Brandon Wakeham #267

[Coastie_Tiger]

1 Doueihi
6 Brooks
7 Wakeham

Reserve grade
1 Laurie

No heart

I don't think you can accuse Laurie of having no heart, he plays above his weight his positional play at times is atrocious. This is probably why we dont want him on a long term deal, i think he's seen as a stop gap or back up option in a couple of positions.

 

[earl]

This Demps, we keep waiting for Brooks to take charge of the team but it looks like he's content to just float along and it will never happen

Just to be really clear I am definitely not looking for Brooks to take charge of the team. I don't believe he has that ability. I think that is setting him up for failure.

I'd just like to see him play a solid game as a secondary play maker. I think he can do this but I think he only does this once every couple of games.

I'd also like to see Laurie play a good fullbacks game and he can but it's only one in every couple of games. I think Laurie is playing in a harder position than Brooks though.

 

[carltonleach]

Laurie needs to pull on the Ryde Hawks jersey and learn some basic skills.

His support play is non existent.
He made a couple of good runs but is scared of contact and gets out muscled all the time.

No post contact metres.
A very incomplete footballer.

Laurie needs to pull on the Ryde Hawks jersey and learn some basic skills.

His support play is non existent.
He made a couple of good runs but is scared of contact and gets out muscled all the time.

No post contact metres.
A very incomplete footballer.

Laurie made more post contact meters then every other fullback in the comp other then Dylan Edwards I believe? Think Laurie got 75pcm Cobbo got 74pcm and edwards got 76pcm. He is very small for a nrl player and does get man handled very easily but he is probably the best player we have in our back 5 current players (on the weekend). Which is a pretty sad state of affairs. He also ran for more meters than every other fullback bar Dylan Edwards who ran for like 60-70 more meters then him

 

[Tito Santana]

Fill his spot with another forward, he's taking up a spot as a half. Maybe a Sheenius move, play with 3 starting props, 7,8,10

I’ve actually mentioned this idea before. Or rid us of Brooks, Laurie to 5/8 (no more bombe) and Bula to fullback.

 

[liltiger]

Just to be really clear I am definitely not looking for Brooks to take charge of the team. I don't believe he has that ability. I think that is setting him up for failure.

I'd just like to see him play a solid game as a secondary play maker. I think he can do this but I think he only does this once every couple of games.

I'd also like to see Laurie play a good fullbacks game and he can but it's only one in every couple of games. I think Laurie is playing in a harder position than Brooks though.

If we get the Brooks that thinks run first, that would be dynamic just atm he seems to be all on ball movement but his pass selection in horrendous

 

[Telltails]

Laurie made more post contact meters then every other fullback in the comp other then Dylan Edwards I believe? Think Laurie got 75pcm Cobbo got 74pcm and edwards got 76pcm. He is very small for a nrl player and does get man handled very easily but he is probably the best player we have in our back 5 current players (on the weekend). Which is a pretty sad state of affairs. He also ran for more meters than every other fullback bar Dylan Edwards who ran for like 60-70 more meters then him

A real mixed bag from Laurie yesterday. At the game I felt he never stopped having a go but at the same time made some crucial errors. Took a couple of great mid air catches and then the stuff up for the McIntire try. Would never say he he plays without courage, but the errors will always cancel out the good stuff when you lose.

 

[carltonleach]

A real mixed bag from Laurie yesterday. At the game I felt he never stopped having a go but at the same time made some crucial errors. Took a couple of great mid air catches and then the stuff up for the McIntire try. Would never say he he plays without courage, but the errors will always cancel out the good stuff when you lose.

Yeh I completely agree he’s silly errors and lapses of judgment cost him massively almost every game. It’s a shame because as you said he is always having a go and he’s a good footy player

I’m sorry guys I just realised I posted in the wrong thread, I don’t know how to move it to another thread either, can delete posts if people want

 

[tony soprano]

Wakeham playing great atm.

Will have to give it time to pan out tho.

 

[ElleryHanley]

7. Brandon Wakeham vs Roosters
4 try assists
3 line break assists
17 runs for 106m
11 tackles (2 missed)
6/8 goals

Again...NOT saying he is the answer. What I am saying is he can play a link role, provide assists and kick goals.

All things we need. Look at the long range try we scored v Raiders in trial...Wakeham was the one who spotted that hole and ran hard into it and passed to the man with space.

Wakeham is poor when he tries to be Benji 2.0...but he is decent when you ask him to be Chad Townsend.

We need that type of role and let AD run the show (not just one side / Brooks other side)

Brooks, at this stage, would be addition by subtraction.

 

[tony soprano]

7. Brandon Wakeham vs Roosters
4 try assists
3 line break assists
17 runs for 106m
11 tackles (2 missed)
6/8 goals

Again...NOT saying he is the answer. What I am saying is he can play a link role, provide assists and kick goals.

