Luke Brooks

[Tim Sheens]

A couple were actually closer to the line and yet still some that whinged about them being 10m out in past weeks still whine and say they should have been higher, even though the breeze would have risked 7 tackle sets and when he could hoist one high we got a result from it.

Those kicks were crap. Now we are looking at wind as a defense. More hot air!

Plus he backed up through the middle on the early tackles when Liddle had forwards to feed.

You are seriously clutching to find anything to defend the guy.

Plus he controlled play and created the space for the Garner and Nofoaluma tries.

No he did not. He just passed it and let Douehi make the play. Which is the best thing he can do btw. Because he sucks!

Plus he laid on kicks for two tries.
Average. So many crap kicks. So many!!!

Plus he did other good things, yet still got criticism for playing his role well.

No he didn’t. And Halfback isn’t a role player.
And he made so many mistakes, drops, crap pass selections, garbage kicks, not taking control.

But once again, I blame Madge and co for selecting him and putting false confidence in him.

Well that shows a just how shallow your knowledge of the game is.

 

[Milky]

Yeah I was critical of Brooks but Cows game wasn’t his fault. Our team collectively couldn’t defend to save its life. I don’t envy Madge because I don’t know where to start...They almost all have to go

 

[bigsiro]

A couple were actually closer to the line and yet still some that whinged about them being 10m out in past weeks still whine and say they should have been higher, even though the breeze would have risked 7 tackle sets and when he could hoist one high we got a result from it.

Those kicks were crap. Now we are looking at wind as a defense. More hot air!

Plus he backed up through the middle on the early tackles when Liddle had forwards to feed.

You are seriously clutching to find anything to defend the guy.

Plus he controlled play and created the space for the Garner and Nofoaluma tries.

No he did not. He just passed it and let Douehi make the play. Which is the best thing he can do btw. Because he sucks!

Plus he laid on kicks for two tries.
Average. So many crap kicks. So many!!!

Plus he did other good things, yet still got criticism for playing his role well.

No he didn’t. And Halfback isn’t a role player.
And he made so many mistakes, drops, crap pass selections, garbage kicks, not taking control.

But once again, I blame Madge and co for selecting him and putting false confidence in him.

Well that shows a just how shallow your knowledge of the game is.

Which part?

 

[Bones]

Doueihi has totally outplayed Brooks despite being four years younger and a lot less experienced.

It's time that the club does a bit of soul searching and owns up to getting it completely wrong on Brooks.

I like Doueihi but are we going to ignore the fact his goal line defence is terrible? I mean if Brooks had come up with a couple of his efforts in the last 2 weeks he have been hung by now.

 

[Tim Sheens]

A couple were actually closer to the line and yet still some that whinged about them being 10m out in past weeks still whine and say they should have been higher, even though the breeze would have risked 7 tackle sets and when he could hoist one high we got a result from it.

Those kicks were crap. Now we are looking at wind as a defense. More hot air!

Plus he backed up through the middle on the early tackles when Liddle had forwards to feed.

You are seriously clutching to find anything to defend the guy.

Plus he controlled play and created the space for the Garner and Nofoaluma tries.

No he did not. He just passed it and let Douehi make the play. Which is the best thing he can do btw. Because he sucks!

Plus he laid on kicks for two tries.
Average. So many crap kicks. So many!!!

Plus he did other good things, yet still got criticism for playing his role well.

No he didn’t. And Halfback isn’t a role player.
And he made so many mistakes, drops, crap pass selections, garbage kicks, not taking control.

But once again, I blame Madge and co for selecting him and putting false confidence in him.

Well that shows a just how shallow your knowledge of the game is.

Which part?

And physics.

 

[Guest]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

 

[bigsiro]

Yeah I was critical of Brooks but Cows game wasn’t his fault. Our team collectively couldn’t defend to save its life. I don’t envy Madge because I don’t know where to start...They almost all have to go

Agree. Wasn’t his fault. Nofo has to shoulder lots. So does Roberts.
But I can’t stand people saying he had a good game or making pathetic excuses for him.
Good ol clean out needed desperately

 

[bigsiro]

A couple were actually closer to the line and yet still some that whinged about them being 10m out in past weeks still whine and say they should have been higher, even though the breeze would have risked 7 tackle sets and when he could hoist one high we got a result from it.

Those kicks were crap. Now we are looking at wind as a defense. More hot air!

Plus he backed up through the middle on the early tackles when Liddle had forwards to feed.

You are seriously clutching to find anything to defend the guy.

Plus he controlled play and created the space for the Garner and Nofoaluma tries.

No he did not. He just passed it and let Douehi make the play. Which is the best thing he can do btw. Because he sucks!

Plus he laid on kicks for two tries.
Average. So many crap kicks. So many!!!

Plus he did other good things, yet still got criticism for playing his role well.

No he didn’t. And Halfback isn’t a role player.
And he made so many mistakes, drops, crap pass selections, garbage kicks, not taking control.

But once again, I blame Madge and co for selecting him and putting false confidence in him.

Well that shows a just how shallow your knowledge of the game is.

Which part?

And physics.

