I thought of this stuff after the game but haven't had time to verify my thoughts.
Brooks kicking and end of set options were atrocious, there is no denying that. And there are a lot of people that have cut Brooks, and thats their opinion and thats fine. We are a forum sharing ideas.
But I havent written of Brooks yet, on the basis that he hasn't exactly had the support required. There is a presumption from some that every WT player on those last tackles is in position, ready with several options, and Brooks always takes the worst one. I think this is incorrect.
The times I recall, Brooks got the feed from Dummy half on the last or second last, and there was no one there. There were no forwards coming through giving options, the outside backs werent even in position and ready, and generally most were standing on the short side or close to the ruck, lazy or out of breath.
Brooks gets the ball, looks at his options (of which there are none because most are standing there like tools) and so what is he to do.
I saw one stage when Brooks decided to try and get quick ball out, so he passed to Doeuhi, who was not moving, literally didnt move his feet, and on passed it to some other knucklehead standing 3 foot away from him. It looked like an under 7s game at the local park where they have to pass 3 times before you can run.
Its alright to say Brooks isnt taking the right options but the Roosters game highlighted the fact that very often, he doesnt have any.
Now some will respond by saying "well Brooks runs the team, he should get them into position". To that I say - if it only worked like that. Cooper Cronk never had these issues because his teams were well drilled to be where they were supposed to be. He proved it in the GF where he did nothing and the team went without him.
Brooks cant make players get off their a$$ and start being lazy and make some second efforts. So I think he will make a sufficient NRL halfback in the right team. Changing him for Adam Reynolds (which has been the joke of the week suggested by some) doesnt make the forwards get into position and offer options, or get the backline in order ready to capitalise on an option taken by the playmaker.
Well said Swordy - the only thing I would add.... they (Rorters) were offside quite a few times + the times they were on side with incredible line speed - gave Brooks no time to set for the kick on the majority of the sets. The opposition knew that he had no other option but to kick because none of our our players gave him an option. It is almost like the rest of the team are thinking ...ok we've put in for the first five tackles and made 35 metres, now it is your turn on the sixth ... we are going to have a rest. Need a bomb under all of them, only AJ maybe has an injury excuse, no one has an unfit excuse - they need to work as a team, they have not done this in the first games. I think this is the main problem...Not Brooks. With no options Reynolds wouldn't be any better, even Cronk would struggle.
But its Brooks job to organize his set of six ......organize the runners ...the line he wants them to run ...where he wants to be by tackle 5
Brooks is the problem obviously and the excuses need to stop.
I disagree Happy . It’s not spontaneous football they play . They work to a position on the field , to setup whatever play they called to run , which would have been a lot of the time 2-3 plays earlier . If your saying there’s an inability to play eyes up footy , well I agree with you. But people standing in the centre of the field when a block play down thier edge is called , is ? their fault.
Brooks needs to call these guys out , with some serious on field abuse , and that’s brooks problem .
I saw Munster do it a couple weeks back , Moses does it every single set of 6 , etc. he’s too good of a bloke . I guess that’s his issue . But that’s an easy fix , to me .
Every situation is different of course , but they probably have a Plan A,B and C depending if they are coming from a 22 tap ,scrum ,penalty set restart etc ...yes they play eyes up footy , but they practice how they run a set 1000 times .....
The idea that is even if you hit the 85 minute mark and are mentally and physically exhausted ...these Plans and sets come second nature