Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks – one of the NRL club’s four key off-contract players – has reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension.
Brooks, 22, has been offered close to $550,000 a year, according to Fairfax Media – some $50,000 less than he was believed to be asking.
It comes two days after Ivan Cleary’s appointment as Tigers coach and would be an important foundation to re-building the last-placed team.
The Tigers would not confirm the Brooks deal when contacted by AAP on Wednesday morning.
Captain Aaron Woods, another of the club’s “big four” off-contract stars, expressed excitement at the prospect of Brooks re-signing when told of reports on Sydney radio on Tuesday.
“Oh, did he? That’s awesome,” Woods told Sky Sports Radio.
Locking down Brooks, who’s played 70 NRL games since his 2013 debut, would prompt the Tigers to turn their attention to re-signing fullback James Tedesco, five-eighth Mitchell Moses and forward Woods.
A four-year, $4.5m deal will reportedly be tabled to retain NSW No.1 Tedesco.
The deal would also prevent Brooks being shipped out to make way for star Melbourne playmaker Cooper Cronk, who will leave the Storm at season’s end.
The Tigers have been one of the Sydney clubs rated a chance to lure the Queensland halfback.
Brooks missed the Tigers’ heavy loss to St George Illawarra on Sunday after injuring his hamstring a week earlier.
JoM
Guest
Think it is the manager who has been the issue here though. I don't know the truth about what the others asked for but he didn't ask for $850,000 because he would know very well that he would get nothing like that.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Townsend may not be but just the options at the moment. Just BTW Cronk would be demanding a million at least if he wants to play on.
GC Dave
Guest
As for my comment on Brooks. He floats in and out of games and anyone who wears bed socks in a game, when he is a minnow in the sport has his head space somewhere it shouldn't be. I'll give him credit for the times he plays footy, but in the NRL consistency and staying in the arm wrestle is the key. Brooks floats in and out of games and when things don't work out is bereft of ideas. The halves are the driving force of a team and look at their position. If he wants the reported $900k a year, let him go. Put a couple of hundred together and but Cronk. That sort of sugar makes the Saintas Hunt deal look cheap when it comes to value for money. Robbie Farrah was a good bloke as well by all reports but had a big head and as with Moses and Brooks their expectations exceeded their footballing ability. That's either living in fairyland or egotistical. Either way it won;t help the Tigers. If they keep buying players at overs and keep buying the same players that can't get them very far now, what hope have they of progressing. The tigers team is not up to NRL standard and hard decisions need to be made...apart from keep sacking coaches. If we keep loving the players who should be taking us forward and not looking at them critically with the ultimate capacity to move them on, the Tigers fans are kidding themselves and will be burdened by the wooden spoon for many years to come. There is nowhere to hide here now, the club is lengths last in the club championship. The NSW cup side is atrocious and not competitive, the under 20's are ahead of one side. Tigers fans need to be ruthless in a clean out.
GC Dave
Guest
I don't know Luke Brooks, but his expectations with respect to money exceeds his current capabilities. That evidences to me that his ego with respect to football is out of control. He could play most games in a dinner suit and his defence is like a turnstile. This isn't a game of personalities, he may well be the nicest kid at home on the planet, it's about football, and his head got in the way of fulfilling his potential...period. I hope for his sake and the Tigers sake, he does eventually fulfill his potential, but to [pay $550 a year for a virtual reserve grade half back is crazy.
GC Dave
Guest
At present he is barely a NSW cup player. To payy that sort of money for one of the bottom of the 16 team most effective halves in the competition is way off the mark
GC Dave
Guest
Townsend is not the answer. Mybe may be. Townsend is a role player only.
John
Guest
You would think they would be able to shave a bit more than 50K off the contract considering Cronk is on the market. Still I reckon 550K for Brooks is a bit much.
DOUBLES
Guest
Brooks is lucky to get 550k to be honest, you are right...550K for what .He has done nothing in 3 years ? ?/
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
If the Tigers get a different half to partner Brooks this could be good. Widdop, Townsend, Cronk maybeare all on the open market. With Moses asking $900k reportedly I think this is a good decision
Gavin Large
Guest
Do you even know Moses, egotistical isn't the best description... maybe "good hair or "front rower in a halfback's body"
JoM
Guest
Do you even know Luke Brooks. Egotistical is absolutely the last word you would ever say about him. Moses is egotistical, the other two to a lesser degree, Brooks definitely not.
GC Dave
Guest
On form they have played overs for this overrated player. Hopefully Cleary will be able to help him fulfill his early potential. Plenty of half backs on the market after this season with Cronk at the top of the tree. Cronk is used to playing for premierships not wooden spoons ..so the Tigers are at long odds to attract him. They have tied up the least valuable and least desirable player....who was an impostor when being called part of a big anything let alone big 4. Maybe one of the big 4 disappointments in League would have fitted on his resume better and with more integrity. Now for the others in order of value. Moses.....please don't pay oevers for this guy. He's not worth much more than Brooks on form, but he does have a good game or two so if $550k is Brooks mark......and $850k currently for Cronk, Moses is definitely somewhere in between. Woods.....Great front rower consistently eating up big metres, but needs mongrel in his game. Reports of $1m a year from a rival club must be from his manager. Front rowers aren't worth that and with McQueen reportedly coming next year, more hardworking forwards and one who can break the line and offload should be a priority. Woodsie is not a ball player and whilst he smashes the line, it rarely leads to second phase play. If he wants over $800k, bye Woodsie. Tedesco...what a star. Dugan is not happy at the Dragons because they want to make him a centre. Find out what Dugan wants and offer Teddy that. If he doesn't take it, sign Dugan. Teddy s a great player and it would be sad to see him go, but he and the other two can't hold the club to ransom leading them to sign below standard NRL players as is the case currently. Cleary is a good man and player manager, but signing a egotistical, overrated look at me, out of form half back to an overs deal is not a good sign.