Luke Brooks

[hobbo1]

Doohey will be the man ..
Brooks sucks ...

There I said it ..

Could help if you could try and spell his name correctly...

I agree, Adam ‘Doueihi’ will play his best footy this year at 6

Brooks needs a smart halves partner that plays the field laterally and can stretch the opponents defensive line

When Brooks has that space, his run, passing and kicking game is excellent

Doohey

 

[Leck]

Doohey will be the man ..
Brooks sucks ...

There I said it ..

Could help if you could try and spell his name correctly...

I agree, Adam ‘Doueihi’ will play his best footy this year at 6

Brooks needs a smart halves partner that plays the field laterally and can stretch the opponents defensive line

When Brooks has that space, his run, passing and kicking game is excellent

Doohey

Well done, you’re showing your class

 

[AdelaideTiger]

The biggest hole I see in Brooks' game is a complete lack of a short kicking game. Both he and Benji were woeful with attacking kicks on the opposition goal line last year. Benji would roll kicks dead almost every time and Brooks either; wouldn't threaten to kick or just roll one into someone's feet. When you can't squeeze effective kicks in behind the line, the defending fullback and wingers can defend in the line and defending players can mark-up much easier from outside in.
It wasn't just last year its been a few years and has really hurt our backline as a whole because we can generate overlaps and always seem to run out of room on fullback sweep plays. Luke used to rely pretty heavily on the banana kick back to Tedesco streaming down the middle, when he lost that option his short kicking game seemed to disappear, then the 7 tackle set on dead balls killed it completely.
For my mind though, it's a confidence issue, because Benji was given the attacking reigns on opposition goal lines, Brooks just hasn't been able to improve at applying pressure and gaining repeat sets in these areas. Benji going helps, but Brooks needs to get this area of his game sorted very early in the season and continue to build on it if he or the team is going to have any success this year. If you go back and watch the games last year there's at least 3 or 4 where we are in a real grind, looking like we are on top then Benji rolls a kick over the dead ball line, we are slow to the 30m line and but the end of the other team's set they are putting in an attacking kick and all of a sudden they are on top. I think this exact situation lost us more more games last year than poor goal kicking lost us in 2019.

Anyway, I like Brooksy, I think most of this team does too. I agree with others on here that Liddle's service will help him and a rolling pack is what every half wants/needs. But he must learn how to control the game inside of opposition 20, or risk just being another also ran.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

The biggest hole I see in Brooks' game is a complete lack of a short kicking game. Both he and Benji were woeful with attacking kicks on the opposition goal line last year. Benji would roll kicks dead almost every time and Brooks either; wouldn't threaten to kick or just roll one into someone's feet. When you can't squeeze effective kicks in behind the line, the defending fullback and wingers can defend in the line and defending players can mark-up much easier from outside in.
It wasn't just last year its been a few years and has really hurt our backline as a whole because we can generate overlaps and always seem to run out of room on fullback sweep plays. Luke used to rely pretty heavily on the banana kick back to Tedesco streaming down the middle, when he lost that option his short kicking game seemed to disappear, then the 7 tackle set on dead balls killed it completely.
For my mind though, it's a confidence issue, because Benji was given the attacking reigns on opposition goal lines, Brooks just hasn't been able to improve at applying pressure and gaining repeat sets in these areas. Benji going helps, but Brooks needs to get this area of his game sorted very early in the season and continue to build on it if he or the team is going to have any success this year. If you go back and watch the games last year there's at least 3 or 4 where we are in a real grind, looking like we are on top then Benji rolls a kick over the dead ball line, we are slow to the 30m line and but the end of the other team's set they are putting in an attacking kick and all of a sudden they are on top. I think this exact situation lost us more more games last year than poor goal kicking lost us in 2019.

Anyway, I like Brooksy, I think most of this team does too. I agree with others on here that Liddle's service will help him and a rolling pack is what every half wants/needs. But he must learn how to control the game inside of opposition 20, or risk just being another also ran.

