Luke Brooks #167

[hank37w]

I saw a lot of passes end up half a metre behind the receiver.

Need to stand a little deeper in attack, problem solved.

 

[twentyforty]

Best player in one of the worst performances in the club’s history. What an accolade.

Yep, even when he’s good, he’s no good.
Don’t be surprised if he gets those forwards running off him tomorrow.

 

[Tito Santana]

The 5 on 3 from the quick play the ball is a separate issue. Backpedaling and then TT turning out when AD turned in is the poor defensive read that let them stroll down the middle. If they had all turned in, as it looked like Nofa had then either Fifita gets hit at the line or Foran goes out the back. Then it becomes a problem for Daino, the cover and the sideline.

The defensive issue we would be discussing then would be where was Daino and the cover.

The catalyst was definitely the quick play the ball, but that doesn't excuse the poor defensive reads.

Talau reminds me of Tim Lafai. He looks like he should be good but he is shit. Pathetic player.

My cut list is as follows: Brooks, Nofa, Talau, Maumalo, Twal, Seyfarth, Tumeth.

These guys are genuine plodders. Like genuine. Just shit players.

 

[The Ladies Man]

Talau reminds me of Tim Lafai. He looks like he should be good but he is shit. Pathetic player.

My cut list is as follows: Brooks, Nofa, Talau, Maumalo, Twal, Seyfarth, Tumeth.

These guys are genuine plodders. Like genuine. Just shit players.

Brooks first tho.

 

[69-05-41]

Today it is Roach and Jack stating the obvious.

Roach: "It is hard to watch to be honest - they look clueless out there. A lot has been said about (halfback) Luke Brooks and he seems to be feeling the pressure. He is thinking too hard instead of playing what is in front of him."

Jack: "Newcastle lost Kayln Ponga in the first minute, they lost their hooker soon afterwards, had a player sent off and another one sin binned. The game was virtually handed to the Tigers on a platter and they still never looked like winning."

Nobody in the media comes out and says Brooks is useless, but when your halfback fails to spot or create an overlap against 12 players, or for that matter even see a gapping hole right in front of him, then clueless is an understatement. 191 games and yet to make the finals. Zero wins starting at halfback since 14 August 2021.

First picked every week for eternity. Contract extension appears likely. None of this makes any sense!

 

[Pascoes_barber]

Yep, even when he’s good, he’s no good.

Nobody was good. One of the worst games of 'professional' rugba league ever witnessed.

Don’t be surprised if he gets those forwards running off him tomorrow.

I would love to be surprised by seeing something like that.

 

[loklok]

Never seen the Matty Johns Podcast but they had Madge on reviewing round 2 so I thought that would be interesting. Firstly, was interesting to see people actually analysing how teams play rather than usual dribble. Second, they had three interesting observations on Brooks:

1. They show him moving across field with no forwards running through, Cronk says if teams don't have forwards running lines it doesn't matter what you do. Our forwards generally shown flat footed huddled behind the play rather than running through creating options. This was a criticism of the team.

2. They talked about how the best halves work hard through the week on targeting players and also how they wear players down in a game and then attack them. Madge talked about how Smith and Cronk did this so well. No mention of Brooks. They also said halfback should direct team so that forwards know where to run in the context of the Tigers failure to create overlaps against 12 men. Madge story of how Cameron Smith used to do this. This was implied criticism of Brooks.

3. They said players don't watch footy like they used to. Talked about players of the past like John Sutton and the Storm halves who knew every positions and where people should be. They praised Hastings a lot for this and his attitude at training and the fact he's a footy head. Seems implied criticism of Brooks there given they were discussing the game and the two teams and the role of halfback.

Nothing fans here haven't spoken about, but interesting to hear Madge, Cronk and Johns suggest similar things.

Good post .if people want to see a halfback control the team .they should check out Adam Reynolds game against the cowboys .nothing overly flash but he gets the job done

 

[twentyforty]

Good post .if people want to see a halfback control the team .they should check out Adam Reynolds game against the cowboys .nothing overly flash but he gets the job done

Are your expectations different from the coaches?
I ask myself that question constantly. Doueihi was asked pregame 1 what he’ll be doing to make sure he has a good game? He said he will be controlling the game, managing the game. Perhaps that was a strategy to free up Brooks for his first game since early July ‘22?
Game 2 may have been a different approach? I’m not sure?

