Hastings VS Brooks

[Lee's fedora]

Hastings and douehi at full strength is a must preferably with gildart on Hastings side with that English connection they'll work wonders

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Hastings and douehi at full strength is a must preferably with gildart on Hastings side with that English connection they'll work wonders

Gildart won’t even be in first grade

 

[jadtiger]

Hastings and douehi at full strength is a must preferably with gildart on Hastings side with that English connection they'll work wonders

Gildart is woeful,i like your optimism but he makes BJ and JTJ look like champion defenders.Our young blokes from reggies will do a better job

 

[gregjm87]

Over the last few weeks when Luke Brooks has been captain and needed to speak up on behalf of his team he never did.

There were even times Luch was yelling at Brooks to come across and talk to the ref to support the team, the ref talked to him and he didn't say a word.

For me.. that was my point that I never want him to play in our team.. he needed to step up and never did.


Thats the issue, he just looks and plays like he doesnt care.
As long as he makes HIS tackles and completes HIS sets thats all he seems to care about.

Lacks leadership and has never really bought in to the culture changes.

I strongly disagree with this, as until he was given the captaincy there was little wrong with Brooks this year. He was showing much improvement in certain areas, in which I admit he has regressed in since then (getting the captaincy).

The speculation about him leading a player mutiny has surfaced today and so has continued criticism of his leadership ability. His inability to step up now means he's toxic, despite it being fairly obvious that he hasn't got this in him.
Who honestly believed he has the best traits to be the team's leader?

No offence but because our recruitment and retention has basically failed over a significant period - with no change on the near horizon - some are only looking for someone to blame in what has been a poor year for the team.
The only toxicity I've recently seen was from our club leaders in placing all performance related issues onto Madge. Plus learning that the unhealthy obsession with blaming Brooks has amplified and resulted in him copping all sorts of abuse at a game.

I can honestly understand how the pressure may be getting to him and its why I welcome the signing of someone like Hastings - as he could be the person that demands the best of everyone around him, including Brooks.
I believe there's room for both and my position on retaining Brooks is purely for the benefit of the team and I don't wish us to be disadvantaged in any way. Especially with Doueihi out with injury.

Agreed, an 88kg halfback doesnt do the defensive load he has done this year if he does not care.

What’s the friggin point in having a halfback on $850k that just tackles ?
He can’t kick long or short and he can’t pass a long ball … punt him ..
Oh .. and he missed 17 tackles in the last 2 games ..
He’s cooked … every aspect.. cooked !
Punt him !

But he doesnt just tackle. Admittedly he has a pretty ordinary short kicking game, but the rest of his skillset is fine. He kicks long okay, and his passing long and short is decent. Im not suggesting he is a top tier halfback but he is not half as bad as his detractors would suggest. His attacking stats and the teams attacking stats support this.
He was terrible to finish the season but he wasnt alone. No his performance should not be excused. but nor should he be getting the brunt of the criticism.

 

[TillLindemann]

I honestly think Gildart will surprise next year. It hasn't been his best year, and he needs to get over a few injury niggles, but as his coach Adrian Lam said this week, "there's no better-attacking centre in the game when he's at his best."

 

[the_third]

Hastings has the hight, weight and reach advantage. Reckon it will be closer than the stats say. Hastings by KO in the 9th

 

[twentyforty]

I honestly think Gildart will surprise next year. It hasn't been his best year, and he needs to get over a few injury niggles, but as his coach Adrian Lam said this week, "there's no better-attacking centre in the game when he's at his best."

We will need him and his combination with Hastings.
Is Hastings better than Brooks?
I guess we’ll find out next year, but if WT was playing Wigan we would get thumped.
Brooks is one of those you want to see him in a good team so you can get a better understanding, make a more realistic assessment of his ability and team value.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I honestly think Gildart will surprise next year. It hasn't been his best year, and he needs to get over a few injury niggles, but as his coach Adrian Lam said this week, "there's no better-attacking centre in the game when he's at his best."

Does that include NRL?

 

[JayT]

No matter who it is, pretty sure AD will be our best half.

 

[Harvey]

Those calling for the banishment of Brooks will change their tune once Hastings has made half a dozen appearances

 

[Lee's fedora]

Look at Albert Kelly former man of steel in the UK came back was given a chance Hastings 2019 man of steel has been given a chance and Hastings is miles ahead of Kelly i think Hastings and Oliver are gonna shock alot of people

 

[tig_prmz]

Those calling for the banishment of Brooks will change their tune once Hastings has made half a dozen appearances

Hastings may not be the answer but Brooks definitely isn't.

