‘Overdue’: Luke Brooks to be dropped in 10-year first by Wests Tigers

Stand-in Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley is set to make a call on a big money star no other coach in his position has made in a decade.

Luke Brooks amid his dejected teammates. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Interim Wests Tigers coach Brett Kimmorley is reportedly set to drop Luke Brooks for the first time in his career in a bold call for the 14th ranked side.

Kimmorley was elevated to the Tigers top job after former coach Michael Maguire was sacked by the club board a fortnight ago.

Stream Rugby League Internationals LIVE on Kayo this Saturday 25th June. NZ vs Tonga Women 1:30PM | NZ vs Tonga 3:20PM | Samoa vs Cook Islands 5:40PM | PNG vs Fiji 7:50PM AEST. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Since then, the Tigers have lost both matches, thumped 30-4 by Manly and 36-12 by the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Fox Sports’ James Hooper reported that Brooks would be stood down for the first time in his 185-game NRL career.

Brooks has won less than 40 per cent of the games he’s played in his career, having been part of 73 wins as the Tigers have not made the finals during his tenure.

The last time the Tigers made the playoffs was 2011; Brooks debuted in 2013.

Brooks had played under six coaches in his 10-year career in Mick Potter, Jason Taylor, Andrew Webster, Ivan Cleary, Maguire and now Kimmorley.

But Kimmorley is the man who has made the decision to stand Brooks down to play NSW Cup with the Western Suburbs Magpies.

Hopefully he can rediscover his form. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Speaking on Fox League’s NRL 360, The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield said the Tigers were making some good moves.

Having moved on Luciano Leilua and Tyrone Peachey mid-season,

“A tough decision on Luke Brooks has been overdue for a long time,” Rothfield said.

“We so regularly discuss his struggles on this show, and no one likes to see a footballer of his ability doing it as tough as he has been for a long period of time.

“But I’m so glad that Brett Kimmorley’s got the bottle to do it, but these selections are overdue.

“You need 17 Wests Tigers on the footy field … they were thumped by Manly, they were thumped by the Bulldogs, they’ve got to make changes.”

Braith Anasta questioned whether it was “warning shot, a kick up the butt or a look somewhere else”.

Hooper said he believed the club would experiment with the return of Adam Doueihi at five-eighth supporting Jackson Hastings.

Paul Kent agreed it was a good decision.

“Halfbacks as coaches are always tough on halfbacks,” he said.

“He’s got to come in and he’s got to shake it up because it’s been going too long.”

Rugby league is a brutal game. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images

During the off-season, Brooks was linked to a move to Newcastle before the season in order to replace Mitchell Pearce, who departed for the south of France.

Brooks said he was interested in working with Knights consultant Andrew Johns amid reports he was “unhappy” at the Tigers.

He also reportedly asked twice to be released by the Tigers — a report he denied in May — but is set to pocket $1.1m from the final year of his contract in 2023.

Brooks was shifted from halfback to five-eighth this season, but with the emergence of Hastings and the return of Doueihi, it appears as though Brooks will be left out.