Any chance Brooks to 9 when Reynolds Returns?

[Tiger_Watto]

I reckon Cleary would attempt Marshall at Fullback before switching Luke to DH. _I dont see any reason to change Ivans pre-season preference once Reynolds comes back. The only difference may see Reynolds from the Bench instead of Marshall.\
\
One thing is for certain, less of Marshall is usually more so having him off the bench makes more sence!_

 

[goldcoast_tiger]

I think this has some legs as perhaps a long term solution. Dont get me wrong I really like Liddle however he is young and coming off a double shoulder reco. Probably not an 80 minute proposition for a while. I dont rate our current 2 hookers even though they are doing an admirable job in a great gutsy team performances.

Benji is running the team its so clear to see. Commanding the kicking game and barking orders to everyone. He is not going back to the bench.

We cant build our whole season off 10-8 victories. Like the Dragons last season we will by physically exhausted by mid season . We need some more spark in attack. Thats where hopefully Reynolds comes into it. With some of his off the cuff play out wide and ability to sniff out a try.

I actually think Brooks could be a really good number 9 in time. With a left foot kicking game and his defence is improving out of sight. He has a chunky build and is quick off th mark and can have a good passing game. A lot crisper then Reynolds anyway and more suited to 9.

Dont get me wrong the guys doing the job at the moment and this is not bagging Brooks. I just personally never see him turning into a great halfback. And i would hate to see Reynolds at 9 where i think he would be horrible.

Thoughts guys?

Ithink he’good where he is now , completely away from the field.

 

[TIGER]

Leave it as it is. It's working so just leave it.

 

[hammertime]

If Josh does come into the side, Benji needs to at least be in the halves to finish the game. We need that composure. That said, he's getting on a bit and could probably do with a rest at some point.

I can see it working like this.

* Brooks, Benji and Pita/Liddle to start
* Reynolds on at 30 mins to 6, Benji has a rest
* Benji back on at 55 mins, Reynolds to hooker. Pita/Liddle to bench.

 

[Spartan117]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/mick-ennis-leftfield-luke-brooks-move-to-start-benji-marshall-and-josh-reynolds/news-story/a1ef3a6ca5c94c323ab0cec97d6d9b96
March 19, 2018 6:00pm
Source: FOX SPORTS
Ennis: Moving Brooks to No.9 makes way for Benji and Reynolds, and unlocks points in Tigers’ attack

MICHAEL Ennis has offered up a shock solution for how to fit Josh Reynolds, Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks into the Wests Tigers spine.

With Ivan Cleary’s men two from two, his team is yet to play a game with marquee recruit Reynolds.

The playmaker has been sidelined to start the season after tearing his hamstring before the season opener but with Reynolds nearing his return, questions are being asked about where he fits into the side.

Reynolds’ former Bulldogs teammate Michael Ennis has thrown up a solution to Cleary’s halves headache, even though it’s a very left-field fix.

“I’d play Josh Reynolds at five-eighth,” Ennis declared on Fox Sports.

“Benji Marshall has done enough to show he cannot be removed from this side … he’s happy to play the orchestrator. He doesn’t need the flamboyance in his game anymore. He’s matured so much.

“I would go with Luke Brooks at dummy half.”

But what would that switch mean for Pita Godinet?

Jacob Liddle is also on the verge of returning from injury, while Matt McIlwrick has been starting from the bench.

Ennis believes Godinet and Brooks should share the hooking role.

“I would keep Pita Godinet, whose been superb and a point of difference and showing some attack out of dummy half, but I would go Luke Brooks with his left foot kicking game and speed out of dummy half,” Ennis continued.

“That provides some real stability around the ruck and would also allow Marshall and Josh Reynolds to play the football they’re capable of.

“10 points in both games. Yes, it’s been great defensively and you can’t fault their work ethic but we’ve seen with the Dragons in recent years, when you build your whole season on defence and you can’t find points, you get worn out. The Tigers need to find points and that’s what Josh Reynolds does.”

I watch this and the entire panel basically laughed at Ennis.

Stupid idea - Benji is not our long term solution, I really love having him back however I'd be surprised if his form continues enough to warrant another season.

 

[TIGER]

If Josh does come into the side, Benji needs to at least be in the halves to finish the game. We need that composure. That said, he's getting on a bit and could probably do with a rest at some point.

I can see it working like this.

