pawsandclaws1
Well-known member
I believe the next change of coach will do him a significant favour. Ivan had him firing and I'm sure the next coach will as well. This "rumour" of a move to Hull is based on what, a clickbait news article?
Luke Brooks - Mega Thread
- Thread starter The_Patriot
- Start date
twentyforty
Well-known member
We’ll see a better Luke Brooks in 23 with a better pack and top class DH. To win games we need to control the ruck, our forwards need to dominate, outmuscle, out wrestle and out think their opposite number.
We won’t improve by sacking our good players, unless of course they are uncoachable.
We won’t improve by sacking our good players, unless of course they are uncoachable.
hank37w
Well-known member
Needs to crawl back into his turtle shell.
liltiger
Well-known member
This x 1000.
Not that I think Brooks is a top class player I reckon he's michael Gillette level.
But our forwards are absolute garbage, they all look like they could bench press a small car but are just soft, absolute disgrace. No matter how you see it once Twal hit the deck last week ( personally think it was just an unlucky knock ) I expected the forwards to rev up and try to rip Burton apart, but no they just grab some water from the trainer, they're garbage, soft, slow, ineffective and couldn't bend the line of a preschool team. Offa tries at least, the rest have checked out. Thr first thing our recruitment needs to do is get our hands on some new props bad we need like about 4 including 1 who's an absolute mongrel, guys who hate losing and will leave everything on the pitch.
hank37w
Well-known member
Problem is that we lose forwards at a much quicker rate than we add them.
We've released 2 this season, losing 2 more next year, have 4 more that are signed for next year that currently have long term injuries and are no use to us at the moment. (I include Blore, Rua, Twal and Stef as the 4)
Admittedly we have 2 very good players coming next year, assuming they don't try to get out of their contracts or are so "down on form" when they get here that we allow them an early release with no compensation in return as often seems to be the case with the Wests Tigers.
I have been one of the Brooks supporters and thought that with Jacko and a forward pack that was on the up this year that Luke would regain some confidence and start to fire but there have been some really cruel developments that just could not be predicted.
It's pretty obvious that Jackson Hastings is playing injured and despite the enthusiasm and effort, if you are busted your body just can't do what your mind wants it to do, which added to the injuries and player departures has left us in a really bad position.
I know that there is not a lot you can do about injuries but it does my head in when you look at the players that we have released this season and are releasing next season with no apparent plan for replacements when we have no depth what so ever, in my mind smacks of total incompetence on the part of Wests Tigers.
I know Luke hasn't been playing as well as he is capable of playing, but with the criticism he is constantly under from the fan base as well as the media who just make things up to suit their agenda, it amazes me that he hasn't had a mental break down.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
I’m in the process of buying a Les Paul. Beautiful guitar.
Correlation does not equal causation. In a number of those years he has won our player of the year but yeah it must be his fault he didn’t make everyone else play better.
Our squad is crap. Has been for a number of years. Losing Luke Brooks isn’t going to suddenly send us to the top 8.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
The same way punting Taylor didn’t magically turn us around, the same way punting Maguire won’t magically turn us around. The fixation on how one individual is the cause for the whole clubs failures has been a reoccurring them for years on the forum.
twentyforty
Well-known member
Well put!!
You can’t win the game if you’re losing the collision, losing in the ruck. Other teams have absolutely zero respect for our forwards.
Another very noticeable issue is the lack of knowledge they have of each other, they don’t seem to talk. Morale is in need of a lift.
Thanks champion @twentyforty, that apparent missing morale within the team, the communication and the confidence are all factors that the better teams have in spades.
This is a biggie for the incoming coach.
earl
Well-known member
I agree. Brooks to me has also been one of our better players for a number of years. He is also really good defensively.
There is no way though I'd be playing him as a starting half in our team without injuries. He isn't in the same class as AD and Hastings. He is probably a little better than Madden but it's close. Madden is also young and developing his game. Brooks isn't improving much.
It doesn't have to be a black and white decision to state Brooks shouldn't be our starting half in that we need to make a lot of changes rather than just sacking Brooks to improve as a team.
I think the best thing for Brooks is for it to be made clear he won't be our starting half and then he can work through the best option out of the available options for him.
twentyforty
Well-known member
I’m guessing the players have 3 loyalties.
1. The club and what it stands for. The tribalism behind the emblem.
2. The 70 odd staff in the footy dept. non playing group.
3. Each other. The guy beside you who gets to a tackle you’ve missed etc.
The players need to have all 3 loyalties confidently in check.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
What class are they though? It’s not like they are Origin players. The way Hastings has been playing especially, I wouldn’t be using him as an example of a player whose a class above anyone else in this side. Doueihi when fit is a very good player, but again what class are we talking about. It will be interesting if AD and Hastings are our halves next year. Because we will struggle again, and at that point, do they start copping it, or will we get the same excuses we have gotten for Brooks. I’m already seeing excuses for Hastings.
earl
Well-known member
There is no need for doom and gloom for next year just yet. Let's see what happens.
If I was managing the club I'd be playing Hastings and AD week in and week out in the halves so long as we aren't screwing up their longer term development due to some injury concerns.
GNR4LIFE
Well-known member
I’m past the point of blind faith mate. I want to see consistent results before I buy in.
tiger_scott
Well-known member
This was a shot in the dark headline made up for clicks. The teams for next weekend's games will be made next week, after the rep rounds and Origin concludes. No one knows who will get injured, suspended, etc. Saying that Brooks will be dropped in two weeks time was a guess based upon his performance in the most recent game. If he is dropped, the reporter pumps his chest out declaring insider knowledge for his scoop.
earl
Well-known member
I was past that point a long time before 05. I'm not stating next year will be like 05. I said we were a bottom 4 team this year. We are a bottom 4 team next year at this point.
I still think it can turn around pretty quickly because our cap isn't screwed but we need smart signings, tough decisions on our current roster and a bunch of quality juniors to come through.
Who cares… and least Brooks is gone.
He's had 9 years to be better. Yes the forward pack has not been as good but you can't justify wasting another year on him. How many times has he kicked on the front foot and it was shocking? How many forward passes and wrong passes has he done on the front foot? He's not a top 8 half. Simple as that.
