Luke Brooks

[pawsandclaws1]

So Brooks is the new Jennings now...
The 7 can be a role player. Sezer lastcyear was a role player in the Raiders team last year same as Townsend for Sharks.
Hindsiggt is a wonderful thing but looks like we let the wrong half go in Moses

Moses walked
Brooks was desperate as no other club would take him
If Jennings was a half he’d be luke Brooks

I am tired of correcting you in your hate for Brooks.

Other clubs did want him - Melbourne and the Dogs wanted him for a start.

Russ ....what 6 in the NRL is a good mix with Brooks in your opinion

Munster..easy one..

No it wouldn't work ......Brooks would get even more muddled in his mind at his role

Have you watched the Storm this year..Munster does much much much more than just run..

You don't need Brooks if you sign Munster ...you could get a far better half that would fit Munster's style

And you shoot yourself in the foot with the Munster argument .....if we need to get a player of Munsters ability ....Brooks isn't that good ...is he ??

Munster's strength is his running game ...Brooks only strength is his running game ...and he doesn't even have confidence in that

I'd hate to think what that would do to Brooks and his confidence

Brooks from what I've seen has a great short kicking game which he developed under Cleary. He has a long kicking game and also is one of the best defenders for a halfback in the competition. I am not sure what player you have been watching Happy but it is not Brooks.

It’s not Brooks from 2 years back when he was voted best half in the game that is out on the field at the moment, as mentioned his got too comfortable in his surroundings. His not under any actual pressure to keep his spot, coaches are continuing to try and make him the main man and that only increases the pressure on him and his not handling it but his not being made accountable for it either.
Starts with being 18th man this week.

I believe Brooks plays like he is hesitant, he is scared of making a mistake because Maguire will not like it.

He’s always played like that

We each have different views, I always recall him using the short kick especially for good results undef Cleary.

 

[JC99]

Luciano is expected to play this week.

I hope you are right, one of our best last night.

Worst case scenario he misses one week according to NRL Physio. I’m a big fan of Luciano.

 

[happy_tiger]

Madge was happy with the overall team performance, so I don’t know if there will be many, if any changes.

He loved the effort ..not sure if he was so happy about the execution at times

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

Wonder what Madge thought about Suttons attitude last night.

 

[Lukic]

Brooks just hasn't improved much since coming into grade. He's still very much the same player now as he was 5 years ago. He doesn't command the game, you don't watch anything he does and see any particular vision or degree of thought behind it. He's a player who's able to go through the motions and do the stuff that's worked on in training each week and not much more.

His only real asset in attack is his speed, but he just doesn't use it wisely enough. His short kicking game is ok - nothing special but he does generate some repeat sets and the occasional try. Passing game is poor and he struggles setting up the players outside him. There's almost always a disconnect between him and his outside men - the number of hospital passes he's thrown to Lawrence over the years that result in a knock on is infuriating.

He's another guy that I think would be best as a 14. Can cover the backline in the case of injury and would be able to do a good job at hooker in spurts given his service off from dummy-half is solid and his speed could be an asset when scooting.

I'd genuinely consider:

6 Reynolds
7 Marshall
9 Grant

14 Brooks/Walters

Going forward.

From the limited amount I've seen of Walters I'm not particularly sure there's anything that Brooks does that Walters can't, or at least wouldn't be able to do with a decent run in first grade. Brooks is 25 and has played 150 games. He's not really a youngster anymore and there's a point where you've got to call a spade a spade.

 

[BZN]

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

[/QUOTE]

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

I enjoyed reading your post Magpies. Well written.

 

[Tigers_Tigers]

I would have benji and reynolds instead of him he finds it impossible to kick the ball through the line.

 

[PJASLR5000]

If we loose grant maybe throw brooks into dummy half

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Brooks is fine . He didn’t play all that badly IMO . Dropped the ball twice , scored a try . Made a gazillion tackles for a half , and should of had - line break assist and another one himself . To me he seems to get over called a lot by players around him . Like Douehi kicking twice , Grant going away from him when he’s screaming for it close to the line etc . He needs to rev everyone and let them know it’s his team . And when he wants it to get out of the way .

 

[bigsiro]

If we loose grant maybe throw brooks into dummy half

I reckon he would make an excellent dummy half. He can be wiley. He actually has turned into a fair tackler.
It would take attacking pressure off him.
I’d definitely give it a go.
Better than a Reynolds option at 9 I think.

