Match Discussion: Round 18 vs Brisbane @ Suncorp Stadium

[stryker]

Good comeback. There is a first time for everything.

You are still a f**ken idiot though. Stop speaking dribble, grow a set of nuts and admit you got it so very very wrong.

He has been the Halfback for 8 years and has been in our system even longer.
When he burst on the scene he was immediately touted for rep footy by guys like Johns and Fittler. It’s never been mentioned again seriously.
He has been our Halfback for 8 years…
During this time, Wests Tigers winning percentage is 39%
He has been our Halfback for 8 years…
Wests Tigers haven’t played finals footy since 2011
He has been our Halfback for 8 f**ken years…

The club, having signed him until 2023 is currently shopping him around. They tried to get rid of him in the off season and pinch the dog rapist off Newy. We’ll sign 2 good players for his contract sum - which is way over inflated and has been ever since his uncharacteristic great game v Saints in 2013.

Stop getting so pissy at everyone. Your intermediate level of RL knowledge does not afford you the platform to claim that the overwhelmingly vast majority of RL fans are incorrect. Luke scores a try and you start tugging that little penis of yours…even after the team loses by 30!
He is not a leader, can not control a game and far too often, goes missing when the chance for victory is within our grasp. I hope he goes to another club and is reinvented as a running 5/8 or as a no.9 but we need him out of our system and only a f**ken idiot, or in your case, his mother, would disagree.

 

[Tiger05]

@styker- I couldn't be bothered reading your BS but I liked the getting pissy comment. I can be a f**ken prick at times. Just like you.

 

[Tigerm]

TBH, I've never seen this before, who are the votes from?

 

[Old Time Tiger]

The fans Tigerm, every Monday on the NRL site.

Nofo must have got all of his family to vote multiple times to come in 1st or 2nd.

 

[WT Unity]

He has been the Halfback for 8 years and has been in our system even longer.
When he burst on the scene he was immediately touted for rep footy by guys like Johns and Fittler. It’s never been mentioned again seriously.
He has been our Halfback for 8 years…
During this time, Wests Tigers winning percentage is 39%
He has been our Halfback for 8 years…
Wests Tigers haven’t played finals footy since 2011
He has been our Halfback for 8 f**ken years…

The club, having signed him until 2023 is currently shopping him around. They tried to get rid of him in the off season and pinch the dog rapist off Newy. We’ll sign 2 good players for his contract sum - which is way over inflated and has been ever since his uncharacteristic great game v Saints in 2013.

Stop getting so pissy at everyone. Your intermediate level of RL knowledge does not afford you the platform to claim that the overwhelmingly vast majority of RL fans are incorrect. Luke scores a try and you start tugging that little penis of yours…even after the team loses by 30!
He is not a leader, can not control a game and far too often, goes missing when the chance for victory is within our grasp. I hope he goes to another club and is reinvented as a running 5/8 or as a no.9 but we need him out of our system and only a f**ken idiot, or in your case, his mother, would disagree.

Yep some of the facts in the first paragraph of the post can't be disputed.
But let me throw up a couple of points for discussion and to do so, I'll use some of your points from the 2nd and 3rd paragraph.
-> "We’ll sign 2 good players for his contract sum"
- - > I'm not sure as it will depend on how much of his contract over the next two years we end up carrying.
-> "can not control a game"
- - > This is my big sticking point with everyone's opinion of him and also the way the club has used him. I don't think he is the game controlling / game manager type of half that he seems to be continually pushed into being. Square peg / round hole. I think he is a running #6 with the ability to break the line and also has playmaking ability (in other words he can make a half break and set up someone outside or inside). There are many 6/7 combinations around the NRL that utilises a game manager / running playmaker combo. Best examples would be Reynolds / Walker, Cleary / Luai, even Hughes and Munster. Or from the recent past Cronk / Cleary.
You even add this in the last paragraph where you write "I hope he goes to another club and is reinvented as a running 5/8 or as a no.9" (not sure about the no.9) but I'm with you in regard to the running 5/8 comment.
***My final point is to ask - Why now with 2 years left on his contract and just as we are about to bring in Jackson Hastings who after his stint in England IS a Game Manager, steer the team around the park type of 7 with a very good kicking game.
I reckon after all we've been through with Brooks (yes it's been frustrating) that just when we may have the best match in terms of a half that will compliment Brooks and allow him to be a running 5/8 and play 2nd fiddle in terms of kicking in general play we decide on now to move him on. And (unless there is something that we all don't know about) without a replacement in mind. I like Douehi, however, I don't think a Douehi / Hastings combo is the answer.
Just my opinion - And worth hearing from others on!

