Lack of a game manager...

[Tim Sheens]

Also think I should note the absence of any sort of kicking game from Liddle. Farah has been at training to teach them, surely he would've given some tips about kicking from dummy half he was a specialist at it.

Not a bad idea for mine for Liddle to be given a role with a short kick here or there, even though not his natural game to help muck up the defensive structures close to the line. It only takes one or two to alter strategies for many games and much longer if it comes off.

 

[JC99]

A lot of people on this forum seem to think game managers aren't a real thing.... our first two rounds should show how wrong that is. We couldn't force repeat sets or pin a team in their own end at all

 

[Geo]

I'm surprised no one has thought of this before..

 

[Tim Sheens]

IMO Madden is the closest to that in the way he plays.

That said, he has major deficiencies in other areas of his game in both attack and defence at this stage.

Fingers crossed with consistent game time in state cup, he'll be a different player by the end of the year. That's more in hope than confidence.

He is, his kicking game is top shelf. His passing is of low standard though and you need that to be creative and have options as a halfback. I hope he realises that and can receive a defense crash course off Brooks. Like you said more hope than confidence but if he can recognize his deficiencies then he can make it.

Good point. I can’t remember a time when he’s thrown a sweet cut out ball. His short passing game is ok though.

Need to go after Alfie Langer. It’s no surprise the Broncos have gone backwards at the exact same time they ruled to not allow coaching occur on the field.
Yes I get it. I wish Brooks would execute his kicks better. But man, surely they complete all this at training? They must be getting a pass Mark or better there, or is Madge just a very good poker player. Holding a press conference in confidence and then kicks stones and hangs his head after the cameras off?

We had two different players giving away penalties from the kick off in consecutive weeks kicking toward the sideline. Sure, they could and should have been more accurate, but I put it they are also being coached to sail close to the wind in that area by the coach or his staff.

Brooks also kicked one out off the side of his boot first round, plus the seven tackle dead ball ones on the weeked, then to add to them and compound our problems, Doueihi also gave another 7 with a poor nothing bomb deep to the in goal.

Brooks could run us pretty well as a team even back with the player many call one of our worst ever in Braith Anasta alongside, winning rookie of the year and doing his job in the few years that followed. He was unarguably one of our best and also the NRL in 2018, being rightfully rewarded, then similarly compared to Matterson as our best in 2019 under Maguire. I have already shared my thoughts that Brooks has not simply forgotten that which he naturally had, rather it has been coached out of him and no, not purposefully.

 

[JC99]

IMO Madden is the closest to that in the way he plays.

That said, he has major deficiencies in other areas of his game in both attack and defence at this stage.

Fingers crossed with consistent game time in state cup, he'll be a different player by the end of the year. That's more in hope than confidence.

He is, his kicking game is top shelf. His passing is of low standard though and you need that to be creative and have options as a halfback. I hope he realises that and can receive a defense crash course off Brooks. Like you said more hope than confidence but if he can recognize his deficiencies then he can make it.

Good point. I can’t remember a time when he’s thrown a sweet cut out ball. His short passing game is ok though.

Need to go after Alfie Langer. It’s no surprise the Broncos have gone backwards at the exact same time they ruled to not allow coaching occur on the field.
Yes I get it. I wish Brooks would execute his kicks better. But man, surely they complete all this at training? They must be getting a pass Mark or better there, or is Madge just a very good poker player. Holding a press conference in confidence and then kicks stones and hangs his head after the cameras off?

We had two different players giving away penalties from the kick off in consecutive weeks kicking toward the sideline. Sure, they could and should have been more accurate, but I put it they are also being coached to sail close to the wind in that area by the coach or his staff.

Brooks also kicked one out off the side of his boot first round, plus the seven tackle dead ball ones on the weeked, then to add to them and compound our problems, Doueihi also gave another 7 with a poor nothing bomb deep to the in goal.

Brooks could run us pretty well as a team even back with the player many call one of our worst ever in Braith Anasta alongside, winning rookie of the year and doing his job in the few years that followed. He was unarguably one of our best and also the NRL in 2018, being rightfully rewarded, then similarly compared to Matterson as our best in 2019 under Maguire. I have already shared my thoughts that Brooks has not simply forgotten that which he naturally had, rather it has been coached out of him and no, not purposefully.

Even when he won dally m half of the year it wasn't due to game management.... he's never ever had a long kicking game. It mostly due to running the ball and short passing

I don't see him being coached to boot the ball 15 metres dead multiple times a game, that's on him

 

[Tim Sheens]

IMO Madden is the closest to that in the way he plays.

That said, he has major deficiencies in other areas of his game in both attack and defence at this stage.

Fingers crossed with consistent game time in state cup, he'll be a different player by the end of the year. That's more in hope than confidence.

He is, his kicking game is top shelf. His passing is of low standard though and you need that to be creative and have options as a halfback. I hope he realises that and can receive a defense crash course off Brooks. Like you said more hope than confidence but if he can recognize his deficiencies then he can make it.

