Luke Brooks

[happy_tiger]

I got a feeling Brooks will be second fiddle this year aswell. AD just seems to me to have that drive to want the ball and seems to want a say in on field decisions at penalties and breakdowns

I actually agree with you , but I don’t at the same time . I feel like AD had the humility to allow brooks to run his plays and not over call , whilst also having the confidence to do his thing when it’s on . That was our biggest issue last year . For all the benjis 18 try assists , I’d love to see how much of the ball actually went down his side . If it’s less than 70% I’d be shocked .
And when he did get it , everyone was basically like “DO SOMETHING” . You can see it on here as well .

I can't see Douehi having the mental capacity to be our No 1 play maker

 

[pawsandclaws1]

I got a feeling Brooks will be second fiddle this year aswell. AD just seems to me to have that drive to want the ball and seems to want a say in on field decisions at penalties and breakdowns

I actually agree with you , but I don’t at the same time . I feel like AD had the humility to allow brooks to run his plays and not over call , whilst also having the confidence to do his thing when it’s on . That was our biggest issue last year . For all the benjis 18 try assists , I’d love to see how much of the ball actually went down his side . If it’s less than 70% I’d be shocked .
And when he did get it , everyone was basically like “DO SOMETHING” . You can see it on here as well .

I can't see Douehi having the mental capacity to be our No 1 play maker

I believe you're way off base Happy.

 

[hobbo1]

I got a feeling Brooks will be second fiddle this year aswell. AD just seems to me to have that drive to want the ball and seems to want a say in on field decisions at penalties and breakdowns

I actually agree with you , but I don’t at the same time . I feel like AD had the humility to allow brooks to run his plays and not over call , whilst also having the confidence to do his thing when it’s on . That was our biggest issue last year . For all the benjis 18 try assists , I’d love to see how much of the ball actually went down his side . If it’s less than 70% I’d be shocked .
And when he did get it , everyone was basically like “DO SOMETHING” . You can see it on here as well .

I can't see Douehi having the mental capacity to be our No 1 play maker

Nah
He’ll kill it unless Brooks gets in the way ..

 

[Swordy]

Said it before and will say it again, I think Brooks needs to focus on being a running 6. We need a game-managing 7 next to him. We have been trying to turn him into something he isn’t for 6 years. Time to change tactics.

So we developed Brooks and Moses together...Moses was identified and developed to be our 6, then went onto become Parra's 7, Brooks was identified and developed to be our 7, now people are saying he should be a 6...hmmmm.....someone has stuffed up!.

I think Brooks and Moses, in hindsight growing up, were each others own worst enemy. If you melted them together, they make a good player. Confidence, brash, big mouth from Moses....technical ability from Brooks.

The reasons neither of them have really kicked on (IMO) is that they each lack what the other has.

The difference for me now however is that Moses in my opinion is cooked. He has had a few years with good pack, good support, but isnt the complete footballler that some carry on with. His arrogance and over confidence proves to me that he knows that too.

Brooks hasnt had that same opportunity for the last few years, so I'm still prepared to give him some more rope.

 

[The-moP]

The only way Brooks will shine and lead our team is .. if our forwards are able to get across the defensive line and bend them backwards in attack .. !!

Brooks has to shine and shine quickly this season or Madge will bench and replace him Madden at 7.

 

[earl]

I got a feeling Brooks will be second fiddle this year aswell. AD just seems to me to have that drive to want the ball and seems to want a say in on field decisions at penalties and breakdowns

I reckon Brooks can have a good year but I'm pretty confident AD will be calling for the ball and attacking the line. Brooks needs to do the same.

 

[earl]

The only way Brooks will shine and lead our team is .. if our forwards are able to get across the defensive line and bend them backwards in attack .. !!

Brooks has to shine and shine quickly this season or Madge will bench and replace him Madden at 7.

The team isn't going to do well unless the forwards can win the ruck or at least break even. Melbourne just rolled forward last year with big Nelson at lock who was then replaced by Brandan Smith.

 

[sleeve]

Agree with your comments EARL. I think this is the best forward pack the WTS have ever had,it has size,speed and skill and a combination of experience and youth.How this translates on to the field remains to be seen.IM forever an optomist with a little realist

 

[cktiger]

Brooks just hasn't shown that he's got it ... and I don't think he will.
If the rest of the team lifts, and he's playing the same, Madge will have to punt him...and I think he will have to.

 

[supercoach]

I got a feeling Brooks will be second fiddle this year aswell. AD just seems to me to have that drive to want the ball and seems to want a say in on field decisions at penalties and breakdowns

I actually agree with you , but I don’t at the same time . I feel like AD had the humility to allow brooks to run his plays and not over call , whilst also having the confidence to do his thing when it’s on . That was our biggest issue last year . For all the benjis 18 try assists , I’d love to see how much of the ball actually went down his side . If it’s less than 70% I’d be shocked .
And when he did get it , everyone was basically like “DO SOMETHING” . You can see it on here as well .

