Wests Tigers’ picture of Luke Brooks an ‘up yours’ to NSWRL

[Tigersman]

CAN anybody see what’s wrong with this picture?

Only three days after Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks was prevented from representing NSW Under 20s by his club, the joint-venture has posted Instagram images of him “muscling up” in a physical training drill with 100kg prop Sauaso Sue.

Understanding that while NRL clubs pay the freight for these gifted athletes, the bigger picture otherwise known as “the game” desperately needs them turning out for international friendlies, City-Country, even junior representative matches.

On Monday, Brooks and young Rabbitoh Alex Johnston were both shaping as star attractions for Saturday night’s clash against the Queensland Under 20s — who will feature Canberra star Anthony Milford — at Sportingbet Stadium.

Although neither is injured, they were withdrawn by their clubs shortly after selection.

Luke Brooks trains with the Tigers after being withdrawn from the Under 20s Origin clash.
A close up crop of Luke Brooks laying on hits at Tigers training after being withdrawn from the Under 20s Origin clash. Picture: Instagram Source: Instagram
Talk among players involved in the City-Country match in Dubbo this week has also surrounded the omission of at least two players from the clash through “injury” - the suggestion being that while the players wanted in, club medicos ruled them out.

Earlier this week, NSWRL boss David Trodden said of the Brooks withdrawal: “It is disappointing for the player to miss out on representing his state, which most people would consider to be a significant honour”.

He also suggested the decision hampered the NSW Origin “culture” being created Blues coach Laurie Daley.

So while their was never any suggestion Brooks was injured, the Instagram pictures are effectively an “up yours” to the NSWRL and, worse, the game.
LINK: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/wests-tigers-picture-of-luke-brooks-an-up-yours-to-nswrl-and-worse-the-game/story-e6freuy9-1226903722814

 

[The_Hawaiian_Tiger]

Poor babies!!!
Is Laurie Daley going to give us a compatible substitute if Brooks gets injured? Is the Nrl going to compensate us if he goes down? We've been smashed mercilessly for the last few years through injury.
Why risk a play maker for a completely meaningless game? Same as putting players in city v country who are genuine chances of origin. City v country should be for example players like Blake Austin, Chris Heighington, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson etc. not taking anything away from them but they are the calibre of player who should be competing for these teams if the NRL continues to run them during the regular season, instead of when the impact to clubs is at a premium

 

[innsaneink]

Poor babies!!!
Is Laurie Daley going to give us a compatible substitute if Brooks gets injured? Is the Nrl going to compensate us if he goes down? We've been smashed mercilessly for the last few years through injury.
Why risk a play maker for a completely meaningless game? Same as putting players in city v country who are genuine chances of origin. City v country should be for example players like Blake Austin, Chris Heighington, Daniel Mortimer, Jeff Robson etc. not taking anything away from them but they are the calibre of player who should be competing for these teams if the NRL continues to run them during the regular season, instead of when the impact to clubs is at a premium

The rugby league world does not revolve around us.

Where is the outcry with Woods playing for city tomorrow in a similar ''meaningless game"

Rep footy is a part of rugby league, just as injuries are..

 

[Tigersman]

On fox they said he wasn't allowed to play…

 

[southerntiger]

The difference is Brooks is 19 and going through his first season of first grade. The club was right to take advantage of the week break to minimise the kids inevitable fatigue.

Great decision by the club for Luke's welfare.

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_

 

[gallagher]

I'm all for the rep season but I think its ridiculous for any club to release an NRL player to play in an under age rep team. Surely the u/20's SOO should be made up of players from that competition.

 

[pHyR3]

just have a 3 week break for SOO, U20s SOO, City Country, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, PNG, NZ (maybe England/France) and all that stuff.

clubs will treat it more seriously if it's just one game across 3 weeks the players are required to play and removes that origin lull which leads to clubs without star players.

 

[mtd]

The difference is Brooks is 19 and going through his first season of first grade. The club was right to take advantage of the week break to minimise the kids inevitable fatigue.

Great decision by the club for Luke's welfare.

_Posted using RoarFEED V.4_

agree 100%

really he should be the nsw halfback ahead of pearce anyway..

