Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has thrown his support behind perennial punching bag Luke Brooks and said: “There’s an element of bullying when it comes to him, and from our own people.”
Brooks was a notable onlooker at training on Friday where more than 1000 fans watched the joint venture at Concord. He will resume full training next week and is on track to play in round one.
Luke Brooks and Tim Sheens (inset).Credit: Getty
No player comes under more scrutiny than the halfback, and Sheens was at a loss to explain why.
Sheens added there had been discussions with Brooks’ good friend and former Tiger Mitchell Moses about joining the club next year.
Plenty of young fans made a point of asking club chief executive Justin Pascoe about Moses as he sat in the stands.
“There’s been some chat, and it’s a known fact [we’re interested] – we’ve had a discussion, but it will be Mitch’s call,” Sheens said.
As for Brooks, Sheens said he and assistant Benji Marshall had enjoyed working with him, but stopped short of declaring they would be the pair to finally unlock his full potential.
“Ask me that question in a month’s time or during the season,” Sheens said.
“In 2018 he was halfback of the year. And Luke hasn’t lost his legs. He can run. In fact, he’s one of the quickest here.
“He’s as hard as a piece of steel, as fit as they come and knows exactly what to do.
“Whether [the bullying] has got something to do with what he is earning, that’s not his fault. He’s on a back-loaded contract.
More than 1000 fans watched the Wests Tigers train on Friday.
“Expectations are always on your pivots, but to say the No. 7 controls the game is so much codswallop it’s not funny. The spine controls the game.
“Luke could run a bit more and be a bit greedier. He passes regularly and kicks for try assists, but nobody counts that. He can run and have that show-and-go, which Benji and I are on to him about that, and he’s happy to do that.”
Daine Laurie, who has also been training in the halves, is in a battle with Charlie Staines for the No. 1 jersey, but Sheens tipped a youngster who could leapfrog both of them at some stage during the year.
“Jahream Bula will be a kid who comes out of nowhere,” Sheens said of the Keebra Park graduate.
“Daine has been training at halfback and fullback, ‘Stainesy’ at fullback and wing, but this kid has been playing fullback all year in the second team. And he has been the best trainer at the club.
“I’m not afraid to throw blokes in, and if they’re good enough they’re old enough.”
The huge January crowd sums up the level of excitement in Tiger Town thanks to high-profile signings Api Koroisau, David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i, Staines and John Bateman, who remains a chance of not being in the country by round one because of visa issues.
“He might be on a plane in a week, he might be on a plane in a month,” the coach said of the English back-rower.
“At this stage I’m not hassled about it. We have the back row covered, and if he’s here, he’s here. He’s got a four-year deal, so I’m not worried [if he misses] the first four weeks.”
Marshall, who will succeed Sheens for the start of the 2025 season, ran most of Friday’s session, and even jumped into halfback for the opposed session for the injured Brooks. Marshall has good friend Robbie Farah on the coaching staff while another popular Tiger, Chris Heighington, has joined the club to work with the eventual head coach.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.