Why Maguire is standing by Brooks

[Hangonaminute]

Give Brooks 2 jobs
Kick and chase
Run the ball

 

[mike]

It seems Madge wants him to be the one to displace Marshall and force his hand not to play him.
In the first 60 minutes Brooks will sit on the bench and study Marshall’s game and the way he will organise the play. Then he gets his 20mins audition to close out the game.
No doubt Brooks can play 80mins but he needs to be playing the full 80 like he will now play the last 20.
Last week was a write off with injuries.

Maybe you are right, but then Benji should be taken off so Brooks can do this, with Benji still on the field it never works for Brooks, and looking to the future it makes sense

You can’t use Benji as an excuse for Brooks. He was even worse when Benji wasn’t playing.

Brooks just needs to sort out his headspace. The issue is with Brooks, nobody else.

 

[old_man_tiger]

Look, I really like Madge. I like the work ethic and I like what he brings to an organisation.
But this faith in Brooks just throws me !
I agree with you @Snake and I worry that the insistence on sticking with Brooks is going to be the ultimate reason Madge’s time here will be no different to other previous coaches who had the same false confidence. And that really sucks.

I disagree that Brooks is a lost cause but agree that the faith has to be earnt and he is getting close to not having a future at the club. However I don't think there is anything else Madge can say to the media mate.

I would like to think that the reality is different and if Madge is serious then Luke knows exactly what it will take for him to win the Coach's trust again.

 

[hobbo1]

Give Brooks 2 jobs
Kick and chase
Run the ball

That’s 3 jobs

 

[Lauren]

Brooks is just jaded and will come back to his best.He is faster and tackles better then Mybe,Douehi,Benji,Reynolds,Jennings,Walters and would play in all of those positions these players are in at and at a higher level,but in the meantime he is slowed down by these slow and in some cases underperforming players.Cronk would look poor playing with this lot!

This has pretty much been my opinion on it as well.
I understand everyone's qualms and that it's easy to use a blase attitude and all, but can't understand the comparisons of others' packs and backs etc., No player, pack or backline should be used in comparison to ours especially when they've never experienced the same setbacks (faults and stages of career development and whatnot) as ours.

 

[avocadoontoast]

I think Madge is overall a very good coach but imo he’s a lot better with forwards than backs. All our forwards have improved dramatically under him, but I can’t say the same for the backs. Brooks and Mbye have gone backwards.

 

[851]

It seems Madge wants him to be the one to displace Marshall and force his hand not to play him.
In the first 60 minutes Brooks will sit on the bench and study Marshall’s game and the way he will organise the play. Then he gets his 20mins audition to close out the game.
No doubt Brooks can play 80mins but he needs to be playing the full 80 like he will now play the last 20.
Last week was a write off with injuries.

Maybe you are right, but then Benji should be taken off so Brooks can do this, with Benji still on the field it never works for Brooks, and looking to the future it makes sense

You can’t use Benji as an excuse for Brooks. He was even worse when Benji wasn’t playing.

Brooks just needs to sort out his headspace. The issue is with Brooks, nobody else.

Brooks has issues with or without Benji, but they are exaggerated when Benji is there, and if Brooks is ever gonna lead, then Benji should come off for Brooks to go on, otherwise we are just doing the same thing over and over again, and they are not working

 

[Geo]

As far as Benji goes, he is a club legend and has been the main face of the WTs for many,many years,if he really does have the loyalty and interest of the club at heart,he will retire after this year and let the younger guys develope as he did when he first came into the fg team…he would definately have plenty of guidance and experience to share with them at training and behind the scenes as well preferably in an assistant coaching role…

I 100% agree it is time to go, and I have said many times, but like I said 2 months ago, Benji has designs on playing again and not only is it wrong, it is also a disruption this year.
And on Brooks, it has finally been put out in the open, game management, something people on here believe is a myth, has been called to account, I hope Brooks can do it, but I really have my doubts.

Again quoting a journalist and attributing to what the Coach actually said are 2 different things..

