Brooks.... what is he good for??

[TYGA]

A lot on here must have never played rugby league or understand what happened tonight. Brooks was targeted on every run, targeted either very kick. Grant was niggled hit and taken out of the game. It was an ice rink on that new turf I was out there. This was not a. Game for the backs or Brooks/Reynolds.

The only difference was Kikau he monstered us out wide and created space for Crichton who is a freak. We were held own and intentional 6 agains and the. In the next play they are 5 metres offside and not called stifling every set.

Yes - Brooks made 27 tackles at 96% against the pack touted as the best in the comp. Its way too many tackles for a number 7 to be making and still be effective in attack. And for those saying Cleary is a good defender - he made 16 tackles at 72% effective. He missed 3 and 3 ineffective. We ran more at Luai when we should have been running at Cleary all night just as Penrith did to Brooks.

The issue with Brooks is his lack of vision and quick accurate passing game. He needs to sit down and watch Keary. He reads numbers engages the line but passes bullets to players. Brooks is a runner and has a good shirt ball but there were times he could have put the winger over but just doesn’t throw the long ball. Defences know this and shut his short runner down and crowd his running game.

To me it just looks like he always chooses the highest percentage play. Whether that’s a mental decision of his own doing or whether he is getting coached to play that way remains to be seen.
He plays the game with completely no risk, the plays he attempts always seem to have the lowest error rate.
For example, a short ball to a forward, may be dropped but has a lower percentage of that occurring and a moderate percentage of the forward breaking the line but the highest percentage of the forward continuing the forward momentum.
Kicking bombs are the same. Most time available for our forwards to get set and ready to defend the team, lowest chance of kick going dead, Moderate chance of an error.
Kicking grubbers in traffic and back against the grain, give our chases the most time in goal, keeps the ball from going dead and also has a chance of a repeat set if the opposition trap and fumble or the ricochet occurs. Running himself under pressure is a high percentage play then passing on to someone else who would be under pressure. Brooks seems to have thrown all the trick shots out of the window.

It’s interesting you say that the defence of teams have been adjusted to cater for this.
We have high completions playing this way but we don’t threaten teams with our attack this way either because it becomes very predicable.

He pre plans plays and doesn’t think quickly enough to read defences and change the attack.
Reynolds does this well buy doesn’t have the skill to capitalise.

 

[Needaname]

A lot on here must have never played rugby league or understand what happened tonight. Brooks was targeted on every run, targeted either very kick. Grant was niggled hit and taken out of the game. It was an ice rink on that new turf I was out there. This was not a. Game for the backs or Brooks/Reynolds.

The only difference was Kikau he monstered us out wide and created space for Crichton who is a freak. We were held own and intentional 6 agains and the. In the next play they are 5 metres offside and not called stifling every set.

Yes - Brooks made 27 tackles at 96% against the pack touted as the best in the comp. Its way too many tackles for a number 7 to be making and still be effective in attack. And for those saying Cleary is a good defender - he made 16 tackles at 72% effective. He missed 3 and 3 ineffective. We ran more at Luai when we should have been running at Cleary all night just as Penrith did to Brooks.

The issue with Brooks is his lack of vision and quick accurate passing game. He needs to sit down and watch Keary. He reads numbers engages the line but passes bullets to players. Brooks is a runner and has a good shirt ball but there were times he could have put the winger over but just doesn’t throw the long ball. Defences know this and shut his short runner down and crowd his running game.

To me it just looks like he always chooses the highest percentage play. Whether that’s a mental decision of his own doing or whether he is getting coached to play that way remains to be seen.
He plays the game with completely no risk, the plays he attempts always seem to have the lowest error rate.
For example, a short ball to a forward, may be dropped but has a lower percentage of that occurring and a moderate percentage of the forward breaking the line but the highest percentage of the forward continuing the forward momentum.
Kicking bombs are the same. Most time available for our forwards to get set and ready to defend the team, lowest chance of kick going dead, Moderate chance of an error.
Kicking grubbers in traffic and back against the grain, give our chases the most time in goal, keeps the ball from going dead and also has a chance of a repeat set if the opposition trap and fumble or the ricochet occurs. Running himself under pressure is a high percentage play then passing on to someone else who would be under pressure. Brooks seems to have thrown all the trick shots out of the window.

It’s interesting you say that the defence of teams have been adjusted to cater for this.
We have high completions playing this way but we don’t threaten teams with our attack this way either because it becomes very predicable.

He pre plans plays and doesn’t think quickly enough to read defences and change the attack.
Reynolds does this well buy doesn’t have the skill to capitalise.

I’ll agree with that. But he never used to in his earlier games. Used to be play quite instinctively.

I’d like to be a fly on the way in video reviews to see if he is actually pulled up on not taking the other options.