 

[MasterTiger]

@styker- I couldn't be bothered reading your BS but I liked the getting pissy comment. I can be a f**ken prick at times. Just like you.

Its a very unique set of circumstances when your number 7 can be so polarizing with supporters attitudes when that 7 is mainly a victim of circumstances. Pros and cons on Brookes:
Pros:
Very loyal to the club
Don't know him personally but seems like a good bloke and not a pissant
He is definitely up to standard to play NRL. IMO there are currently a lot of players in the NRL who are not.
A Dally M halfback of the year winner
Has played with a million 5/8s throughout his career at the West Tigers and had to adapt
No off field trouble I can recall
Try's his guts out every time he takes the field for us.
Shoulders the bulk of the scapegoat burden of West Tigers lack of success which I believe is incredibly unfair and unwarranted.
Very strong defense for a halfback

Cons
Unassuming and probably not assertive enough on and off the field.
Cannot lift a forward pack who are being out gunned. Mind you only the great halfbacks can do this
Hasn't been able to carry mediocre players into finals but really is that on Luke Brookes
A valid criticism is his kicking game and all round game management does not seem to have improved enough over his career. I guess when you've had numerous coaches and player turn overs over that period could be one excuse why his game especially in crux plays is not consistently of a high standard required when surrounded by other players who are no where near world beaters.

Don't get me wrong.....Luke Brooks owns without doubt a percentage of blame for the West Tigers lack of
success. But for heaven's sake there are far more bigger factors/circumstances that have contributed to our failing as a NRL Rugby League team.

 

[Tiger05]

Brooks has been our best player this year. Very few if any real bad games. Plenty of good games. We've just been a crap team for so long and it's easy to blame the 7. Stryker even though he is a knob jockey even admits it.

 

[stryker]

Yep some of the facts in the first paragraph of the post can't be disputed.
But let me throw up a couple of points for discussion and to do so, I'll use some of your points from the 2nd and 3rd paragraph.
-> "We’ll sign 2 good players for his contract sum"
- - > I'm not sure as it will depend on how much of his contract over the next two years we end up carrying.
-> "can not control a game"
- - > This is my big sticking point with everyone's opinion of him and also the way the club has used him. I don't think he is the game controlling / game manager type of half that he seems to be continually pushed into being. Square peg / round hole. I think he is a running #6 with the ability to break the line and also has playmaking ability (in other words he can make a half break and set up someone outside or inside). There are many 6/7 combinations around the NRL that utilises a game manager / running playmaker combo. Best examples would be Reynolds / Walker, Cleary / Luai, even Hughes and Munster. Or from the recent past Cronk / Cleary.
You even add this in the last paragraph where you write "I hope he goes to another club and is reinvented as a running 5/8 or as a no.9" (not sure about the no.9) but I'm with you in regard to the running 5/8 comment.
***My final point is to ask - Why now with 2 years left on his contract and just as we are about to bring in Jackson Hastings who after his stint in England IS a Game Manager, steer the team around the park type of 7 with a very good kicking game.
I reckon after all we've been through with Brooks (yes it's been frustrating) that just when we may have the best match in terms of a half that will compliment Brooks and allow him to be a running 5/8 and play 2nd fiddle in terms of kicking in general play we decide on now to move him on. And (unless there is something that we all don't know about) without a replacement in mind. I like Douehi, however, I don't think a Douehi / Hastings combo is the answer.
Just my opinion - And worth hearing from others on!

