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