NRL news: Luke Brooks commits to Wests Tigers after denying Knights whispers
He may not have played a finals game in almost 10 years at the club but that doesn’t mean Luke Brooks wants to bail on Wests Tigers, with the halfback committed to seeing out his contract.
Tim Sheens says it is “unfair’’ on Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks to continue to link him with other NRL clubs.
Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe instructed a club official to contact their halfback on Sunday to demand answers over speculation the No.7 wants to sign with Newcastle.
News Corp has been told Brooks emphatically denied he wanted to quit Concord and vowed to play out his contract until the end of 2023.
Catch all the ICC T20 World Cup action live & exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Brooks, 26, was linked to Canterbury as well as Newcastle, where he would be a replacement for halfback Mitchell Pearce, who is poised to leave the NRL on a three-year deal with Catalans in France.
Sheens, the Tigers’ new director of football, later tried to douse the speculation via a club statement.
“Luke is a proud local junior and an extremely talented halfback, who has shown an unquestionable level of commitment to Wests Tigers over a number of years,” Sheens said.
“It is clear that he remains an integral part of the long-term plans of Wests Tigers and, in speaking with him, he too is equally focused and passionate on delivering sustained success for the club.
“Wests Tigers have been definitive on this matter and will continue to reiterate this against any untrue speculation.
“It is unfair on Luke, his teammates and family, as well as those involved with the club, to raise false conjecture on his future lying away from Wests Tigers when both he and the club are united on delivering success together.”
Newcastle officials declined to comment on Sunday but News Corp understands Catalans’ three-year deal for Pearce - worth between $1.5m and $1.8m – has been formally lodged.
Pearce, 32, wants to leave the NRL amid fears his body has endured enough after 15 years in first grade.
He is expected to seek a formal release within the next 48 hours.
Newcastle was initially reluctant to grant Pearce an early release but some board members are now softening their stance.
There are still some hurdles but the odds are firming that Pearce will leave for France during the off-season.
The Knights have no plans to re-sign Pearce beyond this season when his current deal ends.
It means Pearce’s final NRL game could have been a 28-20 week one finals loss to Parramatta at Browne Park, Toowoomba, on September 12.
The Newcastle halfback has achieved just about everything in rugby league, including 19 games for NSW and a premiership with the Sydney Roosters.
Former Panthers, NSW and Australian forward Mark Geyer praised Pearce while questioning the halfbacks’ ongoing criticism.
“He is much maligned,” Geyer told Triple M. “He is always the whipping boy when the Blues weren’t going well or the Roosters were not going well and now when the Knights aren’t going well.
“Mitchell Pearce is a fantastic player. He has grown into one of those really good game managers over the last few years of his career.”
How Brooks-Pearce whispers unfolded
- David Riccio
Luke Brooks has emerged as Newcastle’s lead target to replace Mitchell Pearce.
Proving just how unrelenting and fast-moving NRL roster management is, the Knights are aware of Pearce’s motivation to farewell the club for Catalans which has prompted the club to begin assessing a solution.
Pearce is poised to ask the Knights for a release from his 2022 contract so that he can move to France and play with Catalans in the English Super League for the next three years.
Brooks, the Wests Tigers 2021 Player of the Year, is the halfback who the Knights believe has the skillset to help drive the club to it’s first premiership in 21 years.
Ironically, it was in Brooks’ first season of NRL, that commentators said he had a similar playing style to Newcastle legend and rugby league immortal Andrew Johns.
The Knights will free-up $600,000 in their salary cap by releasing Pearce.
Newcastle have the option of running with Jake Clifford and Kalyn Ponga in the halves in 2022. Adam Clune, Kurt Mann, Phoenix Crossland and Simi Sasagi can also play in the halves.
However, the pursuit of Brooks would allow the club to leave the freakish Ponga at fullback.
A major factor in any hope the Knights have of tempting Brooks is the fact that the 2018 Dally M Halfback of the Year is managed by the same agent, Isaac Moses, as Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien.
Moses’ agency also manages Knights players David Klemmer, Suasao Sue, Kurt Mann, Hymel Hunt and Enari Tuala.
News Corp spoke to Tigers officials about Brooks’ future on Saturday. The Tigers had a clear message of “hands off” their halfback, who is contracted to the club until the end of 2023.
It’s not the first time the Tigers have had to defend themselves from the posturing of rival clubs towards Brooks.
Tigers management recently swatted away the Raiders interest in Brooks – before Canberra moved onto signing Titans halfback Jamal Fogarty.
