Im not writing off Brooks yet, but he has had a good run.
But I will say this. He is not an 'off the cuff' player, never has been and never will be. I will get a few clips, but I reckon he is very much in the Cooper Cronk mould.
Cooper Cronk was not an off the cuff player either, everything so so miltarily precise in fact like a machine. But he was extremely good at following a plan and building pressure with the right kicking game.
The only difference, in my opinion, between Brooks and Cronk is the forwards they have served behind.
If you have years of a dominant forward packs, breaking the advantage line - and you are playing with the opposition defense moving backwards, then its a lot easier than trying to do the same thing with the opposition defense moving forward, getting good line speed and crowding you for room.
Until our forwards start dominating, then I think maybe a more Munster/Michael Morgan/ type half that makes up stuff as they go would be advantage for us. Thats not to say that Brooks isnt a good half, because he is every bit as good as a Cronk type in my opinion. I dont want Benji back, but thats why he was probably a little more succesful.
Sorry mate, he's nowhere near anything to do with Cronk. The only thing they have in common was they have both worn 7. Cronk might have been machine like but everything he did was for a purpose. He knew exactly where he wanted his team by the end of a set and how to go about getting them there. Brooks wouldn't have a clue. The sad part is at his age and experience now if he doesn't have it now he never will.
It's unfortunate and i think we all wanted it to work out, but it just hasn't. Barring a miracle for the rest of this year, the club will have to go in another direction to have sustained success.