NRL 2022: Balmain greats back Luke Brooks after taking aim at leaks at the club
Two Balmain greats have sounded a warning for Wests Tigers after throwing their support behind Luke Brooks for taking a stand on leaks at the club.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Balmain greats have backed Luke Brooks after comments about leaks at Wests Tigers, with former champion hooker Benny Elias warning continued leaks to the media could destroy the club.
On Wednesday, Brooks took a pot shot at senior officials for leaking information after reports interim coach Brett Kimmorley was preparing to axe the playmaker made their way into the headlines.
Elias praised Brooks for taking a stand on the issue.
“If there is a leak, you need to stop it,” Elias said. “If there’s a leak, it’s like rust, it spreads. You have to cut the rust.
“They did a three-month review last year. You’d think it was comprehensive enough to identify all those issues, especially leaking privy information, which can be one of the biggest things that can destroy a club. Everyone should know that from the ball boy to the chairman.”
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Fellow legend Garry Jack, who played 244 games for Balmain, said the leaks had undermined the relationship between players and senior officials, eroding the trust and culture of the club.
“You have to be able to trust the guy next to you on the field but also the people off the field, that’s how it was back in my day,” Jack said.
“It’s a difficult situation as a player.
“You can’t be successful if you have leaks because it means the trust isn’t there. It’s a trust thing. It undermines the team.
“Brooks is one the most senior players who is entitled to have his say. He has been there for over 10 years now. He is there every day and sees what goes on.
“The club needs to listen to what the senior players are saying.”
Elias said Brooks, who is set to earn over $1 million next season, was voicing frustrations after years of copping the brunt of blame for the side’s on-field failure.
“He’s one of the finest young men you’d met,” Elias said. “There’s no bullshit about him at all. He’s quiet and humble. For him to make those comments ... I would believe them 100 per cent.
“Whenever there is a drama they point the finger at him. He’s said nothing, he has kept his mouth shut.”
Brooks’ comments on Wednesday were quickly followed by another report which detailed a private conversation between Kimmorley and star Adam Doueihi, who has been named at centre against Parramatta.
Only two games back from an ACL injury, Doueihi broached the idea of getting more game time in NSW Cup, where he could also play in his preferred position at five-eighth.
According to Jack, to rebuild the culture at the joint venture the Tigers must appoint the right head coach.
A number of internal figures are pushing for Tim Sheens, who guided the Wests Tigers to an inaugural premiership in 2005, to be installed as coach but Jack believes Sheens is best suited in his current role as the club’s head of football.
Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo, widely regarded as the best rising coach, knocked back a five-year deal after Micheal Maguire was sacked in June.
A number of other rookie NRL coaches like St Helens boss Kristian Woolf and Kimmorley have been touted as replacements, as has former Cronulla coach John Morris.
But Jack believes the club, who are set to miss the finals for the 11th year running, needs a seasoned coach to help turn around the side’s fortunes.
“We need someone with experience,” Jack said. “There are guys like Paul Green and Shane Flanagan, who have one a premiership and who all still have the drive to win again. You need someone with a proven track record, you can’t have a rookie coach.
“Having someone like Flanagan or Green, who can consult with Tim would be a massive asset.”
DOUEIHI DEVASTATED BY BACKLASH FROM TIGERS LEAKS
-Paul Crawley, Fatima Kdouh
Adam Doueihi is privately gutted that he’s been portrayed as a big head for suggesting to Wests Tigers interim coach Brett Kimmorley to play five-eighth in NSW Cup instead of at centre in the NRL team.
Doueihi is only two games back from an ACL knee injury that he suffered last year and he has so far played both games off the bench.
He has now been selected in the centres for Saturday’s match against Parramatta with Luke Brooks remaining five-eighth and Jackson Hastings at halfback.
Doueihi made the point to Kimmorley in a private chat that he believed it would be in both his and the team’s best interests if he could get more game time in NSW Cup where he could play the full game at five-eighth instead of constantly switching between positions.
But that conversation somehow found its way into the media.
It comes after Brooks also hit out at leaks within the club, while agreeing Doueihi’s best position was five-eighth.
But Doueihi has since copped it from some fans and even Tigers legend Steve Roach who took exception to Doueihi supposedly wanting to dictate which position he would play.
“Can you imagine a bloke saying he wants to play a position when he’s just a player, the inmates are running the asylum,” Roach told Fox Sports.
“If Bob Fulton, Jack Gibson or Warren Ryan are running that club, you wouldn’t be telling them where you were going to play.”
There is no suggestion Doueihi, who is off contract at the end of 2023, is angling for a release and wants out from the Tigers.
But it’s more than fair to say Doueihi is upset over the fallout, and that he has somehow been portrayed as arrogant and selfish.
