Is Robbie Farah the 2nd greatest hooker of all-time?

[Jason Maher]

Looks like the NSW fans have conceded defeat already,& are looking for some small comfort in trying to convince themselves they have a great hooker playing for them .

Smith is classes above any other no 9 in the game today ,& to try to claim that RF is close to the best ever is absurd.

You forgot to mention Pearce...

 

[Grapple]

Is Robbie Farah the 2nd greatest hooker of all-time?



No... Next question?! :lol:

 

[Tommy Smith]

Then stop using the term "hooker" and the post topic of "all time".

Sorry but a dumb thread written for the Gen Y (and later) brigade, as we all know the Gen Ys don't believe the world existed before they arrived in it.

I know I have two of these special creatures.:lol:

Im as aware of the history of the game as 99% of people on here, grandpa.

Just because i didn't mention Sandy Pearce in this debate doesn't mean that im oblivious to the world before my time.

And aside from a few ":lol:" and "pfft, kids these days! they should have seen Ian Walsh and Noel Kelly go at it!!" type lines, im yet to see an argument which outlines why Robbie Farah is a level below Walters, Elias and Buderus.

 

[thorson1987]

Me too

I won't even bother trying to tell them about

Steve Walters
Benny Elias
Max Krilich
George Piggins
Noel Kelly
Ian Walsh

Because a hooker these days is a completely different beast

bring back the contested scrum!!!!! :crazy: :lol:

Yep.

Quality has gone down hill but there prices have gone up. Especially the ones on Canterbury rd.

 

[Big Pete]

I still think when push comes to shove, Farah has the tendency of making mistakes at critical moments. Check the prelim vs. Dragons in 2010, final against the Warriors in 2011 and Game 3 2012 as some good examples.

He has more bells and whistles than Bedsy but Bedsy at his best had all the basics down tight. He was great defensively, a strong runner out of dummy half, took good options and his service is right up there with the best in the game's history. I don't think Farah at his best is as good in those departments nor has he had the career of Buderus.

For mine, he's in the Luke Priddis league of hookers. That isn't a swipe neither, Priddis if anything, is grossly underrated.

 

[cv8z]

Im as aware of the history of the game as 99% of people on here, grandpa.

Just because i didn't mention Sandy Pearce in this debate doesn't mean that im oblivious to the world before my time.

And aside from a few ":lol:" and "pfft, kids these days! they should have seen Ian Walsh and Noel Kelly go at it!!" type lines, im yet to see an argument which outlines why Robbie Farah is a level below Walters, Elias and Buderus.

I can see a lot of similarities between Elias and Farah as far as skill goes.

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Fair enough Pete - I still rate Farah highly and am glad to have him. Some point out errors in games he has made, but I'd still say that he brings in more points than he concedes by a long way.

Why the hell does every player have to be the 'best of all time' anyway.

Just being bloody good is not enough?!

 

[Tone83]

And Isaac Luke better than Farah, come on. Absurd.

Explain. To me he's clearly better. In many ways the best, he's the most dangerous and skillfull.

 

[Ladmate]

I still think when push comes to shove, Farah has the tendency of making mistakes at critical moments. Check the prelim vs. Dragons in 2010, final against the Warriors in 2011 and Game 3 2012 as some good examples.

He has more bells and whistles than Bedsy but Bedsy at his best had all the basics down tight. He was great defensively, a strong runner out of dummy half, took good options and his service is right up there with the best in the game's history. I don't think Farah at his best is as good in those departments nor has he had the career of Buderus.

For mine, he's in the Luke Priddis league of hookers. That isn't a swipe neither, Priddis if anything, is grossly underrated.

Please provide examples of these critical mistakes. Even so, I never knew we judge players on 3 game samples.

It's also convenient you don't mention any of Farah's strengths. Not his kicking game, second to Cameron Smith. Or his playmaking ability, arguably better than Cameron Smith? Farah is probably the second best hooker in these catagories, and I'd take that over "heart" and "spirit" and whatever rubbish people use to put people like Buderus over him, as if no other footballer has those qualities.

 

[Big Pete]

Please provide examples of these critical mistakes. Even so, I never knew we judge players on 3 game samples.

It's also convenient you don't mention any of Farah's strengths. Not his kicking game, second to Cameron Smith. Or his playmaking ability, arguably better than Cameron Smith? Farah is probably the second best hooker in these catagories, and I'd take that over "heart" and "spirit" and whatever rubbish people use to put people like Buderus over him, as if no other footballer has those qualities.

Origin 3 2012 - Knock on from dummy half when the game was in the balance.

Qualifying Final 2011 - Choosing to run it down the blind-side giving Marshall no space giving the Warriors the ball when he should have been opting for a kick

Prelim Final 2010 - Coming up with poor option after poor option on the Dragons line when Tigers had the ball

The fact is he hasn't been involved in that many big games. 4 games for Australia, 5 games for NSW, 9 finals games - not a whole lot to be said for the second best hooker in the game.