 

[old_man_tiger]

From what I've seen of Hastings, which isn't much, he would be serviceable in a team that could regularly hold the opposition to 2 or 3 tries. Currently we need 30 points to be competitive and 40 to win. This is with "defensive" half back.

In other words, we're screwed.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Those calling for the banishment of Brooks will change their tune once Hastings has made half a dozen appearances

Hastings may not be the answer but Brooks definitely isn't.

But it’s such a low bar to be backing Hastings. I’d get it if people were pushing the club to sign an established NRL halfback, like if we had signed Reynolds, I’d get the excitement. But people are genuinely excited by Hastings and think he’ll turn the club around. And now Gildart is being talked up. It’s nuts.

 

[tig_prmz]

Those calling for the banishment of Brooks will change their tune once Hastings has made half a dozen appearances

Hastings may not be the answer but Brooks definitely isn't.

But it’s such a low bar to be backing Hastings. I’d get it if people were pushing the club to sign an established NRL halfback, like if we had signed Reynolds, I’d get the excitement. But people are genuinely excited by Hastings and think he’ll turn the club around. And now Gildart is being talked up. It’s nuts.

Don't think anyone is deluded enough to think Hastings will be a messiah. They are more hoping that he turns out to be half decent.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Those calling for the banishment of Brooks will change their tune once Hastings has made half a dozen appearances

Hastings may not be the answer but Brooks definitely isn't.

But it’s such a low bar to be backing Hastings. I’d get it if people were pushing the club to sign an established NRL halfback, like if we had signed Reynolds, I’d get the excitement. But people are genuinely excited by Hastings and think he’ll turn the club around. And now Gildart is being talked up. It’s nuts.

Don't think anyone is deluded enough to think Hastings will be a messiah. They are more hoping that he turns out to be half decent.

There are a number talking up how good he is in ESL and how he’s going to be a leader and a take charge sort of guy. Sure, he might take charge. Still doesn’t mean he’ll be good enough.

 

[Snake]

Those calling for the banishment of Brooks will change their tune once Hastings has made half a dozen appearances

Hastings may not be the answer but Brooks definitely isn't.

But it’s such a low bar to be backing Hastings. I’d get it if people were pushing the club to sign an established NRL halfback, like if we had signed Reynolds, I’d get the excitement. But people are genuinely excited by Hastings and think he’ll turn the club around. And now Gildart is being talked up. It’s nuts.

Don't think anyone is deluded enough to think Hastings will be a messiah. They are more hoping that he turns out to be half decent.

Spot on … no delusions here just want a 7 that can read a game /motivated to win and show some leadership quality’s.There are 12 others that need to step up as well.

 

[Lukic]

Hastings will be an upgrade on Brooks just by not being Brooks.

If anyone who watches Brooks play thinks he's even close to a decent halfback, they need to find a new sport to watch.

 

[FinestTigers]

personally brooks is better than hastings. However, brooks has to go cause the forum needs a new whipping boy.

where getting lapped by squads equivalent to v8's and were complaining about the air conditioning in our 3 cylinder of squad.

the only thing i am confident about is the squad we have for 2022 will result in a dejavu season regardless of who is coaching and who is wearing the 7.

Brooks is s/ house ..
**we had 3 back** to back sets on the dogs line and he came up with nothing !
It was like watching under 10’s
Christ knows what you see in him ?
Please tell ..!

I think it was 4. Nearly smashed two TVs as a result of those stupid short passes he was doing.

And what was the difference between say 7-8 weeks ago when he looked good ....his running game ....he has gotten away from it again ......

No, IMO its options running around him

Nah ..he ran early ..put defences in two minds ...when was the last time he ran with purpose in the 1st 20 minutes in the last 6 weeks

He actually did a few times in each game. Always when he had zero options. But.....Broooooooooks suuuuckkkkks

No ...I mean run with purpose .......hit the **afterburners** .....

HIm and other players have shown plenty of that all season, haven't they?

 

[BZN]

However the thread title is Brooks v Hastings and in my opinion Brooks is a better halfback than Hastings.

I am hopeful that Hastings is a lot better than Brooks. He has looked good every time I've seen him in the SL which admittedly isn't much.

Hastings though looks like he is getting involved and creating stuff all the time.

Welcome back @Earl
I think it was 5150 that was 'genuinely' worried about you a couple of days ago as we hadn't heard from you for a while.