Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[batboy]

Wests Tigers have started preliminary discussions to extend the contract of Luke Brooks - a move which could keep the halfback at Concord for the rest of his playing career.

The Daily Telegraph was told Newcastle was zeroing in on Brooks again but the speculation was quickly denied by Wests Tigers management.

One source close to Newcastle felt Brooks was a “99 per cent” chance of being at the Knights next season.

Wests Tigers officials scuppered the speculation before claiming the club had spoken to Brooks’ manager, Isaac Moses, about a new deal.

Club recruitment manager Warren McDonnell met with Moses on Monday.

“We are looking at the future and are talking about numerous options and we broached the subject with his management,” McDonnell said.

“But that’s all – broached the subject. He’s not off contract until the end of next year. We are in discussions with numerous players coming off contract after next year and we are only in the early stages of discussions (with Brooks).

“Luke is one of the players whose manager we have spoken to but we haven’t put an offer to him and we won’t in the short-term.”

Brooks has told friends he is keen to work under the club’s newest coaching staff of Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and David Furner.

Contract extension discussions were brief and no money was lodged.

Brooks was at the club’s Centre of Excellence on Wednesday and has already held meetings about next season with club director of football, Tim Sheens.

Even after being told Wests Tigers wanted to retain Brooks, sources close to Newcastle believed the halfback would be at McDonald Jones Stadium next season.

Player managers claimed Knights officials were holding meetings this week about recruitment for next season.

It seems the Knights will continue to quietly pursue Brooks.

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Sheens is a known fan of Brooks, the often-maligned halfback who comes off contract after next season.

It is understood Sheens, the new head coach from 2023, and Benji Marshall, the coach from 2025, will further talks with Brooks early next season.

Brooks’ possible exit to Newcastle has created headlines for two years although the player has never sought a release, despite reports suggesting he had last off-season.

He will be 28 years old when his deal expires at Wests Tigers after next season.

While no contract extension details have been finalised, a new deal could ensure Brooks plays out his career at Concord.

One well-placed source close to Wests Tigers, when asked about Brooks joining Newcastle, said: “In all honesty, not a hope in hell. Sheens is keen on him and wants to keep him. Absolutely not.”

In April, Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis angrily hit out at the on-going criticism of Brooks.

“If it was in an employment environment, it would be tantamount to bullying,” said Hagipantelis, the Principal of Brydens Lawyers.

“The level of focus and attention on Luke I think is unwarranted and unhealthy. We often speak about welfare issues in the game. The level of scrutiny and criticism, I think, has been excessive.”

Meanwhile Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has claimed the Kelly-Barnes Medal after being voted the club’s 2022 NRL player of the year.

Wondering who wrote that - Claiming no release was requested....
Be interested to know if it's one of the same journalists that have been sprucing all year that he asked twice last year?

Also wonder if it's a ploy to get Newcastle to pay full freight?
Also seems odd to me that the Knights have Clifford and Clune - Just bought Gamble and are "Apparently" chasing croft for next year.
Add Brooks to that - There's a whole bunch of halves....

 

[Camel2281]

View attachment 2574

In all seriousness if we extend Brooks, as a club, management must want to continue to be unsuccessful.

I'd find it very difficult to continue to support the Tigers if Brooks gets an extension

 

[Merlot]

The angle of his kick is very telling - it isn't even aiming at the in-goal area!!View attachment 2576

Q 21 on the qwiz-?

 

[Batmans Parents]

View attachment 2574

LOL. And people on here wonder why we are widely regarded as the joke of the NRL and the media refer to us as a basket case.

It's because we do dumb shit like this! Of course, there's the usual parade of troglydytes on here clapping like seals, applauding this despite him having delivered nothing in 10 years. Just another example of the culture of acceptance for mediocrity that comes from the board and seeps all the way down amongst some delusional fans evidently.

 

[WT2K]

Wondering who wrote that - Claiming no release was requested....
Be interested to know if it's one of the same journalists that have been sprucing all year that he asked twice last year?

Also wonder if it's a ploy to get Newcastle to pay full freight?
Also seems odd to me that the Knights have Clifford and Clune - Just bought Gamble and are "Apparently" chasing croft for next year.
Add Brooks to that - There's a whole bunch of halves....

Dean Ritchie wrote it

 

[stryker 69]

View attachment 2574

Very well deserved contract extension.
As much as we can afford please Justo…

 

[BAGNF05]

We don't have many decent backs.

Only Naden, Kenny and Nofo (On his day) are first graders.

Jury is out on Naden

 

[SeanT]

Deadset move the club to Perth if we re-sign Brooks.

Na I'm in Perth..I'd rather have my problems a few thousand.kilometers away thanks 😂😂🤔

 

[SeanT]

Jury is out on Naden

Please the jury has already has decided he's guilty of gross.defensive issues 🙄

 

[SeanT]

So if Brooks is resigned who is going to be the kicker from 20m out. Fair dinkum him and.Douhie can't find the on goal for the life of them

 

[Cobarcats]

More like a hell of a lot of those long death riding him have finally come around to the realisation that Luke remains the club's best signed option in the halves.

