I'm keen on Hastings/AD
But I don't see the benefit of letting Brooks go until he's off contract.
If he's on around $1m we'd be pushing around $500k for him to play elsewhere, valuing him at 500k. For that much, I think it's better to keep him, play him 14 or in reserves and bring him up to cover injury or keep pressure on the spine.
I’m not sure you can leave a million dollar half sitting in reserve grade, it becomes a circus. The 500k net you save for the excess half is what you put into strengthening other positions by paying a little more than the next club for the next player on the market you need. Brooks is a 200 game player in his 10th season. It will never work at wests and pressuring the next coach to “fix brooksy” is a distraction we don’t need.
I'm keen on AD/Hastings as well. Brooks is a good guy, can't recall any controversy off the field and he always tried hard. I think he needs a break from us in the window he has left to see if he can reach his potential. I'd prefer he does that in England than the NRL though. Doubt it will happen until his contract expires.
A fair question to pose might be,when has Luke Brooks ever had the luxury of playing behind a truly and consistently hard pack of forwards at the Wests Tigers?A pack that is consistently questioning its rivals and the advantage line?
That certainly is not the case with our pack as it stands at the moment.We’ve seen glimpses of it,but never extended periods of dominance.Until this problem is addressed and rectified,and there are a number of reasons why,you could argue,we will find it well nigh impossible to succeed.
You could put Cooper Cronk,DCE,Nathan Cleary,Jahrome Hughes,behind what we have at the moment and I believe they would suffer a similar fate to what’s happening to us now.
To me,those inconsistencies and shortcomings in our pack reflect the inconsistencies and shortcomings in Luke Brooks’s play.I don’t think it’s all that complex to be honest.
A fair question to pose might be,when has Luke Brooks ever had the luxury of playing behind a truly and consistently hard pack of forwards at the Wests Tigers?A pack that is consistently questioning its rivals and the advantage line?
That certainly is not the case with our pack as it stands at the moment.We’ve seen glimpses of it,but never extended periods of dominance.Until this problem is addressed and rectified,and there are a number of reasons why,you could argue,we will find it well nigh impossible to succeed.
You could put Cooper Cronk,DCE,Nathan Cleary,Jahrome Hughes,behind what we have at the moment and I believe they would suffer a similar fate to what’s happening to us now.
To me,those inconsistencies and shortcomings in our pack reflect the inconsistencies and shortcomings in Luke Brooks’s play.I don’t think it’s all that complex to be honest.
Apologies, I forgot to add the forward pack to the list of those responsible for Brooks shortcomings.
Round 20 last year against the Warriors we had complete forward domination with four of our forwards running for over a hundred metres and Brooks performance in the later stages of the match with the game on the line was awful.
The poor forwards excuse is thrown around a lot for Brooks but it really doesn't stand up to scrutiny. He's poor with or without a dominant pack.
Luke for his own sake should leave. I can’t recall any other other highly paid half back receiving as much media attention as him not even Ash Taylor. Can’t be doing his mental health any good.
I would let him go but not pay more than $200k in freight. This just inflates player values. Just play him in reserves and the media stuff should fade away.
A fair question to pose might be,when has Luke Brooks ever had the luxury of playing behind a truly and consistently hard pack of forwards at the Wests Tigers?A pack that is consistently questioning its rivals and the advantage line?
That certainly is not the case with our pack as it stands at the moment.We’ve seen glimpses of it,but never extended periods of dominance.Until this problem is addressed and rectified,and there are a number of reasons why,you could argue,we will find it well nigh impossible to succeed.
You could put Cooper Cronk,DCE,Nathan Cleary,Jahrome Hughes,behind what we have at the moment and I believe they would suffer a similar fate to what’s happening to us now.
To me,those inconsistencies and shortcomings in our pack reflect the inconsistencies and shortcomings in Luke Brooks’s play.I don’t think it’s all that complex to be honest.
Apologies, I forgot to add the forward pack to the list of those responsible for Brooks shortcomings.
Round 20 last year against the Warriors we had complete forward domination with four of our forwards running for over a hundred metres and Brooks performance in the later stages of the match with the game on the line was awful.
The poor forwards excuse is thrown around a lot for Brooks but it really doesn't stand up to scrutiny. He's poor with or without a dominant pack.
I agree that he can be poor,but in my opinion to say he is poor with or without a dominant pack lacks objectivity.He’s played a couple of brilliant games this year,a handful of good games,and a number of underwhelming games unfortunately.Much like our pack.I take your point re the Warriors game,and it’s clear that he is not the organising general,and more a no.6.
And with all respect Celtic,no need to apologise for your sarcasm either mate in your opening,lol.
Not getting rid of him at the beginning of the year when we had the chance was criminal
Not getting rid of him at the beginning of the year when we had the chance was criminal
If you believe the Fox and Murdoch narrative with a touch of player manager massage....
Not getting rid of him at the beginning of the year when we had the chance was criminal
This x 1000.
What concerns me the most is that turning down the release was Sheens first act in his role which doesn't say too much about his decision making.
@avocadoontoast If Douehi was not injured I am sure he would of been playing for the Knight in round 1 .. Maguire was covering his backside IMO!
Not getting rid of him at the beginning of the year when we had the chance was criminal
This x 1000.
What concerns me the most is that turning down the release was Sheens first act in his role which doesn't say too much about his decision making.
The dollars offered may have played a part in Sheens’ decision.
The weird part is that in pre season blind Freddy must have been able to see Hastings was miles ahead of brooks as 7 in opposed sessions. It’s true that we had douhie on the sidelines but Hastings is a natural and dominant 7 and someone offered to take our expensive 7 off our hands at what was alleged to be a good price and we said no. I don’t understand what Madge was thinking
Not getting rid of him at the beginning of the year when we had the chance was criminal
This x 1000.
What concerns me the most is that turning down the release was Sheens first act in his role which doesn't say too much about his decision making.
The dollars offered may have played a part in Sheens’ decision.
Whatever they were willing to pay at the beginning of the year is much higher than it would be now. His value to us is essentially zero.
Horrible decision to keep him, especially when it was very clear we had no chance of playing finals this year.
Not getting rid of him at the beginning of the year when we had the chance was criminal
This x 1000.
What concerns me the most is that turning down the release was Sheens first act in his role which doesn't say too much about his decision making.
The dollars offered may have played a part in Sheens’ decision.
Whatever they were willing to pay at the beginning of the year is much higher than it would be now. His value to us is essentially zero.
Horrible decision to keep him, especially when it was very clear we had no chance of playing finals this year.
as a club we need to be better at making good, considered and ruthless decisions. Luke has been at our club for many years and is always touted as a talented player with lots of potential. I don’t disagree with any of that but the facts are that he has not reached his potential. This underperformance should be identified early and moved on. Luke should have spent time in reserves at various times but instead we have rewarded him with upgraded contracts. Had he been dropped, he may have developed into a better player.
The weird part is that in pre season blind Freddy must have been able to see Hastings was miles ahead of brooks as 7 in opposed sessions. It’s true that we had douhie on the sidelines but Hastings is a natural and dominant 7 and someone offered to take our expensive 7 off our hands at what was alleged to be a good price and we said no. I don’t understand what Madge was thinking
It may not have been Madge.
The weird part is that in pre season blind Freddy must have been able to see Hastings was miles ahead of brooks as 7 in opposed sessions. It’s true that we had douhie on the sidelines but Hastings is a natural and dominant 7 and someone offered to take our expensive 7 off our hands at what was alleged to be a good price and we said no. I don’t understand what Madge was thinking
It may not have been Madge.
It may not have even been real...