Good point. I can’t remember a time when he’s thrown a sweet cut out ball. His short passing game is ok though.

Need to go after Alfie Langer. It’s no surprise the Broncos have gone backwards at the exact same time they ruled to not allow coaching occur on the field.
Yes I get it. I wish Brooks would execute his kicks better. But man, surely they complete all this at training? They must be getting a pass Mark or better there, or is Madge just a very good poker player. Holding a press conference in confidence and then kicks stones and hangs his head after the cameras off?

We had two different players giving away penalties from the kick off in consecutive weeks kicking toward the sideline. Sure, they could and should have been more accurate, but I put it they are also being coached to sail close to the wind in that area by the coach or his staff.

Brooks also kicked one out off the side of his boot first round, plus the seven tackle dead ball ones on the weeked, then to add to them and compound our problems, Doueihi also gave another 7 with a poor nothing bomb deep to the in goal.

Brooks could run us pretty well as a team even back with the player many call one of our worst ever in Braith Anasta alongside, winning rookie of the year and doing his job in the few years that followed. He was unarguably one of our best and also the NRL in 2018, being rightfully rewarded, then similarly compared to Matterson as our best in 2019 under Maguire. I have already shared my thoughts that Brooks has not simply forgotten that which he naturally had, rather it has been coached out of him and no, not purposefully.

Even when he won dally m half of the year it wasn't due to game management.... he's never ever had a long kicking game. It mostly due to running the ball and short passing

I don't see him being coached to boot the ball 15 metres dead multiple times a game, that's on him

As if I said I saw that, but I have certainly seen a reasonable long kicking game.

 

[JC99]

IMO Madden is the closest to that in the way he plays.

That said, he has major deficiencies in other areas of his game in both attack and defence at this stage.

Fingers crossed with consistent game time in state cup, he'll be a different player by the end of the year. That's more in hope than confidence.

He is, his kicking game is top shelf. His passing is of low standard though and you need that to be creative and have options as a halfback. I hope he realises that and can receive a defense crash course off Brooks. Like you said more hope than confidence but if he can recognize his deficiencies then he can make it.

Good point. I can’t remember a time when he’s thrown a sweet cut out ball. His short passing game is ok though.

Need to go after Alfie Langer. It’s no surprise the Broncos have gone backwards at the exact same time they ruled to not allow coaching occur on the field.
Yes I get it. I wish Brooks would execute his kicks better. But man, surely they complete all this at training? They must be getting a pass Mark or better there, or is Madge just a very good poker player. Holding a press conference in confidence and then kicks stones and hangs his head after the cameras off?

We had two different players giving away penalties from the kick off in consecutive weeks kicking toward the sideline. Sure, they could and should have been more accurate, but I put it they are also being coached to sail close to the wind in that area by the coach or his staff.

Brooks also kicked one out off the side of his boot first round, plus the seven tackle dead ball ones on the weeked, then to add to them and compound our problems, Doueihi also gave another 7 with a poor nothing bomb deep to the in goal.

Brooks could run us pretty well as a team even back with the player many call one of our worst ever in Braith Anasta alongside, winning rookie of the year and doing his job in the few years that followed. He was unarguably one of our best and also the NRL in 2018, being rightfully rewarded, then similarly compared to Matterson as our best in 2019 under Maguire. I have already shared my thoughts that Brooks has not simply forgotten that which he naturally had, rather it has been coached out of him and no, not purposefully.

Even when he won dally m half of the year it wasn't due to game management.... he's never ever had a long kicking game. It mostly due to running the ball and short passing

I don't see him being coached to boot the ball 15 metres dead multiple times a game, that's on him

As if I said I saw that, but I have certainly seen a reasonable long kicking game.

He puts the same kick up every time, straight at the fullback 20 metres out, never finds the grass, never kicks 40/20's, there's nothing to like about his long kicks

 

[sleeve]

Also think I should note the absence of any sort of kicking game from Liddle. Farah has been at training to teach them, surely he would've given some tips about kicking from dummy half he was a specialist at it.

Agree, and 9, 6, and 7 should all have the ability to kick both long and short. It's not the hardest skill to learn, just practice.

 

[ElleryHanley]

Credit where it is due...that was exactly the type of game Brooksy needs to play.

That is his role.

If he can just settle into that role from yesterday, let AD be the main man, Laurie do the brilliant stuff, and Brooksy kick for corners and run...we will be set.

 

[2041]

One, borderline, first grade half has come in…managed their kicking…managed their game plan…and suddenly they have won six of their last seven and look like a footy team.

I'm not sure if you'd noticed but the Titans have made a few other roster upgrades.

 

[Geo]

Credit where it is due...that was exactly the type of game Brooksy needs to play.

That is his role.

If he can just settle into that role from yesterday, let AD be the main man, Laurie do the brilliant stuff, and Brooksy kick for corners and run...we will be set.

