@littlebittipsy said in [Signing Suggestions & Rumours](/post/1493281) said:
Just remembered that Hodgson and Hastings played together for the Lions in 2019. That’ll be handy with combinations.
Hastings is a GB international but has never been able to secure a starting NRL position. It is purely coincidence of course!
Hastings turn is it?
When has he ever secured a starting NRL position?
Mate this is a ridiculous argument. He's been over in Super League, therefore unable to secure a starting spot. Not fair at all.
When he was in the NRL he was young and inexperienced, and if you've watched him play since then you'd realise the absurdity of your argument. He's an NRL standard half.
He had been to what three NRL clubs prior to going to the UK because no club wanted anything to do with him. The revision of history surrounding Hastings does not surprise me at all. There were many halves which were young and inexperienced yet handled the NRL but Hasting could not. That in itself should be enough of an indicator.
Alright I get it you dont like him. At least let him get on the field and work with the club before ou condemn him for this time. Yes, he was a young d**head but that was then we can only judge that since going to England and the ESL he has sorted himself out and is playing well. Everyone has a chance of redemption and hasnt he earnt it with his actions in England? We've got to give people a chance if theyve earnt it. (not just football)
Whether I like him or not is irrelevant. There are plenty of players I do not warm too but that doesn't mean I do not believe they are fine players. My view is not only based on games he has played in the NRL. In my view he was underwhelming in his junior days in the Illawarra. Nothing much has changed and without being disrespectful to the ESL, it is not the standard of the NRL.
PS I've seen far more in Kade Hill from our Jersey Flegg than Hastings at the same age.
"Junior days" can be misleading. Don't forget Brooks was a gun junior and even got referred to once as the next Andrew Johns.
We need a halfback with fire in his guts, a desire to take the game by the scruff and a competitive win-at-all-costs attitude. If Hastings can provide that he doesn't have to be a superstar, those things alone will improve our on-field performances until we hopefully jag the recruitment of a genuine superstar 7.
For all the criticisms levelled at Brooks and Moses, both were in the NRL from the start and remain in it.
Let's not kid ourselves though that Brooks would be in that position if he wasn't playing for WT. He has been given more chances than most. I'm not bagging the guy, I think he is a good bloke just not what we need now as a halfback.
Hastings might have been a tool as a youngster but the fact is he came through the Roosters and Manly, players don't get as much leeway for underperformance at those clubs.
Huh? of course he would. Fogarty is the starting half for the Raiders next year and is meh at best . Guys like Blake green were the definition of meh , and there’s been countless others . Brooks is a good player , but that’s it .
He reminds me of the Ben Simmons talk . Everyone talks about all the things she doesn’t do , that it’s completely devalued the things he does .
He will play into his thirties in the nrl , and for everyone’s sKe , including his hopefully not with us .
I’ve always defended him , staunchly in some cases , but I’ve also always maintained , that if we can trade up I’m all for it .
Luke Brooks is NOT a garbage footballer . He is an average footballer rank 7-8 in the Comp as a half .
He will never play origin , and will never win a premiership with us .
But he can definitely be a starting half for a Premiership team.
It’s like people can’t admit he’s fine , because it implies that they like him as a footballer . They’re 2 separate things.
He will be on 500k minimum until he’s 33 . That’s just the reality of the halfback market place . Like I said , hopefully not with us .
Not sure what you meant by "huh" but you said Brooks and Moses started in the NRL and remain in it. I said we are kidding ourselves if we think Brooks would of had a 8 or so year run of constant 1st grade if he wasn't at WT. He's not a bad player, probably a little bit better than Kyle Flanagan and look how he has been shuffled in and out of 1st grade at various clubs, including the Bulldogs who most likely have the most hopeless halves in the comp. Brooks is extremely lucky to have started his career at WT and not elsewhere when it comes to how much 1st grade he has been fortunate to play.
Brooks is a better defender than Flanagan(who isnt horrible btw),but Im not sure Brooks offers as much in attack.
Same old telegraphed pass on the inside which even the opposition bench can see coming(!),and same old 5th tackle kick which is rarely quite right.
Brooks has no idea what heads up footy is..probably thinks its Johnny Gibbs running style!
