Brooks: What exactly has gone wrong?

[Tigercrb]

The same thing that happens when most half backs are out of form: our forwards are not laying the platform, he is playing off the back foot and has massively lost confidence.

Watching our games, it is amazing to see the line speed difference between us and the opposition. Our defensive line always seems to be retreating. Their forwards roll up field 10m before contact. Our forward seem to get the ball flat footed and the are lucky to make 3-5m before contact.

This creates a massive difference in how the half backs play. Only the great halves can overcome this. Brooks is average-good, but not great

I do believe he is trying to get confidence back but has become too focused on running the ball to do so. His running game is a strength, but he still needs to pick his moments. Running every time makes you a forward who can kick. An early shift to the centres would take so much pressure off him

 

[Swordy]

I wonder how Brooks would go at Melbourne or the Roosters?

That answers your questions.

It isn't all him!

 

[avocadoontoast]

I wonder how Brooks would go at Melbourne or the Roosters?

That answers your questions.

It isn't all him!

Honestly, probably not all that great. At least on this years form.

 

[Russell]

2021 last chance for Brooks.

That is only your opinion - as if you can get rid of him.

 

[happy_tiger]

FGS ease up on Brooksy, Daly M 1/2 winner playing in a team that leaks too many points. We are good at putting on points in attacking zone so it's obvious what the problem is. You get our team to average 10pts a game against us and we'll win more games than lose. Brooks is also a better player when running wide of the ruck, get him involved with Noffa sweeping back to a wider blind side.

But the points weren't created by Brooks ...if only benji couldn't defend like Brooks or vice versa

 

[Russell]

As everyone says. When we get DOMINATED in the forwards week after week why are we surprised by the poor result. Fix the damn forward pack.
Sure Benji pulled rabbits out of his hat. Brooks doesn't. Brooks can certainly turn on the tries and the effort.

Now I believe the solution to Brooks is that he gets moved to another position and we get a better team manager as a half. lets see, great running game, good passing can kick. Bad team control, bad positional awareness. Let Brooks goto 5/8 for a few games.

Our biggest problems is Liddle being an awesome 30-50 minute hooker who is going to get busted up again and the big D.

Your last paragraph is well off the mark.

Of course he is a 30-50 minute DH at the moment with a year in rehab and coming back and playing about 3 x 15 minute games. What do you expect?

With the off season behind him he will be just as likely to play 80 minutes as anyone else in the team.

There is no reason he would get busted again other than you saying so. His defense is quite good and will get even better. The thing he needs to work on is his kicking game, which will add another string to his bow.

His service from DH is way better than Grant and you can see that as soon as he comes on, everyone has more time immediately.

 

[851]

Im going to say the last thing about Brooks and its my opinion only....
Next year Benji will be gone,Luke can come out of his shell and start dominating this team as he should have been,he will hopefully have a stronger pack with Tamou in it and leading the way forward,if not then why the hell did we sign him..
I have faith that Madge will be able to put key players in their respective positions on a weekly basis,this years chopping and changing was out of necessity more than anything because of injuries and no CC to be played...we should have a much clearer view 5/6 weeks into the season on how we are travelling...

I have been a severe critic of Brooks over the years ,but having to play alonside the club legend must have been difficult at times,Luke is still young enough to produce some very good football,he has to take CONTROL and show his capabilities so we can have faith in him to make the right choices to lead the team and close out games...

Whilst I agree Benji was a huge part of why Brooks has regressed, but Brooks should own that, he has played near 150 games now, he should be able to play with any half selected.
In saying that, I do expect Brooks to be a far better player now that Benji is gone, and we might actually see a whole new player, the one we all hoped to see a while back.

 

[Papacito]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

 

[happy_tiger]

He was overhyped and because he is a WT's junior many have thought ...just give him one more year ...he'll come good ....did it for a year .....improved his defence and he either has a chronic calf/ hamstring injury that weakened his greatest strength to virtually nothing ...his running game or he has bulked up so much he lost his mobility

I can't question the fact he shows up every week and has given his all ...but we'd all do that given the chance .....but his efforts as a play maker aren't acceptable .....someone at the club has to be the accountable one and make the call .....simple as that

 

[hobbo1]

He was overhyped and because he is a WT's junior many have thought ...just give him one more year ...he'll come good ....did it for a year .....improved his defence and he either has a chronic calf/ hamstring injury that weakened his greatest strength to virtually nothing ...his running game or he has bulked up so much he lost his mobility

I can't question the fact he shows up every week and has given his all ...but we'd all do that given the chance .....but his efforts as a play maker aren't acceptable .....someone at the club has to be the accountable one and make the call .....simple as that