Having said all that, Grant is playing pretty well there right now.

 

[kiwitiger]

Am I the only person who thinks his short kicking game is good? Hardly ever gives a way a 7 set. Long kicking game is a worry. He is more Langer (good short)when we need stuart (good long)

 

[tigerballs]

So Brooks is the new Jennings now...
The 7 can be a role player. Sezer lastcyear was a role player in the Raiders team last year same as Townsend for Sharks.
Hindsiggt is a wonderful thing but looks like we let the wrong half go in Moses

Moses walked
Brooks was desperate as no other club would take him
If Jennings was a half he’d be luke Brooks

I am tired of correcting you in your hate for Brooks.

Other clubs did want him - Melbourne and the Dogs wanted him for a start.

Russ ....what 6 in the NRL is a good mix with Brooks in your opinion

Munster..easy one..

No it wouldn't work ......Brooks would get even more muddled in his mind at his role

Have you watched the Storm this year..Munster does much much much more than just run..

You don't need Brooks if you sign Munster ...you could get a far better half that would fit Munster's style

And you shoot yourself in the foot with the Munster argument .....if we need to get a player of Munsters ability ....Brooks isn't that good ...is he ??

Munster's strength is his running game ...Brooks only strength is his running game ...and he doesn't even have confidence in that

I'd hate to think what that would do to Brooks and his confidence

Brooks from what I've seen has a great short kicking game which he developed under Cleary. He has a long kicking game and also is one of the best defenders for a halfback in the competition. I am not sure what player you have been watching Happy but it is not Brooks.

Was talking solely about his attacking game Paws ...defensively he is top notch ...his kicking game is still OK ...can be very erratic at times

And his general kicking game was probably developed more under Taylor ....that's when he started with the defensive bombs

A short kick into the in goal is an attacking play. He also. seems to have had the chip and short kick which he previously used to vary the. play coached out of him.

My view is Maguire overreacted to a very poor performance. Benji would have bounced back against the Raiders.

Raiders would’ve run over Benji all game. Wighton would’ve scored a few more if Benji was playing

Benji has been in the NRL for a long time and has made many big tackles. Reynolds just doesn't have the ability to conjure up tries like Marshall, Munster and DCE.

And in the first four rounds this season Benji let in 6 tries. He’s got more attacking flair than Reynolds but we need to focus on defence. We beat weaker teams with last nights performance and personally I’m not changing the team too much. Bring back garner and Clark for Lawrence and Packer and that’s it. Maybe Walters on the bench.

Reynolds should have created and he didn't. He is all about energy rather than the skill required to unpick a defence. We need more from our 5/8, especially one who is our near highest paid player.

He set up the only try on the left side and his right side was unlucky with a couple of close calls via Nofa and Douehi. He goes alright.

 

[Geo]

So Brooks is the new Jennings now...
The 7 can be a role player. Sezer lastcyear was a role player in the Raiders team last year same as Townsend for Sharks.
Hindsiggt is a wonderful thing but looks like we let the wrong half go in Moses

Moses walked
Brooks was desperate as no other club would take him
If Jennings was a half he’d be luke Brooks

I am tired of correcting you in your hate for Brooks.

Other clubs did want him - Melbourne and the Dogs wanted him for a start.

Russ ....what 6 in the NRL is a good mix with Brooks in your opinion

Munster..easy one..

No it wouldn't work ......Brooks would get even more muddled in his mind at his role

Have you watched the Storm this year..Munster does much much much more than just run..

You don't need Brooks if you sign Munster ...you could get a far better half that would fit Munster's style

And you shoot yourself in the foot with the Munster argument .....if we need to get a player of Munsters ability ....Brooks isn't that good ...is he ??

Munster's strength is his running game ...Brooks only strength is his running game ...and he doesn't even have confidence in that

I'd hate to think what that would do to Brooks and his confidence

Brooks from what I've seen has a great short kicking game which he developed under Cleary. He has a long kicking game and also is one of the best defenders for a halfback in the competition. I am not sure what player you have been watching Happy but it is not Brooks.

Was talking solely about his attacking game Paws ...defensively he is top notch ...his kicking game is still OK ...can be very erratic at times

And his general kicking game was probably developed more under Taylor ....that's when he started with the defensive bombs

A short kick into the in goal is an attacking play. He also. seems to have had the chip and short kick which he previously used to vary the. play coached out of him.

