Luke Brooks
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Balmain legend Steve Roach’s advice for Tigers halfback Luke Brooks
The Wests Tigers have struggled again this year and a club legend has imparted some intriguing advice to one of their star players.
Matthew Sullivan
AUGUST 16, 20211:09P
Balmain legend Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach believes Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks should “move on” from the club at the end of the season and get a fresh start elsewhere.
The Tigers have struggled again this season and face an uphill battle to make the top eight and get their first taste of finals action since 2011.
While Brooks has been solid this season, he has struggled to reach his potential during his time with the Tigers and is still yet to play in a finals game after nine seasons at the club.
“My personal opinion (is) I think he’s stale,” Roach told news.com.au.
“If I was him, I’d probably be looking to move on.
“I reckon there would be a lot of clubs that would be interested. He’s shown good signs, he’s a good player.
“I think he’s hard done by. I think he’s a pretty good player Luke Brooks.
“You put him in one of those top-flight sides, a lot of people would be talking about him. He won the halfback of the year only a few years ago.
“I just feel sorry for him because he’s the poor bugger that cops all the flak every time the Tigers get beat. He’s the one that seems to cop the raw end of the stick.”
Brooks has two years left on his contract, which is said to be worth around $900,000 a year.
But his future is uncertain after the Tigers signed former Manly and Roosters playmaker Jackson Hastings on a two-year deal starting next season.
Roach believes the Tigers are in desperate need of a star playmaker to give their attack some spark.
“Have a look at the spines that are running in the top four,” he said.
“We lack a genuine game-breaker. You have a look at the sides that are up the top of the competition, they’ve got one or two in their side.”
Roach, who was part of the legendary Balmain side of the 1980s, said the Tigers’ inability to attract a big-name recruit is his biggest concern.
“I’d like to see the recruitment get better and I’d also like to see that the Tigers can actually sign top-notch players,” he said.
“I think that when you have a look at the poor old Tigers when they go on the market to try and buy players to try and go after some big names, a lot of the managers and so forth are using the Tigers as a springboard to get more money from other clubs.
“Everyone that comes on the market we seem to talk to but we never seem to get them.
“I don’t know whether they can do any more than make good offers to good players that are on the market but you’ve got to have a reason for them to want to got there.”
The Tigers have missed out on several big-name recruits in recent times, most notably Tevita Pangai Junior, who decided to join the Canterbury Bulldogs from next year after the Tigers reportedly offered him a lucrative contract.
Roach said the Tigers will continue to be a middle-of-the-table side unless they find a way to improve their roster and add some star power.
“It’s going to be a long road for them and unless Tim Sheens comes and gets their recruitment right and we can attract the right players, we’re going to struggle a little bit,” he said.
“They’ll improve as players but until they get that X-factor player or a couple of players, otherwise you’re virtually making up the numbers every year.”
After a scrappy win over the Cowboys on Saturday, the Tigers are 13th on the ladder but are only one win outside the top eight.
They would have to win at least two of their remaining three games against the Sharks, Panthers and Bulldogs to have any chance of sneaking into the finals.
The third episode of the documentary series ‘Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town’ tracking the Tigers’ season will be shown at 7.30pm (AEST) on Monday on Fox League and Kayo.
The Wests Tigers have struggled again this year and a club legend has imparted some intriguing advice to one of their star players.
Matthew Sullivan
AUGUST 16, 20211:09P
Balmain legend Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach believes Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks should “move on” from the club at the end of the season and get a fresh start elsewhere.
The Tigers have struggled again this season and face an uphill battle to make the top eight and get their first taste of finals action since 2011.
While Brooks has been solid this season, he has struggled to reach his potential during his time with the Tigers and is still yet to play in a finals game after nine seasons at the club.
“My personal opinion (is) I think he’s stale,” Roach told news.com.au.
“If I was him, I’d probably be looking to move on.
“I reckon there would be a lot of clubs that would be interested. He’s shown good signs, he’s a good player.
“I think he’s hard done by. I think he’s a pretty good player Luke Brooks.
“You put him in one of those top-flight sides, a lot of people would be talking about him. He won the halfback of the year only a few years ago.
“I just feel sorry for him because he’s the poor bugger that cops all the flak every time the Tigers get beat. He’s the one that seems to cop the raw end of the stick.”
Brooks has two years left on his contract, which is said to be worth around $900,000 a year.
But his future is uncertain after the Tigers signed former Manly and Roosters playmaker Jackson Hastings on a two-year deal starting next season.
Roach believes the Tigers are in desperate need of a star playmaker to give their attack some spark.
“Have a look at the spines that are running in the top four,” he said.
“We lack a genuine game-breaker. You have a look at the sides that are up the top of the competition, they’ve got one or two in their side.”
Roach, who was part of the legendary Balmain side of the 1980s, said the Tigers’ inability to attract a big-name recruit is his biggest concern.
“I’d like to see the recruitment get better and I’d also like to see that the Tigers can actually sign top-notch players,” he said.
“I think that when you have a look at the poor old Tigers when they go on the market to try and buy players to try and go after some big names, a lot of the managers and so forth are using the Tigers as a springboard to get more money from other clubs.
“Everyone that comes on the market we seem to talk to but we never seem to get them.
“I don’t know whether they can do any more than make good offers to good players that are on the market but you’ve got to have a reason for them to want to got there.”
The Tigers have missed out on several big-name recruits in recent times, most notably Tevita Pangai Junior, who decided to join the Canterbury Bulldogs from next year after the Tigers reportedly offered him a lucrative contract.