Cool story. Needs more dragons.

 

[Tiger_Steve]

The scapegoating and vitriol against Luke Brooks is both naive and dangerous because it will only hide the unpalatable truth. The problems run much deeper than the halfback. Yes he has some significant shortcomings as a playmaker and game manager and this has been evident for some time. Get him some expert and proven coaching around him. Laurie Daly, Cooper Cronk, Andrew Johns .... The current problems at Wests Tigers are far more fundamental than Luke Brooks. It would help if forwards ran hard and fast at the opposition to make them be feared; it would help if the whole team tackled with some aggressive purpose; it would help if players didn't spill the ball regularly, drop bombs or forward pass from dummy half. Please be honest here. Removing Luke Brooks will NOT answer the fundamental problem of lack of onfield leadership, lack of onfield aggression and purpose, lack of go forward, lack of smarts, lack of skill and execution.
The whole team needs to take responsibility for such recent poor performances and stop reaching for the easy to shoot scapegoat in Luke Brooks.

Awesome post!
We all complain about ‘lazy journalism.’ Well I think a lot of post game comments from us fans can be categorised the same. We lost - blame Brooks.
I agree he is not a successful game manager but there is soooo much more wrong with our current and past teams - thus previous post articulates this beautifully.
Brooks has been hammered relentlessly. He deserves no more (and no less) criticism than anyone else in our club.
I have two sons around the same age as Luke. I watch them and I wonder how he copes with the relentless, ill-informed, biased, targeted and sometimes personal attacks.
Brooks isn’t perfect but he does heaps for this team and bleeds literally and figuratively for our club.
If he leaves I wouldn’t blame him but if he needs to go then 29 others need to follow.

 

[cochise]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

 

[Guest]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

It just doesn't make sense. I was always taught to hurt the player in the tackle. How? Hit them harder than they hit you on collision.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

But Madge himself last week hammered the line speed , so I’m not sure if that is a tactic . Well not one implemented by the coach anyway .

 

[cochise]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

But Madge himself last week hammered the line speed , so I’m not sure if that is a tactic . Well not one implemented by the coach anyway .

Yeah, I'm not saying it is, I don't think it is, just that is the only reasoning I can come up with when asked if it is a tactic. If that makes sense?

 

[happy_tiger]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

The problem still is they have blokes pouring out of the line smashing fresh air with this passive defence .....the other problem with our passive defence is that it is so easy to plant someone with even the smallest amount of footwork

 

[cochise]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

The problem still is they have blokes pouring out of the line smashing fresh air with this passive defence .....the other problem with our passive defence is that it is so easy to plant someone with even the smallest amount of footwork

We are the worst defensive side I have ever watched play. They just don't look to engage until the player runs into them. I've never really seen anything like it.

 

[bythebeardofzeus]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

100% agree

Not to mention pressuring the opp kicker, depth in attack, supporting the ball-runner. All comes down to attitude really & wanting to make that effort upon effort.

 

[hobbo1]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

The problem still is they have blokes pouring out of the line smashing fresh air with this passive defence .....the other problem with our passive defence is that it is so easy to plant someone with even the smallest amount of footwork

We are the worst defensive side I have ever watched play. They just don't look to engage until the player runs into them. I've never really seen anything like it.

I have ...
In under 8’s

 

[happy_tiger]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

100% agree

Not to mention pressuring the opp kicker, depth in attack, supporting the ball-runner. All comes down to attitude really & wanting to make that effort upon effort.

But we've had blokes who generate line speed ...they get called plodders ..and we let them go

Bryce Gibbs
Elijah Taylor
gareth Ellis

 

[Geo]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

The Rorters base their whole defensive structure on this and have been doing it since 2010..

Only problem is they are the best at it and we suck at it..

 

[Deleted member 3518]

People can complain about Brooks as much as they like, some if it's justified and some of it isn't. At the end of the day if this side as a COLLLECTIVE cannot find it within them to generate some line speed in defence and use their shoulders for once to hurt the opposition, then this discussion is more of a sideshow to a much larger problem.

Defence wins matches and I don't have a problem with Brooks in this regard.

Our defensive line has just been so passive, it doesn't move up and just waits for the players to come to them.

The underlying question is WHY? They spend all off-season training, getting fit, practicing drills, ballwork, defensive patterns - why can't they ever do this on game day?

That's a question I'd love to ask Madge, or Pascoe...I mean are they instructed to wait and let the opposition bend them backwards?

I was actually discussing this last night, the only strategy I can see where you would be that passive is if you are trying to hold a player upright in a tackle then drop them late to slow the ruck speed. It is a tactic I have seen used before but if that is the tactic we are not implementing it well.

But Madge himself last week hammered the line speed , so I’m not sure if that is a tactic . Well not one implemented by the coach anyway .

Yeah, I'm not saying it is, I don't think it is, just that is the only reasoning I can come up with when asked if it is a tactic. If that makes sense?

Yea totally . I actually think the defensive structures they’re implementing arnt working . Not bagging the coaches , but I think we need to re assess . As I’m sure they should work , bur for whatever reason they don’t. .