Brooks

[larrycorowa]

Did anyone notice the shift in game roles on the weekend? Moses became the playmaker and brooks was told to forget about ball playing and start hole running more.

It has seemed that brooks had become very uncertain about when to run the ball and not trusting his natural instincts.

Over time brooks will become a better game manager but maybe they have been getting in each other's way a bit. But they are also damaging ball runners. Moses scored a good one against the dogs and Taylor has obviously identified that they need to start hole running instead of of setting up the next play.

It's all a learning process but once they get the balance right you can imagine what the possibilities are. Two halves taking on tired edge defenders, with good kicking and passing games. Not many teams can boast this. I have seen glimpse of each one doing these things individually but the struggle has been to get the balance right.

A 9 who just distributes the ball and does the odd bit of kicking would help too.

 

[batboy]

A Halves major role is to engage the line and take the best opportunities whilst leading the team around the park.
Taking the ball to the line is something our halves haven't been doing - When they do, They're both fantastic.
Too much lately they have been more than happy to just forward the ball to the next man. When they start backing themselves and not be worried about getting smashed they'll cause all kinds of hell.
It may also be a case of having too much attack directed at them, and they're looking to rest a little in attack. A couple second rowers who can cut the man in half in defence would also help that as well

 

[Milky]

Yep i posted that Moses was playing halfback in the live game theead, i think its a role that suits both their games.

Taylor was very proud of Moses's efforts

 

[larrycorowa]

I don't get the Moses knockers….he is having a good season. People expect to much from him and I think the weight of expectation affects his game. He is getting there.

 

[Russell]

I expect heaps from Moses - BUT NOT NOW!

Agree with you KS and Larry - when it happens…..

He and Brooks are long term and, yes we know it takes time.
However it does, if the club is not prepared to wait - get rid of them.
The club is prepared to wait and so by consequence we have to as well.

I do think Moses should be at half and absolute play maker and Brooks at 5/8 to feed outside backs and take on the line. Not every play but you know what I mean. They still need help in defence, Brooks more than Moses but they are getting there.

The rewards will be absolutely amazing and set us up for years tp come. Rome was not built in a day.

 

[Chevy]

What's frustrating with these two young halves is the amount of time they go missing,i recall when Alexander and Fitler were young, they were also critisized for going missing and both of them turned out alright,hoping the same happens with this pair.

 

[ricksen]

A Halves major role is to engage the line and take the best opportunities whilst leading the team around the park.
Taking the ball to the line is something our halves haven't been doing - When they do, They're both fantastic.

This is one my biggest frustrations with them. They very rarely throw the dummy or simply run straight at the line when running the block plays. As a result, the defence knows they can slide off them every time they run to the line with runners out the back, as it'll be going at least one man wider.

They both look overcoached to me. Compare the way they play to Ash Taylor up at the Titans; he still makes errors and looks a rookie at times, but he runs the game as he sees fit and depending on circumstance, rather than a pre-ordained plan.

For example, we often see Brooks try an angled chip/grubber back towards the posts when we're down the opposition's end. No issue with this as a tactic, but it works when the opposition are over-reading things and pushing wide early. Brooks will just try the kick anyway, but instead of empty space, it will just find a couple of lazy defenders who can field the ball easily.

 

[pHyR3]

What's frustrating with these two young halves is the amount of time they go missing,i recall when Alexander and Fitler were young, they were also critisized for going missing and both of them turned out alright,hoping the same happens with this pair.

and the other criticism is their defence is crap

bulldogs let JT go when he was around 19 or 20 because he was 'too small and couldnt defend.' turned out well for them :blush:

 

[supercoach]

The question is how long can we wait??? We could probably pick up a player like Blake Green for nearly 1/2 what the kids are asking and you know what you will get every week. I just think it is crazy playing two kids together at 6 and 7, it is not fair for the other 15 players and it is not doing them any good.

Okay they will probably both make it as very good NRL players, but the path will be a lot longer playing together without a experienced pro playing along side them in either the 6 or 7.

 

[Geo]

OK stat freak mind blow time

Newy Game

Brooks 48 touches of the football ran the ball 9 times for 69m with 1 line break… kicked 7 times for 169m..that leaves 32 times he passed it with 1 line break assist...Tackles Made 8... 2 of those were 1 on 1... missed 2 ...ineffective tackles 0..

Moses 36 touches of the football ran the ball 3 times for 34m with 1 line break kicked 11 times for 378m that leaves 32 times he passed it with no line break assists...Tackles made 13 ...i of those 1 on 1...missed 6..ineffective tackles 0 however both Knights Tries were scored through Moses mis=reads...

 

[Russell]

The question is how long can we wait??? We could probably pick up a player like Blake Green for nearly 1/2 what the kids are asking and you know what you will get every week. I just think it is crazy playing two kids together at 6 and 7, it is not fair for the other 15 players and it is not doing them any good.

Okay they will probably both make it as very good NRL players, but the path will be a lot longer playing together without a experienced pro playing along side them in either the 6 or 7.

Green is not worth a bean - if he comes here he won't be playing outside Cronk.

