Luke Brooks' immediate playing future is in limbo with the off-contract halfback set to miss up to six weeks with a recurring hamstring injury.
The Wests Tigers have tried to keep the severity of Brooks' injury under wraps, however the halfback now faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suffering a grade two hamstring tear in the loss to Melbourne last Sunday.
While Brooks is hopeful of only missing just four weeks, there is a possibility he may not be back until round 10 against South Sydney, which will mark seven weeks between games given there is also representative round in April.
The timing of the injury – which is a recurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up at the Auckland Nines – couldn't have come at a worse time for Brooks, who might not get another chance to prove his worth before signing a contract for 2018 and beyond.
While Brooks has long been regarded a player of immense potential, he has come under fire in recent weeks for his performances to start the year.
Despite his struggles to open the season, the Tigers are still keen to keep him at the club beyond this year, but at what price remains the question.
Ivan Cleary, who is expected to be announced as new Wests Tigers coach on Monday, will get a major say in whether the club retains the off-contract Brooks, Mitchell Moses, Aaron Woods and James Tedesco.
But unfortunately for Brooks, who will be replaced by Jack Littlejohn, his inconsistent performances to start the year will be the only gauge for Cleary to go off if a decision on his future is made over the next month.
This Sunday's game against the high-flying St George Illawarra will likely be interim coach Andrew Webster's last match in charge of the joint venture before Cleary takes control of the club.
Cleary's first assignment is arguably the toughest in the competition, heading up to Townsville to take on Johnathan Thurston and his North Queensland Cowboys.
The club is just finalising the details of the contract that will see Cleary at the helm in Tiger town until the end of 2020.
The futures of the off-contract David Nofoaluma, Kyle Lovett, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Kevin Naiqama and Matt Ballin are also up for negotiation.
Grant, Idris and Naiqama all played under Cleary during his time at the Panthers, so too Elijah Taylor – who joined Penrith to link up with his former Warriors coach.
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/wests-tigers-halfback-luke-brooks-to-miss-up-to-six-weeks-with-hamstring-injury-20170331-gvapb7.html
The Wests Tigers have tried to keep the severity of Brooks' injury under wraps, however the halfback now faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suffering a grade two hamstring tear in the loss to Melbourne last Sunday.
While Brooks is hopeful of only missing just four weeks, there is a possibility he may not be back until round 10 against South Sydney, which will mark seven weeks between games given there is also representative round in April.
The timing of the injury – which is a recurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up at the Auckland Nines – couldn't have come at a worse time for Brooks, who might not get another chance to prove his worth before signing a contract for 2018 and beyond.
While Brooks has long been regarded a player of immense potential, he has come under fire in recent weeks for his performances to start the year.
Despite his struggles to open the season, the Tigers are still keen to keep him at the club beyond this year, but at what price remains the question.
Ivan Cleary, who is expected to be announced as new Wests Tigers coach on Monday, will get a major say in whether the club retains the off-contract Brooks, Mitchell Moses, Aaron Woods and James Tedesco.
But unfortunately for Brooks, who will be replaced by Jack Littlejohn, his inconsistent performances to start the year will be the only gauge for Cleary to go off if a decision on his future is made over the next month.
This Sunday's game against the high-flying St George Illawarra will likely be interim coach Andrew Webster's last match in charge of the joint venture before Cleary takes control of the club.
Cleary's first assignment is arguably the toughest in the competition, heading up to Townsville to take on Johnathan Thurston and his North Queensland Cowboys.
The club is just finalising the details of the contract that will see Cleary at the helm in Tiger town until the end of 2020.
The futures of the off-contract David Nofoaluma, Kyle Lovett, Tim Grant, Jamal Idris, Kevin Naiqama and Matt Ballin are also up for negotiation.
Grant, Idris and Naiqama all played under Cleary during his time at the Panthers, so too Elijah Taylor – who joined Penrith to link up with his former Warriors coach.
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http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/wests-tigers-halfback-luke-brooks-to-miss-up-to-six-weeks-with-hamstring-injury-20170331-gvapb7.html
