Congrats Brooks

[earl]

So obviously, once the ball is into the attack zone the reliance on the halves increases dramatically. If anything, 2023 is an even more striking illustration of how Brooks and his halves partner are not getting the job done. Previous years you could blame the platform

On this point it's not that simple. I never blamed the platform because I figure you have to play as well as you can under the conditions that you get and there have been plenty of players perform well without a great team. To be clear on this you can also perform well and not win. Andrew Johns is the best player I've ever seen and he won two premierships and Newcastle were always known for a good pack.

This year I've seen Brooks throw some elite passes in the attacking zone. He is creating chances for us. I don't really buy the narrative that it's just our halves not getting it done in the attacking zone. We've also had a spine that is a bit of a shambles. Brooks and Api have been going pretty well but the other players haven't done as well.

Api is absolutely killing it but Brooks has probably created just as many chances.

 

[Saturnalia]

I have no doubts at all that Brooks has the potential to be a quality halfback,

Disagree, as a 10 year veteran, he's not going to improve markedly from where he is.

 

[KingRobbie]

I have realistic expectations of Brooks. I expect him to be an average NRL half and not a dominant one.

The money he’s on is a big reason (probably the biggest reason) for him getting destroyed in the media and by Tigers fans though.

It’s not “average NRL half” money, it’s elite, representative player money.

 

[Saturnalia]

Api is absolutely killing it but Brooks has probably created just as many chances.

He really doesn't create much, He rarely gets his outside players in to good positions.

Some of this is that the outside players are pretty poor, but he should be leading them into the gaps, and he's not doing that.

 

[earl]

The money he’s on is a big reason (probably the biggest reason) for him getting destroyed in the media and by Tigers fans though.

It’s not “average NRL half” money, it’s elite, representative player money.

This is another fair criticism but of course it's also probably overblown. He is on a heavily backended contract. There is no way he has performed like Josh Reynolds or Moses Mbye in relation to money per performance. Moses is on considerably more and he isn't a representative player.

I don't think his contract has been elite half money. DCE, Cleary, Moses, Dylan Brown, Reynolds, Hynes and a bunch of other players would be on more. The Dogs paid something like 500k for the kid they put in the other day.

I suppose it's fair criticism but you need to put it it's proper perspective.

 

[earl]

He really doesn't create much, He rarely gets his outside players in to good positions.

Some of this is that the outside players are pretty poor, but he should be leading them into the gaps, and he's not doing that.

What ??? Should I re-post the highlights I've previously posted ?

I mean I understand it's subjective but you just made that up.

 

[KingRobbie]

This is another fair criticism but of course it's also probably overblown. He is on a heavily backended contract. There is no way he has performed like Josh Reynolds or Moses Mbye in relation to money per performance. Moses is on considerably more and he isn't a representative player.

I don't think his contract has been elite half money. DCE, Cleary, Moses, Dylan Brown, Reynolds, Hynes and a bunch of other players would be on more. The Dogs paid something like 500k for the kid they put in the other day.

I suppose it's fair criticism but you need to put it it's proper perspective.

Obviously we don’t know the exact figures but according to most sources, the only players you mentioned on more money than Brooks are DCE and Cleary.

The others are reportedly on less, some of them significantly less.

 

[earl]

Disagree, as a 10 year veteran, he's not going to improve markedly from where he is.

We need to look at how he is playing now and what he is worth. He definitely won't improve markedly but he might become a bit more consistent and be more sure in his role. He might also slow down a bit and that might be an issue.

I think Hastings is in a similar position as well. I'm not sure who is going to have the better backend of their career.

 

[earl]

Obviously we don’t know the exact figures but according to most sources, the only players you mentioned on more money than Brooks are DCE and Cleary.

The others are reportedly on less, some of them significantly less.

Come on man. This is simply not true,

All of those players are on considerably more than Brooks over the course of their deals.

Worst case Brooks might be on similar money to those guys for this year of his contract but that is not the correct way to view his contract. You have to look at the long term cost per year.

 

[KingRobbie]

Come on man. This is simply not true,

All of those players are on considerably more than Brooks over the course of their deals.

Worst case Brooks might be on similar money to those guys for this year of his contract but that is not the correct way to view his contract. You have to look at the long term cost per year.

Figures seem to suggest that Brooks has earned between 850k-1.1mil per year, over the course of his back-ended four-year deal.

Anyway, don’t really like having these debates because figures are technically based off unofficial sources that the general public aren’t privy to, so lets leave it at that.

 

[earl]

Figures seem to suggest that Brooks has earned between 850k-1.1mil per year, over the course of his back-ended four-year deal.

Which is less than all those guys I mentioned.

Anyway, don’t really like having these debates because figures are technically based off unofficial sources that the general public aren’t privy to, so lets leave it at that.

Agreed but let's not twist the poor information that we already have. Way too much of that seems to happen with Brooks.

 

[The Ladies Man]

Reading here you'd be convinced he's never played a decent game....

I think the main consensus is that those decent games are few and far between.

 

[aturkey]

Brooks literally has to help us get back into the eight for a contract. If we achieve anything less, and he is signed, it is absolutely stupid. The other night we scored 2 tries. We had so much possession, and Brooks was, once again, very very ineffective and unthreatening. He had 3 kicks which lead us to victory, which is great. Does anything about that performance suggest he has turned a corner? Not really because once again, we should have scored more. He helped us get down the field, but we get down the field most games anyway.

