Brooks overhauls playing style..

[Geo]

Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks vows to overhaul playing style
Nick Walshaw, The Daily Telegraph
March 10, 2017 7:33pm

TOGETHER, they have played fast and loose since high school.

A decade of daring. But not anymore.

After years of promise, Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks has vowed to finally become the “composed playmaker” his combination with close mate Mitchell Moses requires.

The revelation represents an important shift for the off-contract duo who have played together since age 12 and could be in the last year of a partnership that has risen through Holy Cross Ryde, Balmain Juniors, Australian Schoolboys and now first grade.

While Moses enjoyed an outstanding 2016 — finishing inside the Dally M Medal top 10 — Brooks struggled to find the consistency required of a player once hailed a future NSW No.7.

“And Mitch deserves everything he got last year,’’ Brooks said. “But personally, I wasn’t playing my best footy. I was sort of just going along with him.

“And that’s motivated me. Seeing the way he was playing, it’s motivated me to step up and really take control this year.

“Over the pre-season, I’ve worked a lot on staying composed. Not trying to score on every play.

“That’s a big thing for this team.

“Over the past few years we’ve tried to score off every play. But for me now, it’s more about building pressure, earning repeat sets and coming up with good quality last play options.”

Asked if the Tigers needed a more controlled half, Brooks continued: “Definitely.

“We have a lot of guys here who can play what they see, play off the cuff. So it’s important for me to stay composed and take control when I need to.

“And that’s something I’m having to learn. I was always more a ‘play what you see’ footballer.

“But as halfback, it’s my job … nobody else is going to do the kicks and get the last play options.”

The Tigers have their four biggest names off contract — with Brooks and Moses joined by captain Aaron Woods and NSW fullback James Tedesco.

Fox Sports commentator Matthew Johns urged all four to stick tight, like Tigers legends Wayne Pearce, Benny Elias, Steve Roach and Paul Sironen did in the 1980s, and create a premiership dynasty.

Asked if players still thought in such romantic tones, Brooks replied: “Premierships are why you play the game — or why I play footy anyway.

“I dreamt of winning an NRL premiership as a kid and I’m still dreaming about it now.

“And we have the side here to really make a charge for it. So that’s something you definitely take into account when thinking about your future.”

This Sunday the Tigers go up against another exciting halves duo in Penrith’s Nathan Cleary and Te Maire Martin.

While the Panthers were thumped 42-10 by St George Illawarra in their season opener, Brooks is expecting a far more focused opponent this week.

“That wasn’t them,’’ he said of the Panthers’ opening-round display. “I’m not sure what happened against the Dragons but they will definitely be motivated by that loss.

“They’ll be looking for a big game and we need to be ready because they will be firing.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/tigers/wests-tigers-halfback-luke-brooks-vows-to-overhaul-playing-style/news-story/b7c27b1585479958de720bac2bfb966d

 

[Tigrr]

I hope he changes his style but he has always played and kicked for himself too much,

 

[fergiefurr]

he certainly looks the fittest ive ever seen him, seems he is finally taking footy seriously

 

[matchball]

Let's hope hope he overhauls the defensive side.
It's a game of offence and defence. Someone should tell him.

 

[king_sirro]

I hope he changes his style but he has always played and kicked for himself too much,

I cant recall Brooks ever kicking for himself. He always kicks for other runners. There may have been the odd one, but i cant recall it.

 

[greatodensraven]

He actually sounds a lot more mature & composed in this interview which is something he has struggled with previously. Also as others have mentioned he seems much fitter this year.

Good on him, hope he has a great year for us & we re-sign him quick smart.

 

[Guest]

Good signs last week, his short kicking game was very good and he certainly looks fitter than last year. When he starts taking the line on more in attack we'll be a better side for it as it creates another focal point for the opposition to consider which is a good thing considering Moses and Teddy have no fear in taking the line on.