He can kick for Doueihi and pass to Utoikamanu too if he likes..

 

[ElleryHanley]

Credit where it is due...that was exactly the type of game Brooksy needs to play.

That is his role.

If he can just settle into that role from yesterday, let AD be the main man, Laurie do the brilliant stuff, and Brooksy kick for corners and run...we will be set.

He can kick for Doueihi and pass to Utoikamanu too if he likes..

Big Stefano said post game "he did not know he was getting the ball", which seemed strange as it looked like a structured play.

That kick for AD brought the same try last year also.

AD has the personality Luke doesn't...but that is okay, as long as they are together. AD was very vocal in the sheds, on ground etc. You need at least one half who is an alpha male.

 

[ElleryHanley]

One, borderline, first grade half has come in…managed their kicking…managed their game plan…and suddenly they have won six of their last seven and look like a footy team.

I'm not sure if you'd noticed but the Titans have made a few other roster upgrades.

They won their last 5 in a row last year...before the 'roster upgrades'.

Their form turned when Fogarty came in.

The big guns they have added 'this' year will take them to the next level, but their form def turned last year mate.

 

[2041]

One, borderline, first grade half has come in…managed their kicking…managed their game plan…and suddenly they have won six of their last seven and look like a footy team.

I'm not sure if you'd noticed but the Titans have made a few other roster upgrades.

They won their last 5 in a row last year...before the 'roster upgrades'.

Their form turned when Fogarty came in.

The big guns they have added 'this' year will take them to the next level, but their form def turned last year mate.

I've just looked up the end of last season. Titans last five games:
14-10 v Dragons
18-14 v Bulldogs
18-6 v Broncos
42-24 v Manly
36-6 v Knights

Obviously you'd take it but I'm not ready to say any of those bar the last one are particularly impressive scalps, and only Manly otherwise was a decent margin. It seems to me that they were an average NRL side last year that happened to have most of their easy games towards the end of the season.

Here are our last five results from 2020 against the same group:
24-14 v Dragons
29-28 v Bulldogs
48-0 v Broncos
34-32 v Manly
4-44 v Knights

I'm not sure swapping Brooks for a borderline first-grade half would have done the trick against the Knights and we won all the others.

 

[jrtiger]

if he played like that every week I'd be stoked. our halves actually resembled an NRL-standard pairing for the first time in a long time.

 

[Deleted member 3518]

Credit where it is due...that was exactly the type of game Brooksy needs to play.

That is his role.

If he can just settle into that role from yesterday, let AD be the main man, Laurie do the brilliant stuff, and Brooksy kick for corners and run...we will be set.

He can kick for Doueihi and pass to Utoikamanu too if he likes..

Big Stefano said post game "he did not know he was getting the ball", which seemed strange as it looked like a structured play.

That kick for AD brought the same try last year also.

AD has the personality Luke doesn't...but that is okay, as long as they are together. AD was very vocal in the sheds, on ground etc. You need at least one half who is an alpha male.

Being loud , doesn’t make you an alpha male LOL . It just makes you loud . In fact unless you are a weasel of a man , who never been punched in the face , but comments on how everyone else should take a punch ( we all know them) , then really most blokes are alpha males .

 

[Tiger5150]

One, borderline, first grade half has come in…managed their kicking…managed their game plan…and suddenly they have won six of their last seven and look like a footy team.

I'm not sure if you'd noticed but the Titans have made a few other roster upgrades.

They won their last 5 in a row last year...before the 'roster upgrades'.

Their form turned when Fogarty came in.

The big guns they have added 'this' year will take them to the next level, but their form def turned last year mate.

Brimson was the man last year for them.

 

[diedpretty]

One, borderline, first grade half has come in…managed their kicking…managed their game plan…and suddenly they have won six of their last seven and look like a footy team.

I'm not sure if you'd noticed but the Titans have made a few other roster upgrades.

They won their last 5 in a row last year...before the 'roster upgrades'.

Their form turned when Fogarty came in.

The big guns they have added 'this' year will take them to the next level, but their form def turned last year mate.

I've just looked up the end of last season. Titans last five games:
14-10 v Dragons
18-14 v Bulldogs
18-6 v Broncos
42-24 v Manly
36-6 v Knights

Obviously you'd take it but I'm not ready to say any of those bar the last one are particularly impressive scalps, and only Manly otherwise was a decent margin. It seems to me that they were an average NRL side last year that happened to have most of their easy games towards the end of the season.

Here are our last five results from 2020 against the same group:
24-14 v Dragons
29-28 v Bulldogs
48-0 v Broncos
34-32 v Manly
4-44 v Knights

I'm not sure swapping Brooks for a borderline first-grade half would have done the trick against the Knights and we won all the others.

Thats exactly right - and their 2 wins this year were against the Broncos and the Cowboys who would both have to rate in the bottom 4. They lost to the Warriors.