Also, old mate Brooks fan needs to understand that just because some people attack Brooks for the wrong reasons, doesn't mean that everyone attacks Brooks for the wrong reasons. Focussing on the idiots who have the wrong criticisms is an excuse to not truly focus on what makes Brooks an average half.

 

[stevied]

So the story changes now. Proved my point. Thanks.

Don't know what 'story' you are alluding to or how I changed it but it's absolutely okay to have differing views.

 

[Saturnalia]

What ??? Should I re-post the highlights I've previously posted ?

Yes.

 

[stevied]

On this point it's not that simple. I never blamed the platform because I figure you have to play as well as you can under the conditions that you get and there have been plenty of players perform well without a great team. To be clear on this you can also perform well and not win. Andrew Johns is the best player I've ever seen and he won two premierships and Newcastle were always known for a good pack.

This year I've seen Brooks throw some elite passes in the attacking zone. He is creating chances for us. I don't really buy the narrative that it's just our halves not getting it done in the attacking zone. We've also had a spine that is a bit of a shambles. Brooks and Api have been going pretty well but the other players haven't done as well.

Api is absolutely killing it but Brooks has probably created just as many chances.

Ok, let's be clear, the spine is the hooker, halfback five eighth and fullback, right? Also, the halves are half of the spine? And to be clear, you said it's been a shambles, right? And you would agree that Api has been our best or, close to best, player this year and that he's in the spine? You contradict yourself. While I would concede our fullback situation has been a rotating door, Api has been great so, is you look at the playmakers, much of the blame must be placed on our halves. And you're right, it's not that simple. Firstly, Jahream Bula looks promising and as a part of the spine, threw the final pass for Nofo's try. He might just be a useful part of the spine. Now, to your point Brook 'elite passes' and 'Brooks created just as many chances as Api' - how many chances has he blown or stuffed up through a lack of vision or poor execution? What would the percentage of positive to negative outcomes be? I'll never forget AJ's response when Brooks passed the ball straight into his head when the team looked likely to score.
Look, don't get me wrong, I promise you, I will be the first to acknowledge and praise a Brooks turnaround but, my view, is that he has had plenty of chances with all sorts of positive/ negative support over 10 years and just hasn't measured up.

 

[TrueTiger]

What ??? Should I re-post the highlights I've previously posted ?

I mean I understand it's subjective but you just made that up.

Earl please dont defend Brooks to the point that you COULD make a DICK of yourself....we all acknowledge that Luke WAS a hyped up individual from the onset of his NRL career...We also have gone through this last decade of NO FINALS with him touted to be the next Joey Johns and it was always his team from coach to coach...Granted it isnt always his fault we lose games,its a combination of poor recruitment,overpaid on the verge of retirement players and a very inept admin trying to please the agenda of many...
The start of this season he has had everything his way,new coaches that stick by him solidly,a great forward pack and NOW a halves partner that wont overplay him as has been the case prior to ADs injury...
So in summation players such as Cleary,Reynolds.DCE and Nicho Hynes nearly always convert opportunity into points,something Luke has failed over the years to do..Granted he has shown improvement in the last couple of games because our ELITE players such as Api,Paps,Klemmer etc has shown him how to play the game...sorry if this post offends you mate,but Im a realist that has had many years of being coached,critised and abused for not playing to my strengths,but then again I wasnt on $500,000 a year...

 

[earl]

So in summation players such as Cleary,Reynolds.DCE and Nicho Hynes nearly always convert opportunity into points,something Luke has failed over the years to do..Granted he has shown improvement in the last couple of games because our ELITE players such as Api,Paps,Klemmer etc has shown him how to play the game...sorry if this post offends you mate

The problem with this is that it gets twisted. I didn't compare Brooks to those players in that way.

I also really doubt that those players have taught him to play.

We are in agreement though that he has been good the past couple of games.

 

[loklok]

Ok, let's be clear, the spine is the hooker, halfback five eighth and fullback, right? Also, the halves are half of the spine? And to be clear, you said it's been a shambles, right? And you would agree that Api has been our best or, close to best, player this year and that he's in the spine? You contradict yourself. While I would concede our fullback situation has been a rotating door, Api has been great so, is you look at the playmakers, much of the blame must be placed on our halves. And you're right, it's not that simple. Firstly, Jahream Bula looks promising and as a part of the spine, threw the final pass for Nofo's try. He might just be a useful part of the spine. Now, to your point Brook 'elite passes' and 'Brooks created just as many chances as Api' - how many chances has he blown or stuffed up through a lack of vision or poor execution? What would the percentage of positive to negative outcomes be? I'll never forget AJ's response when Brooks passed the ball straight into his head when the team looked likely to score.
Look, don't get me wrong, I promise you, I will be the first to acknowledge and praise a Brooks turnaround but, my view, is that he has had plenty of chances with all sorts of positive/ negative support over 10 years and just hasn't measured up.

Good post

 

[cktiger]

Truth is he’s played a couple of decent games when team has been on fire.
He still ain’t a halfback.