Luke Brooks

[Moh]

There would be a few clubs ready to jump on Brooks if we were to let him go IMO.

Not many good halves around at the moment. Fact that Moses is often talked about as one of the best says enough.

 

[Blocker1963]

If you have a good look at Brook's game, he is consistently one of the best each week, its what is around him that is the problem, his defence and commitment has been great for the last 2 years, he has a go every game, not like some,
his game management still needs tweeking.

 

[weststigerman]

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!

We haven't really tried that hard to find the right partner for Brooks. We had Moses who couldn't tackle, Marshall who clicked well with him but again couldn't tackle, then you have Reynolds that has been riddled with injury and off field issues.

As I mentioned earlier, we have much bigger problems than Brooks. Fix the go forward (watch Parra's forward momentum and compare to ours), get some tall fast wingers to bomb to, get a goal kicker.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

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 thats the problem playing Benji ....is attack more important or defence more important

That's why I think the 14 jersey is perfect for Benji .....he gets to come on for 20 minutes and be creative against tiring defences but won't fatigue defensively

Why does he have to be on borrowed time ?? LOL that’s ridiculous. He was our best player in round 3 , and has been quiet in round 4 , and had a few things go against him , against the grand finalists in round 5 . Far out , some of you guys are just so impulsive.
WE ARE 9th !!!!!
We have the 11th best team on paper. Many of our team , are under performing at the moment. We are still 9th!!!
We can do some things this year , I firmly believe that . And brooks is a top 6 half . I’m sorry but he is !
It goes DCE, Pearce, Moses , Keary , Cleary then Brooks.
You have Green , Hunt , Taylor, Clifford , Foran, Williams, Hughes , Croft , Townsend , Reynolds .
Not in that order .
Like seriously , who of that bottom list would you want ?? Maybe Reynolds right ? The guy who spends 10 games a year on the sidelines , in a team that doesn’t have the same cattle as Souths on 750k.
Look at it objectively . That’s all I’m saying

 

[TYGA]

I agree we have to persevere with Brooks we have no option. He has to improve it’s that simple.

 

[happy_tiger]

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 thats the problem playing Benji ....is attack more important or defence more important

That's why I think the 14 jersey is perfect for Benji .....he gets to come on for 20 minutes and be creative against tiring defences but won't fatigue defensively


Why does he have to be on borrowed time ?? LOL that’s ridiculous. He was our best player in round 3 , and has been quiet in round 4 , and had a few things go against him , against the grand finalists in round 5 . Far out , some of you guys are just so impulsive.
WE ARE 9th !!!!!
We have the 11th best team on paper. Many of our team , are under performing at the moment. We are still 9th!!!
We can do some things this year , I firmly believe that . And brooks is a top 6 half . I’m sorry but he is !
It goes DCE, Pearce, Moses , Keary , Cleary then Brooks.
You have Green , Hunt , Taylor, Clifford , Foran, Williams, Hughes , Croft , Townsend , Reynolds .
Not in that order .
Like seriously , who of that bottom list would you want ?? Maybe Reynolds right ? The guy who spends 10 games a year on the sidelines , in a team that doesn’t have the same cattle as Souths on 750k.
Look at it objectively . That’s all I’m saying

I didn't say he was on borrowed time .....my quote is there to see

 

[Deleted member 3518]

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 thats the problem playing Benji ....is attack more important or defence more important

That's why I think the 14 jersey is perfect for Benji .....he gets to come on for 20 minutes and be creative against tiring defences but won't fatigue defensively


Why does he have to be on borrowed time ?? LOL that’s ridiculous. He was our best player in round 3 , and has been quiet in round 4 , and had a few things go against him , against the grand finalists in round 5 . Far out , some of you guys are just so impulsive.
WE ARE 9th !!!!!
We have the 11th best team on paper. Many of our team , are under performing at the moment. We are still 9th!!!
We can do some things this year , I firmly believe that . And brooks is a top 6 half . I’m sorry but he is !
It goes DCE, Pearce, Moses , Keary , Cleary then Brooks.
You have Green , Hunt , Taylor, Clifford , Foran, Williams, Hughes , Croft , Townsend , Reynolds .
Not in that order .
Like seriously , who of that bottom list would you want ?? Maybe Reynolds right ? The guy who spends 10 games a year on the sidelines , in a team that doesn’t have the same cattle as Souths on 750k.
Look at it objectively . That’s all I’m saying