Doueihi is widely regarded as one of the most humble and decent young men in the game and he’s never previously had a bad word written about him.
He was also the Tigers best player before his injury last year, and it is no secret that his preferred position is five-eighth.
While Doueihi is off contract at the end of next season, he has no intention of testing the market at this point.
But you can bet this latest drama will have clubs circling.
The trouble for the Tigers is that both Brooks and Hastings are also signed for next season, so someone is going to have to play out of position if all three remain at the club.
There has been suggestions the Tigers might consider releasing Brooks if another club was to come knocking.
But given Brooks is reportedly on a massive $1 million-plus deal next year his value is not going to go up if he is dropped to NSW Cup.
That is only going to make it harder for Doueihi to win back his NRL five-eighth spot.
There was talk this week that the Tigers were considering playing Doueihi and Brooks in the halves and moving Hastings to lock but that never eventuated.
BROOKS: DOUEIHI SHOULD BE WEARING MY JERSEY
—Fatima Kdouh
Luke Brooks has taken a swipe at senior Wests Tigers officials accusing the club’s hierarchy of leaking stories, as the five-eighth declares Adam Doueihi should be playing in the No.6 jumper he is wearing.
Brooks’ candid comments came after speculation the playmaker was set to be axed from the NRL side, for the first time in his 186-game career, in round 16 against the Warriors.
A form slump for both Brooks and the Tigers, who have now lost four-straight games, was believed to be the reason behind the demotion to NSW Cup. But Brooks rubbished the rumour and hit out at club officials for continuously leaking insider information to the media.
“I did see it. It was pretty disappointing that it came out in the media and in the end obviously it wasn’t true,” Brooks said.
“I think it came from a place where it probably shouldn’t have and that is what is frustrating sometimes about this club, a fair few stories get leaked out and I think it comes from people a lot higher than us.
“In the end, it obviously didn’t happen because I played. It’s just another thing (that happens at the club) … what can you do?.”
Doueihi returned from an ACL injury in round 15 but interim coach Brett Kimmorley has opted to pick the playmaker out of position.
After being eased back from the bench against Canterbury and the Warriors, Kimmorley has named Doueihi, who wants to play in the halves, at centre to take on Parramatta on Saturday.
But Brooks believes the 23-year old’s best spot is at five-eighth.
“Personally, I think his best position is five-eighth,” Brooks said.
“But when he has played at centre, he played (there) a fair bit the year before and he did really well there so he is a runner of the ball and if we can get the ball in his hands as much as possible, getting him running the ball, that’s his biggest threat.”
Asked what that meant for his immediate future in the Tigers 17, Brooks welcomed the competition.
“You want to keep your spot but if there is someone there and you’re not playing your best footy and they are going to come in … I guess that helps you to play your best footy so I think it is good to have healthy competition.”
Teammate Joe Ofahengaue echoed Brooks’ sentiment but went further declaring Doueihi’s skills were wasted out in the centres.
“Honestly, I think Doueihi’s best position is where he wants to play, and that’s in the halves,” Ofahengaue said. “He was our best half last year, he is so dangerous with the ball.
“I think playing in that six or seven role he can float wherever he wants.
“At centre he is held to just one spot and for Doueihi to have an impact on the game, he needs to be everywhere.
“I’m not the coach but that is how I see it. I think he probably sees it the same way.”
The club is searching for a new head coach after sacking Michael Maguire in June, with Kimmorley, John Morris, Kristian Woolf and Shane Flanagan candidates for the role.
Brooks and Ofahengaue endorsed Tigers head of football Tim Sheens, who led the joint venture to the 2005 premiership, for the top job.
But Ofahengaue, who has been coached by Woolf playing for Tonga, believes the St Helens boss would be the right fit at Concord.
“The reason why he is so successful with the Tongan team, is because we know if we stuff up, he is going to beat our arse,” Ofahengaue said.
“He’s got that tough edge about him, but he’s also got that soft edge. He’s great to have a one-on-one conversation with. He’s a tough coach but really approachable. It would be cool to be coached by him in clubland. I think he would be (perfect for the Tigers), but it’s not my decision.”
More Coverage
Originally published as NRL 2022: Balmain greats back Luke Brooks after taking aim at leaks at the club
Panthers slammed over ‘pathetic’ move
The Penrith Panthers are the all-conquering NRL champions but the club has abandoned their bid to claim the one trophy that’s eluded them.
Future NRL stars dazzle in Australian Schoolboys domination
A Greg Inglis clone who needs to ‘work out the talent he’s got’ and a Dragons wrecking ball were at the fore of the Australian Schoolboys 50-point demolition job. Discover every standout performer.