Journalist
...revealed he had worked hard behind the scenes with him on several areas, including game management, one criticism often directed at the nuggety left-footer.

Coach
"Plenty of players have gone through something similar, it’s how they react and the work they do in the background.

"I’m seeing Brooksy do exactly what you need to do through a period like this in your career.

"This year he’s been more consistent with his defence, he had a tough day out against Souths but prior to that he was strong. He just needs to be more consistent around that space.

"And with the ball he just needs to keep developing his game.’’

That is whole of game..

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

I wonder how they work on his game control 'behind the scenes'... how do you recreate the scenario of decision making under fatigue and match pressure?
Is it anything like repetitive training for what they call 'muscle memory'?
Genuinely interested.

Video sessions

 

[bigsiro]

@old_man_tiger

I agree that Madge has to say that. But I think it was foolish of him to put Brooks on the bench because the result has been the last two weeks Brooks has overplayed his hand and made a meal of the time he has had on the field.
It also makes the decision look bad that Madge made to put him in the bench.
Surely Madge has to predict that playing an under-pressure half back in short stints could result in some bad play. Which is why I didn’t love the tactic (besides the obvious putting a halfback on the bench is just wrong).

Truthfully, I hope Brooks plays the stints of his life and proves me wrong forever, but if he doesn’t and if he plays poorly again this week then it will be three weeks in a row and proof that this was a poor decision by Madge and from there he is left with no other choice but to drop him.
And once dropped it should be even harder to get back.

 

[Elderslie_Tiger]

Madge can see something in Brooks and after all he's the paid professional and we the keyboard Warriors.Madge has put to Brooks what he needs to do to lead the team so its all upto Brooks he won't be pushed he'll be given time to succeed which I think he will at least he can tackle

 

[happy_tiger]

As far as Benji goes, he is a club legend and has been the main face of the WTs for many,many years,if he really does have the loyalty and interest of the club at heart,he will retire after this year and let the younger guys develope as he did when he first came into the fg team…he would definately have plenty of guidance and experience to share with them at training and behind the scenes as well preferably in an assistant coaching role…

I 100% agree it is time to go, and I have said many times, but like I said 2 months ago, Benji has designs on playing again and not only is it wrong, it is also a disruption this year.
And on Brooks, it has finally been put out in the open, game management, something people on here believe is a myth, has been called to account, I hope Brooks can do it, but I really have my doubts.

Again quoting a journalist and attributing to what the Coach actually said are 2 different things..

Journalist
...revealed he had worked hard behind the scenes with him on several areas, including game management, one criticism often directed at the nuggety left-footer.

Coach
"Plenty of players have gone through something similar, it’s how they react and the work they do in the background.

"I’m seeing Brooksy do exactly what you need to do through a period like this in your career.

"This year he’s been more consistent with his defence, he had a tough day out against Souths but prior to that he was strong. He just needs to be more consistent around that space.

"And with the ball he just needs to keep developing his game.’’

That is whole of game..

No mention of his running game ...funny

 

[Tiger_Steve]

At last, some sensible text on this forum about Brooks

Is it though , if he was a prop , or hadn't had the next "Andrew Johns " comparisons would we had persevered this long

26 at the end of the season and can't displace a 35 year old whose lost his greatest strength many years ago or a player who is a utility at best and is about the same age and hasn't proven he is is a consistent NRL player

Where do we finally draw the line with him ...I ask that seriously

This debate continues to populate the forum and I get it.
My opinion is he is an excellent player but not a complete player. Some of the points of view about getting rid of him are, imo, ridiculous. He is a very good half. He has played behind a crap forward pack for years. He has had little strike power outside him. He is better than many in defence, short kicking game, running to the line. His match awareness is below average and needs to improve or be supplemented by a game managing halves partner. But I’d he worth keeping? Absolutely. Is he in our top 13? Absolutely

He doesn't have the crappiest pack now ...so what excuse or you going to use for that ...he not used to having a crap pack

Too many times in a game when he should run he is looking to pass .....other times when it opens up wider or inside he runs when he should have passed

This is season 8 ....who else have we given 8 seasons to get better or become consistent

No worries Happy. That’s your opinion. Yes our pack is getting better. Brooks form hasn’t been great but it’s not as bad as some of the forum hysteria. IMO he’s worth persevering with. Form currently average and he’s suffered accordingly. But no way do I want him moved on because I think he’s better that most

I’m not offering excuses, just stating an opinion mate.

