Jacob Liddle
{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Jacob Liddle
|fullname = Jacob Liddle
|image = File:Liddle,J 17042311NH.jpg
|imagesize = 290
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|10|27}}
|birth_place = Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
|height = {{convert|184|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|91|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|HK}}
|club1 = Wests Tigers
|year1start = 2016
|year1end = 22
|appearances1 = 73
|tries1 = 12
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 48
|club2 = St. George Illawarra
|year2start = 2023
|year2end = present
|appearances2 = 54
|tries2 = 14
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 56
|teamA = {{nowrap|Prime Minister's XIII}}
|yearAstart = 2024
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 1
|triesA = 1
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 4
|retired =
|updated = 18 May 2025
}}
Jacob Liddle (born 27 October 1996) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|hk}} for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the Wests Tigers in the NRL.
Background
Liddle was born in Gosford, New South Wales, Australia. He studied at Wadalba Community School.{{cite web|author=Newcastlerabbit |url=http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/threads/three-rabbitohs-in-australian-schoolboys-side-to-take-on-england-combined-regional-ac.441637/ |title=Three Rabbitohs in Australian Schoolboys Side to take on England Combined Regional Ac | The Front Row Forums |publisher=Forums.leagueunlimited.com |date= 26 November 2014|accessdate=2017-04-29}}
He played his junior rugby league for the Wyong Roos{{cn|date=May 2024}}, before being signed by the Wests Tigers.
Playing career
=Early career=
In November and December 2014, Liddle played for the Australian Schoolboys.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/robert-jennings-picked-for-the-australian-schoolboys-rugby-league-team/story-fngr8j33-1227024148347|title=Robert Jennings picked for the Australian Schoolboys rugby league team|publisher=Dailytelegraph.com.au|accessdate=2015-04-23}} In 2015 and 2016, he played for the Wests Tigers' NYC team,{{cite web|url=https://nycdatabase.org/players/l/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616162758/http://nycdatabase.org/players/l/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 June 2015|title=L|publisher=Nyc Database|date=|accessdate=2016-07-09}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2016/04/05/nyc_team_announcemen.html|title=NYC Team Announcement: Round 6 vs. Knights - Tigers|publisher=Weststigers.com.au|date=5 April 2016|accessdate=2016-07-09}} and he was named the team's Player's Player in 2015.{{cite web| work= weststigers.com.au| title=Jacob Liddle to make NRL debut| date=9 July 2016| url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2016/07/09/jacob_liddle_to_make.html}} He played for the New South Wales under-20s team against the Queensland under-20s team in 2015,{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/07/04/pay_s_say_nsw_under_.html|title=PAY'S SAY: NSW Under-20s side|publisher=NSWRL.com.au|date=4 July 2015|accessdate=2015-07-09}} and was selected again in 2016, but decided to forgo the match to make his first-grade debut.
=2016=
On 14 June, Liddle re-signed with the Tigers on a 2-year contract until the end of 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/jacob-liddle-commits-to-wests-tigers-22389/#vsB8MzvDGuiCR20q.97|title=Jacob Liddle commits to Wests Tigers|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=|accessdate=2016-07-09}} With Robbie Farah absent for State of Origin, and Manaia Cherrington and Matt Ballin injured, Wests Tigers were given a dispensation for Liddle to make his debut in round 18 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, despite exceeding the 2nd tier salary cap.{{cite news| work= Sydney Morning Herald| publisher = Fairfax| title=Wests Tigers debutant Jacob Liddle unlikely to play again this season, says Jason Taylor| first = Adam| last = Pengilly| url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/canterbury-bulldogs/wests-tigers-debutant-jacob-liddle-unlikely-to-play-again-this-season-says-jason-taylor-20160709-gq2a4i.html|accessdate=10 July 2016|date=9 July 2016}} Coming off the bench, he scored a try early in the 2nd half.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-team-lists-bulldogs-v-wests-tigers/tabid/10874/newsid/98988/default.aspx|title=Updated team lists: Bulldogs v Wests Tigers|publisher=NRL.com|date=2016-02-28|accessdate=2016-07-09}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2016/07/09/late_changes_nrl_rou.af_news.html|title=Late Changes: NRL Round 18 vs. Bulldogs - Tigers|publisher=Weststigers.com.au|date=|accessdate=2016-07-09|archive-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818045758/http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2016/07/09/late_changes_nrl_rou.af_news.html|url-status=dead}} Coach Jason Taylor said, "For salary cap reasons he probably won't play any more part. That's disappointing. He didn't look out of place for a second against a team with those big guys and his defence was superb."