My view is Maguire overreacted to a very poor performance. Benji would have bounced back against the Raiders.

Raiders would’ve run over Benji all game. Wighton would’ve scored a few more if Benji was playing

Benji has been in the NRL for a long time and has made many big tackles. Reynolds just doesn't have the ability to conjure up tries like Marshall, Munster and DCE.

And in the first four rounds this season Benji let in 6 tries. He’s got more attacking flair than Reynolds but we need to focus on defence. We beat weaker teams with last nights performance and personally I’m not changing the team too much. Bring back garner and Clark for Lawrence and Packer and that’s it. Maybe Walters on the bench.

Reynolds should have created and he didn't. He is all about energy rather than the skill required to unpick a defence. We need more from our 5/8, especially one who is our near highest paid player.

He set up the only try on the left side and his right side was unlucky with a couple of close calls via Nofa and Douehi. He goes alright.

Fair assessment.. Brooks also put Luciano close to scoring in the 1st half and in some space in the 2nd a few times but we don’t mention those..

Add Reynolds kicking was pretty good..hope he gets an injury free run

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

Agree with that .... For me the silver bullet is to find someone to complement Brooks not to replace him.
If we do replace him we are definitely back to square one and long term will regret seeing him perform in different colours.

 

[Spud_Murphy]

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

Agree with that .... **For me the silver bullet is to find someone to complement Brooks not to replace him.**
If we do replace him we are definitely back to square one and long term will regret seeing him perform in different colours.

The only thing is we have been trying to do that for years now with zero success! It can’t be everyone else’s fault all the time. Maybe Brooks would be better in a different position? He’s a good defender and quick off the mark, I honestly think he would make a good hooker or even a centre. He’d probably be more effective at centre than Mbye!

 

[bigsiro]

If we do replace him we are definitely back to square one and long term will regret seeing him perform in different colours.

Square one can’t be worse than where we are now.
And I wouldn’t regret at all seeing him in different colours. If anything I’d feel pity for that team.
That’s not me being harsh, just brutally honest.

 

[tigerap]

We have to give up trying to get Brooks to own the team. We have been trying to get him to do it for 4 years without success....he is not up to it....put him at 6 and give Benji full rein in running the side..next year bring Seizer or Madden at 7

 

[Telltails]

Brooks individually is not the reason we have failed to reach any level of success despite the flaws in his game. I can think of at least 7 quality players we have let go or lost currently playing successfully in other teams since he has been our half, and I cant think of one we have replaced that is better than any of them.
Our recruitment continues to be our biggest problem and letting Brooks go would just add to all the other good players we will watch in other teams.

 

[Tcat]

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

Brooks has been in the top grade for 7 seasons !!! Brooks is not a competitor when will this sink in .
This team is going now where with Brooks in the halves .. This club needs to wake up ! You want to break the culture of losing well sign a couple of players that demand to win!
For gods sake there Is a reason the club has not played finals footy for so long it’s as easy to see as a boil on a back side !

I'm only able to watch the game on my mobile phone so I obviously miss out on a fair bit of the action, but I did see him stop the biggest bloke on the field Josh Papalli with a perfect legs tackle close to our line and probably saved a certain try.
When you have Brooks doing more than his fair share of tackling, surely he cant be expected to run the ball as we would like him to do.
I do agree though that Brooks hasn't improved in attack the way we would have hoped.
We don't hide Brooks in defence as Parra do with the slimiest Eel of all....Mitch Moses....maybe we should, but if we do who is going to step up to do extra defence in the middle.
Brooks is not our main problem.
As well as we played yesterday, the main problem is.... our team as a whole just isn't strong enough.

Agree with that .... **For me the silver bullet is to find someone to complement Brooks not to replace him.**
If we do replace him we are definitely back to square one and long term will regret seeing him perform in different colours.


The only thing is we have been trying to do that for years now with zero success! It can’t be everyone else’s fault all the time. Maybe Brooks would be better in a different position? He’s a good defender and quick off the mark, I honestly think he would make a good hooker or even a centre. He’d probably be more effective at centre than Mbye!

He's got to be on borrowed time as a half and I think Madge will have a contingency plan in place. The more I think about it, I actually think he would be very suited to hooker. He's a good defender out wide, but whether he can handle prolonged periods of defence in the middle with the big boys is another question.