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8:41pm - Fletcher Baker found NOT GUILTY of high contact on Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham. He has escaped any punishment and won't be fined.

7:25pm - Felise Kaufusi has been found GUILTY and is unsuccessful in his bid for a downgrade. He will now serve four matches and miss the Dolphins' clash with the Broncos on Friday night.
www.nrl.com

Judiciary recap: Kaufusi, Hughes banned; Baker cleared

A recap of all the action as Felise Kaufusi, Jahrome Hughes and Fletcher Baker fought their charges at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday night.
www.nrl.com www.nrl.com
 
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EXCLUSIVE: 'There is a bigger problem' - why axing $1.1m star won't fix Tigers, says Billy Slater​

Rugby league legend Billy Slater has stopped short of calling for Luke Brooks to be axed by Wests Tigers, but says changes are desperately needed for the perennial NRL battlers.

The Concord club - which has not featured in finals since 2011 - is winless through three rounds this season, despite revamping the coaching staff and recruiting representative players Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papali'i.

On Sunday at Belmore, the Tigers were being trounced 20-6 by Canterbury, before rallying to score three tries in four minutes and threaten an almighty comeback. Ultimately they fell short.
Aside from that spurt of energy the Tigers once again looked listless in attack. Head coach Tim Sheens and his assistants - namely Benji Marshall, who many hoped would reinvigorate the side - are well and truly in the gun.

"The best part of the Tigers was when (back-up playmaker) Brandon Wakeham came on the field, and he actually sparked a bit of footy in them," Slater told Wide World of Sports' The Billy Slater Podcast.

"That actually ignited Luke Brooks, Brooks had a good last 10 minutes.
"But you can't just play well when there is nothing at stake, the game is gone and you're throwing the ball around and hoping for the best.

"I don't know where the Tigers go from here. Tim Sheens has got his work cut out for him.

"It's really going to test his coaching this year, because they are well below par in my view."

The Tigers have been also-rans for 12 years now. Brooks has been the team's halfback for a decade, and has never played an NRL finals game.

As comes with the territory, he has been a punching bag for frustrated fans, not helped by his $1.1 million salary this year.

And while Slater says Wakeham was the one who sparked some life in the team on Sunday, he refused to blame Brooks, 28, for the club's woes.

"There is a bigger problem," Slater said.

"I've watched them live the last two weeks. They are really disappointing, I'm really disappointed in the Tigers at the moment.

"Their defence is not good enough, there is not enough energy or effort in their defensive line. Some of those long-range tries (from the Bulldogs)... there were people just standing around watching.

"That's pretty poor. That's just an effort and a choice.

"Then when they've got the footy there is no cohesion."

It doesn't get much easier for the Tigers, who travel to Melbourne to take on the Storm on Friday.
 
Lauren said:
7:25pm - Felise Kaufusi has been found GUILTY and is unsuccessful in his bid for a downgrade. He will now serve four matches and miss the Dolphins' clash with the Broncos on Friday night.
www.nrl.com

Judiciary recap: Kaufusi, Hughes banned; Baker cleared

A recap of all the action as Felise Kaufusi, Jahrome Hughes and Fletcher Baker fought their charges at the NRL Judiciary on Tuesday night.
www.nrl.com www.nrl.com
Click to expand...
Ridiculous, honestly.

Should have gotten away with a fine, and if he had to be suspended - 4 weeks???? For that?

Dolphins really needed him this week too.
 
It’s amazing how awkward those two still are in front of a camera after all these years.
Emma was trying to get a convo going but they weren’t reciprocating very well.
Arrogant or just dumb?
 
"You've got to find your make-up of your key positions and settle with them, and actually teach them and coach them, and work out what their strengths are and how to get them in the game," Slater told Wide World of Sports' The Billy Slater Podcast.

