Stand up Brooksy

[bigsiro]

Yet it still wasn't enough because he's Luke Brooks..

I thought his performance was good enough. And I’m a rather vocal critic of Brooks.

Look, I agree he isn’t a “cometh the man cometh the hour” type halfback. But I think a halfback probably should be that type of player.
He still throws a few poor passes every game and doesn’t get involved in key moments and I think those things are particularly noticeable for a halfback.
That aside, if he fixed his long kicking game it would likely go a long way to properly silencing us critics...

 

[weststigerman]

Yet it still wasn't enough because he's Luke Brooks..

I thought his performance was good enough. And I’m a rather vocal critic of Brooks.

Look, I agree he isn’t a “cometh the man cometh the hour” type halfback. But I think a halfback probably should be that type of player.
He still throws a few poor passes every game and doesn’t get involved in key moments and I think those things are particularly noticeable for a halfback.
That aside, if he fixed his long kicking game it would likely go a long way to properly silencing us critics...

What's wrong with his long kicking game? I still remember our "best" halfback Scott Prince's long kicking game and Brooks is streets ahead. Only criticism I have his that he waits for 5th tackle every single time, and I'd like to see the occasional 4th tackle kick into the corner.

 

[hobbo1]

The problem I see is there is an expectation on Brooks to win a game on his own ..if that doesn't occur he is a failure..In reality very few players in the game now can do that and very few if ever..the one's that did are Immortals..

What he can do is contribute to us winning games and bust his arse trying when we lose..I have never seen him not try..

The Dogs win is a good example the clear plan was to attack the Dogs left edge with Reynolds Garner Leilua and Nofoaluma it played dividends we destroyed them so they get the glory at the same time Brooks contributed to both Talau tries we scored on our left as well as a clear line break on his own ..no one created that for him which lead to Nofoaluma's 2nd TRY..defended like he normally does often with back to back efforts on much bigger bloke on the tryline..chased kicks forcing line drop outs..and even long kick that found the grass..I know this cause hobbo fell off his lounge in the live thread when he did..

Yet it still wasn't enough because he's Luke Brooks..

It’s good to see the kid finally stepping up

This weekend I’m coming to your place to watch the game ..
I’m told your lounge is fitted with seatbelts and wet wipes !

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Yet it still wasn't enough because he's Luke Brooks..

I thought his performance was good enough. And I’m a rather vocal critic of Brooks.

Look, I agree he isn’t a “cometh the man cometh the hour” type halfback. But I think a halfback probably should be that type of player.
He still throws a few poor passes every game and doesn’t get involved in key moments and I think those things are particularly noticeable for a halfback.
That aside, if he fixed his long kicking game it would likely go a long way to properly silencing us critics...

What’s wrong with his long kicking game ?
Are you saying he doesn’t kick for touch to give his forwards a rest ? Or kick to the corners ?
I see what you mean , but just Hear me out here, if you had a supremely fit team , that you flogged all off season , would you give your middles lots of rest , knowing that you’re also giving the less fit opposition the same rest ?
Or would you put up high kicks , to get your defensive line right right in the fullbacks face and put pressure on the back three to get the opposition out of trouble.
Because I’ve said this before , when you kick to the corners , if you have a really good opposition fullback, like most clubs do in today’s game , he will find his front , and any momentum you might have won is lost because , the next run is usually a nuggetty , tank like nofa, To’o , DWZ, and he’s guaranteed to bend the defensive line off a quick play the ball.

My point is , Brooks needs to , improve his variance in long kicks rather than , improve them all together.
But seriously how often does he get a kick where he’s taking the ball off a quick play the ball , and running at the defensive line to put those kicks in the corner. It’s usually off an advancing defence , where he’s under pressure.

 

[Needaname]

I was of the opinion that maybe we needed a new set of halves, that Brooks for the cost of him and the way his role is structured in the team that maybe we could get better value out of a Jamal Foggerty or something similar.
However. Since Marshall has been dropped Brooks game has changed. He is the dominant halve despite what people think. He is on both sides of the ruck putting forwards into halve spaces and playing wide of Harry’s wide passes.
If you look closely you’ll see that Madge has actually identified a more appropriate use for Mbye then using him as your run of the mill ball running centre. He is slight and unless there is a wide gap his not going to bust through the line. Madge has started using Mbye as the left side 5/8. This then means Harry and Brooks are the link man in the middle of the field, providing the first and second passes out to the backs, it’s spectacular to watch and quite a different style to the way other teams structure their attack. Kicking is still very much left / right side in the middle of the field / coming out of our own half but Brooks is middle field not wide in our opposition 20. There is this notion that if your halfback isn’t throwing the final pass or final kick that he isn’t a play maker. Sure that’s the way Joey, Thurston and Cleary play but that’s not everyone’s game. Brooks does his role superbly well, he might grow into the final passer but he doesn’t have to with Mbye and Reynolds playing the way they can.

 

[sheer64]

We will find out on Saturday if Brooks can stand up.

 

[JC99]

Lots of people don’t like Brooks bomb kicks he does but we’ve scored multiple tries off those kicks. He’s been placing them right in front of the try line too which helps us keep the opposition in their own end. It’s an improvement from his bombs last year for sure.

 

[Tigerbuck63]

"How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?"

There are a few certainties in life. One is death, another is taxes, and of course, irrational and unreasonable hate for Luke Brooks and David Nofoaluma are impossible to stop. When will people accept that these guys are up there with the best in their positions?

They won last weekend and sounds like some forum members still unhappy with make up of the team. Everyone is entitled to your own observations however the coach has the final say. I would rather have Brooks in the team than bring someone new in again. Out of the Big 4 a few years back he was the only that committed to a long term deal with the Tigers.
He is on good $ but not outrageous amounts like others.
Building a team is not about having star performers if i recall in 2005 we had a team that played for each other. If they don't make the 8 this season, that's when i would be looking at our spine again and his position not prior.
Let's remain positive and the team puts in another good performance this weekend against the panthers with fans finally able to attend games.