‘Sad and disappointing’: Tigers chairman opens up on Brooks’ shock contract call

Wests Tigers kingpin Lee Hagipantelis has revealed behind the scenes information on Luke Brooks’ decision to snub the club.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20: Luke Brooks of the Tigers celebrates victory and acknowledges fans after the round 12 NRL match between Wests Tigers and North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval on May 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has opened up on Luke Brooks’ “disappointing” decision to depart the merger club in a bombshell move.

The 28-year-old is without a contract for 2024 and will now test the open market, turning down a lucrative offer from the Tigers.

Currently earning north of $1 million, Brooks was offered a two-year extension worth over $1 million to remain in Leichhardt, with both Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall wanting im to stay.

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Hagipantelis revealed the Tigers made a “fair market value offer” to extend Brooks and the chairman was clearly frustrated by the decision.

“As reported, the club made what we believed to be a fair market value offer,” Hagipantelis said on SEN 1170.

“It was a genuine offer because our intentions were to retain Luke and keep him as a one-club player.

“Unfortunately on Sunday morning, Luke let Benji (Marshall) know that the offer wasn’t acceptable which he is perfectly entitled to respond to.

“He wants to test the market and it is sad and disappointing.

“I know that Benji and Tim were very keen on him being in their plans moving forward. It’s just a commercial reality.”

Luke Brooks has come to the end of the road. Photo by Matt King/Getty Images.

Brooks made his debut as an 18-year-old at the Tigers and has gone on to play more than 200 games for the merger club.

Super league club Leeds Rhinos were reportedly weighing up a bid for his services, while rival NRL clubs will be making a play for his services.

Legendary prop James Graham believes the maligned halback is just looking for a change of scenery.

“Perhaps he has just gone, you know what I need a change and not be the local boy with all the hope put on him,” Graham said on Triple M.

“I think this is potentially a win-win for everybody at the Tigers.

I think Brooks has had to put himself first here and say, look as much as I’d love to stay and be part of this regeneration it is probably time for me to move on and get a fresh set of ideas and a fresh set of walls and a fresh dressing room.”

Originally published as ‘Sad and disappointing’: Tigers chairman opens up on Brooks’ shock contract call