports I have seen
- would be on decent money (Manly covered his contract this season but we'd be picking up the full tab this year)
- you cannot carry 3 hookers in your top 25 these days
- WT cannot afford to play Liddle (a specialist hooker) off the bench these days with only 8 interchange. Pick him to start or not at all and carry a utility who can cover dummy half at a pinch if needed.

Ballin would be eligible for career-ending injury allowance although we did sign him 6 weeks after he did his ACL. Clearly a stupid, spiteful decision by Taylor who wanted to pressure Farah into leaving.

The club is very short on backrowers with size. With the freed up funds I would chase an edge forward.

Ballin was known to have knee problems when JT got him to the club.There is no way we can claim a medical exemption and get it through the NRL.

 

[Tiger Woody]

What a waste of money...
He never got injured much at Manly but after he did we decided to buy him..
Didnt realise he was 33 so this year would be his last if he ever gets on the field for us

 

[Tigers1986]

He'll be back for the first game if not then the Penrith game. So much negativity.

An injured Ballin > Farah the last 3 years.

 

[Tiger Woody]

He'll be back for the first game if not then the Penrith game. So much negativity.

An injured Ballin > Farah the last 3 years.

Hope hes ok for round 1 as he seems like a decent type of guy and the players speak highly of him.
We need his experience as well..
Pretty good spine with Teddy,Moses,Brookes(if he can fire up) and Ballin.

 

[Tiger Ted]

There's no doubt he carries himself with dignity & would be a fabulous role model for the youth @ our club.

We really need him to have an injury free season as Liddell isn't ready to b our no. 1 seeded hooker.

 

[Clifferd]

Obviously best case scenario is Ballin is fit and stays injury free all season but Matt mcillwrick has proven himself a decent backup if needed. I have a feeling he may even be there round 1 v souffs