"I don't think Adam Doueihi's best position is at fullback. I was surprised when he was thrown in there... at the back end of the Dogs game. I think it was a reactionary change for the following week.

wwos.nine.com.au

Slater's call on star after bizarre Instagram act

'I was surprised when he was thrown in there'
wwos.nine.com.au wwos.nine.com.au
 
On 360 last night they were discussing Jack Wighton and someone suggested that Raiders should send a copy of their formal offer to the NRL so that if any club offers him way under that monetary value then eyebrows will be raised and questions should be asked as to whether that club is offering him payments outside the cap to up his $$ that way.
I found that funny, not a word was said when Latrell signed for considerably less at Souths than what he was offered at WT. At the time, Grogfield was boasting about how useless WT were in that they couldn't even entice him despite the massive extra money that he was offered here, supposedly over $1 million over the deal that he took at Souths.
 
Fade.To.Black said:
On 360 last night they were discussing Jack Wighton and someone suggested that Raiders should send a copy of their formal offer to the NRL so that if any club offers him way under that monetary value then eyebrows will be raised and questions should be asked as to whether that club is offering him payments outside the cap to up his $$ that way.
I found that funny, not a word was said when Latrell signed for considerably less at Souths than what he was offered at WT. At the time, Grogfield was boasting about how useless WT were in that they couldn't even entice him despite the massive extra money that he was offered here, supposedly over $1 million over the deal that he took at Souths.
Click to expand...
This should be standard practice imo.For every contract registered there has to be a runner up offer.
Would give the nrl a idea of where to start looking for cap cheats
 
Fade.To.Black said:
On 360 last night they were discussing Jack Wighton and someone suggested that Raiders should send a copy of their formal offer to the NRL so that if any club offers him way under that monetary value then eyebrows will be raised and questions should be asked as to whether that club is offering him payments outside the cap to up his $$ that way.
I found that funny, not a word was said when Latrell signed for considerably less at Souths than what he was offered at WT. At the time, Grogfield was boasting about how useless WT were in that they couldn't even entice him despite the massive extra money that he was offered here, supposedly over $1 million over the deal that he took at Souths.
Click to expand...
Kent is really biased to his mate Stuart.
 

“IT’S REALLY HARD”: MOSES OPENS UP ON “UNWARRANTED” CRITICISM AIMED AT BROOKS​

BY DOMINIC CRINITI A DAY AGO
BEST_SPLIT_IMG__USE_THIS___2_.png

Parramatta Eels star Mitchell Moses has defended his long-time friend Luke Brooks after years of criticism aimed at the Wests Tigers half.

Brooks’ multi-million-dollar contract has seen him placed under the microscope in recent years due to performances that haven’t lived up to his eye-watering price tag.

The criticism of Brooks has reached an all-time high this season with the Tigers failing to register a win in their first six games.

Brooks’ former halves partner, Moses, admitted it’s tough to standby and watch his close friend cop a large portion of the blame for the Tigers’ recent run of form.

“It’s really hard to be honest, I know the quality of player that he is,” Moses told SEN 1170 The Run Home.

“To see the criticism that he cops, it’s very hard to see, I’ve grown up with Brooksy since I was 10 years old and played footy with him since then.

“It’s tough to watch him go through that and see the criticism that he gets, even when we lose games it’s one to 17 players that don’t perform, it’s not just one player where it’s their fault, I think he cops a lot of unwarranted criticism.”

Despite the widespread criticism, Moses claims that Brooks doesn’t read into it and let it affect his performances on the field.

“He gives you nothing, I ask him, ‘How you going’, (he says), ‘Yeah I’m good, I’m good’, he doesn’t see it, he doesn’t look at it, he’s a pretty relaxed bloke,” Moses added.

“It would take a toll on you, to be honest… he doesn’t really give much away if I’m getting nothing out of him, I don’t think anyone else, he’s pretty strong in this aspect.

“If it keeps going it might be tough, I don’t know how he does it to be honest.”

Moses started his career playing alongside Brooks in the halves at the Tigers and admitted he isn’t too sure if a position change would be the best for his progression at the club.

