NRL 2021: Referee sends four to sin bin as Michael Maguire defends Luke Brooks

It was sin bin galore during the Tigers demolition of the Knights, but it was the treatment of halfback Luke Brooks that had coach Michael Maguire fired up.

Adam Doueihi of the Tigers celebrates with teammates after scoring a try. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Michael Maguire has launched an impassioned defence of halfback Luke Brooks saying that “it is crazy” how one player can get vilified as much for the performance of a team.

The Wests Tigers coach was speaking after Brooks had his best game of the season in a 36-18 demolition of the Newcastle Knights in the Magic Round opener.

So often blamed for the Tigers woes, Brooks stood up in running for 183m with a line break, try assist and try of his own capping a stunning return to form.

After hailing his performance, Maguire said Brooks should not be the punching bag when the Tigers fail.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Luke Brooks talks to teammates. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I can’t believe how much one player can get hammered for what goes on in a team, it is just beyond me,” Maguire fired.

“To be honest it is crazy that people continually think like that about certain people but one thing to Brooksy’s credit is that he goes out and performs like that.

“[The criticism] is pretty relentless but he handles it well. We are a team and we look after each other.”

Maguire was ecstatic at how Moses Mbye and Adam Doueihi handled their positional switches at five-eighth and centre respectively but said he wanted to see more of it against the Warriors next week.

“Let’s back it up. One thing I have experienced at the Wests Tigers is that you don’t want to get too far ahead. You’ve got to make sure you come back and do that over and over,” he said.

“It is just nice to see a happy change room.”

Doueihi was unstoppable at Suncorp Stadium on his way to two tries, a try assist and a line break.

He gave credit to Brooks for managing the game with aplomb and said the number seven had responded to his critics in the best possible fashion.

“It all comes down to the spine and Brooksy wears most of it because he’s been here a long time. I don’t think it is fair on him, it’s more on the team, but Brooksy doesn’t look into that too much,” Doueihi said.

“I thought he managed the game really well. He’s been working on his push support, his anticipation and just playing that unstructured footy. It was his best game of the season.”

The former Rabbitoh vowed that there was more magic to come from the Tigers this year despite their inconsistent start to the season.

“We know we have got a squad here that can do something even though we haven’t got the results. We are a hard working bunch and really honest with our conversations,” he said.

“It was probably the first two halves we’ve put together this season. We are the underdogs in every game. We will enjoy the underdog tag.”

Jayden Brailey of the Knights questions referee Grant Atkins after Tex Hot was sent to the sin bin. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

FOUR SIN-BINS

Knights fullback Tex Hoy and back-rower Lachlan Fitzgibbon, along with Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue and Mbye on the stroke of full-time, fell foul of a crackdown on repeated ruck infringements close to the line after match officials had been instructed by the Commission last week to up the ante with their enforcement.

The ARL Commission’s new rules punishing contact with the head had the desired impact in the Magic Round opener.

The rules stipulated that direct or forceful contact to the head was to be regarded by referees as a sin bin at a minimum and that even minimal contact be punished with a penalty and the offender being placed on report.

No-one was sin-binned for attacking the head but Knights forward Mitch Barnett was put on report for a glancing blow to the head of Wests Tigers hooker Jacob Liddle.

David Nofoaluma of the Tigers just stays inside the sideline to score a try. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

MADGE MASTERSTROKE

Mbye rediscovered his attacking mojo after being switched to five-eighth and Doueihi was unstoppable in the centres and toyed with feeble Knights defence as the Tigers raced to a 24-4 halftime lead.

“The decision to move Doueihi has proven to be sensational,” former Wests Tigers playmaker Braith Anasta enthused in Fox Sports commentary. All the Tigers key men were at their sensational attacking best with half Luke Brooks running the ball with freedom and fullback Daine Laurie chiming in as the perfect link man.

Maguire said he moved Doueihi to unlock his running game and the former Rabbitoh explained that it was a decision he embraced after initial doubts.

“I was probably a bit disappointed at the start but Madge spoke to me and said we haven’t been getting the results we wanted and that he wanted to move things around with me at centre,” Doueihi said.

“I moved on from it pretty quickly, worked on my combos with Moses and I’m just really happy we did our jobs. I’m comfortable at centre and I was happy with my performance.”

No denying Nofa 😎#TelstraPremiership Moment of the Match#NRLTigersKnightspic.twitter.com/RglpboEt2D

— NRL (@NRL) May 14, 2021

The carnage continued in the second stanza as the Tigers kept their foot on the throat. There was to be no miracle second half comeback for the Knights this week, with the loss of talisman Kalyn Ponga to a groin injury leaving a hole that replacement custodian Tex Hoy was unable to fill.

Tigers legend Ben Elias had labelled the side’s defence as “under 7s stuff” after the 36-28 loss to the Titans last week as league legend Gorden Tallis weighed in to criticise the club’s “soft underbelly”.

As much as the points bonanza would have pleased coach Maguire it was the single digit missed tackles in the first half – just nine – that would have pleased him most including several desperate efforts on the tryline.

“I’ve been saying I believe in the team, and that is the reason I believe in the team,” Maguire said.

“I know that performance is in the boys, but we’ve just got to replicate it.”

David Klemmer ran for over 150 metres. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

O’BRIEN SEES RED

O’Brien, frustrated with the lack of physical intent from his players against a revitalised Tigers outfit, warned his squad that change was afoot.

“Some of it will be personnel. There will be some changes to this club in the next few years. It is clear,” a fuming O’Brien said.

“If we can’t get [a hard edge] then I have to find a way to get it through recruitment.

“There has been 10 years of not having a whole lot of success and three wooden spoons.

“It is ingrained in us and we have got to find a way to get a winning culture in there and do what the teams do that have tasted success and are willing to put themselves through anything.”

O’Brien said his team got “beaten up with and without the ball” against the Tigers despite boasting a pack that includes Origin forwards Daniel Saifiti, David Klemmer and Tyson Frizell.

“We were manhandled, put onto our backs and were not willing to fight hard,” he said.

“We have a week where everyone is writing about our DNA and we get a response, but we have to find a way in this club to learn how to win again and what it takes week-in and week-out, whether it is a personnel thing or the standards.

“This club is used to the rollercoaster that we are on and we’ve got to get off it.

“There were some individuals really off tonight and it starts with your leaders. Your leaders need to lead. Their number one job is to perform well. For the most part I feel like Daniel Saifiti and Jayden Brailey are contributing. It is more than those guys.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Referee sends four to sin bin as Michael Maguire defends Luke Brooks