Not quite sure how this kid has gone from hero to zero in a year, but I thought APs policy was to bring through the youth. Ben has had some issues this season and ended up on the naughty step, yet it seems increasingly likely that we will no longer require his services next year. Personally I think in a couple of years he could be one of the best centres in SL and it seems rather silly to let him go.

Are we prepared to pay top money while we wait for 'a couple of years' for him to mature?

Subject has been done to death, but he's contracted for the next two years so if he's to leave it would be right to demand a fee.

Swap him for Hock?

He WILL bite us in the , infact i hope he does. The club has done no favours on this one. And before the apologists come out to play, its about the fact the club are silent on it. Even AP's letter to me refers to the young players of Snyed and Rankin. and no others.

Why couldnt the club just come out and comment? didnt stop them commenting on Seymour

No thank you, I'd hope Watts would not be influenced by Hock, but lets not take the chance eh?

As for spending $$ on "waiting for him to mature"

instead lets spend top $$ on a 2 year deal on a Aussie then

It's a salary cap sport, value for money is the most important thing. If he doesn't want to help himself then him off, sometimes you just have to realise that maybe the club has done all it can and it's the player? Similar to Brough all those years ago.

Give Watts some credit.

I'd still like the club to say something. The silence creates this internet rabble

What if it went all quiet, and next season Crooks was given the number 4 shirt, started first game 10kg heavier, scored 3 tries and 6 goals and pulled a rovers scarf out of his pocket and set fire to it?

Man of steel and lifetime contract then

No he wont. He's not as good as he thinks he is.

Why do you think he went out on loan to a lower league club. Defensively he's a liability and he relied on Lineham too much.

If the club were to respond to all rumours they would need to employ a few more people to deal with it. They should only comment when there is genuinely something of note to say (signing, departures, contract extensions)

I don't profess to know the facts, but if he is holding out for an increase on the basis of selection in to a non-playing 13 (the SL dream team) then someone need to show him a break down of Kevin Penny's playing career

Personally I think too much is made of this. Its not as though he misses every tackle. As for relying on Lineham, its a team sport, I'd hope he would rely on the other 11 on the pitch along with his winger.

We have an older version of Crooks in Arundel..& hes not upto much either..we need to sell Crooks to make a few quid & space on the cap..funny how all other SL clubs no hes heading out the door..yet none of them are getting their cheque books out..very average player imo.

We have an older version of Crooks in Arundel..& hes not upto much either..we need to sell Crooks to make a few quid & space on the cap..funny how all other SL clubs no hes heading out the door..yet none of them are getting their cheque books out..very average player imo.

This is true.

Sometimes he's so far out of position he doesn't even get a chance to attempt one.

Strangely I don't recall anyone describing him as very average or a defensive liability last season.

You have a selective memory if you don't recall concerns expressed about his physique and defensive weakness last season.

You're correct about the 'average' nonsense though. He has bags of potential and could be a top centre with a little application and the ability to take advice.

He burst on to the scene with speed & awareness to support..that was something we hadnt seen in the centres for a couple of seasons..but then clubs targeted his weakness (defence)

I don't have a selective memory but nor do I read every post on every thread. I just genuinely don't recall reading about his defensive weakness last season.

Ben Crooks is the ultimate confidence player, when he has it he will apply himself as a top centre but when he doesn't he is a car crash.

A lot of people say Radford may be at blame with his current lack of confidence but IMO playing him in the CC final last year gave him the wrong message then also shattered his confidence.

I have no idea how he has being naughty or in what way, but I'm not seeing him score hat tricks at Donny every week so at this moment in time he is just a passenger at the club.

I would stick with him though, tackling has to be one of the easier things to teach in the game and positional play comes with experience. The kid needs to look at himself in the mirror and admit to himself he is not the finished article and is going to need to work really hard.

what I noticed from the off last yr was centre defended 3 in. 2nd row inside half back outside. Crooks mostly had horne n whiting baby sitting him. I forgave him that being a young skinny kid.
My suspicion is we decided we couldnt afford to devote so much energy to looking after one man. We went back to a conventional defensive pattern n id suspect the coaches when planning pre season assumed crooks would come back bigger stronger n better for his experience. Unfortunately from the off he was flapping arm at defenders putting us under pressure n I think the coaches decided it was easier to take him out than try compensate by rejigging the team around him.
thought radders had played it well taking him out sending him to donny n brought him back for london which was a gimme n soft opposition to come back in. Crooks went well. Next time we had a tough game though he was poor again. So out he went again. Which prob hurt his confidence n maybe a fall out?
I might be reading to much into it but thats how I see.
For a player struggling its been a terrible team in terrible form with terrible direction to try find your form in. Hope we stick with him but seems a lot of noise about him regarding attitude etc n as the saying goes smoke n fire n all that. So quiet on him its like hes left already!

What you mean, like Westerman?

No, not at all like Westerman.

Well surely that's what we've done with him, nurtured him on good money, whilst waiting for him to reach his full potential

You're forgetting one very important difference - Westerman didn't think he was Greg Inglis after one good season and choose not to do the extra work set out for him. Attitude.

Id say he did have a bit of Big Time Charlie about him. Maybe its cos we sacked him as a kid and paid to get him back

Oh yeah, that myth again.