With our two the path is longer but the rewards will be greater - are we going anywhere this year that we need Green?

 

[Russell]

OK stat freak mind blow time

Newy Game

Brooks 48 touches of the football ran the ball 9 times for 69m with 1 line break… kicked 7 times for 169m..that leaves 32 times he passed it with 1 line break assist...Tackles Made 8... 2 of those were 1 on 1... missed 2 ...ineffective tackles 0..

Moses 36 touches of the football ran the ball 3 times for 34m with 1 line break kicked 11 times for 378m that leaves 32 times he passed it with no line break assists...Tackles made 13 ...i of those 1 on 1...missed 6..ineffective tackles 0 however both Knights Tries were scored through Moses mis=reads...

So what are we saying here? Both have their own attributes.

What are they being told to do? - if anything.
What are they being told Not to do? - if anything.

It is hard to be critical if you don't have the full story.

I would still stick with both - however I think their rolls should be more defined and I would play Moses at half. I never expect Moses to make as many metres as Brooks - as Brooks is more the runner and is quicker - however Moses has more up top and is more likely to put someone over.

 

[supercoach]

The question is how long can we wait??? We could probably pick up a player like Blake Green for nearly 1/2 what the kids are asking and you know what you will get every week. I just think it is crazy playing two kids together at 6 and 7, it is not fair for the other 15 players and it is not doing them any good.

Okay they will probably both make it as very good NRL players, but the path will be a lot longer playing together without a experienced pro playing along side them in either the 6 or 7.

Green is not worth a bean - if he comes here he won't be playing outside Cronk.

With our two the path is longer but the rewards will be greater - are we going anywhere this year that we need Green?

Beg to disagree

 

[Geo]

OK stat freak mind blow time

Newy Game

Brooks 48 touches of the football ran the ball 9 times for 69m with 1 line break… kicked 7 times for 169m..that leaves 32 times he passed it with 1 line break assist...Tackles Made 8... 2 of those were 1 on 1... missed 2 ...ineffective tackles 0..

Moses 36 touches of the football ran the ball 3 times for 34m with 1 line break kicked 11 times for 378m that leaves 32 times he passed it with no line break assists...Tackles made 13 ...i of those 1 on 1...missed 6..ineffective tackles 0 however both Knights Tries were scored through Moses mis=reads...

So what are we saying here? Both have their own attributes.

What are they being told to do? - if anything.
What are they being told Not to do? - if anything.

It is hard to be critical if you don't have the full story.

I would still stick with both - however I think their rolls should be more defined and I would play Moses at half. I never expect Moses to make as many metres as Brooks - as Brooks is more the runner and is quicker - however Moses has more up top and is more likely to put someone over.

That people are saying both are bad game managers….looking at the stats and those of other halves on the weekend...they both stack up...

 

[Silentio]

I'm glad Brooks made the genius call to run the ball against one of the worst teams to grace the NRL in recent years!

Seriously though, Brooks and Moses would be killing it if they had a better team around them.

 

[Russell]

The question is how long can we wait??? We could probably pick up a player like Blake Green for nearly 1/2 what the kids are asking and you know what you will get every week. I just think it is crazy playing two kids together at 6 and 7, it is not fair for the other 15 players and it is not doing them any good.

Okay they will probably both make it as very good NRL players, but the path will be a lot longer playing together without a experienced pro playing along side them in either the 6 or 7.

Green is not worth a bean - if he comes here he won't be playing outside Cronk.

With our two the path is longer but the rewards will be greater - are we going anywhere this year that we need Green?

Beg to disagree

That is ok - we are living in a democracy. Everyone has an opinion.

 

[ricksen]

That people are saying both are bad game managers….looking at the stats and those of other halves on the weekend...they both stack up...

Those stats in isolation don't really tell us anything about their 'management' skills, be it good or bad.

I will say that I thought Moses managed the game fairly well in the second half last weekend in terms of kicking deep, but there are still a lot of little things in which both are missing.

 

[Mac_tiger]

Good post larry. Yes this was a noticeable change. Moses is a good ball player and would be considered a wizard with both short and long passes if our blokes could run better lines. Brooks short kicks are disappointing so he'd be better served taking the line on - has a great step and very quick off the mark but needs some quicker play the balls to take the pressure off. Game management/ability to close out a win is still a work in progress for these two.

 

[Tigerdon]

I would still start one of the two ha led off the bench. A lot of people might say you shouldn't have a back on the bench, however all it means is we have an extra forward starting the game. Like we did in the trials and round 1.
Particularly this weekend , when it seems the only way to beat the Broncos is through the middle.

 

[yeti]

What's frustrating with these two young halves is the amount of time they go missing,i recall when Alexander and Fitler were young, they were also critisized for going missing and both of them turned out alright,hoping the same happens with this pair.

and the other criticism is their defence is crap

bulldogs let JT go when he was around 19 or 20 because he was 'too small and couldnt defend.' turned out well for them :blush:

He still can't tackle though. His defence this last weekend was atrocious. Fortunately he plays with a team that can usually defend his deficiencies. The rest of his game is OK, though :wink: