‘What do you want him to do?’: Phil Gould slams Wests Tigers over Luke Brooks treatment

Phil Gould has hit out at the Wests Tigers over their handling of Luke Brooks, as the halfback considers leaving the club.

Luke Brooks and Gus Gould.

Phil Gould says he can understand why Luke Brooks is prepared to leave the Wests Tigers, taking aim at their salary treatment of Brooks over the years.

Brooks has reportedly rejected a two-year deal worth around $500,000 per season and will test the open market at the end of 2023.

He expected to attract offers both at home and abroad, with the North Queensland Cowboys said to be among those keen on his services.

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Brooks has played his entire career with the Wests Tigers, representing the club in the old Under-20s Holden Cup before signing a four-year deal and becoming the club’s regular halfback.

In 2014 he was named the Dally M Rookie of the Year, and he has gone on to play over 200 games for the merger club and score 43 tries.

Brook’s $1 million per season deal ends this year, but Gould believes he could still decided to stay at the Tigers.

“I think he just needs more thinking music, I don’t think it’s a fait accompli that he won’t stay at the Tigers, he just needs more thinking music,” Gould said on Nine’s 100% Footy.

Luke Brooks is exploring his options. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Gould, the Canterbury Bulldogs general manager of football, said he believes Brooks may feel resentful towards the Tigers for letting James Tedesco, Aaron Woods and Mitchell Moses go in 2017.

“At a very important time in his career, and the Tigers history, they lost Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods ... three of them went, and left him in charge,” Gould said.

“Not only did they leave him in charge they went out and bought really badly, didn’t they?

“They screwed up their salary cap with a heap of buys that did nothing for them and he was the front bat and I kept saying during that time, Luke Brooks is not the problem with Wests Tigers, Wests Tigers is the problem with Luke Brooks.

“I think at a very important time in his career he was left on his own, that could’ve been a really formidable young group with Tedesco and Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks who were coming through as kids together and I think that was a real opportunity lost for that club, they should never have lost those players.”

Luke Brooks has played his whole career at the Tigers. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Gus took aim at the Tigers’ list management. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Brooks has rediscovered his best form this season and Gould said he would be attractive to clubs, with plenty of good footy still ahead of him.

“So as soon as someone starts to believe in that (his best years are ahead), and he needs to believe in that himself, whether he does or not I don’t know, then Luke Brooks can have a really great back end of his career,” Gould said.

“He’s a 28-year-old with 200 NRL games under his belt and I think he’s a talented player, I think there should be a number of clubs having a look at that, there’s very few of them (halfbacks) around.

“All he has said is, I’m not taking this offer and I’m not making this decision now, and that puts Wests Tigers on notice who have already gone out publicly shopping for other halfbacks under his nose.

“They’d gone out publicly and said they’re going to shift him off and trade him for a player. What do you want him to do?”

Will Luke Brooks stay at the Tigers? (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Paul Gallen said he was “shocked” Brooks had declined the Tigers’ contract extension.

“I can understand it but I think we’ve got to be a bit realistic about – I’m not trying to have a go at him – but when you’re on a million dollars a year plus, things are expected of you, the rest of his team haven’t done nothing for him either but when you’re on that sort of money you’re expected to perform and besides the last month of footy he hasn’t delivered,” Gallen said.

“I’m honestly shocked that he’s said no to the Tigers and what they’ve offered after they’ve basically stuck by him all this time.”

Earlier in the year, Tigers coach Tim Sheens insisted that Brooks would be returning in 2024, telling News Corp that he and assistant Benji Marshall want Brooks’ services long-term.