Luke Brooks

[Tiger_Steve]

To the people saying that all Brooks needs to do is "run the ball", seriously, get a clue! No halfback or five-eighth runs the ball as much as Luke Brooks. Two years ago he literally was in the top 10 in the NRL for runs.

So people with a differing opinion need to ‘get a clue’ do they? So sorry you have to waste your time with all these inferior opinions 🙄

 

[twentyforty]

To the people saying that all Brooks needs to do is "run the ball", seriously, get a clue! No halfback or five-eighth runs the ball as much as Luke Brooks. Two years ago he literally was in the top 10 in the NRL for runs.

I agree, his average run metres are higher than a few forwards, including Packer. It shows great leadership from Brooksy but I’m sure he’s had this conversation with Madge.
I think Luke’s game will improve in equal proportion to our forwards go forward. 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, or the way he put Gagai off his game 😂. He may need a Darth Vader type mentor to take him to the dark side? Tommy perhaps?

 

[earl]

Brooks just has to take the right option consistently and defend well. I think this year we will hopefully have a better team around the park. So he should have some outside backs and edge forwards who can score a try. Hopefully the middle forwards go well as well. I think Liddle/Simpkins will also provide good service.

I reckon Grant is a fantastic player but I think he always went to Benji, I'm starting to think his pass to the left isn't as good as his pass to the right and that impacted Brooks last season as well.

 

[fibrodreaming]

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.

 

[cktiger]

Has there ever been a player given so many excuses for under performing as Brooks?
He's got talent but obviously not much nous.
Keep taking the wrong options this year and he'll be saying goodbye.
Looks like we might finally have a younger halfback to put some pressure on him.

 

[earl]

Has there ever been a player given so many excuses for under performing as Brooks?
He's got talent but obviously not much nous.
Keep taking the wrong options this year and he'll be saying goodbye.
Looks like we might finally have a younger halfback to put some pressure on him.

I basically agree with this. I don't believe in the excuses. At the same time I don't think he has been that bad.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Has there ever been a player given so many excuses for under performing as Brooks?
He's got talent but obviously not much nous.
Keep taking the wrong options this year and he'll be saying goodbye.
Looks like we might finally have a younger halfback to put some pressure on him.

He hasnt under performed though !!! He had 8 bad games , and the knives came out , after winning our player of the year and dally m the 2 years prior. It’s more a reflection on you , in your expectations . They’re unrealistic to the max .

 

[Deleted member 3518]

By the way , have you looked at the roster we throttled out in 2019 and 2018. Seriously , what was Ivan thinking ? How we didn’t win the spoon is a minor miracle . It’s with this in mind that I find it ridiculous to judge brooks , because he had the worst team on paper and played well and above anyone’s expectations on those years . A big contributor as well , is where in the pecking order benji sat . As the years went on in stint 2 , he got more and more voice, and the team suffered for it IMO. We went from a team who grinded as that’s what Ivan and Madge wanted to a flamboyant team at the end of last year , except we weren’t good enough to do that exceptionally, as that’s the standard you have to play to win games when you play like that .

 

[Needaname]

Matty Johns apparently at WT'S training mentoring Brooksy

We didn't need to get a mentor

I can do it

Luke RUN and RUN HARD

Problem solved


Thats it!!!!

Run Brooksy, just run!!!!

and give BJ & JTJ early ball!!!! YEah

So just RUN!!!! When your not giving early ball!! Or both...

I hope Brooksy never visits this place

He is a runner 1st and foremost ...if he gets the confidence to back his running game everything else will fit into place

Please don't tell him that, he was running far too much last year, especially when it wasn't on.

He was hitting the line at our pace ...that was the problem

Na, the predictable dummy and step back inside was the problem. The defence knew what he was going to do every time.

You play to your strengths and the rest of his game should rise off that confidence ....but it is who you target as well ...you find a target you can beat laterally ..get on their outside ...then straighten ..you create numbers

Scott Prince was brilliant at it ...Tedesco destroyed Cartwright in a thrashing v Penrith as well .....

Its a simple game ...you target the oppositions weaknesses in D and you can pull any defence apart

Agreed, you play to your strengths, but you have to at least have other options or teams know it is coming. His best aspect his is running game, but he was doing it too much and it has started to become a weakness as he is overplaying it.

There’s an old saying that you teach to kids when they’re young which remains true today, “do not pass the ball to a man in a worse position to yourself” I urge people to listen to Brett Finch talk about this in a great interview he did on bloke in a bar. Well worth your time. Point is, Brooksy taking hits when the defensive line is set and there’s nothing on is actually admirable and respected by team mates. I’ll swear this till I’m black and blue, WT forwards need to give him a platform or he’ll never reach his potential. No more plodding.

I’d like to add to that, the speed of his play the balls when that instance occurs often leads to a forward either breaking the line or crashing over!

 

[Hangonaminute]

Brooks had 3 !!!!! try assists last year.

Yes 3

Fact

But....What about 2018 And 2019? We know he's got the skill level. Tbh his problem has never been creating / scoring tries even though last year he was quiet in that department. It's his game management

And I was a gun player when I was 9 too.
I don't care about 2 or 3 years ago.

3 try assists for a halfback, he should have handed his paycheck back IMO, what did he do?

You can say that about a lot of players last year though. BJ. Packer. Reynolds’s. Mbye.

We are basically counting on a lot of players to recapture their form pre 2020 and I believe they will

Absolutely, but those players aren't your no7, the most important player in the field imo.
(And Packer, Reynolds and Mbye lost it years ago, all are has been)

 

[TheDaBoss]

Let douehi do his tricky spiral bombs

Brooks just needs to run...but switch it up lol

 

[Hangonaminute]

Brooks had 3 !!!!! try assists last year.