I just think he focusses on being consistently solid as a base of his game. Probably suits a team with a dominant five eight like a Melbourne or roosters. (Though unfortunately both of their five eights are left side players).

 

[turkeytiger03]

Yup Good halfbacks have been doing it for years

That is ridiculous.
Andrew Johns played from 1993-2007 and won 2 premierships
Johnathon Thurston Played from 2002-2018 and won 1 premiership

I’m not talking about premierships .... just single games. But gees some ppl on here have a bee in their bonnet about having an opinion on here. I’ve already moved on to the Rabbits.

 

[BZN]

A lot on here must have never played rugby league or understand what happened tonight. Brooks was targeted on every run, targeted either very kick. Grant was niggled hit and taken out of the game. It was an ice rink on that new turf I was out there. This was not a. Game for the backs or Brooks/Reynolds.

The only difference was Kikau he monstered us out wide and created space for Crichton who is a freak. We were held own and intentional 6 agains and the. In the next play they are 5 metres offside and not called stifling every set.

Yes - Brooks made 27 tackles at 96% against the pack touted as the best in the comp. Its way too many tackles for a number 7 to be making and still be effective in attack. And for those saying Cleary is a good defender - he made 16 tackles at 72% effective. He missed 3 and 3 ineffective. We ran more at Luai when we should have been running at Cleary all night just as Penrith did to Brooks.

I just don't get it @diedpretty We've got Luke Brooks consistently doing more than his fair share of tackling and as you pointed out..... at 96% efficiency....how good is that!.... and I would imagine he is doing exactly what Madge wants him to do.
So if Brooks doesn't make those tackles, who does?
If those that are so critical of him want him to step up his attack, I would imagine the only way we could do that is by putting him out on the wing like Parra does with Slimy :japanese_ogre: Moses.
I doubt you can be a tackling machine :muscle: as Brooks is now, as well as a Slimy Moses type attacking player.

 

[stevied]

In this instance I think Brooks is being unfairly criticized. Last night he was solid, if not spectacular. He made a couple of penetrative darts, passed adequately, kicked quite well and was a David against Goliaths in defence. Overall, a 7 out of 10. I actually think he is gradually building in confidence, just like the team is. it is all too convenient and predictable for some people to vent their frustration for a close loss by blaming Brooks. He's been poor in other games but not this one.

 

[Needaname]

In this instance I think Brooks is being unfairly criticized. Last night he was solid, if not spectacular. He made a couple of penetrative darts, passed adequately, kicked quite well and was a David against Goliaths in defence. Overall, a 7 out of 10. I actually think he is gradually building in confidence, just like the team is. it is all too convenient and predictable for some people to vent their frustration for a close loss by blaming Brooks. He's been poor in other games but not this one.

True but apparently it’s the halfback that finishes the game off for the team in close games.

Key plays in that game that ended up being the difference.

Mikale getting the pass instead of Grant when Edwards fumbled.

Criton getting awarded that try when he touched the ball, then it hit Nofo then Criton recovered it.

Garner pushing a pass out wide that went forward and straight to the opposition centre.

BJ kicking the ball away and conceding a penalty.

The missed tackle on Koroisau by CheeKam.

No one other than Brooks supporting and giving Doueihi an option when he made a break.

But yeah all of those decisions had Brooks fumbling fingerprints all over them.

 

[Sart0ri]

True but apparently it’s the halfback that finishes the game off for the team in close games.
Key plays in that game that ended up being the difference.
Mikale getting the pass instead of Grant when Edwards fumbled.
Criton getting awarded that try when he touched the ball, then it hit Nofo then Criton recovered it.
Garner pushing a pass out wide that went forward and straight to the opposition centre.
BJ kicking the ball away and conceding a penalty.
The missed tackle on Koroisau by CheeKam.
No one other than Brooks supporting and giving Doueihi an option when he made a break.
Mikale getting the pass instead of Grant when Edwards fumbled.
But yeah all of those decisions had Brooks fumbling fingerprints all over them.

Mbye being a step slow in support to score when Brooks made a break

 

[OzLuke]

A lot on here must have never played rugby league or understand what happened tonight. Brooks was targeted on every run, targeted either very kick. Grant was niggled hit and taken out of the game. It was an ice rink on that new turf I was out there. This was not a. Game for the backs or Brooks/Reynolds.

The only difference was Kikau he monstered us out wide and created space for Crichton who is a freak. We were held own and intentional 6 agains and the. In the next play they are 5 metres offside and not called stifling every set.

Yes - Brooks made 27 tackles at 96% against the pack touted as the best in the comp. Its way too many tackles for a number 7 to be making and still be effective in attack. And for those saying Cleary is a good defender - he made 16 tackles at 72% effective. He missed 3 and 3 ineffective. We ran more at Luai when we should have been running at Cleary all night just as Penrith did to Brooks.

