No current NRL player is criticised more than Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks.
The 28-year-old has borne the brunt of the club’s failures over the last decade and as a result has seemingly developed a very thick skin, conceding: “I’m sort of used to it now.”
But his halves partner Adam Doueihi can see through the tough front and revealed it “does have an effect on him.”
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Brooks also fired back at his critics at the time with: “A lot of people have never done anything in the game, so I couldn’t care less what they say about me.”
And he backed it up the very next game, setting up two tries in the Tigers’ first win of the season — a one-point upset over eventual grand finalists, the Eels.
Hastings took the opportunity to put an arm around his teammate, urging the media and fans to “get off his back for a week,” before declaring “what a performance,” in a post-game interview.
But as the Tigers began to fall back into old habits, Brooks was once again the centre of attention.
And yet after all the jabs he’s copped over the years, Brooks remained measured when asked by foxsports.com.au about the criticism and pressure that comes with playing halfback for the Tigers.
“I guess it’s a part of it,” he shrugged
“When you’re going good you get all the raps so it goes hand-in-hand.
“I’m sort of used to it now, but as long as my teammates and the staff are happy with me then that’s all that matters.
“I try to stay away from it (the negativity)… Sometimes it can be hard though because it’s everywhere and people ask you about it but as much as I can, I try not to read into it.
“I learnt that a long time ago.”
However Doueihi has a tougher time with it because he believes the targeted criticism actually does take its toll on Brooks.
“Obviously it hurts seeing him (cop criticism) because I see the work that he does in the pre-season and during the season,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“It does have an effect on him — I can see that.
“He’s had a really good pre-season this year, it’s been more enjoyable for myself and him. We have a clear picture of how we want to play, there’s a style of footy this year that suits both our games and we’ve enjoyed that.
“Hopefully we can start the season good and have some positive media reports about him and about the club for a change.
“Winning stops all negative media reports so the more we can win the better it is for everyone.”
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Brooks has always had the attention of media. In fact, there were already stories being written about him before he had made his NRL debut — that’s how highly-regarded he was as a kid.
He was a Tigers junior that played Australian Schoolboys and took the club’s SG Ball team to a premiership.
He was also dubbed the next Andrew Johns.
Brooks got his debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old in 2013 and lived up to expectations, scoring a try and setting up two more to earn man of the match honours.
But all that hype and attention was exactly what he didn’t want.
“When I came in (to first grade), I hadn’t even played a game and I was getting raps — I hated that,” Brooks said.
“I just didn’t know how to take it, I would rather just be quiet and out of the media. But I guess whether it’s good or bad I just try not to read it.
“Even when my when dad would watch an NRL show and my name popped up, I’d just go awkward. I hated being at home when he was watching the NRL shows.
“Just from a young age I’ve felt uncomfortable with it.”
Unfortunately for Brooks he’s set for another season in the headlines whether the Tigers go well or not because he’s coming off contract.
His contract situation somewhat slipped under the radar over the off-season — a relief for him given this time last year it was reported every day that he had signed with the Knights.
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“To be honest I haven’t really thought about it too much,” Brooks said when asked about his next contract.
“It’s kind of been good, the past few years there’s always been stuff about me going or staying so it’s been good to have a pre-season where there hasn’t been any chat.
“I’ve been able to focus on footy and that’s all I can do. When that comes up it’ll come up but at the moment I’m just focused on playing footy.”
Brooks confirmed that “there’s been talks” with the club about a potential new deal but he is in no rush, adding: “we’ll worry about it when it comes.”
Should the Tigers re-sign Brooks, it’s expected it’ll be on less than the reported $1.1 million he stands to earn this season.
But he can prove his worth by steering the club to their first finals appearance since 2011 — and can use the help of the several big-name recruits, including three-time premiership-winning hooker Api Koroisau to do that.
“You can already tell the difference he makes,” Brooks said of Koroisau.
“What he does around the ruck helps me so much, it’ll take a lot of pressure off me because other teams’ defence will be focused on him and what he’s doing around the ruck.
“I’m really looking forward to playing with ‘Ice’ (Isaiah Papali’i), I think he’s someone that will suit my game,” he added.
“He’s a good hole-running back-rower, but also in defence he’s a good quality player and you can really see that when we’re out on the field training.”