Considered Hastings as a challenger for being WT best there for a couple of weeks or so, at least until opposition coaches learnt to neutralise him as well.

If rumours my long held huge concerns of Doueihi's defensive liabilities are being shared at coaching level are true, then it would seem that the club is on the lookout for a replacement, so has anyone heard any whispers other than unrealistic Munster?

You've done it now FG, the avalanche begins.

 

[BAGNF05]

The love of mediocrity is now a myth. It's a love of total failure now.

So true. I thought the same when Noddy tossed up a 10-16 second half against the Faders as a relief.

 

[BAGNF05]

Please the jury has already has decided he's guilty of gross.defensive issues 🙄

I can’t judge our backs or halves when our middles are made of fairy floss.

 

[BAGNF05]

So if Brooks is resigned who is going to be the kicker from 20m out. Fair dinkum him and.Douhie can't find the on goal for the life of them

That tactic became less popular with the 7 tackle set. Teams go high and try to land the ball on the try line now.

 

[Telltails]

Brooks is a genius. Must be the most successful 7 off the field, without reaching a level of success on the field. Can only hope Sheens is the coach that gets rewarded for backing him.

 

[tony soprano]

Wests Tigers have started preliminary discussions to extend the contract of Luke Brooks - a move which could keep the halfback at Concord for the rest of his playing career.

The Daily Telegraph was told Newcastle was zeroing in on Brooks again but the speculation was quickly denied by Wests Tigers management.

One source close to Newcastle felt Brooks was a “99 per cent” chance of being at the Knights next season.

Wests Tigers officials scuppered the speculation before claiming the club had spoken to Brooks’ manager, Isaac Moses, about a new deal.

Club recruitment manager Warren McDonnell met with Moses on Monday.

“We are looking at the future and are talking about numerous options and we broached the subject with his management,” McDonnell said.

“But that’s all – broached the subject. He’s not off contract until the end of next year. We are in discussions with numerous players coming off contract after next year and we are only in the early stages of discussions (with Brooks).

“Luke is one of the players whose manager we have spoken to but we haven’t put an offer to him and we won’t in the short-term.”

Brooks has told friends he is keen to work under the club’s newest coaching staff of Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and David Furner.

Contract extension discussions were brief and no money was lodged.

Brooks was at the club’s Centre of Excellence on Wednesday and has already held meetings about next season with club director of football, Tim Sheens.

Even after being told Wests Tigers wanted to retain Brooks, sources close to Newcastle believed the halfback would be at McDonald Jones Stadium next season.

Player managers claimed Knights officials were holding meetings this week about recruitment for next season.

It seems the Knights will continue to quietly pursue Brooks.

Loading embed...
Sheens is a known fan of Brooks, the often-maligned halfback who comes off contract after next season.

It is understood Sheens, the new head coach from 2023, and Benji Marshall, the coach from 2025, will further talks with Brooks early next season.

Brooks’ possible exit to Newcastle has created headlines for two years although the player has never sought a release, despite reports suggesting he had last off-season.

He will be 28 years old when his deal expires at Wests Tigers after next season.

While no contract extension details have been finalised, a new deal could ensure Brooks plays out his career at Concord.

One well-placed source close to Wests Tigers, when asked about Brooks joining Newcastle, said: “In all honesty, not a hope in hell. Sheens is keen on him and wants to keep him. Absolutely not.”

In April, Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis angrily hit out at the on-going criticism of Brooks.

“If it was in an employment environment, it would be tantamount to bullying,” said Hagipantelis, the Principal of Brydens Lawyers.

“The level of focus and attention on Luke I think is unwarranted and unhealthy. We often speak about welfare issues in the game. The level of scrutiny and criticism, I think, has been excessive.”

Meanwhile Wests Tigers forward Joe Ofahengaue has claimed the Kelly-Barnes Medal after being voted the club’s 2022 NRL player of the year.

Let the games begin

 

[tony soprano]

Brooks is a genius. Must be the most successful 7 off the field, without reaching a level of success on the field. Can only hope Sheens is the coach that gets rewarded for backing him.

Isaac

 

[jirskyr]

They were originally setup to promote rugby league in the area - that included Wests Magpies football club. They once owned Wests Campbelltown but that club is now a seperate entity under the Wests Group which is not affiliated with Wests Ashfield. Campbelltown funds juniors in the Wests Macarthur competitions but no longer provides funds to Wests Tigers.

Technically Wests Group do provide funds as are a premium sponsor, just that they've given up all ownership rights.

 

[Merlot]

Technically Wests Group do provide funds as are a premium sponsor, just that they've given up all ownership rights.

isn;t it all just mumbo jumbo for structuring debt and minimizing against litigation

 

[Tito Santana]

I’m not buying the Brooks is staying line. He’s gone.