Luke Brooks opens up on NRL future as Wests Tigers chase Mitchell Moses

Halfback Luke Brooks reveals that Mitchell Moses’ future could dictate whether he stays or moves on from the Wests Tigers.

Luke Brooks wants to be part of the Wests Tigers future.

Wests Tigers half Luke Brooks has endorsed the club’s multimillion dollar pursuit of Mitchell Moses and revealed the Parramatta star’s decision could dictate whether he remains at the club.

The Tigers have gone all-in on Moses, pitching them into a seven-figure battle with Parramatta for his services. Brooks came through the lower grades with Moses at the Tigers and has made his own overtures to the Eels star in an attempt to convince him to return to the club.

“I have had a few chats with him about it but I am not sure what his thoughts are,” Brooks said.

Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses could be reunited at Wests Tigers.

“It would obviously be great to get him back here and good to link up again. We have played a lot of footy together.

“Hopefully he makes the decision soon. We have often spoken about the fact we played first grade together when we were really young.

“I guess we didn’t really know the ins and outs of first grade. Now we are older I think we could form a really good combo together if he was to come.

“I think you have that combo with certain people. That is what we had when we were younger — we knew each other’s game, what each other liked and what worked.

“If he were to come that would be a massive incentive for me to stay.”

The Tigers’ offer to Moses is believed to be well in excess of $1 million a season and their chances of landing him improved significantly over the weekend when Canterbury withdrew from the race for his services.

The Eels had the opportunity to lock Moses away midway through last year but hesitated and now find themselves in a dogfight with the price on the rise as the cashed-up Tigers look to continue their spending spree under Tim Sheens.

Wests Tigers are going all out in their bid to sign Mitchell Moses. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers have the financial artillery to launch an attack on the NRL’s biggest names given they have a handful of their biggest stars off contract at the end of the season, chief among them Brooks, Adam Doueihi and Diane Laurie.

Brooks has been through some dark days at the Tigers but as he sits in the grandstand at the recently-renovated Concord Oval, home to the club’s freshly-minted Centre of Excellence, he can see some blue sky on the horizon.

His preference would be to be part of it under the coaching of Sheens and his assistants — Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.

“Nothing has changed too much in regards to the way Benji and Robbie are,” Brooks said.

“There is a lot of smiles on the faces. There is a good energy about the club. We have had a real focus on our skills. If you look back at the way the Tigers used to play when Sheensy was coaching, everyone could pass the ball.

“That has been a real focus of ours. The way Sheensy coaches the team is to be an attacking team. That suits my game. We don’t want to be a team that has five hit-ups for a kick. We want to throw the ball around and not be afraid to make errors.

“That is the Tigers’ DNA from the past — being an attacking team.”

Luke Brooks wants to be part of the Wests Tigers future.

That DNA is on show as you walk through the Centre of Excellence. The walls are a homage to the club’s glory years, interspersed with motivational sayings designed to bring back those days.

Just beyond the entry, the walls scream: “You were meant to be here. You were born to be a player. This moment is yours.” On another wall it says: “The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.” In the dressing rooms, it simply states: “Hungry. Team First. Trust.”

When it comes to Brooks, perhaps the most prevalent post is this: “Some people want it to happen, Some wish it would happen. Others make it happen.”

After some lean years, where his form has been placed under a glaring microscope, Brooks is ready to make it happen again.

“Everyone is keen to rip in and have a really good season,” Brooks said.

“I know I am pumped to start playing footy again.”