=2017=
With Farah leaving the club, Liddle was a regular in first grade, mostly playing from the bench and interchanging with Matt McIlwrick at hooker. From round 16, he changed to the starting hooker, but 3 games later he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.{{cite web| work= Fox Sports | title=Casualty Ward round 19: Shaun Johnson good news, Jacob Liddle injures shoulder| author=John Dean and Nathan Ryan | date=17 July 2017| url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/casualty-ward-round-19-shaun-johnson-and-jacob-liddle-suffer-seasonending-injuries/news-story/5c3a6d4623919fa210cbf19afe7249a5}} Scoring 3 tries from his 13 appearances, Liddle was awarded the Wests Tigers Rookie of the Year.{{cite web| work= weststigers.com.au | title=2017 Presentation Night Awards Winners| date=5 September 2017| url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2017/09/05/_2017_presentation_n.html}} Mid-season he signed an extension to remain at the club to the end of 2019.{{cite news| work= South West Voice | title=Jacob Liddle: rising star extends contract with Wests Tigers | url=http://www.southwestvoice.com.au/jacob-liddle-rising-star-extends-contract-wests-tigers/|archivedate=11 September 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911034050/http://www.southwestvoice.com.au/jacob-liddle-rising-star-extends-contract-wests-tigers/}}
=2018=
Returning from his shoulder injury, Liddle played on the bench in round 4. He said, "Definitely long-term, I want to wear that No.9 jersey. I think at the moment I just want to keep on playing footy and getting my match fitness up and getting my tackling right. But I was pretty happy with the hit out today."{{cite web| work= Fox Sports | title=Jacob Liddle chasing Wests Tigers No.9 jersey after difficult start to NRL career|author=Ben Glover | date=5 April 2018| url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/tigers/jacob-liddle-chasing-wests-tigers-no9-jersey-after-difficult-start-to-nrl-career/news-story/d4d2c3fe929f47f34d684913ffa3a3ba}} He made his return to the starting team in round 6, and scored a penalty try against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, after he was illegally tackled without the ball by Daly Cherry-Evans, causing him to fumble the grounding of the ball. The Tigers went on to win 38-12.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/04/15/wests-tigers-stage-first-half-blitz-to-beat-manly-sea-eagles/|title=Wests Tigers stage first half blitz to beat Manly Sea Eagles|date=15 April 2018|publisher=|accessdate=15 April 2018}}
Injury again limited Liddle in 2018, making 13 appearances with only two in the starting side. With former captain Robbie Farah returning to the club mid-season, all of Liddle's subsequent appearances were spelling Farah. Liddle said, "He's come back and showed me a few things. I watch him at training on the field and you learn off him. I probably haven't played as much as I've wanted to play this year, but it's all a learning process."{{cite news| work= Sydney Morning Herald | title=Tigers youngster Liddle willing to bide his time behind Farah again|author=Adam Pengilly | url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/tigers-youngster-liddle-willing-to-bide-his-time-behind-farah-again-20180822-p4zyyt.html}}
=2019=
Liddle remained the second string hooker behind Farah in 2019. After missing the beginning of the season with rehabilitation, he played 10 games off the bench mid-season before returning to reserve grade. With Farah suffering an injury in round 21, Liddle was recalled as starting hooker in round 22, but was taken from the field with a serious knee injury after just six minutes of play.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-15/manly-bounces-back-with-win-over-wests-tigers-at-brookvale/11408546/|title=Manly beats Wests Tigers 32-12 at Brookvale Oval to leapfrog South Sydney into fourth spot|newspaper=ABC News|date=15 August 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/08/15/tigers-hooking-stocks-hit-as-liddles-season-over/|title=Tigers hooking stocks hit as Liddle's season over|website=nrl.com|date=15 August 2019 }}
He was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament,{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-casualty-ward-every-injury-and-every-clubs-full-list-plus-return-dates/news-story/b7bace20133e63ef802880765ff1f5f9/|title=Every injury and every club's full list plus return dates|website=Fox Sports|date=18 August 2019 }} saying, "I’ll come back bigger and stronger. I’ve had two shoulder recos and you just take it day by day. You don’t think about the long haul, you just think about the daily things, doing the recovery. It’s all mental really. You get back on the horse and plough ahead."{{cite news| work= Sydney Morning Herald | title=This won't finish me': Luckless Liddle vows to return from setback|author=Adrian Proszenko | url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/this-won-t-finish-me-luckless-liddle-vows-to-return-from-setback-20190818-p52i90.html}}
=2020=
After almost a year out of the game, Liddle made his return for the Wests Tigers against Canterbury-Bankstown which Wests won 29-28, with Liddle passing the ball to Luke Brooks for the game-winning field goal. Coach Maguire said, "Liddsy was steering the team around well. We saw that at the back end of the game when he did that to get the field goal. He had us in the right position."{{cite web| work= nrl.com | title=Tears to triumph: Liddle's 12-month bid to keep Tigers dream alive|author=Dan Walsh | date=21 August 2020| url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/08/22/tears-to-triumph-liddles-12-month-bid-to-keep-tigers-dream-alive/}} The following week, he scored his first try of the season against the Sydney Roosters in a 38-16 defeat.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-22/nrl-south-sydney-thrashes-manly-roosters-raiders-post-wins/12586060/|title=South Sydney beats Manly in 56-16 NRL thrashing, Roosters and Canberra record victories|newspaper=ABC News|date=22 August 2020 }}