He was top 5 in 18 and 19 for repeat sets . He can do it . He was just rubbish last year .

 

[mike]

Brooks has his failings but outside Prince he is the best 7 we have had. Okay that might not be saying much, but there are very few good ones around and most of the better ones are surrounded by elite players at strong clubs.
Anyway this will be the year where he has to perform as young Madden will get a chance if things don’t start well for Brooks

Robert Lui was better. Lui worked well with the No. 6 and the No. 9.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

The biggest hole I see in Brooks' game is a complete lack of a short kicking game. Both he and Benji were woeful with attacking kicks on the opposition goal line last year. Benji would roll kicks dead almost every time and Brooks either; wouldn't threaten to kick or just roll one into someone's feet. When you can't squeeze effective kicks in behind the line, the defending fullback and wingers can defend in the line and defending players can mark-up much easier from outside in.
It wasn't just last year its been a few years and has really hurt our backline as a whole because we can generate overlaps and always seem to run out of room on fullback sweep plays. Luke used to rely pretty heavily on the banana kick back to Tedesco streaming down the middle, when he lost that option his short kicking game seemed to disappear, then the 7 tackle set on dead balls killed it completely.
For my mind though, it's a confidence issue, because Benji was given the attacking reigns on opposition goal lines, Brooks just hasn't been able to improve at applying pressure and gaining repeat sets in these areas. Benji going helps, but Brooks needs to get this area of his game sorted very early in the season and continue to build on it if he or the team is going to have any success this year. If you go back and watch the games last year there's at least 3 or 4 where we are in a real grind, looking like we are on top then Benji rolls a kick over the dead ball line, we are slow to the 30m line and but the end of the other team's set they are putting in an attacking kick and all of a sudden they are on top. I think this exact situation lost us more more games last year than poor goal kicking lost us in 2019.

Anyway, I like Brooksy, I think most of this team does too. I agree with others on here that Liddle's service will help him and a rolling pack is what every half wants/needs. But he must learn how to control the game inside of opposition 20, or risk just being another also ran.

He was top 5 in 18 and 19 for repeat sets . He can do it . He was just rubbish last year .

Yeah I did know that, just feels like a lifetime ago, thanks for the correction. As I said though, I think it's more him lacking confidence rather than lacking the skill. Whichever it is he needs to resolve it quick this year because I think repeat sets at inopportune moments lost us more games last year than poor goal kicking lost us in 2019.
Do we know what Doueihi's short kicking game is like?

 

[Goanna57]

Re: [Luke Brooks](/topic/30961/luke-brooks)

Got a feeling we will be having this same discussion this time next year it is a recurring issue regarding mr Brooks

 

[Tim Sheens]

Really dude, another bash Brooks thread.

 

[hank37w]

Doohey will be the man ..
Brooks sucks ...

There I said it ..

Could help if you could try and spell his name correctly...

I agree, Adam ‘Doueihi’ will play his best footy this year at 6

Brooks needs a smart halves partner that plays the field laterally and can stretch the opponents defensive line

When Brooks has that space, his run, passing and kicking game is excellent

Doohey

Should have taken up the offer in the essay writing thread, it may have been a help with your spelling.

 

[Tiger5150]

Brooks has his failings but outside Prince he is the best 7 we have had. Okay that might not be saying much, but there are very few good ones around and most of the better ones are surrounded by elite players at strong clubs.
Anyway this will be the year where he has to perform as young Madden will get a chance if things don’t start well for Brooks

Rob Lui was a better half than Brooks

Prince was better than Lui. Also I hope every man in Robert Lui’s partner’s family were better than him and took things into their own hands

 

[Tiger5150]

I agree that Brooks has not aligned his performance with his apparent ability. That would be a combination of chronically overpowered forwards, poor coaching and a degree of his own fault. I agree we need him to step up to his 2018 form......BUT. ...


Name a current halfback in the NRL getting sub $700K pa that you would swap him with. Quality halves are not falling out of the LEICHHARDT figs.

