NRL 2023: Manly Sea Eagles sign Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks on four-year deal

Josh Schuster had been promised a playmaking role at the Sea Eagles, but the signing of Luke Brooks has changed everything.

Luke Brooks is set to leave Wests Tigers after 11 seasons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

Wests Tigers star Luke Brooks has signed a shock four-year deal with Manly as the Sea Eagles unveiled a stunning $6m recruitment and retention package.

And in another unexpected move, Manly is ready to move five-eighth Josh Schuster to an edge to accommodate Brooks.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold personally told Schuster – who had been given assurances he would play five-eighth – that he would now be moved into the forwards with the club signing Brooks.

Brooks’ recruitment – joining incumbent Daly Cherry-Evans – will give Manly a world-class halves combination from next season.

The 2018 Dally M halfback of the year, Brooks was on a whopping deal worth $1.15m this year at Wests Tigers. His new deal at Manly could span four-years and be worth around $2.8m.

Luke Brooks is set to leave Wests Tigers after 11 seasons. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

In a big day at Brookvale, Manly also revealed the retention of brilliant centre Tolu Koula until the end of 2027, while also announcing the signings of Jaxson Paulo from the Sydney Roosters on a three-year deal and Tommy Talau from Wests Tigers for two seasons.

Koula is a future star with Paulo and Talau to add speed and size.

The combined signings of Brooks, Koula, Paulo and Talau are worth a cool $6m.

After 11 seasons with Wests Tigers, Brooks, 28, elected against re-signing at Concord, despite being offered a handsome new contract.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Josh Schuster appears to have lost his spot in the halves at the Sea Eagles from next year. Picture: Getty Images

Seibold revealed why he signed Brooks – and where he would play Schuster.

“Luke is a quality player and we want to add quality players to our roster to create competition for spots.

“He has played 200 games and you don’t do that in the NRL unless you’re a good player. We think having role models like ‘Chez’ (Cherry-Evans) and Tommy and Jake Trbojevic around him will help his game.”

Brooks had previously been linked to Canterbury, St George Illawarra and North Queensland.

Manly fans will now be asking questions about the future of Schuster.

According to Sea Eagles sources, Schuster is still very much part of the club’s long-term plans.

In fact the club wants to switch Schuster to the forwards to play on an edge from next year. Schuster has been offered a three-year deal worth $2.4 million to stay at Brookvale.

Schuster has played most of his football on the edge at Manly before taking over at five-eighth this year when Kieran Foran joined Gold Coast.

Asked whether would move to the back-row, Seibold said: “No, no, no, I’m not going to talk about a plan for Schuster. He knows what the plan is but I don’t need to publicly talk about it because it’s for next year.”

Pressed on whether Schuster would accept Brooks’ arrival, Seibold said: “Well, mate, he’s got a year to go on his contract and have offered him a three-year extension.

“Every indication from him to us is that he loves the club and wants to stay. That’s all I can say.”

Jaxson Paulo. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty

Tommy Talau. Picture: NRL

Speed machine Koula, 20, is a former rugby prodigy, whose signing is a big boost for the Sea Eagles.

“Tolu has been a real find for our club over the last 18 months,’’ Seibold said.

“He has come through here as a junior, playing in our Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams.

“Tolu has further improved as a player this season and we feel that he has got great potential.

“With Tolu now signed on for another couple of years, we are really looking forward to seeing him play his best football.”

Paulo will join the Sea Eagles, his third club in three seasons, after stints at South Sydney and the Roosters.

“He has started the year really strongly for the Roosters and we feel as though his best football is in front of him,” Seibold said.

Brooks has enjoyed, and endured, a mixed tenure at Wests Tigers, establishing himself as an elite halfback yet failing to guide his club into the finals.

He will finish this season at Wests Tigers before moving to Manly.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Manly Sea Eagles sign Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks on four-year deal