=2021=
Starting the season at hooker, Liddle was dropped in favour of Jake Simpkin for 4 weeks from round 6, returning to the starting spot in round 9. In June, he signed a contract extension to remain at the club until the end of 2023.{{cite web| work=nrl.com| title=Liddle earns new Tigers deal after fighting back from the brink|author=Dan Walsh| date=June 2021| url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/06/01/liddle-earns-new-tigers-deal-after-fighting-back-from-the-brink/}} Days later, he scored a 95 metre runaway try as Wests Tigers toppled the previously undefeated Penrith.{{cite news| work= The Australian | title=Wests Tigers become first team to defeat Penrith Panthers this season Love|author=Martin Gabor | url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-become-first-team-to-defeat-penrith-panthers-this-season/news-story/c3f5f3e085c2670d59079e47ee92f681}}{{subscription required|s}} Trainer Robbie Farah said, "He started the year well, but he tapered off a bit so it was probably a kick in the guts to be dropped, but the way he’s reacted has been great to see. I think he’s come into the side a better player."{{cite news| work= news.com.au | title=Robbie Farah throws support behind unlucky Liddle|author=Martin Gabor| url=https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/robbie-farah-throws-support-behind-unlucky-liddle/news-story/31135713bcd17438e053685d9d3e0e3f}}
=2022=
Liddle played a total of 11 games for Wests Tigers in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished bottom of the table for the first time.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-04/nrl-knights-sharks-tigers-raiders/101402294/|title=Canberra Raiders hand out 56-10 NRL drubbing to Wests Tigers as Cronulla beats Newcastle Knights 38-16|newspaper=ABC News|date=4 September 2022 }}
On September 14, Liddle was released from the final year of his contract with Wests to take up a deal with St. George Illawarra for the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-transfer-centre-jacob-liddle-st-george-illawarra-dragons-wests-tigers-contracts-player-movement/news-story/ce52d8086fdf3acdbdb752e18d20a27e/|title=Dragons poach Tigers hooker after early release from contract: NRL Transfer Centre|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=14 September 2022 }}
===2023===
On 12 March, Liddle made his club debut for the Red V against the Gold Coast Titans. During the round 2 clash, Liddle also scored his first try for the club which came in the 31st minute of the match.
After a loss in round 9 against Canterbury, St. George Illawarra head coach Anthony Griffin demoted Liddle from the side. But after two NSW cup games he was recalled into the first grade side against the Sydney Roosters. Liddle was one of the stars as the club won the game with winger Mathew Feagai going over in the 79th minute to end a six game losing streak and win 24-22.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nrl/story/_/id/37681951/nrl-round-12-dragons-stun-roosters-late-try-thriller/|title=Dragons stun Roosters with late try in NRL thriller|website=www.espn.co.uk|date=19 May 2023 }}
Liddle would play a total of 22 games for the club in the 2023 NRL season as they finished 16th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-st-george-illawarra-dragons-end-of-season-review-brutal-review-rugby-league-news-ben-hunt-shane-flanagan/news-story/876c40f7fc8f8cf09cf2c720499f7db2/|title=Hunt call that could define Flanagan era; glaring hole that must be filled: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=6 September 2023 }}
=2024=
Liddle played 22 games for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-st-george-illawarra-dragons-2024-what-went-wrong-season-review-20240910-p5k9kr.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out|website=www.nine.com.au}}
=2025=
In round 9 of the 2025 NRL season, Liddle scored two tries for St. George Illawarra in their 34-28 loss against the Wests Tigers.{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/never-seen-anything-like-it-the-blunder-which-cost-the-dragons/|title=A Jadyn Su'A blunder costs St George Dragons the win to Wests Tigers|website=www.loverugbyleague.com}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
!Season !Team !Pld !T !G !FG !P |
| 2016
| rowspan="7" |{{Leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers |1 |1 | - | - |4 |
| 2017
|13 |3 | - | - |12 |
| 2018
|13 |1 | - | - |4 |
| 2019
|10 | - | - | - |0 |
| 2020
|6 |1 | - | - |4 |
| 2021
|20 |6 | - | - |24 |
| 2022
|10 | | | | |
| 2023https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/dragons/jacob-liddle/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}
| rowspan="3" |{{Leagueicon|St George|16}} St. George Illawarra Dragons |22 |3 | | |12 |
| 2024
|22 |5 | | |20 |
| 2025
|10 |6 | | |24 |
| !Totals
!126 !25 !0 !0 !100 |
|---|
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers/jacob-liddle/ NRL profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308231829/https://www.nrl.com/players/nrl-premiership/wests-tigers/jacob-liddle/ |date=8 March 2018 }}
- [https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/jacob-liddle/ Wests Tigers profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517071544/https://www.weststigers.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/wests-tigers/jacob-liddle/ |date=17 May 2019 }}
{{St. George Illawarra Dragons squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liddle, Jacob}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Prime Minister's XIII players
Category:Rugby league players from Gosford, New South Wales
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players
Category:Wests Tigers NSW Cup players