Brooks: What exactly has gone wrong?

[ElleryHanley]

Brooks 2019 = 16 try assists.

Brooks 2020 = 1.

One....

Brooks running meters are down by 30 a game also.

These stats are not a 'decline', they are falling off a cliff level down.

This level of change in stats simply does not happen to a player in their 20s. It is unbelievable how far he has dropped off.

Joey Johns said pre resumption that the new rules would suit Brooks more than anyone. I also felt the same, as did many others.

Stats don't lie, he has been terrible. Running in a circle until caught in possession and a kick on the last is about all he has. I have never seen a half decline this much statistically in 12 months.

So, what exactly has gone wrong?

 

[Geo]

Not enough threads on the subject..

 

[JC99]

No idea what happened. No reason he should be playing this bad, it’s not like much has changed from last season.

 

[Telltails]

Seems slower which takes away alot of what he offers.

 

[momo_amp_medo]

Here’s a clue.
Put him in any of the current NRL top six teams .... and you would want him back.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Not enough threads on the subject..

Agreed he has had too many, but they have been emotional or reactionary ones. 'Brooks is rubbish!' 'Brooks is not a half' etc. Ultimately we learn nothing.

I would like to just analyse the stats and work out why.

Assists 16
Down to 1.

Running meters down 30.

Those stats represent a stunning decline.

Is it confidence? Madge's game plan? An injury we don't know about? Does not gel with the nines? He is being overcalled by others? There has to be some sort of explanation?

 

[avocadoontoast]

Here’s a clue.
Put him in any of the current NRL top six teams .... and you would want him back.

I’d be happy to take that risk at this point.

 

[happy_tiger]

I still maintain Brooks biggest issue he doesn't take the line on at full speed enough ..I reckon he got close one time last night and almost scored

If he is carrying an injury (as I suspect ) that explains it

If not ....play him the next 5 weeks with Madden and force him to be the leader

The other coincidence from last year is not having Lawrence run those great crash lines (yeah OK his handling kills us ) ..but it helps hold/plant defenders and gives Brooks the chance to get on the defender outside and exploit numbers

 

[Geo]

Not enough threads on the subject..


Agreed he has had too many, but they have been emotional or reactionary ones. 'Brooks is rubbish!' 'Brooks is not a half' etc. Ultimately we learn nothing.

I would like to just analyse the stats and work out why.

Assists 16
Down to 1.

Running meters down 30.

Those stats represent a stunning decline.

Is it confidence? Madge's game plan? An injury we don't know about? Does not gel with the nines? He is being overcalled by others? There has to be some sort of explanation?

OK..but last night it was Brooks who dug in the line and got a quick play the ball for Liddle to score..then a pass out to Benji with width to throw a cut out to Nofoaluma ..so there are involvements in points we are scoring..it's ignored.

Even happy said last night he busted his arse trying

 

[ElleryHanley]

No idea what happened. No reason he should be playing this bad, it’s not like much has changed from last season.

That is the thing...not a lot has changed.

Sometimes a player loses it big time between 31 and 33, and their stats rapidly decline...

...but never like this in their 20s.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Seems slower which takes away alot of what he offers.

He does seem a bit slower, yes. That may be a factor.

Also seems a bit heavier?

Is there an injury we don't know about?

 

[JC99]

No idea what happened. No reason he should be playing this bad, it’s not like much has changed from last season.


That is the thing...not a lot has changed.

Sometimes a player loses it big time between 31 and 33, and their stats rapidly decline...

...but never like this in their 20s.

Something must’ve happened. Maybe to do with the coaches maybe in his personal life but from the outside it just looks like he’s lost it for no reason

 

[NT_Tiger]

My guess is that it is a combination of performance pressure and a drop in confidence. It appears to me that Brooks does not handle pressure very well and this year Maguire is making it very clear that he has certain performance expectations. The pressure has affected his confidence and performance.
Add to this the talk that he is in charge of the team but effectively Marshall is being treated as the team leader. My impression is that he has doesn't have a particularly strong ego, so I can't imagine that Benji taking charge does much for his confidence in leading his team mates.
Just my two cents

 

[ElleryHanley]

Not enough threads on the subject..


Agreed he has had too many, but they have been emotional or reactionary ones. 'Brooks is rubbish!' 'Brooks is not a half' etc. Ultimately we learn nothing.

I would like to just analyse the stats and work out why.

Assists 16
Down to 1.

Running meters down 30.

Those stats represent a stunning decline.

