Papalii and To’a are quality. Are you suggesting that Brooks needs another better centre and backrower to finally be at an acceptable level?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but how is your argument different to that of the MO of all Brooks apologists, which is basically blaming every tool in the shed for him being a poor craftsman.
I am saying both that Brooks isn't really up to the task, but also the support he is given is not at an acceptable level.
Papali'i and To'a are not quality hole runners, not at all. IP is nowhere near the output he was generating for Parramatta, and even when he's playing well, he's an early-ball type guy. So is To'a, who has only just barely started to produce quality output. And I'm actually a very big fan of Starford, but let's not pretend he's gone anywhere near cementing a full-time centre or wing spot even after ~30 matches for the Tigers and ~50 in his career.
There are average halfbacks that can still be part of a good attacking structure, where they don't have to generate all the opportunities by themselves. Lachlan Ilias is a fairly average ball player or kicker, but he can still find a pass and he is helped because Cody Walker is so good, and because the opposition is always worried about Murray and Latrell.
That used to be the old Tedesco problem at Tigers. Everyone knew Tedesco was as good as any fullback in the game, and Tigers relied on him so heavily, that defences just swarmed Tedesco. You need multiple threats to unravel a good defensive structure. You add Tedesco to a quality Roosters team and he becomes the best player on the planet.
So my argument is that Brooks is not at a good level, but it is / has been made worse because the lack of hole runners and lack of threat at fullback. I personally think Brooks can be a middle-of-road halfback with better players around him, no worse than a Chad Townsend who is both a premiership winner and who has played in 7 separate finals series.
There is little surprise at all that since Bateman has gotten fit and Jahream Bula has burst onto the scene, with some stability in his 5/8th partner, that Luke Brooks is a much better prospect the past month and his output is many times better than the early rounds.
