Luke Brooks has rolled out the red carpet for his old mate Mitchell Moses, urging him to return to Wests Tigers as he considers his future at Parramatta.
But the Tigers playmaker will be taking a massive pay cut if Moses returns to the club or could be offered no contract at all after Brooks failed to deliver value for money for the most part on his lucrative multimillion-dollar contract which expires at the end of this season.
Moses took the Eels to their first NRL grand final in more than a decade last year but remains unsigned by the club beyond this season.
He and Brooks were blooded at the Tigers before Moses left for the Eels in 2017, and his old halves partner is keen for them to finish what they started.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“I’ve spoken to him a couple times and told him what the vibe was like and how much it has changed – I’ve been selling the place to him,” Brooks said from the Tigers’ newly opened $80million centre of excellence on Monday.
“I’m not too sure what his thoughts are, but I think he’d be a great addition to our side and I’d love to play with him again.
“I think when we came in (to the NRL) we were very young.
“We sort of spoke before about how we would like to have a chance to play together again.
“Whether that’s now or not, I don’t know but hopefully he makes a decision soon, the one that’s best for him.”
Brooks cut a relaxed figure on Monday and is expected to return from a niggling calf issue in the Tigers’ second trial game against Canberra in three weeks’ time.
(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
The halfback, who has become a punching bag for the Tigers’ recent failures, described the new era under Tim Sheens as a “fresh start”.
Brooks has reasons to be cheerful given the forward pack he will be playing behind.
Along with rising stars Shawn Blore and Stefano Utoikamanu, the Tigers have brought in David Klemmer, Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and Englishman John Bateman, who is set to land in the country in the next fortnight.
Asked if the current set of Tigers forwards was the best he had played with through his 10-year stint with the club, Brooks said: “A hundred per cent. The guys like Stef and Blorey, you forget they kind of missed the whole of last year.
“They’re looking strong and fit and then you’ve got Klemmer and then ‘Ice’ (Papali’i) and Bateman, who are strike players on each edge.
“Api will be in the middle and be able to bring them on to the ball and really get us going forward.
“Those guys in the pack plus all our young forwards who had a bit of a taste last year who will only benefit our side.”
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