http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/dragons-protest-as-tigers-unveil-brooks/story-fnca0von-1226702435627
THE precocious talents of young halfback Luke Brooks will finally be on display in the NRL after Wests Tigers were granted permission to break the salary cap restrictions because of their heavy injury toll.
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But the move doesn't sit well with St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust, who has called for an urgent meeting with the NRL so all clubs can benefit from the same kind of generosity.
The Tigers wrote to salary cap auditor Ian Schubert on Wednesday asking to play Brooks and prop Nathan Brown from their Holden Cup side in tomorrow's match against St George Illawarra at the SCG.
The Tigers have nine regular NRL players on the sidelines with long-term injuries.
Tomorrow's match marks the 50th anniversary of the Dragons-Wests 1963 grand final.
But there was no sentimental attachment in Doust's comments posted on the club's website.
"I think any club CEO would be interested in understanding what all this means," Doust said, as he questioned why the Tigers were being allowed to break the second-tier salary cap with not one but two players.
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"We may even need to adjust our strategies in relation to recruitment and roster management moving forward off the back of a determinations such as this," he said.
Doust acknowledged it was too late to do anything before the SCG match, but was firm in his belief that the NRL granting the application was "ill-conceived".
"This circumstance, from the information with which we have been provided and from what we can see, is an issue of roster management, not injury management, and the fact that both teams are not in contention for the finals should not be a consideration," he said.
"We have eight NRL players on the sidelines ourselves and from where we sit, the decision reached doesn't seem to be very equitable.
"We have expressed our disappointment to the NRL, asked for more specifics and believe the specifics should be assessed more fully."
The Dragons might also be smarting after their plans last month to play Rangi Chase were thwarted.
The former Dragons player wanted to return home earlier this year from Castleford, but the NRL said the money he had earned in Super League this year would have to be included in the club's 2013 salary cap.
Tigers coach Mick Potter has not announced where he will play Brooks.
The logical spot would be at No 7, moving Braith Anasta to the backrow.
Potter is due to make his decision public after training today. He told The Australian earlier this week that he did not intend to drop the out-of-form Benji Marshall for the remaining three games of the regular season.
"He's been a long-standing icon of this club, a former captain, and he deserves to play out the season, barring injury," Potter said.
I think the Dragons like to complain about everything … I feel bad for them about the Moltzen deal, so as a gesture of good faith, I believe they should be able to take him off our hands for next season.
THE precocious talents of young halfback Luke Brooks will finally be on display in the NRL after Wests Tigers were granted permission to break the salary cap restrictions because of their heavy injury toll.
\
\
\
But the move doesn't sit well with St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust, who has called for an urgent meeting with the NRL so all clubs can benefit from the same kind of generosity.
The Tigers wrote to salary cap auditor Ian Schubert on Wednesday asking to play Brooks and prop Nathan Brown from their Holden Cup side in tomorrow's match against St George Illawarra at the SCG.
The Tigers have nine regular NRL players on the sidelines with long-term injuries.
Tomorrow's match marks the 50th anniversary of the Dragons-Wests 1963 grand final.
But there was no sentimental attachment in Doust's comments posted on the club's website.
"I think any club CEO would be interested in understanding what all this means," Doust said, as he questioned why the Tigers were being allowed to break the second-tier salary cap with not one but two players.
\
\
"We may even need to adjust our strategies in relation to recruitment and roster management moving forward off the back of a determinations such as this," he said.
Doust acknowledged it was too late to do anything before the SCG match, but was firm in his belief that the NRL granting the application was "ill-conceived".
"This circumstance, from the information with which we have been provided and from what we can see, is an issue of roster management, not injury management, and the fact that both teams are not in contention for the finals should not be a consideration," he said.
"We have eight NRL players on the sidelines ourselves and from where we sit, the decision reached doesn't seem to be very equitable.
"We have expressed our disappointment to the NRL, asked for more specifics and believe the specifics should be assessed more fully."
The Dragons might also be smarting after their plans last month to play Rangi Chase were thwarted.
The former Dragons player wanted to return home earlier this year from Castleford, but the NRL said the money he had earned in Super League this year would have to be included in the club's 2013 salary cap.
Tigers coach Mick Potter has not announced where he will play Brooks.
The logical spot would be at No 7, moving Braith Anasta to the backrow.
Potter is due to make his decision public after training today. He told The Australian earlier this week that he did not intend to drop the out-of-form Benji Marshall for the remaining three games of the regular season.
"He's been a long-standing icon of this club, a former captain, and he deserves to play out the season, barring injury," Potter said.
I think the Dragons like to complain about everything … I feel bad for them about the Moltzen deal, so as a gesture of good faith, I believe they should be able to take him off our hands for next season.
