Dammit why isn't a 23 year-old footballer a proven leader of men? Should have already happened by now.
Honestly all this talk about Brooks being the leader, calling the shots etc. That's what I'd expect of blokes like Packer, Farah, Marshall, not a kid. Sure Brooks has been around a while but he's still a kid and being the halfback has all the pressure.
Nate Cleary certainly doesn't call all the shots when the game is on the line - he's able to rely on Maloney for that. And at club level, that partnership is breaking down recently, a couple of really ordinary losses for what was a table-topping side. Cleary is still also a kid.
We didn't lack for scoring opportunities on Sunday, we lacked for clinical finishing. It occurred across the park - Naiqama, Reynolds, Mbye, Farah, Brooks, Masters all making poor choices or fumbling with the try-line begging.
Brooks not cleared of criticism by any means, but I just don't support these threads where Brooks is having a pretty good season all over, but because the team has fallen down, it must be specifically someone's fault and here is the thread where we've identified an easy target.
More excuses
How constructive. Anyway not excuses, that's actually what I observed to happen - plenty of try-scoring possibilities, lack of actually scoring tries. Brooks is not absolved of criticism, but he is no more or less to blame from this specific match than anyone else in the team.
Sack Brooks, sure, most consistent half we've had this year. Play whom? Gamble? Benji and Reynolds? Godinet?
The reason fans aren't coaches is because some fans think they can just wipe a team - sack this bloke, sack that bloke, get a replacement. No constructive observations, no consideration of the reality of contracts, player market, available players.
Benji/Reynolds if benj body up to it.
Brooks is not an isolated season. me and other fans have had enough and cannot stomach more excuses.
How long do you stick with him until you make the tough call to get rid of him.