* Brooks, Benji and Pita/Liddle to start
* Reynolds on at 30 mins to 6, Benji has a rest
* Benji back on at 55 mins, Reynolds to hooker. Pita/Liddle to bench.

No, you don't "rest" halves, if Benji needs a "rest" and can't get through a game then he should have a permanent "rest".

Everyone is trying to come up with a complicated solution to a problem we don't have.
The fact is Benji and Brooks are working fine for now, so there's no problem.
Stop trying to create one just to solve it.

Reynolds when 100% fit, bides his time.

 

[Eddie]

I think we have the worst attack in the NRL statistically behind Parra at the minute.

So to suggest everyone is working fine is a bit of a stretch.

We are defending outstandingly.

However realistically how many games are we going to win putting up 10 points? No more then 6-8 all season. Yes i now we played two strong defensive sides.

Im not saying change it. However I'm sure Ivan like the fans is looking at ways and combo where we can improve it to match our defence as the season progresses.

 

[Eddie]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/mick-ennis-leftfield-luke-brooks-move-to-start-benji-marshall-and-josh-reynolds/news-story/a1ef3a6ca5c94c323ab0cec97d6d9b96
March 19, 2018 6:00pm
Source: FOX SPORTS
Ennis: Moving Brooks to No.9 makes way for Benji and Reynolds, and unlocks points in Tigers’ attack

MICHAEL Ennis has offered up a shock solution for how to fit Josh Reynolds, Benji Marshall and Luke Brooks into the Wests Tigers spine.

With Ivan Cleary’s men two from two, his team is yet to play a game with marquee recruit Reynolds.

The playmaker has been sidelined to start the season after tearing his hamstring before the season opener but with Reynolds nearing his return, questions are being asked about where he fits into the side.

Reynolds’ former Bulldogs teammate Michael Ennis has thrown up a solution to Cleary’s halves headache, even though it’s a very left-field fix.

“I’d play Josh Reynolds at five-eighth,” Ennis declared on Fox Sports.

“Benji Marshall has done enough to show he cannot be removed from this side … he’s happy to play the orchestrator. He doesn’t need the flamboyance in his game anymore. He’s matured so much.

“I would go with Luke Brooks at dummy half.”

But what would that switch mean for Pita Godinet?

Jacob Liddle is also on the verge of returning from injury, while Matt McIlwrick has been starting from the bench.

Ennis believes Godinet and Brooks should share the hooking role.

“I would keep Pita Godinet, whose been superb and a point of difference and showing some attack out of dummy half, but I would go Luke Brooks with his left foot kicking game and speed out of dummy half,” Ennis continued.

“That provides some real stability around the ruck and would also allow Marshall and Josh Reynolds to play the football they’re capable of.

“10 points in both games. Yes, it’s been great defensively and you can’t fault their work ethic but we’ve seen with the Dragons in recent years, when you build your whole season on defence and you can’t find points, you get worn out. The Tigers need to find points and that’s what Josh Reynolds does.”

I watch this and the entire panel basically laughed at Ennis.

Stupid idea - Benji is not our long term solution, I really love having him back however I'd be surprised if his form continues enough to warrant another season.

Ennis who played 14 years at hooker in the NRL?

Was laughed down by James Hooper and Yvonne Sampson…

Do you really want to make that point?

 

[kh_canada]

I think your argument has legs… however steers very far from the vision Cleary has for Wests right now. It would also hinder and un-do all the hard work, off-season spent working on Brooks in the halves. When Josh is healthy I imagine he'll either spend a few games in ISP and slot back into 6, or come straight back into 14\. It'll come down to who is performing better at the time. Regardless we will be carrying a 14 utility player.

 

[Silentio]

This is why Ennis is on tv and not in the coach's box.

 

[Needaname]

Please answer me this.
Why does the halfback have to be the dominating half in the side?
If his talking and organising plays 1-6 in the team and gets over called by a player that sees something else what is wrong with that?
Can I cast you guys back to when the Broncos had Peter Wallace and Lockyer in the halves. Which one was the dominant one in the side even after Lockyer came back from a long injury layoff and Wallace was praised for getting the team around the park in his absence?
Brooks may not play like Ash Taylor where every FINAL play comes off him but his doing just fine managing the other 4 plays in the set. You can’t tell me Godinet is organising the sets from hooker.

 

[NT_Tiger]

If Josh does come into the side, Benji needs to at least be in the halves to finish the game. We need that composure. That said, he's getting on a bit and could probably do with a rest at some point.