Is it confidence? Madge's game plan? An injury we don't know about? Does not gel with the nines? He is being overcalled by others? There has to be some sort of explanation?

OK..but last night it was Brooks who dug in the line and got a quick play the ball for Liddle to score..then a pass out to Benji with width to throw a cut out to Nofoaluma ..so there are involvements in points we are scoring..it's ignored.

Even happy said last night he busted his arse trying

He def tries, no one can say he does not. He also genuinely loves the club, seems happy enough....but something has gone wrong. The statistical decline is dramatic.

 

[avocadoontoast]

Not enough threads on the subject..


Agreed he has had too many, but they have been emotional or reactionary ones. 'Brooks is rubbish!' 'Brooks is not a half' etc. Ultimately we learn nothing.

I would like to just analyse the stats and work out why.

Assists 16
Down to 1.

Running meters down 30.

Those stats represent a stunning decline.

Is it confidence? Madge's game plan? An injury we don't know about? Does not gel with the nines? He is being overcalled by others? There has to be some sort of explanation?

OK..but last night it was Brooks who dug in the line and got a quick play the ball for Liddle to score..then a pass out to Benji with width to throw a cut out to Nofoaluma ..so there are involvements in points we are scoring..it's ignored.

Even happy said last night he busted his arse trying

I think he’s trying as hard as he can but for whatever reason he’s lost it. Change of club would do both him and WT good.

 

[Geo]

Not enough threads on the subject..


Agreed he has had too many, but they have been emotional or reactionary ones. 'Brooks is rubbish!' 'Brooks is not a half' etc. Ultimately we learn nothing.

I would like to just analyse the stats and work out why.

Assists 16
Down to 1.

Running meters down 30.

Those stats represent a stunning decline.

Is it confidence? Madge's game plan? An injury we don't know about? Does not gel with the nines? He is being overcalled by others? There has to be some sort of explanation?

OK..but last night it was Brooks who dug in the line and got a quick play the ball for Liddle to score..then a pass out to Benji with width to throw a cut out to Nofoaluma ..so there are involvements in points we are scoring..it's ignored.

Even happy said last night he busted his arse trying


He def tries, no one can say he does not. He also genuinely loves the club, seems happy enough....but something has gone wrong. The statistical decline is dramatic.

He also ran for 150m last night..more than any forward in our team...

 

[happy_tiger]

Not enough threads on the subject..


Agreed he has had too many, but they have been emotional or reactionary ones. 'Brooks is rubbish!' 'Brooks is not a half' etc. Ultimately we learn nothing.

I would like to just analyse the stats and work out why.

Assists 16
Down to 1.

Running meters down 30.

Those stats represent a stunning decline.

Is it confidence? Madge's game plan? An injury we don't know about? Does not gel with the nines? He is being overcalled by others? There has to be some sort of explanation?

OK..but last night it was Brooks who dug in the line and got a quick play the ball for Liddle to score..then a pass out to Benji with width to throw a cut out to Nofoaluma ..so there are involvements in points we are scoring..it's ignored.

Even happy said last night he busted his arse trying

But where has that pace been Geo ....he's holed up in your dungeon ..ask him

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Its the way the team is coached to play.
No line runners, no options.
Everything appears measured play.... bombs & no flare.

Last year he and garner was a combo we all were looking for this year, we haven’t seen it once.

Last year he would kick to ground, this year its all bombs.

Last year quick play the ball and he gets the ball, this year its to another forward or Benji.

 

[Strider]

Brooks certainly is not as good as the last few years. Josh Reynolds is also not playing nearly as well as he used to, but he's had heaps of time out i suppose. None of our half options are playing as good as they used to i guess. But watching it seems like there is not much prepared for them other then to pass it to someone next to them. Not scary players constantly threatening holes etc.

 

[Tigerbuck63]

Brooks well there might be a few factors.
One i notice is that Benji is a ball hog and is not allowing Brooks to kick when we are attacking at the opposition line.
If I recall in past seasons he was quite good in creating repeat sets and pressure.
In reality Benji / Brooks kicking games have both deteriorated to the fact neither compliment each other, that’s a coach issue as well as there’s
Having a captain like Mybe also does not instil any overall confidence in the team and comparing $ I would not be impressed with what he is on and how bad he is playing
He is also not the brightest footballer in meaning that I think more a student of understanding the game and his to manage it, is the fact Benji likes to dominate instead a factor unknown????
Yes he has gone backwards but he is also not the worst player although if I was the coach I would have thoughts if possibility moving him on?