Attack - Most disjointed I have ever seen in an NRL game

[kingbrooks]

The rain is not an excuse, what was with our attack?

I don't think I have ever seen an NRL side look so unconhesive. Its no exhagerating. Players didn't know where they were going and anytime we did a backline raid, everyones lines were wrong, people were catching it standing, someone would run the wrong angle, it was slow etc.

Then off a normal, dummy half run, every single player who ran onto the ball (besides Matulino) catches it standing. Why does brooks always start stationary, particularly when we were playing a team with quick linespeed. We legitimately did not look like scoring a try all night, not even look like scoring one, other than when we kicked into the in goal.

 

[851]

The attack was abysmal, Brooks ran across field and put all our runners off, and you are right we never looked like making a clean break, let alone a try

 

[Spud_Murphy]

Whilst our attack wasn't great, I thought Penrith's was way worse and yet they still managed to get the 2 points - go figure.

 

[kingbrooks]

I think penriths attack looked a lot better, they just dropped the ball a lot. They made a fair few line breaks (one down the left, Kikau, winning try, one that was called back off the forward pass etc). They just played terribly and dropped it. When we went sideways nothing was happening. It was so slow, almost like players power walking. Brooks, Reynolds, Mbye had no continuinity. I know its their first game but you do train all off season and week.

 

[1eyedmel]

After watching last night, I came away wondering what they do all week at training. It appears to me that all is lost come game day.

 

[fergiefurr]

It all starts at the 9, our halves have less touches in the oppositon 20 then other other team in the comp.

 

[fibrodreaming]

I think penriths attack looked a lot better, they just dropped the ball a lot.

How can their attack look a lot better when they dropped so much ball ? Or, can one attack effectively without holding onto the ball ?

 

[jirskyr]

They were overly conservative for much of the game.

Honestly they almost got away with it, just 1-ups and a kick chase. I hear echos of "Taylorball"? Penrith dropped a lot of footy but also I think the Tigers were fairly comfortable in defence for 90% of the match.

The main issue is that when you are very conservative and trying to maximise completions, all that 1-out running becomes very predictable. And whilst you may indeed work your way out of trouble, it sets absolutely no platform and your outside backs are just getting swamped, your PTBs are slow and fumbly and there's no second phase.

The halves need that platform so they have space to create plays. Also for runners to have time to run at holes.

Brooks choices were ordinary and for some reason Reynolds' long passing seems to have the yips, but also many of the options out there are poor. Mbye has provided very little this year in terms of pinpoint attack - he's supposed to be coming hard into the line to create an extra man, not flopping about like a part-time touch footballer. Jennings is a liability unless he gets really early ball and Mahe Fonua just doesn't wind up enough for a fellow of his size.

 

[1eyedmel]

There doesn't appear to be much depth in the line when we are attacking it's mainly one off stuff and standing flat. Not like a Melbourne style of having depth with a lot of second phase passing and more creative space to work with.

 

[happy_tiger]

I'm going to give my opinion

I'm getting a feeling that Maguire wants Brooks to become a regimented playmaker and make his running game secondary

Last year he put his running game first and foremost and we got the benefits

This year (unless he is carrying an injury , and I did mention when he ran he looked far slower ) rarely takes the line on and when he does it's almost that he is thinking he shouldn't

Very hard to tell …but something's not right and you can almost see the wheels spinning in Brooks head every time the ball is coming ....

 

[Harvey]

Our attack is horribly predictable. We have no depth in attack which severely limits options and makes it easy for defence to identify targets.

We are easy pickings for an up and in defence. When was the last time you saw Brooks throw a cut-out pass? Our centres and fullbacks cannot catch and pass quickly.

 

[bbobb]

I think your 100% on the money there Happy.

Think about Reynolds at Souths. Not a running half. A player that directs the team around the park.

I also think that Brooks needs time to become comfortable in that role hence his relatively quiet start to the season.

Brooksy likes to play “eyes up” footy and while structures are necessary, limiting a natural strength after his break out season last year may work against us.

Madge said he had learned some things in his time off, I hope one of them is getting the best out of players and not changing things so much, it becomes a detriment to the team.

 

[Onthebus]

The backline movement is non existent, relying on grubber kicks to get points is a worry, while I enjoyed the short kicking game of Reynolds, the team needs to work on ball movement big time

 

[kingbrooks]

Because they looked more likely to score had they held it. They looked like they had more in the bank, but dropped balls hurt them alot.

In our case, while we dropped a bit of ball, even if we held it, I don't feel we looked like scoring at all other than off a little grubber into the ingoal.

 

[balmain boy]

The problem is no-one knows who's running the team. There isn't one cohesive strategy in place. Farah is very dominant in running the side. Benji often is too. Brooks is demanding the ball and getting it some of the time. Still often too slow in receiving it. His confidence is way down right now.

 

[matchball]

There is a reason Farah takes the lead.
After Prince left we didn't get a decent halfback and Robbie took charge.
Later on we got Lui things changed and we got much better.
Once Lui left Robbie took the halfback/hooker role again and it's engrained in his game until today.
I'm no fan of Farah but it's not really his fault. He carried the attack for a long time.

 

[balmain boy]

Yes, he's played that role a long time but part of him coming back needs to be him relinquishing this role. However, he's too much of a competitor to do that and demands that our younger players rip the opportunity out of his grasp. Which is fair enough in a way, but our boys lack the confidence to do this. We all saw Brooks' form in the first half of last season - when he's confident he's a very strong player. his defence has improved a lot but his decision making and execution is way off at the moment.

 

[Tim Sheens]

The problem is no-one knows who’s running the team. There isn’t one cohesive strategy in place. Farah is very dominant in running the side. Benji often is too. Brooks is demanding the ball and getting it some of the time. Still often too slow in receiving it. His confidence is way down right now.

Pretty well with you on this and before others may think about jumping on me as well, I have given Farah his fair share of praise and match points so far in 19, but he needs to let go and only step in when the situation calls for him to do so.

Still, whilst Garner brings a reasonable game, Lawrence was/is streets ahead thrust wise on that left edge. That WT have had bugger all impact outside him, particularly from the only constant there in Jennings, even if he did more on the weekend, does not help either. This leaves Brooks with little strike power to work with and the lack of defensive attention wider limits his space to inject himself.

Conversely, the right side half has a couple of skilled big bodies alongside his shoulder that free him up somewhat.

 

[supercoach]

Quick play the balls create space and we are the slowest in the NRL when it comes to playing the ball. You also need the three “s”. Speed,size and skill and we lack that to.

Madge has to keep going with Taylorball till he can buys some class

 

[tig_prmz]

Brooks always seems to get the ball off a slow PTB. Whenever there is a quick PTB, Farah takes charge and either runs it himself or gives it to a forward.

Every half good play the ball should go directly to Brooks. If he can't play off that then go 2nd receiver.

Brooks, his short passing and his pace is still very underutilised.

That being said, Brooks with whatever he's gotten has been underwhelming. Needs to try harder, get more involved.