Annoying Parramatta Eels star Chris Sandow won’t distract West Tigers half Luke Brooks

LUKE Brooks will resist being lured into a personal war with Chris Sandow when the Wests Tigers look to upset the Eels in a Easter Monday epic.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 27: Chris Sandow of the Eels celebrates victory in the round four NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Pirtek Stadium on March 27, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

NIGGLE, nag ... a bloody blue and gold nuisance. We are talking about Chris Sandow of course; the electric Eel who last week helped Parramatta upset the Rabbitohs last week by being an A grade annoyance.

And that’s exactly why Luke Brooks will resist being lured into a personal war with his No. 7 opposite when the Wests Tigers look to upset the Eels tomorrow in a Easter Monday epic at ANZ Stadium.

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“Na I won’t be looking to (go toe-to-toe with him),’’ Tiger’s half Brooks said.

“I think I will just stick to my game. I have to stick to my structure and to the structure of my team and I can’t be distracted from the job I have to do.’’

Tigers half Luke Brooks plans to stick to his own game.

Sandow, a monstrous mut, has the ability to turn a game by way of provocation.

Whether it is his mouth, a heavy hit or simply a “Sandow’’ smile, he gets under the skin of his rivals like no other.

Last week it was Rabbitohs hooker Issac Luke that took the bait and by gulping the lure he helped Sandow and the Eels collect a heavyweight scalp with the Parramatta downing the previously unbeaten premiers.

Billed again as the “battle of the west’’, tomorrow’s match shapes as a showdown between the playmakers with Sandow back to his best and Brooks and undisputed star in the making.

Both players are electric game winners. Excitement machines.

But despite being only 20 and in his third full-time year, Brooks knows better than to make the match all about Sandow and him.

“He is obviously a great player and very unpredictable so it will be tough,’’ Brooks said.

“Hopefully we can stop him but I won’t be getting caught up with what he does. I will be playing my own game and not be put off by what he does.’’

Considered the future of the Wests Tigers under new coach Jason Taylor, Brooks predicted defence — not their talked about attack — would win the black and gold’s the match.

Big back-row forwards and even bigger outside backs have spearheaded the Eels early season success with surprise packets like Tepai Moeroa and John Folau proving devastating with their charges.

John Folau of the Eels celebrates after scoring.

Brooks, fresh from lining up against the gigantic Bulldogs pack, is confident of shutting down the Eels with his shoulder.

“It’s going to be a huge defensive test because they have some big backrowers,’’ Brooks said.

“I have to be ready to get my body in front of them and tackle. It is going to be a big challenge but stopping them is a big key to this one.

“Personally I have been pretty happy with my defence this year.

“I have had a few missed tackles but it is something I am going to keep on working on. I am looking to cut them out. The Bulldogs on the weekend were pretty tough to handle with all there big blokes and this week will be tough as well.’’

West Tigers player James Tedesco on the break.

Brooks said his defence would spark his attack — not Sandow, who of course will do his best to bring out the worst in his rival.

“It is a big part of my game and I think as a half-back that if your defence comes than that will look after your attack,’’ Brooks said.

“I have been working on it and will keep working on it and that is the key to me playing well on Monday.’’

Originally published as Annoying Parramatta Eels star Chris Sandow won’t distract West Tigers half Luke Brooks