“I’m not too sure, us coming through the juniors, I played as a six and he was the seven, but it was pretty much the other way around, I was pretty much the dominant half, he just floated around and played footy,” Moses said.

“He’s a very good halfback as well… he talks, he gets the boys around the park, sometimes I think he needs some help as well.

“It’s not just on him, (it’s not just) he has to do everything and come up with all the big plays, it takes one to 17 players to do that stuff.

“In their side, I think he could play both (six or seven).”

Moses and the Eels meet the Bulldogs at Commbank Stadium this Sunday while Brooks and the Tigers enjoy a week off with the bye.

“It’s really hard”: Moses opens up on criticism aimed at Brooks

“He’s a very good halfback as well."
www.sen.com.au www.sen.com.au
 
Lauren said:

“IT’S REALLY HARD”: MOSES OPENS UP ON “UNWARRANTED” CRITICISM AIMED AT BROOKS​

BY DOMINIC CRINITI A DAY AGO
BEST_SPLIT_IMG__USE_THIS___2_.png

Parramatta Eels star Mitchell Moses has defended his long-time friend Luke Brooks after years of criticism aimed at the Wests Tigers half.

Brooks’ multi-million-dollar contract has seen him placed under the microscope in recent years due to performances that haven’t lived up to his eye-watering price tag.

The criticism of Brooks has reached an all-time high this season with the Tigers failing to register a win in their first six games.

Brooks’ former halves partner, Moses, admitted it’s tough to standby and watch his close friend cop a large portion of the blame for the Tigers’ recent run of form.

“It’s really hard to be honest, I know the quality of player that he is,” Moses told SEN 1170 The Run Home.

“To see the criticism that he cops, it’s very hard to see, I’ve grown up with Brooksy since I was 10 years old and played footy with him since then.

“It’s tough to watch him go through that and see the criticism that he gets, even when we lose games it’s one to 17 players that don’t perform, it’s not just one player where it’s their fault, I think he cops a lot of unwarranted criticism.”

Despite the widespread criticism, Moses claims that Brooks doesn’t read into it and let it affect his performances on the field.

“He gives you nothing, I ask him, ‘How you going’, (he says), ‘Yeah I’m good, I’m good’, he doesn’t see it, he doesn’t look at it, he’s a pretty relaxed bloke,” Moses added.

“It would take a toll on you, to be honest… he doesn’t really give much away if I’m getting nothing out of him, I don’t think anyone else, he’s pretty strong in this aspect.

“If it keeps going it might be tough, I don’t know how he does it to be honest.”

Moses started his career playing alongside Brooks in the halves at the Tigers and admitted he isn’t too sure if a position change would be the best for his progression at the club.

“I’m not too sure, us coming through the juniors, I played as a six and he was the seven, but it was pretty much the other way around, I was pretty much the dominant half, he just floated around and played footy,” Moses said.

“He’s a very good halfback as well… he talks, he gets the boys around the park, sometimes I think he needs some help as well.

“It’s not just on him, (it’s not just) he has to do everything and come up with all the big plays, it takes one to 17 players to do that stuff.

“In their side, I think he could play both (six or seven).”

Moses and the Eels meet the Bulldogs at Commbank Stadium this Sunday while Brooks and the Tigers enjoy a week off with the bye.

“It’s really hard”: Moses opens up on criticism aimed at Brooks

“He’s a very good halfback as well."
www.sen.com.au www.sen.com.au
Click to expand...
Have you noticed how nice Mitch has been about WT, since he knocked us back.
We all know that Luke is a terrific guy who, for whatever reason, has never really fulfilled his junior potential.
So this is a lovely support of his childhood friend but I would much rather know how Parra assessed Brooks before last weeks game.
Now that would make much more interesting reading.
 
innsaneink said:
Hahaha...he didnt really explain anything
Click to expand...
I know right. He's pretty good at skirting around the issues. I find it funny when he reviews Warriors games, as he'll admit fault from the referee but then say they're somehow unaccountable in that particular instant (hasn't happened before/unprecedented etc., etc., )..
 
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