TRADE HIM

 

[happy_tiger]

He was overhyped and because he is a WT's junior many have thought ...just give him one more year ...he'll come good ....did it for a year .....improved his defence and he either has a chronic calf/ hamstring injury that weakened his greatest strength to virtually nothing ...his running game or he has bulked up so much he lost his mobility

I can't question the fact he shows up every week and has given his all ...but we'd all do that given the chance .....but his efforts as a play maker aren't acceptable .....someone at the club has to be the accountable one and make the call .....simple as that

TRADE HIM

For a washing machine lol ...same height

 

[earl]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

 

[happy_tiger]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

And that is exactly the problem ...what top 8 sides HAVE to pick someone even though they aren't up to it

 

[earl]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

And that is exactly the problem ...what top 8 sides HAVE to pick someone even though they aren't up to it

It's worse than what you are stating as well because he isn't the biggest problem in the squad. That is why at this point you have to have him playing. Then you just hope he finds form.

I don't think you can trade him either. It's not like American sports where the talent pool is so much larger.

 

[Tiger5150]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

And that is exactly the problem ...what top 8 sides HAVE to pick someone even though they aren't up to it

Id pick him over Chad Townsend

 

[happy_tiger]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

And that is exactly the problem ...what top 8 sides HAVE to pick someone even though they aren't up to it

It's worse than what you are stating as well because he isn't the biggest problem in the squad. That is why at this point you have to have him playing. Then you just hope he finds form.

I don't think you can trade him either. It's not like American sports where the talent pool is so much larger.

I think we are forced to do what Penrith did in the early 2000's when they were having huge issues with injuries and players out of form

You pick and stick with the junior talent until they improve or move them on and the end of 2021

It going to be a bad season in 2021 anyway ...9th will be a miracle next year

 

[hobbo1]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

And that is exactly the problem ...what top 8 sides HAVE to pick someone even though they aren't up to it

It's worse than what you are stating as well because he isn't the biggest problem in the squad. That is why at this point you have to have him playing. Then you just hope he finds form.

I don't think you can trade him either. It's not like American sports where the talent pool is so much larger.

In Semi Pro Jackie Moon traded the teams washing machine for Woody Harrelson

 

[Sart0ri]

Madge has changed the structure of the attack at least 4 times this year. Brooks received the ball a lot more than Benji in the first few rounds with both halves staying on their own side, then it was 50/50 with both playing on both sides of the field, then Benji was made halfback, now Brooks plays as the controller and distributor in the centre of the field.
If you are going to bag the guy, at least pay attention to what is going on. These changes take time to work out and Madge has been experimenting because he has a lot of versatile players and no superstars to build the spine around.
I am sure the Tigers are looking at getting the best 1 or 6 they can then putting Mbye and Doueihi in the gaps now that they have had opportunities at a few positions.

 

[cktiger]

Madge has changed the structure of the attack at least 4 times this year. Brooks received the ball a lot more than Benji in the first few rounds with both halves staying on their own side, then it was 50/50 with both playing on both sides of the field, then Benji was made halfback, **now Brooks plays as the controller and distributor in the centre of the field.**
If you are going to bag the guy, at least pay attention to what is going on. These changes take time to work out and Madge has been experimenting because he has a lot of versatile players and no superstars to build the spine around.
I am sure the Tigers are looking at getting the best 1 or 6 they can then putting Mbye and Doueihi in the gaps now that they have had opportunities at a few positions.

If he is now controlling and distributing he's doing a bloody poor job of it.
On the contrary it looks like lately that he's bee told to look for a hole and use his speed.
Either way, on TV this week,Fittler and Gallen summed up our chances next year as not making the 8 without a halfback who plays consistently good (not bad as in Brooks case).

 

[happy_tiger]

I'm constantly amazed that after seven seasons and 145 games, people are still waiting for (nearly) 26 year old Brooks to come of age and/or step out from the shadow of Farah, Marshall or whoever.

This year he was thoroughly outplayed by a rookie hooker and a senior citizen five-eighth.

He's an average halfback that can't deliver us a top 8 finish.

I think this may be a fair call. I still think he is our best option out of the players that we have as one half. So you have to pick him.

We have to be looking for better halves though.

And that is exactly the problem ...what top 8 sides HAVE to pick someone even though they aren't up to it

It's worse than what you are stating as well because he isn't the biggest problem in the squad. That is why at this point you have to have him playing. Then you just hope he finds form.

I don't think you can trade him either. It's not like American sports where the talent pool is so much larger.

In Semi Pro Jackie Moon traded the teams washing machine for Woody Harrelson

Because White Men Can't Jump