I referred to them - bells and whistles. Handy inclusions to be sure, but not exactly necessary skills of a dummy half. Says more about him as a player than hooker is all I'm saying.

Don't sweat it though, Farah still has time on his side. If he can do something for the Blues this series or next the whole complexion changes but right now when we're talking about the best of the best Farah is just a nominee, nothing more.

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

And Budurus is forgotten now,and he is still playing

I didnt even mention Buderus. However, Buderus will be remembered more than Farah because he played consistently at the highest level for about 8 years straight and has won a Dally M Player of the year, Dally M Rep player and 3 Dally M hooker of the year awards. Robbie Farah has done nothing in the game to be remembered by. Buderus will forever be in the history books, Farah will not.

 

[Ladmate]

Origin 3 2012 - Knock on from dummy half when the game was in the balance.

Qualifying Final 2011 - Choosing to run it down the blind-side giving Marshall no space giving the Warriors the ball when he should have been opting for a kick

Prelim Final 2010 - Coming up with poor option after poor option on the Dragons line when Tigers had the ball

The fact is he hasn't been involved in that many big games. 4 games for Australia, 5 games for NSW, 9 finals games - not a whole lot to be said for the second best hooker in the game.

I referred to them - bells and whistles. Handy inclusions to be sure, but not exactly necessary skills of a dummy half. Says more about him as a player than hooker is all I'm saying.

Don't sweat it though, Farah still has time on his side. If he can do something for the Blues this series or next the whole complexion changes but right now when we're talking about the best of the best Farah is just a nominee, nothing more.

2011 is a fair point, I don't remember the Dragons game too well. In reference to Origin 3, Farah set up nearly all of the tries though, so while it was a big mistake without him the game wouldn't even be close.

I disagree strongly with your bells and whistles comment. In todays game, they aren't add ons. They are neccesary for a great hooker. The time has gone where hookers were just defensive specialists who offered good service and maybe have a run here and there. The good hookers now have a kicking game from dummy half to relieve pressure, and forms an integral part of the playmaking for the team. It's no coincidence the 3 best hookers now are considered to be Smith, Farah and Luke, all who can do the above things.

 

[Big Pete]

In reference to Origin 3, Farah set up nearly all of the tries though, so while it was a big mistake without him the game wouldn't even be close.

That's Farah to a tee though. In a game in which should have been celebrated as career defining, it was compromised by silly mistakes like that.

I know it's an element to today's game but I don't consider it as essential as other components of a hookers play. It's why when Buderus came back, he was still considered a top contender for the Blues #9. You can play first receiver and put through cross-field kicks but nothing is going to beat being able to take the right options in pressure situation, engaging the markers and hitting your target with the right pass.

 

[Phil McGrawhan]

You forgot to mention Pearce...

Bhaaaaaaaaaaaa.Wrong thread Dumbo.
In here we are talking about farah.
Stop stalking me.

 

[Raider_69]

No he isn't. Of players I've seen - Walters, Ellias, Buderus, Toovey and Smith are all clearly better modern day hookers. I will concede an argument can be put forward for Farah v Toovey for 5th spot but if the OP needs it explained to him why Boxhead, Backdoor, Bedsy and Smith are better hookers, perhaps Rugby League is not the game for him...

 

[Radical Rat]

It's hard to measure because he never got the chance to show his wares at Origin level. Old man Buderus kept the spot year after year despite Farah being by far the more influential player at club level. With no top quality halves since Johns until recently, Farah was close to the most dangerous attacking players NSW had. Farah finally got two chances of which one game was admittedly horrible. He was dropped and essentially stamped never to play origin again. They were going to pick old man Buderus until he got injured! He showed he was up to it last year. I don't think you could fairly argue Smith was any better in origin last year. I don't think Farah improved massively between his chances at origin. Who knows how he would have gone if he'd been eased into the team off the bench while Buderus was still playing?

Anyway, Smith's record stands alone. Best strategic decision maker I've ever seen. It is incredible how he controls the tempo of a game.


In terms of threat to the try line - tries, try assists, line breaks, line break assists, and attacking kicks I think Farah has him covered.


And Isaac Luke better than Farah, come on. Absurd.

Well said.

 

[HowHigh]

What's with all these trolling threads

 

[Raider_69]

Fwiw from players I've seen, ranking the best modern day hookers. 1a. Walters 1b. Smith (even as a raiders fan I'm willing to admit smith probably retires as the best modern day hooker of all time, over taking Walters.) 2. Ellias 3. Buderus 4. Toovey 5. Farah...

Royce Simmons goes close too. Genuinely underrated when it comes to talking all time great #9's

 

[ellskimore]

It amazes me that he hasn't played more origin. Great player. One of the best in the game at the moment.

 

[dinko]

He's probably the greatest really

Without a shadow of a doubt, Greatest rake the game has ever produced.