I can't see Douehi having the mental capacity to be our No 1 play maker

Happy have to disagree with you. AD strikes me as a person who is incredibly focused and mentally strong. He also strikes me as a guy who has a good football brain. Of course time will tell and if the Widop rumours are true he might end up back at no1 again, with Brooks and Widop in the halves....hope not

 

[Tigerbuck63]

Madge and the recruitment team have done a great job (under the current circumstances) in building a better all round team for Brookes to lead. Brookes won’t have to worry about other dominant players over calling the plays, as they have all been moved on. There is some added size and mongrel in the forwards and a bit more zip in the backs. Brookes has the perfect platform to excel. He also has Madden as an extra incentive to play well, as I have a feeling that Madge wont hesitate in making drastic changes if performances aren’t heading in the right direction. I for one am excited to see what this team can do next season.

Yes its his year to show that he can perform. I am hoping he can we have invested lots of years into him and also has still a few years to run on a long term contract.

I think with Benji no longer there he should be getting his hands on the ball more and directing play.

Needs a more consistent game agree defense has improved since Madge has arrived and was dropped to the bench last season so understands must perform or next time won't be the bench but out of the side.

 

[happy_tiger]

I got a feeling Brooks will be second fiddle this year aswell. AD just seems to me to have that drive to want the ball and seems to want a say in on field decisions at penalties and breakdowns

I actually agree with you , but I don’t at the same time . I feel like AD had the humility to allow brooks to run his plays and not over call , whilst also having the confidence to do his thing when it’s on . That was our biggest issue last year . For all the benjis 18 try assists , I’d love to see how much of the ball actually went down his side . If it’s less than 70% I’d be shocked .
And when he did get it , everyone was basically like “DO SOMETHING” . You can see it on here as well .

I can't see Douehi having the mental capacity to be our No 1 play maker

Happy have to disagree with you. AD strikes me as a person who is incredibly focused and mentally strong. He also strikes me as a guy who has a good football brain. Of course time will tell and if the Widop rumours are true he might end up back at no1 again, with Brooks and Widop in the halves....hope not

Lot different mentally playing 1 and 6 ....as stressful as it is organizing the defence .....making the right decisions in attack with the added pressure of 20 extra tackles a game ...obviously when you physically fatigue you mentally fatigue as well ...lot harder than you think ..especially if the other bloke in the halves doesn't step up

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

I think 2021 will be a good year for Luke
There's no Robbie or Benji there's a good pack of forwards being assembled there's pace in the backline and it would appear those players that are here want to be here

 

[JayT]

Well if he isn't a top NRL halfback in 2021 surely it's over, time to find a new one for 2022. I hope he kills it also, will be ecstatic to see.

 

[Blake]

I actually agree with you , but I don’t at the same time . I feel like AD had the humility to allow brooks to run his plays and not over call , whilst also having the confidence to do his thing when it’s on . That was our biggest issue last year . For all the benjis 18 try assists , I’d love to see how much of the ball actually went down his side . If it’s less than 70% I’d be shocked .
And when he did get it , everyone was basically like “DO SOMETHING” . You can see it on here as well .

The halves structure changed many times last year. When it was Brooks and Benji they mostly played Left/Right. When they tried to play 1st and 2nd receiver Benji usually seemed too buggered to swap to the left outside Brooks when it was the open side.
When it was Brooks and Doueihi, they played 1st and 2nd receiver very well, with Brooks staying in the middle of the field and Doueihi moving to the open side. I hope we stick with this structure with the fullback helping as an extra playmaker on the left and Brooks providing support on breaks in the middle.

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

*“The respect and experience I had for Benji in that space... I didn’t want to get in his way. That’s something Madge and I have been speaking about what to do moving forward to best help our team."*

Well, there you go. Basically confirmed that Benji got in his way and overcalled him.

(Source: https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/12/08/brooks-looking-forward-to-potential-doueihi-halves-combination/)

 

[sleeve]

A good insight into what is going on,all looks promising.

 

[mike]

For some reason the only top class, game controlling 7s in the NRL at the moment are:
- DCE
- Cleary
- reynolds

Then you have:
- keary (who plays 6 but like a 7) &
- cam Smith (Who plays 9 by like a 7)

Non of the above WT could sign

The there's a big group of ok 7s like:
- Brooks
- Moses
- Hughes
- Pearce
- hunt
- kodi
Etc

We need to persist with Brooks and COACH him to be better
& COACH a rising future star 7 (hopefully madden) to be playing in 4 years time when we with GF

You can’t put choker Cleary there surely. Lost the two most important games of the year and they were on him. He’s an imposter.

 

[Hangonaminute]

Said it before I'll say it again.

This team will do nothing as long as Brooks is our 7.

 

[kiwitiger]

*“The respect and experience I had for Benji in that space... I didn’t want to get in his way. That’s something Madge and I have been speaking about what to do moving forward to best help our team."*

Well, there you go. Basically confirmed that Benji got in his way and overcalled him.

(Source: https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2020/12/08/brooks-looking-forward-to-potential-doueihi-halves-combination/)

That is Luke's fault! Seriously trying to say it was because of Benji. How about some accountability Luke? Seriously...what will be this years excuse? I like Luke and think he is one of the best halfs in the world...but really?