POINT 1. You are correct that his current contract forms a barrier of entry for a lot of clubs and a stumbling block for a Wests Tigers release. I have seen reports it is $900K per year. A good CEO could negotiate something here…we do not have one by the looks of it.

POINT 2. I have said for the longest time that Brooksy is no controlling half. I have also said for that same amount of time that he is a very competent running half. I believe that Brooks and Moses were both used wrong when they started out here and should have been swapped. Moses is more the organiser as he kicks tactically and steers the team. Brooks should have run the backs and attacked. So I do agree with you that Luke is an attacking 5/8 playing in the wrong role.

POINT 3. I don’t know why he is being shopped around now and as per point 1 if we don’t get to organise a club to take on 3/4 of his contract then he stays as the 5/8. That poses the question, what do we do with Doueihi? Yesterday was by far his best game in first grade, however it was against basically no defence. Is he a great 5/8th in the making? Maybe. He has played some poor games there this season.
Also Brooks to no.9 would not be an unprecedented move Toovey and Johns both did it at the highest level. The number 9 is no longer a hooker. They are dummy halves who play structure and eyes up footy, have speed and are busy in defence. Brooks can do all of this. Think what Benny Hunt is currently doing at rep level.

 

[WT Unity]

Some common ground there and in my circle of WT fans most agree that in terms of being a running 5/8 (or left side half) without the pressure to control and run the team he deserves a chance given we have a controlling, game managing half (Hastings) coming. Especially as we don't have our sights set on a like for like replacement (nor does it seem any are available). So why head down the path of paying possibly $400k - $500k for him to play elsewhere....that would do my f***en head in!
At least for the 2nd last year of his contract -> 1.Laurie, 2.Nofa, 3.Douhei, 4.Gildart / Talau, 5.Mamaulo, 6.Brooks, 7.Hastings
Then as far as recruitment and spending on players - I'd be looking for 3 quality forwards - 1) a quality edge back-rower, 2) a quality mobile smaller middle forward, 3) a hard edge professional middle
1) - TPJ & Sua both Gone - So don't know who is or might come onto the market
2) - Connor Watson - speed, can play the link role, can cover dummy half
3) - Finucane - Still plenty to offer (especially to our roster)

 

[Shredder]

I like Hastings at 7, Brooks at 6 and Douehi in the centers. Its at least worth a try next year.

And given players would rather play for the Dogs and the Broncos than come here, we dont have much in the way of options regardless.

Gildard takes the other center position. Laurie is a lock at 1.

Nofo has dropped way off this year and Im not sold on Maumolo.

A new (fast) winger, two new forwards and some depth in the backs is what we need.

Having said that, if moving on Brooks or Nofo gets us Finucane I'll be OK with that.

 

[stryker]

@styker- I couldn't be bothered reading your BS but I liked the getting pissy comment. I can be a f**ken prick at times. Just like you.

You should read it, you’ll learn something.

 

[Tiger05]

You should read it, you’ll learn something.

I'm sure I would. The mastermind at work.

 

[MasterTiger]

I like Hastings at 7, Brooks at 6 and Douehi in the centers. Its at least worth a try next year.

And given players would rather play for the Dogs and the Broncos than come here, we dont have much in the way of options regardless.

Gildard takes the other center position. Laurie is a lock at 1.

Nofo has dropped way off this year and Im not sold on Maumolo.

A new (fast) winger, two new forwards and some depth in the backs is what we need.

Having said that, if moving on Brooks or Nofo gets us Finucane I'll be OK with that.

Shredder,
Like your thoughts.

IMO potential workable balance of the team next year would be #7-Brookes , #6- Douehi , #1 Laurie , Hastings - Ball Playing Lock Forward {in this new age not sure of the number #13?}.

If that doesn't work:
Off the Bench - Hooker fill in Brookes, #7 - Laurie , #6 - Douehi , Hastings - Ball Playing Lock. Problem with finding the right fit with a # 1. We need to sign a specialist Fullback.