Onitoni Large injured

[LeonardCohen]

Where did you hear this? Nothing in the media.

He is probably pissed that he left Wests last year after they extended Galvin. Then Galvin leaves for the Dogs.

Then Manly sign Fogarty - sounds like he wants to play first grade in 2026, not 2027/8.

No idea if it’s true, just rumblings from other posters in this thread. I hate to lose him. I think he can be elite.

 

[R3]

Where did you hear this? Nothing in the media.

He is probably pissed that he left Wests last year after they extended Galvin. Then Galvin leaves for the Dogs.

Then Manly sign Fogarty - sounds like he wants to play first grade in 2026, not 2027/8.

Brooks has paved the way for Large to take over as soon as he returns from injury.
There’s no way Luke Brooks’ 2025 form should stop anyone with potential replacing him.
Brooks has gone so far backwards that I hope he retires. He doesn’t seem interested. He’s not a first grader ‘anymore’ at least!
Seems like a nice guy but the one that will always finish last in this competition

Travis Burns had so much more playmaking creativity than Luke Brooks, and I thought he was a bench hooker playing 6.

 

[XV-1]

Brooks has paved the way for Large to take over as soon as he returns from injury.
There’s no way Luke Brooks’ 2025 form should stop anyone with potential replacing him.
Brooks has gone so far backwards that I hope he retires. He doesn’t seem interested. He’s not a first grader ‘anymore’ at least!
Seems like a nice guy but the one that will always finish last in this competition

Travis Burns had so much more playmaking creativity than Luke Brooks, and I thought he was a bench hooker playing 6.

Who is going to pay 600k+ to take Brooks off our hands in 26 and 27?

 

[Disco]

Who is going to pay 600k+ to take Brooks off our hands in 26 and 27?

We need him in 26 and We'd have no problem someone picking up the tab in 27

 

[LeonardCohen]

Who is going to pay 600k+ to take Brooks off our hands in 26 and 27?

no one but they might pay 400k and we stump up the rest. The reality is pretty much every club in the NRL is paying players to play somewhere else. It’s common across the game and a factor in every club’s management of the cap.

 

[Disco]

no one but they might pay 400k and we stump up the rest. The reality is pretty much every club in the NRL is paying players to play somewhere else. It’s common across the game and a factor in every club’s management of the cap.

Disagree, someone would definitely pick up Brooks at 600k, that is a moderate price for a half in a league where a new team is joining and you have players like Flanagan, Cogger, Nikorima, Humphrey's, Sexton as regular starter alongside your Ilias, Sullivan, Clifford types getting plenty of minutes.

 

[Phobia]

Disagree, someone would definitely pick up Brooks at 600k, that is a moderate price for a half in a league where a new team is joining and you have players like Flanagan, Cogger, Nikorima, Humphrey's, Sexton as regular starter alongside your Ilias, Sullivan, Clifford types getting plenty of minutes.

Dodd getting $700k before playing a minute of NRL shows how desperate the halves market is. Brooks is an average 5/8. There's some good interest in that market, given another average 5/8 in Brown copped $1.4 million.

Parramatta are currently looking for a 5/8, for instance. Bears and PNG will both need one, and if Brooks wants a good final paycheck, he'll take that PNG spot gladly.

 

[Brookie1973]

Disagree, someone would definitely pick up Brooks at 600k, that is a moderate price for a half in a league where a new team is joining and you have players like Flanagan, Cogger, Nikorima, Humphrey's, Sexton as regular starter alongside your Ilias, Sullivan, Clifford types getting plenty of minutes.

Plus super league.

 

[MW66]

Brooks has paved the way for Large to take over as soon as he returns from injury.
There’s no way Luke Brooks’ 2025 form should stop anyone with potential replacing him.
Brooks has gone so far backwards that I hope he retires. He doesn’t seem interested. He’s not a first grader ‘anymore’ at least!
Seems like a nice guy but the one that will always finish last in this competition

Travis Burns had so much more playmaking creativity than Luke Brooks, and I thought he was a bench hooker playing 6.

Wow a few big statements here. Burns --------------->> Brooks one of them. I think if you look back at their respective FG careers it would be very hard to rate Burns ahead of Brooks. I also don't think he has regressed. The team has struggled but he has been consistent. Only gripe is that the few times we needed him to really step up when DCE has been out he hasn't quite nailed the task.

 

[XV-1]

I wonder how Cade Cust is doing in super league these days.
Always thought he was better than Croker.

 

[Disco]

I wonder how Cade Cust is doing in super league these days.
Always thought he was better than Croker.

Yeah at the time I thought Cust had a bit more about him as an attacking hooker....can't remember how goid his defence was at 9.

Never really saw him as having enough to be a long term NRL half or 5/8.

Seems to still be getting a regular gig in the Super League. Though bounced to his 3rd club now.

Also 75th in the Man of Steel rankings.....when Ese Ese is 2nd thats a worry.

Man of Steel | Leaderboard

See the current standings for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award

www.superleague.co.uk

Two asides on that leaderboard.

1) God I'd love us to pick up Nsemba

2) It really is a who is who of NRL has beens or never quite were players Look at it Ese Ese, Field, Sezer, Hiku Cotric, Lino, French, Woolford, Lam, Dufty, Sailor, Cini, Clune, B Sironen, Feldt, J Nikorima, Sironen, Amone, Cust, Mbye, Liu, Keary, Hoy, Lolohea, Marsters, J Gagai, Nui, Rapana, JWH, Taylan May, T Burgess

3) Anyone remember a small time on Silvertails were some were advocating to release Tom for Dufty??? Ha, good times

 

[LeonardCohen]

Disagree, someone would definitely pick up Brooks at 600k, that is a moderate price for a half in a league where a new team is joining and you have players like Flanagan, Cogger, Nikorima, Humphrey's, Sexton as regular starter alongside your Ilias, Sullivan, Clifford types getting plenty of minutes.

I think 2-3 years older at his age says he is worth less on the open market than what we paid for him but who knows, you might be right.

 

[eaglebuzz]

I hope he proves himself ready for NRL next year. There's a decent chance that before season's end both Walsh and Large will be ready to become regular first graders. If that happens I'd imagine Brooks will get moved on, possibly Fogarty too. Perth Bears would probably happily snap up one or both of them.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Brooks has paved the way for Large to take over as soon as he returns from injury.
There’s no way Luke Brooks’ 2025 form should stop anyone with potential replacing him.
Brooks has gone so far backwards that I hope he retires. He doesn’t seem interested. He’s not a first grader ‘anymore’ at least!
Seems like a nice guy but the one that will always finish last in this competition

Travis Burns had so much more playmaking creativity than Luke Brooks, and I thought he was a bench hooker playing 6.

You may have missed this? Not a bad move by Brooks

Tolutau Koula Try

Tolutau Koula Try

www.nrl.com

 

[StuBoot]

Wow a few big statements here. Burns --------------->> Brooks one of them. I think if you look back at their respective FG careers it would be very hard to rate Burns ahead of Brooks. I also don't think he has regressed. The team has struggled but he has been consistent. Only gripe is that the few times we needed him to really step up when DCE has been out he hasn't quite nailed the task.

Agree and l think he's been caught somewhat betwixt and between taking a back seat in the play making duties.
He's been a run first type of player yet here he's generally parked on the left and used as a link man.
The times he's played as he's seen it and run he's been good, look at the example last week that SER8 highlighted - last tackle and Turbo pushes back to the right as the kick across to him and Saab would have been the play but the Tigers over read it too so Brooks ran the hole instead.
He's still an asset but l think we're being over coached in this regard and he's suffered a bit for it.