 

[hobbo1]

Doohey will be the man ..
Brooks sucks ...

There I said it ..

Could help if you could try and spell his name correctly...

I agree, Adam ‘Doueihi’ will play his best footy this year at 6

Brooks needs a smart halves partner that plays the field laterally and can stretch the opponents defensive line

When Brooks has that space, his run, passing and kicking game is excellent

Doohey

Should have taken up the offer in the essay writing thread, it may have been a help with your spelling.

Doohey

 

[hank37w]

Just stubborn.

 

[Tiger5150]

I agree that Brooks has not aligned his performance with his apparent ability. That would be a combination of chronically overpowered forwards, poor coaching and a degree of his own fault. I agree we need him to step up to his 2018 form......BUT. ...


Name a current halfback in the NRL getting sub $700K pa that you would swap him with. Quality halves are not falling out of the LEICHHARDT figs.

 

[hobbo1]

Brooks has his failings but outside Prince he is the best 7 we have had. Okay that might not be saying much, but there are very few good ones around and most of the better ones are surrounded by elite players at strong clubs.
Anyway this will be the year where he has to perform as young Madden will get a chance if things don’t start well for Brooks

Rob Lui was a better half than Brooks

Prince was better than Lui. Also I hope every man in Robert Lui’s partner’s family were better than him and took things into their own hands

Yes .. Prince was better than Lui but that wasn’t the point being mentioned .
Lui was better than Brooks .
You’d hope Sam Backo dealt with Lui !

 

[Deleted member 3518]

I said it before and I will say it again. Harry Grant only passed the ball when he no longer could do anything with it. Ours forwards go forward suffered, our halfback suffered and our backline suffered.
Yes Harry played well in Origin. Against a side, one man down, against a tired defence and only 33% possession. If Bennet thought he was that good he would have been starting.
I dont normally defend Brooks but with Liddle, he will get cleaner and quicker ball. Wait and watch for improvement in our go forward and consequently our attack in general. I expect Brooks to have a much better year. Harry has still a lot to learn.
Yes, I know, with some on the forum, it was Benji's fault.

It’s not it was benjis fault . It was all of the above for me . It was hero ball . And hero ball never ever works, in any sport , for any length of time .
But you can’t say it , because , you know , highlights and Wah Wah wee Wah !!!

 

[JC99]

What I would like to see in his game , is a little more of opportunism as we saw when kicking that FG to give his side a win

A number have made the point that the service to Brooks last year contributed to his disappointing season.

I think that the FG you refer to is an example of what Brooks can do with good service. The pass from Liddle was perfection. I came to Brooks so quickly and was so perfectly placed that he had plenty of time to nail it. Which he did with aplomb.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Liddle and Brooks combine this year. If the forwards can get some quick PTBs, then both will be in for a big year.

Liddle and Brooks have ALWAYS combined well. Given they have trained together now for 4 odd years you'd expect that but Liddles deceptively quick feet to scoop the ball off the ground, draw the markers in and get the forwards running full pelt can't be underestimated. This in turn puts opposition defense on the back foot just by certain little things due to liddles speed out of the ruck.
It also allows Brooks to run with freedom the next play.

Honestly Liddle reminds me of a young Farah it's just a shame he's had such an interupted career

And Grant wasn't doing this last season?

Brooks was playing off the back of arguably the best 9 the game has seen in quite a while, the kid is no joke, destroyed NSW in his origin debut.
And yet Brooks only managed 3 try assists.

Is Liddle better than Grant?

NSW was destroyed by the old mate Penrith connection of bare foot Freddy and Alexander the greats big heads and Teddys injury.Destroyed ? Grant was good and gives 100% but i think he is a touch overated.This year will tell.

I think Grant will be very different at the Storm. I said last year, after the hype started building he was overplaying his hand significantly. I think this year he will need to fit his game into Melbourne's structure.