I just don't get it @diedpretty We've got Luke Brooks consistently doing more than his fair share of tackling and as you pointed out..... at 96% efficiency....how good is that!.... and I would imagine he is doing exactly what Madge wants him to do.
So if Brooks doesn't make those tackles, who does?
If those that are so critical of him want him to step up his attack, I would imagine the only way we could do that is by putting him out on the wing like Parra does with Slimy :japanese_ogre: Moses.
I doubt you can be a tackling machine :muscle: as Brooks is now, as well as a Slimy Moses type attacking player.

The amount of 1 on 1 tackles I see Brooks making against players much bigger than him is staggering. I challenge any other 7 in the game to do better....I can't think of any.

Our problem seems to be that the opposition can isolate him easily therefore making him make more tackles which in turn tires him and nullifies his attack when he gets the chance.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

A lot on here must have never played rugby league or understand what happened tonight. Brooks was targeted on every run, targeted either very kick. Grant was niggled hit and taken out of the game. It was an ice rink on that new turf I was out there. This was not a. Game for the backs or Brooks/Reynolds.

The only difference was Kikau he monstered us out wide and created space for Crichton who is a freak. We were held own and intentional 6 agains and the. In the next play they are 5 metres offside and not called stifling every set.

Yes - Brooks made 27 tackles at 96% against the pack touted as the best in the comp. Its way too many tackles for a number 7 to be making and still be effective in attack. And for those saying Cleary is a good defender - he made 16 tackles at 72% effective. He missed 3 and 3 ineffective. We ran more at Luai when we should have been running at Cleary all night just as Penrith did to Brooks.

I just don't get it @diedpretty We've got Luke Brooks consistently doing more than his fair share of tackling and as you pointed out..... at 96% efficiency....how good is that!.... and I would imagine he is doing exactly what Madge wants him to do.
So if Brooks doesn't make those tackles, who does?
If those that are so critical of him want him to step up his attack, I would imagine the only way we could do that is by putting him out on the wing like Parra does with Slimy :japanese_ogre: Moses.
I doubt you can be a tackling machine :muscle: as Brooks is now, as well as a Slimy Moses type attacking player.

The amount of 1 on 1 tackles I see Brooks making against players much bigger than him is staggering. I challenge any other 7 in the game to do better....I can't think of any.

Our problem seems to be that the opposition can isolate him easily therefore making him make more tackles which in turn tires him and nullifies his attack when he gets the chance.

The front on tackle he performed on Tevano really shook him up. He really put his shoulder into it.

 

[OzLuke]

A lot on here must have never played rugby league or understand what happened tonight. Brooks was targeted on every run, targeted either very kick. Grant was niggled hit and taken out of the game. It was an ice rink on that new turf I was out there. This was not a. Game for the backs or Brooks/Reynolds.

The only difference was Kikau he monstered us out wide and created space for Crichton who is a freak. We were held own and intentional 6 agains and the. In the next play they are 5 metres offside and not called stifling every set.

Yes - Brooks made 27 tackles at 96% against the pack touted as the best in the comp. Its way too many tackles for a number 7 to be making and still be effective in attack. And for those saying Cleary is a good defender - he made 16 tackles at 72% effective. He missed 3 and 3 ineffective. We ran more at Luai when we should have been running at Cleary all night just as Penrith did to Brooks.

I just don't get it @diedpretty We've got Luke Brooks consistently doing more than his fair share of tackling and as you pointed out..... at 96% efficiency....how good is that!.... and I would imagine he is doing exactly what Madge wants him to do.
So if Brooks doesn't make those tackles, who does?
If those that are so critical of him want him to step up his attack, I would imagine the only way we could do that is by putting him out on the wing like Parra does with Slimy :japanese_ogre: Moses.
I doubt you can be a tackling machine :muscle: as Brooks is now, as well as a Slimy Moses type attacking player.

The amount of 1 on 1 tackles I see Brooks making against players much bigger than him is staggering. I challenge any other 7 in the game to do better....I can't think of any.

Our problem seems to be that the opposition can isolate him easily therefore making him make more tackles which in turn tires him and nullifies his attack when he gets the chance.

The front on tackle he performed on Tevano really shook him up. He really put his shoulder into it.

that's the thing. despite his lack of vision in attack, he's tough as teak in defence

 

[Newtown]

For a little guy he is a ferocious tackler and has speed.

