Luke Brooks #167

I honestly think brooks will get offered an extension (to play 5/8) to partner SJ in the halves. He’s been playing heaps better but again is and will not be the organiser we need but SJ can direct a team
 
old_man_tiger said:
I hate posting in this thread, but really if we can't expect try assists from our halves anymore and are happy to accept that we might be as well forfeit our remaining games.

Nothing wrong with what Brooks did yesterday, except for maybe the kick when he could have backed himself. Plenty wrong with what him and Wakeham AREN'T doing. It's clear the team are rattled in the 20 and the coaches and halves aren't able to solve it.
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Problem solved! Move Brooks to the running 5/8 and Wakeham to half where should have always been.
He is better in the attacking 20m. Better kicking game. Brooks gets confused on what to do or what's the best option and somehow stuffs it up! Kicks into their feet, throws a no win pass to a second rower, gets caught with the ball, no kicks to in goal-----you name it he is a master of them all. but a great defender!
 
Brooks is a first grade footballer he just isn't a halfback as everyone knows. I feel for him & the coaching staff needs to think out the square. He defends in the centres and would make a good centre ,quick, hits a hole & defends well - tick. To continue to play him at half for the rest of the season is the definition of insanity. Have the coaching staff run out of ideas they recognise that he isn't a half yet continue to play him there. Wakeham has shown so much more composure at half which gives the team confidence. Wakeham with Daine Laurie at 5/8 with Brooks playing the Simkins role or Centre. We have nothing to lose.
 
rihannafan1 said:
Brooks is an average half with above-average athleticism. Which doesn't really help in his position.

And his lack of game intelligence has killed us for years. Souths first try came from a horrendous crossfield bomb by Brooks, which turned into a penalty for Souths which turned into their first try. His horrible 5th tackle plays have led to so many opposition tries the past few years.

Infuriating.
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I do like your summary of brooks.

Are you referring to the kick where jnr mistimed his tackle in the air? (Only just)
 
Tiger-ferret said:
I do like your summary of brooks.

Are you referring to the kick where jnr mistimed his tackle in the air? (Only just)
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TF,I think Brooks and Wakeham are doing ok,however they are just getting to know each other and their game....this is where Im critical of the old boys club coaches,there is plenty of experience from not only Sheens as a premiership coach but Benji represent NZ and Farah played origin and between the 3 none of them cant coach the team to score in the red zone after the forwards have worked hard to get them there...Im not going to lay the boot into Brooks many on here do that consistently,Im not bagging Wakeham as he joined us late and AD was prefered rather than him and now Wakes has the chance to fillin in NRL,it will take a bit more time...My main bag is the coaching,Bennett got a team of youth,has beens and injury prone blokes to start the season and they are about6/7 on the ladder and YET WE CANT SCORE TRIES...
 
Brooks is just a very well paid John Morris. A competent and somewhat stoic first grade halfback. Not a leader or a communicator.

I think pressure and expectations from all directions haven't helped. When I watch him play I can't help but see someone more focused on his individual performance and not someone always looking to bring other players into the game. (I don't mean that he is selfish - but just focused on avoiding criticism)

Also, to be fair, has he ever had anything remotely close to more than 1 or more current rep/origin/international backs to pass the ball out to since 2017, if ever??
 
TIGERS said:
Brooks is just a very well paid John Morris. A competent and somewhat stoic first grade halfback. Not a leader or a communicator.
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I like the comparison to John Morris. But I would not call either of them competent first grade halfbacks.
John Morris to his credit could play other positions where he offered some utility value.
Insofar as having any rep quality backs outside of Brooks, I’d say he hasn’t had a great deal, at least not recently. But regardless that’s moot, as it is not a mitigating factor or valid defense for his own incompetencies.
 

Loyal Luke steps reluctantly into the limelight for No.200​

Alicia Newton NRL Reporter
16 May 2023, 05:01 PM
Alicia Newton

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Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks is yet to begin discussions with the club about a possible contract extension but was content with his future either way ahead of his 200th NRL game on Saturday.

Brooks will become just the fifth Wests Tigers player to reach the milestone when he runs out against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval in a season that could potentially be his last at the joint venture after a decade of service.

The off-contract 28-year-old preferred to play down his one-club achievement with the media on Tuesday but couldn't escape the fanfare when players and staff held a special presentation for him at Concord shortly after.

"It's a special moment but probably something I'll look back on when I finish playing footy and cherish," Brooks said.

"It's come around quick, it still feels like yesterday [I played my first game]. I still feel like a young bloke.

"I don't really think about this stuff too much. I don't like being in the limelight and like to lay low but when these milestones come up you've got to celebrate them."

After a career that started with so much promise at the SCG, Brooks' lack of finals appearances in his 199-game career to date has made him one of the most maligned playmakers in NRL history.

However, with Adam Doueihi sidelined for most of next season with a knee injury, there's every chance management will offer a cut-price deal for the 28-year-old to remain at the club next year.

Brooks was reportedly shopped around to rival clubs last season, a move that legends like Andrew Johns said was needed, before Tim Sheens opted to stick with him in 2023.

Brooks and his teammates have turned a corner in recent weeks after a slow start, with their next test at Leichhardt Oval a chance to correct a disappointing recent record at the venue.

"It would be nice to finish out my career here but if that doesn't happen then so be it," Brooks said.

"A lot of people have opinions on [whether I should've moved on last year]. I don't know, I guess I'd find out if I did change but for now I'm just worrying about playing footy for the Tigers and that's all I can do.

"If I play my best footy then that stuff [future] will look after itself. I haven't been thinking about it too much. I've learned to get used to it.

"[The scrutiny] has [affected me] but getting older you realise it's not all on me. It's a team game so there's no point worrying about what's happened in the past.

I've been playing for 10 years and you learn how to deal with those sort of things.
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"It's my personality to be shy and stay out of the spotlight but being in my position you are in the spotlight."

Brooks rates the Tigers' forward pack as one of the "best in the game" and is confident they can lay the platform for he and Brandon Wakeham to work off as they look to climb the ladder in the second half of the season.

"The first couple of games wasn't our best but the last 4-5 weeks we've found the way we want to play," Brooks said.

"We've got a great forward pack and playing through the middle brings Api into the game as well.

"We went toe-to-toe with the best side on the weekend. I know the scoreline got to 20-0 but for 72 minutes it was 8-0. I think we're a tough side."

www.weststigers.com.au

Brooks: A special moment

Luke Brooks chats to the media ahead of his 200th NRL game.
www.weststigers.com.au www.weststigers.com.au
Congrats and Good luck on Game 200 Luke 👏🥳
 
Just a small thing I noticed the club celebrating brooks 200 games with cake and all of the clubs players and staff, Ben hunt recently notched up a big mile stone and i believe the turn out was just players for a dinner in their own time. Nice to see the club getting involved with its players and gestures like this bond a team and also attract others. Congrats on 200 brooks
 
This weekend marks a very special milestone for Brooksy, and obviously a very emotional occasion for his beloved family & friends who will be in attendance at the game. Therefore, I ask that each and everyone of you to simply please keep your negative comments/opinions on a low or simply don't post at all (except anything positive !). I Do not want to see any negative threads on the forum for the duration of the weekend. I will be ignoring it.

Let the guy enjoy and embrace his moment.

All the best,

Congrats 200

👏🏻
 
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