Team style: Wakeham or Brooks

ElleryHanley

Well-known member
Long term, which way would be better to go...

Wakeham is the Jacob Little of half backs IMO...too good for state cup, but not quite good enough for a key position in the NRL.

I acknowledge this.

But, he has a very nice kicking game, can pass and he can goal kick. All things we need.

He can be haphazard when asked to lead a team...his greatest flaw.

But...if you play him and say "kick, link, kick, link" and do not allow him to call his own number, he can give you a controlled game, long kick, link well and allow your 1, 6 and 9 to run the show. I.e. more ball for your 1, 6 and 9.

VS


Brooks...a much better defender, but someone who will get a lot of ball and plays called for him. I.e. less ball for your 1, 6 and 9.

Proven at this point to not be able to control a set.

A much better runner than Wakeham.

This comes down to style. Do you want a 7 who just gets you through the fundamentals (like many teams do) and offers you 80% GK.

Or do you keep backing the Luke Brooks horse despite his 12 wins, 3 placings from 200 starts record and hope blinkers and a nose band will work. You just hope that, despite your nag being 9 yo and having never won a city class race...something will click. A miracle. That nose band comes on and he jumps up to group class (horse racing fans will get the analogy)...

But we need to decide what style we want as the 7 is the absolute main bloke who affects the pace / plays. It is the biggest decision Sheens will /won't make.
 
Long term, which way would be better to go...

Wakeham is the Jacob Little of half backs IMO...too good for state cup, but not quite good enough for a key position in the NRL.

I acknowledge this.

But, he has a very nice kicking game, can pass and he can goal kick. All things we need.

He can be haphazard when asked to lead a team...his greatest flaw.

But...if you play him and say "kick, link, kick, link" and do not allow him to call his own number, he can give you a controlled game, long kick, link well and allow your 1, 6 and 9 to run the show. I.e. more ball for your 1, 6 and 9.

VS


Brooks...a much better defender, but someone who will get a lot of ball and plays called for him. I.e. less ball for your 1, 6 and 9.

Proven at this point to not be able to control a set.

A much better runner than Wakeham.

This comes down to style. Do you want a 7 who just gets you through the fundamentals (like many teams do) and offers you 80% GK.

Or do you keep backing the Luke Brooks horse despite his 12 wins, 3 placings from 200 starts record and hope blinkers and a nose band will work. You just hope that, despite your nag being 9 yo and having never won a city class race...something will click. A miracle. That nose band comes on and he jumps up to group class (horse racing fans will get the analogy)...

But we need to decide what style we want as the 7 is the absolute main bloke who affects the pace / plays. It is the biggest decision Sheens will /won't make.

My 9 year old Luke Brooks horse would be on the way to the glue factory by now.Yes i am joking but he needs a change of football clubs to get to his best even if it means going to the UK
 
My 9 year old Luke Brooks horse would be on the way to the glue factory by now.Yes i am joking but he needs a change of football clubs to get to his best even if it means going to the UK
Yeah, it would probably be best if he signed a SL contract.

Blake Austin has killed it over there and Luke's game is similar. Austin smarter, but lacked NRL level control in the halves.
 
Mud and dirt...

Wakeham has a 1 year deal.
So does Brooks though.

Bite the bullet.
Play Wakeham, he couldn't be any worse.

Shop Brooks - super league likely the only option.
I think with Wakeham it is not just "he could not be worse"...more so it is "can our other key players be better without Brooks".

Would we be better without all his touches in the opp 20? Would we be better without his final play options? (atrocious history on final plays)
 
What are your thoughts of moving Laurie to 6, AD 7 and Staines at fullback?
I was really hoping to see Sheens use the pre season to try it...

He gave Laurie barely a few mins in the halves though.

I thought the Raiders trial was the perfect chance.

In fact, I'd actually drop Laurie specifically to give him a month in the halves in state cup. See how he goes...
 
Laurie needs to pull on the Ryde Hawks jersey and learn some basic skills.

His support play is non existent.
He made a couple of good runs but is scared of contact and gets out muscled all the time.

No post contact metres.
A very incomplete footballer.
 
Also Brooks running game isn't really a thing anymore, don't listen to commentary, watch the game - he has a good top speed but acceleration isn't what it was and he always telegraphs the run. Today was a tiny bit better on one occasion when he ran before passing and looked semi-effective. ONCE, pretty sad.
 
Long term, which way would be better to go...

Wakeham is the Jacob Little of half backs IMO...too good for state cup, but not quite good enough for a key position in the NRL.

I acknowledge this.

But, he has a very nice kicking game, can pass and he can goal kick. All things we need.

He can be haphazard when asked to lead a team...his greatest flaw.

But...if you play him and say "kick, link, kick, link" and do not allow him to call his own number, he can give you a controlled game, long kick, link well and allow your 1, 6 and 9 to run the show. I.e. more ball for your 1, 6 and 9.

VS


Brooks...a much better defender, but someone who will get a lot of ball and plays called for him. I.e. less ball for your 1, 6 and 9.

Proven at this point to not be able to control a set.

A much better runner than Wakeham.

This comes down to style. Do you want a 7 who just gets you through the fundamentals (like many teams do) and offers you 80% GK.

Or do you keep backing the Luke Brooks horse despite his 12 wins, 3 placings from 200 starts record and hope blinkers and a nose band will work. You just hope that, despite your nag being 9 yo and having never won a city class race...something will click. A miracle. That nose band comes on and he jumps up to group class (horse racing fans will get the analogy)...

But we need to decide what style we want as the 7 is the absolute main bloke who affects the pace / plays. It is the biggest decision Sheens will /won't make.

Or. Benji laces them up.
 

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