All things we need. Look at the long range try we scored v Raiders in trial...Wakeham was the one who spotted that hole and ran hard into it and passed to the man with space.

Wakeham is poor when he tries to be Benji 2.0...but he is decent when you ask him to be Chad Townsend.

We need that type of role and let AD run the show (not just one side / Brooks other side)

Brooks, at this stage, would be addition by subtraction.

Reminds me of old school benji for some reason

 

[ElleryHanley]

Reminds me of old school benji for some reason

He does have a bit of Benji in him...the problem is, when he tries to play as Benji, he is 10% magic / 90% errors.

When Wakeham plays a defined role / controlled game...he is actually decent. Way better than Madden.

But you need him to play that defined role and not try to be 'the man'.

 

[earl]

Brooks, at this stage, would be addition by subtraction.

I don't agree with dropping him one game into the season and that was his first game since he didn't play any trials but it's pretty hard to keep justifying having Brooks in the team.

I feel sorry for Brooks but it's professional sport. He needs to be at his best because he isn't good enough not to be at his best.

 

[ElleryHanley]

I don't agree with dropping him one game into the season and that was his first game since he didn't play any trials but it's pretty hard to keep justifying having Brooks in the team.

I feel sorry for Brooks but it's professional sport. He needs to be at his best because he isn't good enough not to be at his best.

I agree it was one game...

My question is why will it change?

It has been years, and years, and years of not controlling sets / terrible last play options.

Why will it change? I hope it does...I hope it all clicks and he becomes Cooper Cronk with a running game...

But, after a decade, there is pretty much nothing to suggest he will ever have the ability to read a game. Even in his interviews and media stuff he can barely explain things.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Honestly can’t believe we are back having a conversation about whether to replace Luke brooks with Brandon wakeham after actually having a decent halfback last year…. So dumb

 

[ElleryHanley]

Honestly can’t believe we are back having a conversation about whether to replace Luke brooks with Brandon wakeham after actually having a decent halfback last year…. So dumb

We are not just back to "Should Brooks start"...we are actually close to possibly having Luke extended by two years...and thus him starting in 23, 24 and 25.

It is honestly surreal...

 

[earl]

My question is why will it change?

It has been years, and years, and years of not controlling sets / terrible last play options.

Why will it change? I hope it does...I hope it all clicks and he becomes Cooper Cronk with a running game...

But, after a decade, there is pretty much nothing to suggest he will ever have the ability to read a game.

I don't think it will change. It will improve because he had a shocker and he hasn't played enough to find some form. He won't be that player though.

Stef made several mistakes as well but I'll think he'll come good. I can't see Brooks coming good.

In some ways I feel his best chance is to play reserve grade and find form there and then come up if he deserves it. This is a critical year for him and Laurie and I think we'll have to cut them both.

 

[earl]

We are not just back to "Should Brooks start"...we are actually close to possibly having Luke extended by two years...and thus him starting in 23, 24 and 25.

It is honestly surreal...

Surely this doesn't happen. I wouldn't be considering re-signing him until the end of the season. If he goes elsewhere it's fine.

I also recognize that there are no halves in the comp. Losing Brooks at this point is a positive.

 

[ElleryHanley]

I don't think it will change. It will improve because he had a shocker and he hasn't played enough to find some form. He won't be that player though.

Stef made several mistakes as well but I'll think he'll come good. I can't see Brooks coming good.

In some ways I feel his best chance is to play reserve grade and find form there and then come up if he deserves it. This is a critical year for him and Laurie and I think we'll have to cut them both.

I agree he will improve in terms of combinations and fitness etc.

Luke could well be MOTM v Knights if the game breaks open. I have always felt he can play an ad hoc game.

My main issue is when we get the ball...20 meters out.

We have had years and years where he has failed to create, missed overlaps, and done nothing on the sixth play. That has happened for absolutely ages now and comes down to footy IQ.

I don't see how that changes in year ten of his career.

He is basically the polar opposite of Chad Townsend.

Luke came in with all the gifts, raps, and physical ability...

Townsend came in with nothing and had to learn the game inside out.

One now runs a team like a maestro.

The other is Luke.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Surely this doesn't happen. I wouldn't be considering re-signing him until the end of the season. If he goes elsewhere it's fine.

I also recognize that there are no halves in the comp. Losing Brooks at this point is a positive.

The Pom said a two year extension is pretty much done.

 

[earl]

My main issue is when we get the ball...20 meters out.

This is the issue and it's a massive issue. When he is on his game he will make some good plays here. I remember one game last year when he ran it out wide and Nofo was on that wing and he set up a couple of tries.

The problem is that he is so inconsistent and lacks creativity as a secondary play maker in the halves especially when we are on the attack.

Benji at the backend of his career had so many mistakes in his game but he was creative. I don't think Brooks will ever have that ability. AD isn't that creative but he is a threat when running the ball.