Roach said the Tigers will continue to be a middle-of-the-table side unless they find a way to improve their roster and add some star power.
“It’s going to be a long road for them and unless Tim Sheens comes and gets their recruitment right and we can attract the right players, we’re going to struggle a little bit,” he said.
“They’ll improve as players but until they get that X-factor player or a couple of players, otherwise you’re virtually making up the numbers every year.”
After a scrappy win over the Cowboys on Saturday, the Tigers are 13th on the ladder but are only one win outside the top eight.
They would have to win at least two of their remaining three games against the Sharks, Panthers and Bulldogs to have any chance of sneaking into the finals.
The third episode of the documentary series ‘Wild Wests: Tales from Tiger Town’ tracking the Tigers’ season will be shown at 7.30pm (AEST) on Monday on Fox League and Kayo.
hobbo1
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Brooks would cop less flak if he just had a crack ..
Lacks the smarts in the opposition 20 imo ..
shame really .
Lacks the smarts in the opposition 20 imo ..
shame really .
@hobbo1 said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446464) said:
For all his faults..not having a crack is not one of them IMO..
Sully
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@willow said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446459) said:
Wait for Benny Elias to be next. May even suggest a swap with his nephew.... No Thanks
I would wait to see how Hastings goes before looking to remove Brooks. He may be stale as he said but that comes from losing all the time and getting into a rut.
I believe we are building for the future and am as disappointed to see where we are on the ladder along with how many years it is taking, however I am pleased with the progress on the young players in Douehi, Stef, Blore, Laurie, Simpkin and Tuki, I feel if we could jag a Lomax and a few others looking for an opportunity next year we may surprise a few.
Harvey
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Maybe we could swap him for:
- Albert Kelly
- Ash Taylor
- Dearden
- Flanagan
- Sam Williams
- Sean O'Sullivan
- Ben Hunt (do we have to pay the difference)
Brooks is not a matchwinner, but he is not as bad as people on here make out. There is an absolute lack of good playmakers in the NRL at the moment as shown by the list above.
You do not make your roster stronger by getting rid of players, you strengthen it by getting better players.
- Albert Kelly
- Ash Taylor
- Dearden
- Flanagan
- Sam Williams
- Sean O'Sullivan
- Ben Hunt (do we have to pay the difference)
Brooks is not a matchwinner, but he is not as bad as people on here make out. There is an absolute lack of good playmakers in the NRL at the moment as shown by the list above.
You do not make your roster stronger by getting rid of players, you strengthen it by getting better players.
I have to say that even though I have been a critic of Lukes over the years,I do have to acknowledge that the guy is a very good player surrounded at times by very ordinary players and has had to do the hard yards in defense as well as in attack a lot of the times ....
I agree if he was in a team of stars he would shine,however he is with us and is a junior and hopefully whatever decision he makes about his future is entirely up to him....good luck with whatever you chose Luke....
I agree if he was in a team of stars he would shine,however he is with us and is a junior and hopefully whatever decision he makes about his future is entirely up to him....good luck with whatever you chose Luke....
@joebob said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446486) said:
He has always stated the tigers are, "his team"
But like many former players, love having a crack at us.
It's a shame, really.
hobbo1
Well-known member
@geo said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446469) said:
You know what I meant ..
Go_You_Good_Things
Well-known member
Blocker drives me nuts with his disdain for 1/2 of our club that he once played for.
To see him constantly refer to the Weststigers as tigers in that article, and then to see the muppet that wrote it refer to our club as the tigers constantly, is also annoying. Sullivan correctly refers to Canterbury Bulldogs as Canterbury Bulldogs . . . but calls WT the tigers.
To see him constantly refer to the Weststigers as tigers in that article, and then to see the muppet that wrote it refer to our club as the tigers constantly, is also annoying. Sullivan correctly refers to Canterbury Bulldogs as Canterbury Bulldogs . . . but calls WT the tigers.
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@demps said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446487) said:
It's born out of frustration in watching us consistently struggle.
D
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@go_you_good_things said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446496) said:
Whatever dude . We are the tigers ! Everyone calls us the tigers . Because that’s our bloody name , and you live in a country where “you head down the ary to have a few schooies with simmo and Thommo”
We will always look to say the least amount of syllables to describe something . It’s not some conspiracy against Wests . It’s just the nature of things . It’s 2021 mate , we are the Wests tigers . That’s both Wests and tigers . Or the tigpies , or the tiggers . Just because associate the team with Wests doesn’t mean he has to , considering he played in 2 GFs with Balmain . He’s as entitled to his bias as you are . You’re both talking about the same jersey .
T
tigerbalm
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@willow said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446497) said:
Nah, born out of wanting to keep a job in the media.
Laying the boot into wests is keeps the clicks coming and hacks in jobs.
hobbo1
Well-known member
@go_you_good_things said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446496) said:
When someone asks me who I follow I just say Tigers ..don’t see the issue
TigerTone
Well-known member
@joebob said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446486) said:
Constantly bagging the club is just him trying to fit in with the other fox clowns. He's just trying to be one of the boys.
mike
Well-known member
@tigerbalm said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446499) said:
I’ve have never heard Blocker call the team the Wests Tigers, it’s always just the Tigers. He can’t get past 1999.
@hobbo1 said in [Luke Brooks](/post/1446494) said:
Just last week looking long and playing short to Utoikamanu and Tuilagi was smart..IMO..
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