I can see it working like this.

* Brooks, Benji and Pita/Liddle to start
* Reynolds on at 30 mins to 6, Benji has a rest
* Benji back on at 55 mins, Reynolds to hooker. Pita/Liddle to bench.

No, you don't "rest" halves, if Benji needs a "rest" and can't get through a game then he should have a permanent "rest".

Everyone is trying to come up with **a complicated solution to a problem we don't have.**
The fact is Benji and Brooks are working fine for now, so there's no problem.
Stop trying to create one just to solve it.

Reynolds when 100% fit, bides his time.

How true? If it aint broke…

 

[Guest]

I think Reynolds comes straight back into 5/8\. benji the 14

Its Ivans plan A

No way, not anymore. Benji is killing it and Reynolds hasn't played since the Sharks trial and has zero match fitness behind him. No way he walks back into the 6 jersey unless Benji suffers an injury.

 

[TIGER]

I think we have the worst attack in the NRL statistically behind Parra at the minute.

So to suggest everyone is working fine is a bit of a stretch.

We are defending outstandingly.

However realistically how many games are we going to win putting up 10 points? No more then 6-8 all season. Yes i now we played two strong defensive sides.

Im not saying change it. However I'm sure Ivan like the fans is looking at ways and combo where we can improve it to match our defence as the season progresses.

I agree we need to score more points, in fact it was my biggest concern heading into the Storm game I said we're not gonna win by scoring 10 points, we bloody did though.

From what I've seen of Reynolds it's not as if our attack is going to improve much if at all and it's not worth unsettling Benji and Brooks.

To beat those two teams back to back, yes absolutely things are working fine so far, that's why I'd hesitate to change anything.
Sometimes just not letting in points and getting a few opportunist tries or lucky bounces off kicks etc is enough, the fancy attacking points can just be the icing on the cake.
I'm not concerned about our attack at all, as long as we're in a position to win the game when I counts we'll win our fair share.
So far we've been in the game for 80mins and that's all you can ask for right now.

 

[Needaname]

Spot on aye.
If you keep the opposition to a low score you only need to score low to win the game.
That’s where our focus should be for now!
Imagine if we didn’t dig in the way we did and the storm nab a couple of extra try’s.
Do we still win that game if Melbourne score 2 more try’s whilst we were at 12 men?

 

[The_Patriot]

I think Reynolds comes straight back into 5/8\. benji the 14

Its Ivans plan A

No way, not anymore. Benji is killing it and Reynolds hasn't played since the Sharks trial and has zero match fitness behind him. No way he walks back into the 6 jersey unless Benji suffers an injury.

Youre usually on the money or there abouts but not this time.

Reynolds comes straight back in.

Brooks is basically playing second string to Marshall, its more a 5/8 role than this middle third halfback we were promised.

We need Reynolds to let Brooks take back the middle..

It's a mess.

 

[Tim Sheens]

I think Reynolds comes straight back into 5/8\. benji the 14

Its Ivans plan A

No way, not anymore. Benji is killing it and Reynolds hasn't played since the Sharks trial and has zero match fitness behind him. No way he walks back into the 6 jersey unless Benji suffers an injury.

Youre usually on the money or there abouts but not this time.

Reynolds comes straight back in.

Brooks is basically playing second string to Marshall, its more a 5/8 role than this middle third halfback we were promised.

We need Reynolds to let Brooks take back the middle..

It's a mess.

Was hoping that Benji was going off the field, rather than hobble around and slow down the plays when the game was on the line and Brooks was in the zone. Worse still was winning the toss in extra time and electing to receive, when our approach has been to strangle the opposition defensively. It took most of the first five minutes to get some half decent field position.

 

[Guest]

I think Reynolds comes straight back into 5/8\. benji the 14

Its Ivans plan A

No way, not anymore. Benji is killing it and Reynolds hasn't played since the Sharks trial and has zero match fitness behind him. No way he walks back into the 6 jersey unless Benji suffers an injury.

Youre usually on the money or there abouts but not this time.

Reynolds comes straight back in.

Brooks is basically playing second string to Marshall, its more a 5/8 role than this middle third halfback we were promised.

We need Reynolds to let Brooks take back the middle..

It's a mess.

With Benji now injured it's a foregone conclusion.

 

[TJ21]

I think you will Gamble at 5/8 next week. Don't think Reynolds will be ready.
Who replaces MWZ next week? Milne and Kev shifts to the wing?