**<big>Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses set for bumper year at Wests Tigers</big>**
**NRL season 2015:
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
CHRISTIAN NICOLUSSI JANUARY 20, 2015 12:00AM\
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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-season-2015-luke-brooks-and-mitchell-moses-set-for-bumper-year-at-wests-tigers/story-fnp0lyn3-1227190035754?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20dailytelegraphnrlndm%20%28Daily%20Telegraph%20%7C%20NRL%29&nk=a537c8e0656f8cfb3068542d250f26c5**
A PREMIERSHIP this season may be premature, but at least the Wests Tigers can finally be genuinely excited about the fact they’ve settled on a long-term halves pairing in Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses.
Brooks and Moses grew up playing footy together, and the 20-year-olds have enjoyed a full pre-season being mentored by new coach and former star No. 7 Jason Taylor.
Such is the rap on the duo, Tigers captain Robbie Farah said “these are the two guys I think we can build the club around’’.
The Tigers have seriously struggled for a consistent halves pairing since they were established in 2000.
In fact, the only two times they did enjoy a regular combination in the middle, Benji Marshall and Scott Prince delivered them the 2005 premiership, and Marshall and Robert Lui pushed the club deep into the finals on two occasions.
Bookies have the Tigers at $67 to win the premiership, and nobody at Concord yesterday was prepared to make any bold declarations.
But it’s clear there’s excitement around the No. 6 and No. 7.
Moses, who played 10 games last season, said of playing partner Brooks: “Luke and I have been playing together since we were 12-years-old.
“We know each other’s games inside out. I know when he’s going to run, he knows when I’m going to run, and we normally follow each other out on the field. He’s a freak, and we all saw that last year.’’
Brooks, who picked up the NRL rookie of the year gong — and was yesterday named in the NRL All Stars — said he was keen to work on his defence after he missed more tackles than any other player in the NRL.
He had also enjoyed his first few months under Taylor, and said: “He’s got a smart footy brain, and some of the plays and sets we’re doing, it gets us more involved.
“Last year I was stuck on the lest side too much, and this year I’m trying to get more involved and get my hands on the ball.
“There’s also the kicking game, (Taylor) was a good kicker, and that’s something he’s helped with as well.’’
Taylor was delighted to get the chance to work with such gifted young halves, but was equally impressed with their attitude and application at training. He said Brooks was the reserved one, while Moses “had something to say, about most things’’.
“You need halves knowing what’s happening before the rest of the team really needs to know, and they’ve been good in that regard,’’ Taylor said.
“They’ve been on top of it, they haven’t struggled with some things I thought they might have. There’s a good understanding of the game amongst the two of them. They obviously like to play together.’’
Farah believes Brooks, Moses and fullback James Tedesco cannot only become stars at the Tigers, but shine on the Origin arena.
“Brooksy is calm and a reserved bloke, Mitch is really chirpy and barking orders, ‘Teddy’ has that X-factor at back and with his speed, and I’m the old guy up front who they are kicking along and keeping me going — it makes me feel young being around them,’’ Farah said.
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