Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

Tiger_Fanatic3 said:

‘I want Luke here’: Why Sheens won’t let Brooks walk without a fight​


One of the last things Tim Sheens did before he was sacked by Wests Tigers a decade ago was convince a young Luke Brooks to commit to the club.

He never got the chance to work with him then, which is why Sheens is in no mood now to let him go to Newcastle.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien had the chance on Friday to shoot down speculation about Brooks joining the Knights for the 2023 season, but instead added to the intrigue when he said: “I’m not too sure ... when the list is finalised, I’ll coach that list”.
Sheens, though, was unequivocal. “I want Luke here,” he told The Sun-Herald. “It’s not our intention to release him, and there’s been no request from Newcastle. It’s been talked and talked and talked about.

“He’s due to turn up here on November 14, and I’m looking forward to working with him. Benji [Marshall] and I are looking forward to getting our hands on him.
“Right at the moment, there’s been no movement from the Knights and we’re moving forward with him as our halfback.

“He still has his legs, he has speed, he’s brave, and if you needed to find someone to replace him, you wouldn’t find that [an] easy task either.

“The last thing I did at the Tigers was to convince him, Mitchell Moses and James Tedesco to sign here. They were our next spine at the time. I never got the chance to work with Brooksy then. I’m looking forward to working with him now next year.”

Brooks is due to report for pre-season training on Monday week and is free to officially strike a deal elsewhere for 2024, now he is entering the final year of his Tigers contract.

The Knights were convinced they had secured Brooks for the start of last season. The fact the move never eventuated arguably left the Hunter club scrambling.

Sheens will not open negotiations with Brooks or Doueihi until the new year, even if it leaves them exposed to the advances of rivals.
The 72-year-old was relieved Doueihi pulled through the World Cup campaign uninjured after Lebanon’s campaign ended against Australia early Saturday. He will not resume training until the new year.

Sheens’ two-year tenure in charge started on Wednesday, alongside his 2025 successor Marshall.

While Sheens refused to discuss the pending arrival of English enforcer John Bateman – “I’ll only talk about the guys we’ve already got and signed” – he labelled Api Koroisau “the best advertisement for the club”, and someone who was already on the ground talking to prospective players.

Only the most rusted-on Tigers fan would dare to dream about a premiership in 2023. A finals berth will be the goal, but September football looks a more likely target the following year.
Sheens pointed out the club not once fielded a full-strength side last year, which included the trials. They lost nine games by 10 points or less, he said, which included eight games by eight points or fewer. Tommy Talau and Shawn Blore did not feature at all because of injury.

One player who did report for day one of pre-season training was Randwick rugby captain Ben Houston, a No.6 in rugby who “is big and rangy and a front-row proposition”, Sheens said. (SMH)
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But but but he is gone and won’t be here next year.
 
Camel2281 said:
Who cares if there is no one else available. He's everything that's wrong with this club. Overpaid, Never accountable for poor performance, mopes around the field and doesn't do his job
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Based on those criteria we couldn’t field a side each week
 
Lauren said:
I think Brooks deciding to go to the Knights, of all clubs, would be the most idiotic decision he could ever make.
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I dunno Lauren any more idiotic to stay here and carry the weight of a fan base sick of losing with him being at the top of the most responsible list for many - longest serving player to not play finals footy and all that other crap he cops
A change of scenery might at least give a new lease. Mentally if he is checked out and keen to play with Joey Johns not sure what Sheens will offer when the familiarity of the place probably is what he needs to get away from.
 
Telltails said:
I almost feel sorry for Brooks. Finally takes the leap - assuming the links to Newcastle are true- and now Sheens won't let him go.
In for a hell of year if we find ourselves to be struggling again.
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Would agree, but that would be jumping from one basket case to another.
 
I'm sure if Newcastle really want Brooks and they are prepared to pick up his entire contracted 2023 salary rumoured to be $1.1 mill ( its a backended amount and I believe it at least to be fairly accurate) .Then I'm sure we would release but Knights won't pay it and why should we subsidise it . Conversely Brooks could agree to forfeiting part of it if he's that keen to go .
 
vlad said:
Sheens still making the Knights sweat on Brooks . How bad do they really want him …
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O'Brien sounds like if he doesn't get Brooks his coaching career is over he is so desperate he will bite Sheenius Just has to hang in there to get the right Price maybe 900K of the contract paid for if Brooks doesn't want to be here he won't

And I was told before that Brooks doesn't like Benji so see what happens
 
This is not about hating , or loving certain players, Yes we are building our forward pack, but we had the worst spine in the game ! It would be lucky to make an impression in the NSW cup !
We have since got Apisi, and Stains, - that leaves us with the 6 and 7 which we have Hastings, a clever footballer who was bought as a 13 tried at 7 with minimum result, AD bought as a FB where he failed , moved to the halves with minimum result, and Brooks who has not reached the heights we thought he would. Yet people think these are the people that will get the side up the ladder'

GET REAL,!
 
Telltails said:
I dunno Lauren any more idiotic to stay here and carry the weight of a fan base sick of losing with him being at the top of the most responsible list for many - longest serving player to not play finals footy and all that other crap he cops
A change of scenery might at least give a new lease. Mentally if he is checked out and keen to play with Joey Johns not sure what Sheens will offer when the familiarity of the place probably is what he needs to get away from.
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Sorry my comment was more a jab at the Knights. They're in a world of trouble if he's their missing piece of the puzzle. No offence.
 
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