He'll look even better behind a stronger pack. Bellamy will make sure that Harry is still using his strengths which is running the footy a lot and constantly following the footy. He will smash it wherever he plays

Bet you he doesn’t
Edit ; I think he will be game planned for . And he will have to adjust . How quickly that happens might be 1 or 2 games , might be a whole season . Second year syndrome hits every single player

As if Bellamy won't be able to change that if players target him. If he's getting rushed up on he'll start passing more and creating opportunities out wide. Melbourne are always one step ahead and Harry is that gifted of a natural footballer he'll be fine. Only reason he might not stand out as much is because he's not playing for an average team ?

 

[JC99]

As for Brooks I don't buy the excuses. Sure he would have it easier if our forwards dominated every game obviously but it was him with the ball that was the issue more than anything lol

He was constantly picking the wrong options. Passed instead of running, ran instead of passed. Teams had him figured out all year and he didn't adjust, his short kicking was awful could barely find a repeat set and his long kicking/game management sucked, he couldn't find the grass in the corner of the field if his life depended on it.

Look at the other aspects all you want but looking at him individually, he didn't do his job properly. Only good thing he did was defend well. Let's hope that little spark he showed in the last 2-3 games of the season continues because there truly is no excuse for him now (unless people continue to make them up for him)

 

[hank37w]

What I would like to see in his game , is a little more of opportunism as we saw when kicking that FG to give his side a win

A number have made the point that the service to Brooks last year contributed to his disappointing season.

I think that the FG you refer to is an example of what Brooks can do with good service. The pass from Liddle was perfection. I came to Brooks so quickly and was so perfectly placed that he had plenty of time to nail it. Which he did with aplomb.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Liddle and Brooks combine this year. If the forwards can get some quick PTBs, then both will be in for a big year.

Liddle and Brooks have ALWAYS combined well. Given they have trained together now for 4 odd years you'd expect that but Liddles deceptively quick feet to scoop the ball off the ground, draw the markers in and get the forwards running full pelt can't be underestimated. This in turn puts opposition defense on the back foot just by certain little things due to liddles speed out of the ruck.
It also allows Brooks to run with freedom the next play.

Honestly Liddle reminds me of a young Farah it's just a shame he's had such an interupted career

And Grant wasn't doing this last season?

Brooks was playing off the back of arguably the best 9 the game has seen in quite a while, the kid is no joke, destroyed NSW in his origin debut.
And yet Brooks only managed 3 try assists.

Is Liddle better than Grant?

NSW was destroyed by the old mate Penrith connection of bare foot Freddy and Alexander the greats big heads and Teddys injury.Destroyed ? Grant was good and gives 100% but i think he is a touch overated.This year will tell.

I think Grant will be very different at the Storm. I said last year, after the hype started building he was overplaying his hand significantly. I think this year he will need to fit his game into Melbourne's structure.

He'll look even better behind a stronger pack. Bellamy will make sure that Harry is still using his strengths which is running the footy a lot and constantly following the footy. He will smash it wherever he plays

Bet you he doesn’t
Edit ; I think he will be game planned for . And he will have to adjust . How quickly that happens might be 1 or 2 games , might be a whole season . Second year syndrome hits every single player

As if Bellamy won't be able to change that if players target him. If he's getting rushed up on he'll start passing more and creating opportunities out wide. Melbourne are always one step ahead and Harry is that gifted of a natural footballer he'll be fine. Only reason he might not stand out as much is because he's not playing for an average team ?

Yes he did play for a very average Wests Tigers team and also killed it in State of Origin in what could only be described as a very average Queensland team that had no right to win that series, but did thanks to some brilliant selection blunders by the NSW coach.

 

[Guest]

I think there's plenty of pressure on Brooks this season - he's one of our senior players, Benji is gone so there's no blaming on being overruled for the football. I think our forward pack is pretty solid, stronger than last year and Liddle provides excellent service, so the ingredients for Brooks to play well are there.

If he doesn't deliver I can see him being shopped around. At some point the investment either returns a dividend or it goes bust. That time is just about upon Brooks.