Luke Brooks

[GNR4LIFE]

If nothing else, this article proves the club won't be shopping him around anytime soon and he is indeed the long term no 7.

 

[Tiger_Steve]

@trentrunciman I believe I’m being objective as well. My point is, whilst I agree he has incredible talent, I believe he has shown many many times he does not have what it takes when the going gets tough. And I’m not just talking about how he exited - I have thought this for a long time. In a previous life I was a rep footy schoolboy selector - we always looked for the kid who put on effort after effort after effort, not necessarily the kid who threw the no look pass. Moses, in my humble opinion, rarely puts his body on the line. Never has!

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

He deserves to be in the conversation at the very least.

I think it will happen most likely next year or if Keary and Reynolds don't fire in the first couple games.

Is the team selected after we play Souths?

 

[Spud_Murphy]

Keary and Reynolds are the only 2 threats to the incumbent halves as far as I’m concerned - they are streets ahead of all others, with Townsend next in line.

Sadly, I think Fittler will stick with Maloney and Cleary, neither of which deserve it, tho he might throw in Keary in place of Maloney because his form is just too hard to ignore....plus he’s a Rooster. I reckon that Fittler will bank on Cleary, at least, stepping up and finding some form in a different team environment. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Some of the previous incumbents that have been chosen, when completely out of form with their club, have gone on to have a great Origin series.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

@trentrunciman I believe I’m being objective as well. My point is, whilst I agree he has incredible talent, I believe he has shown many many times he does not have what it takes when the going gets tough. And I’m not just talking about how he exited - I have thought this for a long time. In a previous life I was a rep footy schoolboy selector - we always looked for the kid who put on effort after effort after effort, not necessarily the kid who threw the no look pass. Moses, in my humble opinion, rarely puts his body on the line. Never has!

The ''effort'' he made in tackling Papenhuyzen was reserve grade stuff. Just flung an arm out and tried to grab him. Papenhuyzen blew straight past him.

 

[earl]

Tell me how that is wrong? Moses was always ahead of Brooks in the club’s pecking order. Brooks was the last of the 4. The club tried to get Moses to sign for 12 months and he strung the club along. Can’t blame the club for that. The best thing Cleary did in his tenure was pull the contract offer a week after being appointed. Would have knocked the ego down a peg I’m sure.

Yep. I think Brooks is the better player anyway. Brooks defence is a lot better and he is more consistent.

 

[earl]

If nothing else, this article proves the club won’t be shopping him around anytime soon and he is indeed the long term no 7.

He does have to work on his game but he is pretty good right now. I don't know how many halves are above him in the comp. He is better than both SOO incumbents. He won the Dally M last year for a reason.

I accept that the halves in the comp aren't at the level of Johns or Lewis or Sterling but the pool is what the pool is. Cronk might have been a great but I think Keary is better than him now.

 

[happy_tiger]

He'd be 4th in line for NSW

They'd be mad not to play Reynolds , Keary ,Cook and Tedesco

 

[bigsiro]

@Earl said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1012168):
Cronk might have been a great but I think Keary is better than him now.

Say what?

 

[Tim Sheens]

The only handicap he has, is that others are goalkickers, which sadly is not easily overcome. Still, I would choose to have a pair of Luke's in the halves, so yes, I think he is ready to take the step to origin.

Furthermore, I reckon he would excel with Keary alongside and run ragged if his pack gave him a level footing to play from. They are the future, with Reynolds, Pearce and co the past, with traitor junior doing nothing in his shot last year and form not warranting another chance.

 

[earl]

@happy_tiger - who'd go after those two. I think the Cronulla half is pretty good but Brooks is a better runner of the footy. I'd put Brooks above Moses, Cleary and Maloney at the moment. Those guys aren't dud players.

 

[851]

Keary and Reynolds are the only 2 threats to the incumbent halves as far as I’m concerned - they are streets ahead of all others, with Townsend next in line.

Sadly, I think Fittler will stick with Maloney and Cleary, neither of which deserve it, tho he might throw in Keary in place of Maloney because his form is just too hard to ignore....plus he’s a Rooster. I reckon that Fittler will bank on Cleary, at least, stepping up and finding some form in a different team environment. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Some of the previous incumbents that have been chosen, when completely out of form with their club, have gone on to have a great Origin series.