I didn't say he was on borrowed time .....my quote is there to see

No mate , it was the reply to yours . Sorry about the confusion.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

IMO the best comparison for Brooks is Matt Orford . That’s where people’s expectations should be . An above average first grader , great defender , good running game , alright organiser , but just a notch below the Andrew Johns types of the world . And to me , that’s ok . Because you CAN build around that . You can add the spark in other places

 

[JD Tiger]

IMO the best comparison for Brooks is Matt Orford . That’s where people’s expectations should be . An above average first grader , great defender , good running game , alright organiser , but just a notch below the Andrew Johns types of the world . And to me , that’s ok . Because you CAN build around that . You can add the spark in other places

Orford won a GF with Scott Hill partnering him didnt he?
So yeah, that'd be definitely good enough.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

IMO the best comparison for Brooks is Matt Orford . That’s where people’s expectations should be . An above average first grader , great defender , good running game , alright organiser , but just a notch below the Andrew Johns types of the world . And to me , that’s ok . Because you CAN build around that . You can add the spark in other places

Orford won a GF with Scott Hill partnering him didnt he?
So yeah, that'd be definitely good enough.

I think it might have been Kimmorley . But still it’s that level . A couple halfback of the years . Maybe an origin game . Consistent ,tough, roughly 7-8/10 most games . And on 75% salary of the top earners . In today’s game that’s 250k to give to someone else . There’s a Ponga out there waiting . We just have to be smart enough

:::

Spoiler Text

:::

 

[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.

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

We put on a good show against the premiership favourites. I'm happy to stick with that side.

 

[mike]

I’ve been critical of Luke Brooks of late so I went back and looked at our history. The conclusion I came to, my opinion, is that Luke Brooks is our 3rd best halfback since the inception of the Wests Tigers

31 players have played halfback for Wests Tigers. Of those only 11 have played 10 games or more in that position for Wests Tigers. The order below is again my opinion of where they rank. The ranking I chose was based on their time in the halfback position for the Wests Tigers, not how they performed overall during their career.

Scott Prince (71)
Robert Lui (42)
**Luke Brooks (135)**
Benji Marshall (42)
Ben Jeffries (25)
Lincoln Withers (31)
Craig Field (28)
John Morris (23)
Tim Moltzen (15)
Mathew Head (10)
Robbie Farah (14)

 

[851]

I’ve been critical of Luke Brooks of late so I went back and looked at our history. The conclusion I came to, my opinion, is that Luke Brooks is our 3rd best halfback since the inception of the Wests Tigers

31 players have played halfback for Wests Tigers. Of those only 11 have played 10 games or more in that position for Wests Tigers. The order below is again my opinion of where they rank. The ranking I chose was based on their time in the halfback position for the Wests Tigers, not how they performed overall during their career.

Scott Prince (71)
Robert Lui (42)
**Luke Brooks (135)**
Benji Marshall (42)
Ben Jeffries (25)
Lincoln Withers (31)
Craig Field (28)
John Morris (23)
Tim Moltzen (15)
Mathew Head (10)
Robbie Farah (14)

Scott Prince first and daylight second, but I agree with your top 3 ranking

 

[Tigerwould]

Robert Liu was a turnstile in defence, great attacking player

 

[avocadoontoast]

I’d have Moltzen higher. What year was it when we won 5 or 6 in a row with him at halfback?

 

[JC99]

Robert Lui did well for us. Shame he’s a horrible person

 

[Tigerwould]

Moltzen and Moses were two others than has awful defence but fantastic attack. The Madge interview today on triple m was interesting. He was saying with the new rules teams are picking a player and target their defence the Roosters did it to Moses last night

 

[JC99]

Anywhere I can listen to this interview Madge did?

 

[mike]

Robert Liu was a turnstile in defence, great attacking player

I think for Brooks to surpass Lui we need to play finals football with Brooks as halfback. Otherwise I’ll always rate Lui above Brooks.

 

[Lukic]

Lui wasn't really that good I thought. Just happened to be the halfback when Benji and Robbie were 2 of the 10 best players in the comp and arguably 2 of the top 5 on form in that 2010-2011 period.

We played our best footy with Moltzen at 7 and Benji at 6. It's just a shame we didn't have a fullback ... if only Tedesco was born 5 years earlier.

With that said Brooks probably has to go 2nd. I don't actually think he's better than many of the guys on that list, but for longevity alone he edges them out.