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NRL teams Round 6: Wests Tigers make big changes, reveal plan to unleash Luke Brooks
Plenty were shocked when maligned playmaker Luke Brooks was named in a foreign position this week. But there is method to the madness.
Michael Carayannis
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Brent Read
11 min read
April 13, 2022 - 4:03PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
184 comments
In a wide-ranging interview, Brooks spoke about the move, reacted to the criticism surrounding his form and addressed the prospect of being axed from the side.
Brooks acknowledged that after 177 top grade games it is time to turn over control of the side to Hastings.
Luke Brooks has conceded ownership of the Wests Tigers side to Jackson Hastings but the underfire five-eighth says his positional switch could help reignite his career.
Brooks also hit out at critics by declaring “why would I listen to what they say?”.
He will this week give up the No. 7 jersey he has largely occupied since his first full season in the top grade in 2014 and switch to five-eighth to accommodate Hastings.
“Yeah, he is going to be first receiver and the prominent half,” Brooks said. “I’m going to play off the back of him. I’m looking forward to that new role. He adds a lot to our attack. He is a good talker. He leads the team around well. That takes a fair bit of pressure off me
“Madge (coach Michael Maguire) and I spoke about what works for me and gets me to play my best footy. That’s running the ball. The thought behind it is to get me running the ball.”
Brooks has been largely playing as a second receiver in recent weeks with Hastings suspended. Much of the Tigers winless start has been lumped on the shoulders of Maguire and Brooks.
Brooks said the critics did not bother him.
“I’m off all socials,” Brooks said. “It’s hard this day and age to fully stay away. I just do my best to not listen to any of it. That’s their job, to sell newspapers and get TV ratings. If it’s on me, it’s on me. It’s part of the game.
“I’ve learnt to not worry about it. A lot of the people writing stuff have never played the game. They are having their two cents. Why would I listen to what they say? The opinions which matter to me are the people which matter at this club.
“I’m confident in my abilities. There are a few things in my game I need to fix. That will help me take opportunities that I’m not taking. I’m still confident in what I can do … I’m blocking out all the outside noise. Over the past few years it’s become the norm. I’m used to it.”
Brooks hopes the positional switch will return him to his 2018 form where he won halfback of the year after Benji Marshall largely took on the running of the side.
Hooker Jake Simpkin backed Hastings to direct the team.
“Jacko is very vocal,” Simpkin said. “It makes my job and the other boys’ job easier when he takes control like he does. It helps.”
Injured co-captain Adam Doueihi, whose return is still about two months away, has a mortgage on the No. 6 jersey. But Brooks had a blunt retort when asked if he feared joining the likes Tyrone Peachey, Jacob Liddle, Oliver Gildart and Ken Maumalo in getting dropped.
“I don’t know … not really,” Brooks said. “If it was to happen it’ll happen.”
The conjecture around the 27-year-old has continued since the off-season when he was linked with a move to Newcastle. He denied he had ever requested a release
“I have this year and next year to go,” Brooks said. “I’m committed. Anyone who knows me, knows if I’m here I’m going to be fully committed.”
MADGE’S DESPERATE DICE THROW
Michael Maguire has made one last-ditch effort to revive under fire half Luke Brooks by switching him out of the No.7 jersey as Tigers bosses defend Justin Pascoe’s decision to take a holiday.
Maguire has thrown his faith behind Jackson Hastings to turn the club’s fortunes around against the Eels on Monday.
Hastings will start at halfback for the first time in the NRL in six years with the struggling Brooks shifted to five-eighth as the club battles a winless start to the year.
While Maguire was trying to work out how to revive his side, chief executive Pascoe is on leave.
It is understood the family holiday was originally planned for the off-season but was cancelled twice because of Covid-19. Pascoe has still been working and has spoken with Maguire and head of football Tim Sheens, despite officially being on holidays.
Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis defended Pascoe and refuted comparisons to Prime Minister Scott Morrison taking a holiday during the bushfires.
“It is a holiday that has been delayed a number of times due to Covid,” Hagipantelis said.
“A holiday that he has planned with his family for quite some time.
“He wrote to the board last week. The board said enjoy the holiday with your family. I don’t know how his presence would make much difference.
“I spoke to him numerous times. I know he has spoken to Tim and Madge (Michael Maguire). This is not a SCOMO (Morrison) moment. He is outside the jurisdiction but constantly on the phone. It is a question of perspective. From our perspective, it is not an issue.”
Brooks may have survived the chop but that did not stop Maguire from making widespread changes to his outfit, with co-captains Ken Maumalo and Tyrone Peachey dropped alongside Jacob Liddle and English recruit Oliver Gildart.
Jake Simpkin has earned a reprieve at hooker, with backrower Luke Garner moved to the centres. While Maguire has wielded the axe, the Dragons are staying patient by keeping their youngsters out of the top squad.