 

[facepalmer]

Brooks is probably our best player. This thread is ridiculous lol.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

In this instance I think Brooks is being unfairly criticized. Last night he was solid, if not spectacular. He made a couple of penetrative darts, passed adequately, kicked quite well and was a David against Goliaths in defence. Overall, a 7 out of 10. I actually think he is gradually building in confidence, just like the team is. it is all too convenient and predictable for some people to vent their frustration for a close loss by blaming Brooks. He's been poor in other games but not this one.

True but apparently it’s the halfback that finishes the game off for the team in close games.

Key plays in that game that ended up being the difference.

Mikale getting the pass instead of Grant when Edwards fumbled.

Criton getting awarded that try when he touched the ball, then it hit Nofo then Criton recovered it.

Garner pushing a pass out wide that went forward and straight to the opposition centre.

BJ kicking the ball away and conceding a penalty.

The missed tackle on Koroisau by CheeKam.

No one other than Brooks supporting and giving Doueihi an option when he made a break.

But yeah all of those decisions had Brooks fumbling fingerprints all over them.

Doueihi should have passed that man ! Brooks is the fastest dude on our team . Hindsight is 2020 though

 

[tigerballs]

Geez, here we go again. Tackled as much and as good as a decent second rower, got a repeat set and would have had another and the team well on top if Eiso is onside or stays out of it, makes a handful of linebreaks without support and a try assist if Mbye hadn't had his knee bent backwards earlier.

We lost that match due to other reasons, with a very dubious knock on decision against Garner to start the match, then the wife basher leading with his head (Nate Myles like) taking out McIntyre contributing, plus a red hot Lucy getting laid out. He was replaced by MCK, who's poor effort from marker late in the game cost us dearly as did the upset brother Joey's stupidity for the remaining quarter or so of the match. For mine, keeping either of those two forwards on the field gives us the match.

As for Reynolds, enjoyed his enthusiasm and chase, providing value that should not be underestimated and have no issue with missing those tackles when applying such great pressure. Still, we were lucky to get away with some misses at our end through great scramble.

No one will argue with you FG , but he has lost considerable pace or is unwilling to use it or something is preventing him using it ...it is very noticeable

Yeah, he obviously has hamstring concerns at some level. Someone wrote on here a while back about his early season problem being a bigger issue than was made public. Might have been @tigerballs, does anyone have any more insight on that?

Edit; Hammys are a severe impediments to any player that has problematic ones, being like an anchor in them reaching potential that others enjoy. Even seemingly innocuous runs such as those by Jennings to score a few weeks back can pull them up.

He had a problem with his nose.

 

[bigsiro]

Man this little bloke is polarising!

Regardless on which side of the fence you are, it is remarkable how so many of us see him as the best player on our team and at the same time so many of us view him as the player most responsible for our mediocrity.

Remarkable!

 

[balmain boy]

His defence is excellent and it's good to see that his hard work has paid off. How ever at what cost? Where is the Brooks that won dally m halfback a couple of years ago? That teamwork he played in wasn't amazing. No better or worse than this year's team.

So far in 6 games this year he has 1 try assist and 1 line break assist (both the same play). 3 repeat sets earnt too. It's just not enough. He needs to contribute more. He used to almost lead the league in try assists, but this part of his game seems to have disappeared. Especially seeing we've been a high scoring team, his lack of playmaking is disappointing. His kicks are also largely ineffective. Not sure what it is but I hope he recaptures his old attacking form soon!

 

[cktiger]

He is the best defensive back in the comp, and is probably our fastest player but he is not a Blake Green as far as a organising half, but I am more than happy to see him run out with the 7 on his back

Lol-best defensive back in the comp?
He’s not even the best defensive halfback(Cleary, Pearce etc say hello)
The bloke picks his options wrong consistently ... and was the first one to give up chasing when Penrith made their big break.
Rolled his eyes and stood there ... and he’s our fastest player.

 

[Snake]

His defence is excellent and it's good to see that his hard work has paid off. How ever at what cost? Where is the Brooks that won dally m halfback a couple of years ago? That teamwork he played in wasn't amazing. No better or worse than this year's team.

So far in 6 games this year he has 1 try assist and 1 line break assist (both the same play). 3 repeat sets earnt too. It's just not enough. He needs to contribute more. He used to almost lead the league in try assists, but this part of his game seems to have disappeared. Especially seeing we've been a high scoring team, his lack of playmaking is disappointing. His kicks are also largely ineffective. Not sure what it is but I hope he recaptures his old attacking form soon!

Being comfortable and earning good money .. knowing full well he has the 7 for another 4 yrs ! You need to have someone hungry ... as above his attacking play has fallen away .. some see this others do not .

 

[weststigerman]

Funny thing is, he was getting bagged just as much when he was dally M halfback of the year.

 

[Sart0ri]

He also won the Tigers player of the year for the last 2 years and was recently re-signed on a long contract. Some people who should know what they are talking about seem to think he is performing his role quite well.