 

[bigsiro]

IMO. Dropping benji earlier in the season was beyond questionable.
Benji was arguably the best playmaker in the comp for the first few weeks. He keeps brooks and brooks inevitably hams it up.
Then he puts brooks in the bench.
Doesn’t make sense

 

[851]

As far as Benji goes, he is a club legend and has been the main face of the WTs for many,many years,if he really does have the loyalty and interest of the club at heart,he will retire after this year and let the younger guys develope as he did when he first came into the fg team…he would definately have plenty of guidance and experience to share with them at training and behind the scenes as well preferably in an assistant coaching role…

I 100% agree it is time to go, and I have said many times, but like I said 2 months ago, Benji has designs on playing again and not only is it wrong, it is also a disruption this year.
And on Brooks, it has finally been put out in the open, game management, something people on here believe is a myth, has been called to account, I hope Brooks can do it, but I really have my doubts.

Again quoting a journalist and attributing to what the Coach actually said are 2 different things..

Journalist
...revealed he had worked hard behind the scenes with him on several areas, including game management, one criticism often directed at the nuggety left-footer.

Coach
"Plenty of players have gone through something similar, it’s how they react and the work they do in the background.

"I’m seeing Brooksy do exactly what you need to do through a period like this in your career.

"This year he’s been more consistent with his defence, he had a tough day out against Souths but prior to that he was strong. He just needs to be more consistent around that space.

"And with the ball he just needs to keep developing his game.’’

That is whole of game..

No mention of his running game ...funny

It is ok Happy, his game management is sweet, he is working on other things

 

[old_man_tiger]

IMO. Dropping benji earlier in the season was beyond questionable.
Benji was arguably the best playmaker in the comp for the first few weeks. He keeps brooks and brooks inevitably hams it up.
Then he puts brooks in the bench.
Doesn’t make sense

Get where you're coming from. Feel he has punished both for defense and to show the team as a whole they need to respond.

Agree that Brooks on the bench is strange and don't like it. Was disappointed that when Doueihi went off that we didn't have better options.

 

[Toowoomba_Tiger]

Come to the realisation this year that he struggles with foresight. He can't plan a play ahead like the great halfbacks. Gets his timing all wrong and the plays looks forced.

Seems to overthink or doubt himself at the clutch play, clutch moments. He makes a simple grubber look like a heavy burden.

Still a very capable halfback but I'm resigned to the understanding he is unlikely to ever overcome this aspect of his role.

 

[bigsiro]

IMO. Dropping benji earlier in the season was beyond questionable.
Benji was arguably the best playmaker in the comp for the first few weeks. He keeps brooks and brooks inevitably hams it up.
Then he puts brooks in the bench.
Doesn’t make sense

Get where you're coming from. Feel he has punished both for defense and to show the team as a whole they need to respond.

Agree that Brooks on the bench is strange and don't like it. Was disappointed that when Doueihi went off that we didn't have better options.

It’s almost as if it is Madge’s grand plan to finally show everyone that Brooks doesn’t belong anywhere near the 17. If so, it’s rather brutal.

 

[Toowoomba_Tiger]

Pretty clear Madge thinks he's not fulfilling his role at 7. He's obviously going to say Brooks is the long-term 7. He's contracted to the club and McGuire ain't gonna whack brook's confidence saying otherwise. He's just put him on notice and will be waiting and seeing. Hopefully toying with options.
Good call. In Madge I trust.

 

[Toowoomba_Tiger]

Playing Brooks from the bench is not ideal, I'm confident Madge knows this as well as all us fans. But its a necessary evil in the overall process of assessing Brooks at current