Luke Brooks - He is not the next Joey Johns, He is not the next Benji Marshall, He is the next Luke Brooks.
Let me start by saying i have been a big supporter of Luke Brooks making his debut against the Dragons this week. This is not to "win games for the team", or "wasting his time". The reason i believe he must debut in 2013 is for his own confidence. To put the "it will effect the under 20's" talk to bed, I am saying he should play ONE NRL game. Our u20's play opposition who are 13th, 7th and 11th on the table to finish the season. The side is good enough to not have him for one week (after all, after 23 rounds he has only played 12 games due to injury and playing NSW Cup). This won't effect his eligibility for the Holden Cup finals series and with a player like Mulcahy on the bench, it won't effect the team's ability. In fact, as we saw with Koroibete last year, it may give him a huge boost for the finals.
My reasons for playing Luke Brooks run deeper than "avoiding the spoon", or "trying to save a sinking ship". Luke Brooks, in my opinion needs to have his debut prior to 2014. People don't realise that the focus all offseason will be about Luke Brooks. Papers and media outlets will have "The next Joey", "The player to replace benji", the media and fan pressure will be relentless (even more than what Adam Reynolds faced before his debut). Brooks is the 'real deal', players know that, coaches know that, the media knows that. It is imperative that Brooks debuts this year for his own confidence, as well as him being able to see first hand what parts of his game he needs to work on during preseason. Most of all he needs to debut this season or we face the prospect of the pressure valve exploding in his debut next year. Against the Dragons is a perfect opportunity, a no pressure game but a game in which he can still make his mark.
I must stress to fans that Luke Brooks will not dominate the NRL on debut, or early in his career. If you think this then you best adjust your expectations. He is a halfback that, at 18 years of age, has the maturity and knowledge of an experienced pro. He has a kicking game the club has missed since Scott Prince, he has the passing game (more importantly pass selection) that the team has lacked this year especially.
In 12 Holden Cup games, Luke Brooks has 12 tries, 8 Try Assists, 14 Line break assists, 8 Line breaks and 4 40/20's. He is the 'full package'. I have had the privilege of watching Brooks play live on a number of occasions, it is not the monster kick he has, or the accurate cut-out pass, it isn't his step and it isn't his creativity that impresses me. What impresses me most is the selections he makes during a game. He knows when to kick long, when to kick short, when to hit the front man or when to pass to the fullback sweeping around the back. Add to this his freakish ability of knowing when to run the footy. Sure he has games where he runs the ball less than 4 times, but in these games he averages at least one try.
He is by no means a terrific defender, what he does have in defence though is courage, study Luke Brooks closely and you will see he doesn't choose to tackle the small opposition five-eighth or winger, he goes for the 110kg+ prop or rangy second rower. Because of this he misses 3 or 4 tackles a game but he plays well above his weight.
A number of people who haven't seen Brooks play a lot believe Brooks is only good when Mitch Moses is playing in the halves with him....WRONG. It is true that Brooks and Moses have played in the halves together 7 times this year for a 6-1 win loss record but the reason there is this assumption is because they compliment each other so well. They know each others game very well, Brooks knows when to organise and play conservative and let Moses take a chance or to focus on a set play. After all Brooks, Moses and Sironen played in the same school team at Holy Cross Ryde, so they should have a good combination.
The first game i saw Luke Brooks play was before the ridiculous hype around him started. It was for Holy Cross Ryde and at this time all i knew about him was that he was in the Balmain and Wests Tigers setup. He didn't score a try that day, he didn't kick a 40/20, he didn't make line breaks. What he did was control a game like i have never seen a 17 year old control a game before. I am of the belief he reads the game better than any half at the club. Add to this the best kicking and passing game at the club and you can see why the club has huge plans for him.
Against the Broncos at Suncorp earlier this year the Holden Cup side was in all sorts of trouble. They were getting dominated in the forwards and were not making metres out wide. Brooks' ability to adapt to situations in games and adapt to his opposition turned the game on its head. As a lot of fans saw when the side played the Raiders, who had not lost in over 3 months. With the team trailing and under pressure, Brooks produced a stunning dropout which found touch and proceeded to score a matchwinning try.
The hype around Luke Brooks first started when Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler saw him play. Johns spoke with Wayne Bennett about Brooks, and after watching Brooks for himself, the Knights offered a substantial contract to him at just 17 years of age. Andrew Johns has said a number of times that Luke Brooks is the first half to remind him of himself.
Will Luke Brooks live upto expectation?? I believe he will live upto the expectation I have for him, but i doubt he will live upto the expectation a number of fans have for him. Yes he is a tremendous young player, yes he could be the next Andrew Johns, yes he may be a superstar but as i saw tonight (20/08/13) some people have unfair expectations on young players. This means judging players by more than just highlight plays, or comparing them to a representative player in their position. Tedesco has 6 tries and 15 trysaves, as well as 5 try assists in his first season in the competition and fans were criticising him. Luke Brooks can take the NRL by storm, but fans need to have patience with him and not judge him on a handful of first grade games.
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