 

[tig_prmz]

he needs to adjust to his team mate's speed. he definitely is too fast and when he accelerates no one can keep up with him and hence runs out of support

 

[Born_tiger]

he needs to adjust to his team mate's speed. he definitely is too fast and when he accelerates no one can keep up with him and hence runs out of support

He needs to run slower?

 

[tig_prmz]

he needs to adjust to his team mate's speed. he definitely is too fast and when he accelerates no one can keep up with him and hence runs out of support

He needs to run slower?

LOl nah adapt to the team mate's speed. know when to accelerate, when to straighten up and when to slow it down for other options like chris lawrence who has amazingly slow acceleration and ends up miles behind brooks.

 

[southerntiger]

he needs to adjust to his team mate's speed. he definitely is too fast and when he accelerates no one can keep up with him and hence runs out of support

He needs to run slower?

LOl nah adapt to the team mate's speed. know when to accelerate, when to straighten up and when to slow it down for other options like chris lawrence who has amazingly slow acceleration and ends up miles behind brooks.

Absolutely right. Goods players have 4 or 5 levels of speed. Its the deception that makes them so difficult to defend against. Brooks, when he is playing poorly, is always doing everything at a frantic pace.

 

[mike]

I'm glad he realises he wasn't playing all that well. Accepting that is the first step in improving.

 

[happy_tiger]

he needs to adjust to his team mate's speed. he definitely is too fast and when he accelerates no one can keep up with him and hence runs out of support

He needs to run slower?

LOl nah adapt to the team mate's speed. know when to accelerate, when to straighten up and when to slow it down for other options like chris lawrence who has amazingly slow acceleration and ends up miles behind brooks.

Absolutely right. Goods players have 4 or 5 levels of speed. Its the deception that makes them so difficult to defend against. Brooks, when he is playing poorly, is always doing everything at a frantic pace.

Brooks doesn't seem to know when to hit the gas , like the other night v Souths , he Suli outside him and only a hobbling Inglis out of position

He dropped the hammer and beats Inglis he has a 2 on 1

Very true about using speed as a deception , and only run as quick as you need to , might sound weird but not having the opposition know your top speed is an advantage

 

[Tigrr]

I hope he changes his style but he has always played and kicked for himself too much,

I cant recall Brooks ever kicking for himself. He always kicks for other runners. There may have been the odd one, but i cant recall it.

He has done too many chip and chase, he kicks when he should pass, too often e.g against souths Inglis,

 

[king_sirro]

I hope he changes his style but he has always played and kicked for himself too much,

I cant recall Brooks ever kicking for himself. He always kicks for other runners. There may have been the odd one, but i cant recall it.

He has done too many chip and chase, he kicks when he should pass, too often e.g against souths Inglis,

I think kicking at the wrong time is different to kicking for himself. I do agree he can kick at the wrong time and the example against souths is a good one. I dont think he is a selfish kicker though.

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

There's were a couple of times against Souths where Brooks looked across to Idris on his outside, then went with some hair brained plan B rather than pass it. There was one where he put a stupid kick.in instead of passing it, and another where he tried to float a cut out ball to Suli which was called forward.

Both times Idris was the obvious reciever, but it felt like Brooks doesn't trust him yet.

 

[simonthetigerrrr]

Gee tough crowd ,he had a great game v souffs.

Kicks were spot on ,took the line on and defended with gusto.

If he does that every week we are in for a big year.

 

[king_sirro]

Ummmm….. what i say. As a defender of his how do i explain his performance today? He was a joke. No he was embarrassing.

 

[mike]

Still a lot of work to be done. I somehow think it is more in his head that any lack of ability. Perhaps a good sports psychologist would help. Needs help when things are not going his way. Very poor descions and execution under pressure.

 

[Nucky_Thompson]

Still a lot of work to be done. I somehow think it is more in his head that any lack of ability. Perhaps a good sports psychologist would help. Needs help when things are not going his way. Very poor descions and execution under pressure.

He see someone mate. Teddy , moses, Brooks and woods see the same guy. No more excuses for him.