Cody Walker is the best or second best half on form this year, and no one is rating him, he would be a way in front of Brooks as far as selection I would imagine, Brooks while doing ok is not origin ready.

 

[Geo]

How come at times we talk about 7's and 6's yet other times we talk about halves as a combination..

To me Walker and Keary are 5/8th's then other times the number on their back doesn't seem to mean anything..

I agree with @851 Reynolds and Walker are probably the best halves combo in the Comp at the moment but Reynolds has been there before and not really stood up at that level and Keary's form is just too hard to ignore..would he work with Walker not sure but if they did wow..look out Queensland..

Brooks just needs to keep flukin it for us..

 

[jirskyr]

Line engagements: for his 71 engagements (top in NRL) he has only broken the line once (!!!)

There's a difference between line engagements and runs, right? Most of Brooks' possessions he is trying to engage defenders not go for solo line-breaks. He's taking the ball right to the teeth of the defence.

And frankly I struggle to recall the last (or any?) true line-breaking specialist halfback. Maybe Thurston in his early days with the show-and-go. HBs are mostly distributing and their receipts are always straight off the ruck, so how are they expected to be creating line breaks all by themselves (rarely do halfbacks get put into gaps).

Re his missed tackles - plenty of top class halves have horror defending stats, e.g. Thurston and Maloney the last few years. Point I think is clear that as long as your halfback keeps himself out of the pack of worst defenders, he's doing his defensive job. Oppositions run traffic at halves all game. And doubly on point considering that Brooks has transformed from real liability to defensive rock.

 

[Newtown]

he's the next ANDREW JOHNS people!

I'm of the firm belief we should have focused on keeping Moses but nothing we could really do there i guess.


Hope not!

If I was out there defending my line in the 78th minute, I’d want Brooks beside me. I’d want Moses in the grandstand selling coffee.

moses wont be selling coffe... he will be in the toilets handing people towels to wash their hands

He would be very handy at Leichhardt Oval.

 

[851]

How come at times we talk about 7's and 6's yet other times we talk about halves as a combination..

To me Walker and Keary are 5/8th's then other times the number on their back doesn't seem to mean anything..

I agree with @851 Reynolds and Walker are probably the best halves combo in the Comp at the moment but Reynolds has been there before and not really stood up at that level and Keary's form is just too hard to ignore..would he work with Walker not sure but if they did wow..look out Queensland..

Brooks just needs to keep flukin it for us..

I would pick Keary and Walker, Keary played 7 plenty of times for easts, he played 7 the whole time Cronk was injured.

 

[earl]

I would pick Keary and Walker, Keary played 7 plenty of times for easts, he played 7 the whole time Cronk was injured.

I reckon these are the best NSW SOO halves. I forgot about Walker. He is quality. I'd go with them on form.

 

[Nelson]

@851 Yeah I would also go with 6. Walker and 7. Keary (Matterson at 14 in case Walker's defence is exposed in Origin and if it's not then Matterson can do a job pretty much anywhere on the park).

Behind that would be Reynolds then probably Cleary (both for their kicking) and then Townsend and Brooks.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

Keary and Reynolds are the only 2 threats to the incumbent halves as far as I’m concerned - they are streets ahead of all others, with Townsend next in line.

Sadly, I think Fittler will stick with Maloney and Cleary, neither of which deserve it, tho he might throw in Keary in place of Maloney because his form is just too hard to ignore....plus he’s a Rooster. I reckon that Fittler will bank on Cleary, at least, stepping up and finding some form in a different team environment. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. Some of the previous incumbents that have been chosen, when completely out of form with their club, have gone on to have a great Origin series.

Cody Walker is the best or second best half on form this year, and no one is rating him, he would be a way in front of Brooks as far as selection I would imagine, Brooks while doing ok is not origin ready.

My bad I forgot about Walker! Change my first sentence to Keary & Reynolds, Walker next, then Townsend then daylight.

 

[Russell]

Do you pick two halves pretty much out of form?

Personally I wouldn't. + the fact Maloney is at the end of his career, we need to look at the future.

I'd go for Keary as half - walker for 5/8 na! don't think so, weak in defence. Reynolds chokes at this level, great kicking game but that is it (cupboard is then empty).

So maybe a Townsend / Keary combo - with Townsend also a kicker.