Brooks is no good

[GCfan]

Just what we need, another Brooks bashing thread 😂

 

[Demps]

Oh thank God Demps! I have been waiting for an opportunity to discuss whether Brooks was any good and at a loss where to vent my feelings.

Haha....
I just stumbled upon this.

Compare the comments from then to now
No improvement one could say.

 

[twentyforty]

Brooks' kicking game isn't very good. I'm not too concerned what the stats say, but for a lot of those, he's up the top because he's played every game and is our dominant kicker.

He very, very rarely finds the grass on his long kicks and his attacking kicks from 30-40 out aren't good. I will admit though, his kicks closer to the in-goal have been good - Ken and Talau have picked up a few tries from nice cross-field kicks.

His long kicks are mostly directed to the wingers, which is where coach wants them. Difficult to find the grass when you’re giving your kick chase team (often includes Brooks) every chance to be on the landing applying pressure.
His tactical kicks are only as good as the chasers

 

[Demps]

Just what we need, another Brooks bashing thread 😂

2017 - 2021

Even @Geo wasn't backing the kid back then.

 

[Demps]

I to am fed up with the lack of decisions on the last.
Brooks has improved his running and his involvement but at the moment he is just a shuffler. I am still waiting for him to take the game by the scruff. He lacks instinct. It's hooker or halfback in ISP next year I think for Brooks.
Still concerned about lohehea at Fullback next year think we really are stupid to not sign a dedicated fullback. And by do we lack a hooker. Even still I think Jacob will probably be playing part of the year in ISP next year to get his strength up.
Good to see Cleary can make a rubbish side play commited.

Changed ya opinion ?

 

[tiger05premier]

Please review this topic in 2021...


?

Do we really need to regurgitate another Luke Brooks thread?

Regardless.
League leader in Attacking kicks.
7th in league in forced drop outs.
4th in league for total kicks.
5th in league for kick meters.
7th in league for long kicks.
14th in weighted kicks.
17th in the league for kicks, kicked dead. (Scale from worst to best)
15th in the league for kick errors. (Scale from worst to best)

Luke Brooks kicking game is not the problem!

Yes.

The club is doing an end of season review and hopefully it will bring results.

I read over this thread and it was interesting to see, some of the things that are being said now were also said 4 years ago.

I thought it was quite interesting.
His kicking game is not the problem?
I would disagree.

His kicking game in attacking zone is absolutely terrible

 

[Needaname]

I to am fed up with the lack of decisions on the last.
Brooks has improved his running and his involvement but at the moment he is just a shuffler. I am still waiting for him to take the game by the scruff. He lacks instinct. It's hooker or halfback in ISP next year I think for Brooks.
Still concerned about lohehea at Fullback next year think we really are stupid to not sign a dedicated fullback. And by do we lack a hooker. Even still I think Jacob will probably be playing part of the year in ISP next year to get his strength up.
Good to see Cleary can make a rubbish side play commited.

Changed ya opinion ?

Actually yeah. I have I was wondering how long ago I posted that.
There was a time where it really looked like Luke had lost the love of the game.
Since then he is playing more committed. His involvements in the play have improved and in my opinion he looks like he is doing what he can to keep the team in the game. He seems to lack instinct with the ball in hand and plays rather rehearsed but it seems to be the most effective way for him to play.

I can’t play him at Hooker. He is just not displaying the characteristics of a hooker, his still a halfback his just the stable one not the standout one. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with that.

Not sure who I was replacing him with if he was to play ISP the following year.

We all have our opinions and often that is altered by emotion at the time.

I’m loathe to post directly after a win or loss anymore as I know I haven’t processed everything accordingly.

I think he has improved.
He was close to 100 games then and his now over 150. Will he take us to the promised land maybe not but I’d have no doubt he wouldn’t skip a beat in any of the current top 4 sides and you could argue he’d probably improve parramatta if he was paired back alongside his mate Mitch.

Feel free to look this post up in 12mths time but if Brooks stays and Hastings partners him that will be our best partnership yet.

 

[Needaname]

I think Gamble is a five eight.
It's s hard one half backs that lack a running game are seen as one dimensional. Then a half that lacks organising skills is seen as a runner. Even DCE isn't seen as a traditional halfback.
But the question is which is easier to develop game awareness or running skill and instinct.

Since you brought up the thread again @Demps this earlier comment could be attributed to Nathan Cleary. Came into the league with not much a running game but could kick and direct well.
I’d say in addition to getting on some heavy supplement over 2019-2020 pre season; Nathan’s running game improved to make him an all rounded player.

Brooks on the other hand came into the league with a very instinctive style and a lack of organising / structure to his game and slowly coaches have been trying to work that in. It’s got to the point where he has lost that instinct and plays only to structure. As I said in the previous post. Hastings will in my opinion be a great foil for Brooks, and will give your man time to build back into the game.

 

[cktiger]

Bad luck charm.

 

[69-05-41]

Can someone please setup a reminder to bump this thread again in 2025, assuming anyone is still here. We can celebrate Brooks' 250th game and 14 years without finals.

 

[Pascoes_barber]

He just needs another few (8) years of development.

 

[earl]

I can’t play him at Hooker. He is just not displaying the characteristics of a hooker, his still a halfback his just the stable one not the standout one. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with that.

This is the way I see it. He doesn't look like a hooker. He looks like an average half.

I also don't have a problem with him being an average half.

 

[TigerTownSFS]

Call me when he can get repeat sets

 

[bigsiro]

We should have kept Jacob Miller.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

We should have kept Jacob Miller.

This tops your “Billy Walters has potential” comment.

 

[SeanT]

I'm sorry but his short kicking game.has been abysmal his career. No idea why he can't kick a decent grubber.and get resets again and again. That's my biggest gripe with him apart from going missing. It's his inability to keep pressure on with his kicking game..

 

[TigerNeddyK]

Oh thank God Demps! I have been waiting for an opportunity to discuss whether Brooks was any good and at a loss where to vent my feelings.

Haha....
I just stumbled upon this.

Compare the comments from then to now
No improvement one could say.

It’s like being in a time warp…..?

 

[TigerNeddyK]

He just needs another few (8) years of development.

And some more experimentation with different halves partners! The right one is out there somewhere and west’s tigers will not ever give up,till we find the right halves partner for Brooks to fire.. No matter how long it holds the club back, the partner is out there!

 

[Demps]

Oh thank God Demps! I have been waiting for an opportunity to discuss whether Brooks was any good and at a loss where to vent my feelings.

Haha....
I just stumbled upon this.

Compare the comments from then to now
No improvement one could say.

It’s like being in a time warp…..?

Comments from 2017 are relevant today...
Harsh reality.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Add to this the coaching over the last two and bit years, did JT do anything to improve his game, I’d say no.
Will Luke turn his career round and show the promise he did as a junior, i hope so. **Lets give a decent coach a chance to work with him (during the off season), a coach that we know can teach a halfback how to play, add to that an improved forward pack, a halves partner that can take some pressure off him and we’ll see what happens.** I can already see that his defence has improved along with his running game.
In regards to all the negative comments about him, why is it always the same posters? unhappy life?

What happened is that coach mentioned above had that off season with Brooks in the squad and we had Matulino giving our middle authority in 2018, resulting in the halfback of the year performances, including a first rate short kicking game.

2019 was pretty good as well, at least until Ben limped off Parramatta Stadium that night as Luke’s successful game was slowly being changed under Maguire.

He then missed the opening of 2020 through injury, followed by Covid plus the advent of Rugba League and whilst he wasn't great in that setting, has carried out **his role** reasonably consistently this season.