Yes 3

Yeah! Brilliant observation No go forward,no attacking FB. A DH that fed one side,a backline that was slow and never beat a man one on one,and a 5/8 that at times showed skill but could not tackle.JC himself would have thrown his hands up.What about the other 16 players that took the field ?

C'mon, I could put more than 3 people over by flukes, stop the excuses, he's an underperformer.

Let's look at the try assists from the halfbacks of teams that finished below us last season.

Dragons - Hunt - 7
Manly - DCE - 20
Cowboys - Clifford - 5
Dogs - Lewis - 8
Broncos - Dearden - 3

Still want to make excuses that it was the rest of the teams fault that Brooks had 3 try assists?

(The same as the half of the wooden spooners)

Fogarty from the Titans came from Burleigh and got thrown into the NRL in Rd 3 and still got 10 try assists.

Drew Hutchison who only played 5 games got 2 try assists.

Flanigan who got the chop got 11 try assists.

Let's look at the top try assists for comparison.

Johnson - 23
DCE - 20
Cleary - 17
Williams - 15
Hughes - 15

Any more excuses?

 

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

Luke Brooks is the father of Nathan Cleary.

 

[Speed2burn]

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

 

[cktiger]

Has there ever been a player given so many excuses for under performing as Brooks?
He's got talent but obviously not much nous.
Keep taking the wrong options this year and he'll be saying goodbye.
Looks like we might finally have a younger halfback to put some pressure on him.

He hasnt under performed though !!! He had 8 bad games , and the knives came out , after winning our player of the year and dally m the 2 years prior. It’s more a reflection on you , in your expectations . They’re unrealistic to the max .

My expectation is that he play consistantly at a reliable level for a first grade halfback... not too unrealistic.
He's been in the top grade for 6 years and it has been filled with only enough stand out games you could count on one hand.
By your own estimation our teams over the last few years have been rubbish, so Brooks getting our player of the year medal is no big deal.
Dally M half of the year?
Like Nofo getting the winger of the year.... neither has a snowflakes hope in hell of getting picked in a rep team, with multiple choices above both of them.
Both are ok players ... but you need your half to really stand up if you want to get anywhere.

 

[tbones10]

I think we are all aware that this season is Brooks last throw of the dice to show he can steer a team around the paddock and stamp his 1st grade credentials, and rightly so. Brooks has been in first grade for 6 seasons now, and he has been over shadowed and over called every year, showing he doesn't have confidence in himself and more importantly neither do his team mates. To cap that off after 6 seasons he is still receiving mentoring and being tutored in how to do his job, who has ever heard of a 6 year apprenticeship, at this stage he either has it or he doesn't.
I know a lot of the simpletons will cite 2018, that only shows he has the ability,why don't we see more of that, also one good year in six is unacceptable, that's old West Tigers culture and standards. That is not the club the West Tigers are any more, if we were we would have signed Benji again.
Fire up Luke, we are all hoping this is the year potential and performance meet, otherwise the Tigers will be substituting the next two years of your contract at Cronulla.

 

[Tigerbuck63]

Brooks had 3 !!!!! try assists last year.

Yes 3

Yeah! Brilliant observation No go forward,no attacking FB. A DH that fed one side,a backline that was slow and never beat a man one on one,and a 5/8 that at times showed skill but could not tackle.JC himself would have thrown his hands up.What about the other 16 players that took the field ?

C'mon, I could put more than 3 people over by flukes, stop the excuses, he's an underperformer.

Let's look at the try assists from the halfbacks of teams that finished below us last season.

Dragons - Hunt - 7
Manly - DCE - 20
Cowboys - Clifford - 5
Dogs - Lewis - 8
Broncos - Dearden - 3

Still want to make excuses that it was the rest of the teams fault that Brooks had 3 try assists?

(The same as the half of the wooden spooners)

Fogarty from the Titans came from Burleigh and got thrown into the NRL in Rd 3 and still got 10 try assists.

Drew Hutchison who only played 5 games got 2 try assists.

Flanigan who got the chop got 11 try assists.

Let's look at the top try assists for comparison.

Johnson - 23
DCE - 20
Cleary - 17
Williams - 15
Hughes - 15

Any more excuses?

Good stats relating to other teams.
Other factors need to consider are,
Brooks was dropped for a few games based upon form.
Benji factor demanding the ball.
Forwards not making meters.

Not making excuses for Brooks clean slate this year let's see how he performs has in the past needs to show that with an improved roster and no Benji can step up.
Let's hope he can we have invested lots of time & $.

 

[BAGNF05]

I think we are all aware that this season is Brooks last throw of the dice to show he can steer a team around the paddock and stamp his 1st grade credentials, and rightly so. Brooks has been in first grade for 6 seasons now, and he has been over shadowed and over called every year, showing he doesn't have confidence in himself and more importantly neither do his team mates. To cap that off after 6 seasons he is still receiving mentoring and being tutored in how to do his job, who has ever heard of a 6 year apprenticeship, at this stage he either has it or he doesn't.
I know a lot of the simpletons will cite 2018, that only shows he has the ability,why don't we see more of that, also one good year in six is unacceptable, that's old West Tigers culture and standards. That is not the club the West Tigers are any more, if we were we would have signed Benji again.
Fire up Luke, we are all hoping this is the year potential and performance meet, otherwise the Tigers will be substituting the next two years of your contract at Cronulla.

Next minute... telegraph reporting Brooks tears Tigers plodders to shreds behind dominant Sharks pack

 

[Hangonaminute]

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?

 

[Speed2burn]

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?

I don't understand how you got that in your head. I'm saying Liddles attributes contribute to better game play by Brooks, because they have known each other longer.

Grant is a brilliant player but we were miles away from making the 8 let's be honest, Id rather a team of performers than just a couple of stand outs, wouldn't you?