 

[happy_tiger]

I can tell you if he was a Qlder I reckon it wouldn't have happened

Qld selectors would of told Brooks to DCB if he refused selection

 

[Tbone]

We all missed the good news part of the story… Sue is back at training. :slight_smile: wonder if he'll be back for the roosters game next weekend?

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Luke brooks is not an NYC player, absolutely no point in him dropping down a grade to play 20s in the bye week. We didn't drop our first graders down to NSW cup this weekend either, nor did any of our NYC and and SG players front up for their old high school sides, even though some of them would still be eligible.

U/20s rep games are an opportunity to showcase the talent in the NYC, and give some young blokes a chance to step up and maybe put themselves into first grade contention. Running a starting first grader kind of misses the point.

The telegraph still has to make up column inches even though there's no footy this week. If Benji had actually signed with someone before the weekend, they would have written about him instead.

 

[magpiecol]

CAN anybody see what’s wrong with this picture?

Only three days after Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks was prevented from representing NSW Under 20s by his club, the joint-venture has posted Instagram images of him “muscling up” in a physical training drill with 100kg prop Sauaso Sue.

Understanding that while NRL clubs pay the freight for these gifted athletes, the bigger picture otherwise known as “the game” desperately needs them turning out for international friendlies, City-Country, even junior representative matches.

On Monday, Brooks and young Rabbitoh Alex Johnston were both shaping as star attractions for Saturday night’s clash against the Queensland Under 20s — who will feature Canberra star Anthony Milford — at Sportingbet Stadium.

Although neither is injured, they were withdrawn by their clubs shortly after selection.

Luke Brooks trains with the Tigers after being withdrawn from the Under 20s Origin clash.
A close up crop of Luke Brooks laying on hits at Tigers training after being withdrawn from the Under 20s Origin clash. Picture: Instagram Source: Instagram
Talk among players involved in the City-Country match in Dubbo this week has also surrounded the omission of at least two players from the clash through “injury” - the suggestion being that while the players wanted in, club medicos ruled them out.

Earlier this week, NSWRL boss David Trodden said of the Brooks withdrawal: “It is disappointing for the player to miss out on representing his state, which most people would consider to be a significant honour”.

He also suggested the decision hampered the NSW Origin “culture” being created Blues coach Laurie Daley.

So while their was never any suggestion Brooks was injured, the Instagram pictures are effectively an “up yours” to the NSWRL and, worse, the game.
LINK: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/wests-tigers-picture-of-luke-brooks-an-up-yours-to-nswrl-and-worse-the-game/story-e6freuy9-1226903722814

The only "culture" that Daley has created is a losing one.

Brooks is NOT and under 20's player. End of story.

Bite me.

 

[innsaneink]

Doesnt matter Col, many players play up a grade and when it comes to rep selection its in their age/grade

In the old days he's be stood down from next weeks game, club wouldve made a different decision had those rules still existed

 

[happy_tiger]

At that age you'd play 24 hours a day , 7 days a week , 52 weeks a year if you could

The club is their to protect Luke from himself

 

[Juro]

When did we ever claim that he couldn't play because he was injured???

 

[gallagher]

So the NSWRL want an NRL player to play in the u/20's rep team but then allow Daley to instruct the City/Country coaches not to pick the likes of Richards and Sutton for their rep teams. They themselves treat these rep games as a joke but want the clubs to take them seriously. Ridiculous.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

Residency rule changes, Darcy Lawler, selective video citing, 1983…...cry me a river NSWRL.

Get rid of all rep matches outside of the World Cup. Waste of time.

 

[Mona_Lolesi]

It is a ridiculously poorly written article.

Calls for players to be suspended if they make themselves unavailable for selection is hilarious.

Jamie Lyon would never play an NRL game

 

[Cosimo_Zaretti]

Calls for players to be suspended if they make themselves unavailable for selection is hilarious.

Jamie Lyon would never play an NRL game

But we'd have a pretty sweet NSW residents team.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I'd have no issue with it if the NRL had a salary cap exemption or relief structure in place should a player get injured. For arguments sake Farah is worth a million a year and we lose him due to origin, we should be getting coverage from the NRL to make some of his cap space available (recompense might be a little too hard as clubs would smash the NSWRL and QRL for compensation for injured players,) to make an approach at a suitable target.