 

[loklok]

Are your expectations different from the coaches?
I ask myself that question constantly. Doueihi was asked pregame 1 what he’ll be doing to make sure he has a good game? He said he will be controlling the game, managing the game. Perhaps that was a strategy to free up Brooks for his first game since early July ‘22?
Game 2 may have been a different approach? I’m not sure?

So it's the coaches ,brooks or douehi ?

 

[earl]

Good post .if people want to see a halfback control the team .they should check out Adam Reynolds game against the cowboys .nothing overly flash but he gets the job done

I didn't watch the game but he is so good. He also has a running game as well.

 

[Demps]

Talau reminds me of Tim Lafai. He looks like he should be good but he is shit. Pathetic player.

My cut list is as follows: Brooks, Nofa, Talau, Maumalo, Twal, Seyfarth, Tumeth.

These guys are genuine plodders. Like genuine. Just shit players.

Lafai is/was a way more well rounded centre than Talau will ever be.

 

[twentyforty]

So it's the coaches ,brooks or douehi ?

Not sure what you mean? can you be more specific?
Are you saying that I'm accusing one of those 3 of derailing the game?
I'm simply saying that if you or anyone else is to judge a player's performance, a major consideration needs to be given to that player's brief or scope. It will become more significant when you try to understand what it is, a particular player has been trying to achieve, throughout an entire game.

 

[loklok]

Not sure what you mean? can you be more specific?
Are you saying that I'm accusing one of those 3 of derailing the game?
I'm simply saying that if you or anyone else is to judge a player's performance, a major consideration needs to be given to that player's brief or scope. It will become more significant when you try to understand what it is, a particular player has been trying to achieve, throughout an entire game.

Not sure what you mean? can you be more specific?
Are you saying that I'm accusing one of those 3 of derailing the game?
I'm simply saying that if you or anyone else is to judge a player's performance, a major consideration needs to be given to that player's brief or scope. It will become more significant when you try to understand what it is, a particular player has been trying to achieve, throughout an entire game.

An organising half that's in unison with the team

 

[Bubba]

Without sounding too philosophical.
If your million dollar halfback isn’t a halfback and hasn’t been for 10 years.
He isn’t your 5/8th either.

It’s time.

 

[Telltails]

Brooks would be a great sub in a team with established key playmakers.

 

[twentyforty]

An organising half that's in unison with the team

Api has the same issue as Brooks, not being in unison with the team. However, it finally looks like the team is beginning to gel.
Brooks hasn’t trained or played with the team much since July ‘22 due to injury.
I thought there were some good signs of improving cohesion. Not sure what caused that uh ha moment for players to start pushing up in support up the middle but it was wonderful to finally see.
Maybe Bateman’s niggle? He’s aptly named lol.
The thing is, after cohesion, you get to the next phase of growth which is understanding the ebbs n flows of the game...and influencing crucial moments during those ebbs n flows.

 

[twentyforty]

Ebs and flows lol

Is the team growing too? Classic Madge.

😂 all coaches talk ebbs n flows speak 🤣
Sheens wanted a high completion rate but we could only manage 28 from 42 possessions.

 

[Bubba]

So it's the coaches ,brooks or douehi ?

Brooks.

 

[hobbo1]

Bump

Punt him

 

[Spartan117]

The Mole: Shock rugby league rival makes play for 'under-siege' $1.1m Tigers star Luke Brooks​

By The Mole - https://amp.nine.com.au/article/fdf3a971-2d18-46c6-8222-25f1859cf792

English club Leeds is considering making a move to sign rugby league's most under-siege player, Tigers halfback Luke Brooks.

Brooks comes off contract at the end of the season and has yet to come to terms with the Tigers for a new deal.

The 28-year-old has struggled in the early rounds - but in fairness to him so have most of his teammates - as the Tigers sit winless at the bottom of the NRL ladder.

There is strong mail coming out of the UK that Leeds may have a look at Brooks for next season.

Luke Brooks' time at the Wests Tigers may be coming to an end. (Getty)
The Rhinos' halves pairing - Aussies Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin - are both coming off contract and the club may look in a different direction.

While Brooks has found the going tough in the NRL in recent seasons, the more open style of Super League may suit him.

The Tigers are unlikely to stand in his way if he decides on a change of scenery as the move would free up a large slice of their salary cap - money they could throw towards the Eels' Mitchell Moses.

Brooks is earning $1.1 million this year from the Tigers.