A major reason why the Tigers won’t entertain letting Brooks go is due to their stressed depth chart of halves.
Influential five-eighth Adam Doueihi is expected to be out until May after undergoing the second ACL knee reconstruction of his career.
The Tigers are planning on starting the season with Jackson Hastings, signed from the UK Super League, alongside Brooks. Halfback Jock Madden, 21, is next in line.
Since making his debut with the Tigers in 2013, Brooks has never played finals football. He is the only halfback since 1980 without a finals match to his name.
Brooks would need to weigh up between the Knights and Tigers where he believes his best chance is to make the top eight – and also, which club is closer to winning a premiership.
Before that though, Pearce needs to land his release from the Knights – the full stop on his NRL career.
Pearce, 32, believes that after 15 years of first grade his body is no longer up to the rigours of week-to-week NRL football.
Pearce managed 12 matches in 2021, his season blunted by a torn pectoral that sidelined him between rounds five and 14.
It’s understood the Newcastle hierarchy are comfortable with letting Pearce go.
Management were disappointed in the veteran halfback’s below-par performance when it mattered most – in their week one 28-20 finals loss to the Eels.
As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph last August, Catalans want Pearce to replace champion half James Maloney, who retired following the Super League grand final a fortnight ago.
Maloney and Sam Moa – who won the 2013 grand-final with Pearce at the Roosters and both of whom spent several seasons with Catalans – have been major conduits to the pursuit of the 309-game premiership-winner.
Pearce eyes new challenge
—David Riccio, Dean Ritchie
Mitchell Pearce will request a formal release from the final year of his contract at Newcastle within the next 48-hours.
The former NSW Origin and premiership-winning halfback has made the decision to end his NRL career and move to France on a three-year deal with Catalans.
Pearce, 32, believes that after 15 years of first grade his body is no longer up to the rigours of week-to-week NRL football. And as of late Friday, News Corp has been told the Knights are believed to be leaning towards granting Pearce the release.
However no decision has been reached, with discussions to continue over the weekend.
Pearce managed 12 matches in 2021, his season blunted by a torn pectoral that sidelined him between rounds five and 14.
As first revealed by The Daily Telegraph last August, Catalans want Pearce to replace champion half James Maloney, who retired following the Super League grand final a fortnight ago.
Maloney and Sam Moa, who won the 2013 grand-final with Pearce at the Roosters and both of whom spent several seasons with Catalans, have been major conduits to the pursuit of the 309-game veteran.
The Knights will need to release Pearce from the final year of his 2022 contract in order for him to join Catalans.
The release comes with advantages for the Knights, who will free-up more than $600,000 in their salary cap prior to November 1.
Before a final decision is made, Newcastle management - particularly coach Adam O’Brien - will want clarity from his recruitment staff on who is available on the open market - and who within the club can fill the void of Pearce.
Kalyn Ponga, Jake Clifford, Adam Clune, Kurt Mann, Phoenix Crossland, Simi Sasagi will emerge as options should Pearce be granted his release.
Promising fullback Bailey Hodgson would be a front runner to take over the No.1 jumper if Ponga is shifted to the halves.
Adding weight to Pearce’s move to Catalans is the comments of close confidant and Knights legend Andrew Johns.
Johns commented last month in the wake of The Telegraph’s article that moving to France would be a timely move for Pearce.
“I think that’d be a great opportunity for him,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth.
“Catalans offering him a two-three year deal... south of France, anonymous, weekends off, fly into wherever - it takes you half an hour to an hour to fly all over Europe.
“Less eyes on him, faster more open game.
“I think if he decides to go, I think Catalans would be a great fit for him.”
EARLIER: Catalans swoop to poach Pearce
— Dean Ritchie
Could this be Mitchell’s Pearce de resistance?
French Super League club Catalans are ready to lodge a three-year offer for Newcastle halfback Mitchell Pearce worth nearly $2m.
News Corp has been told the deal would be net Pearce around $600,000 a year – the same money Catalans paid for fellow NRL star James Maloney.
Newcastle are aware of the offer and know France would be an attraction to Pearce.
The Knights, however, will not release Pearce for next season unless the club can secure a replacement halfback.
Pearce has been holidaying on the NSW north coast and is yet to discuss the offer with Newcastle management.
The Knights are readying to shift Kalyn Ponga into the halves but the move won’t eventuate until 2023.
It is unknown just yet whether Catalans would continue to pursue Pearce for 2023 should he be denied a move to Perpignan next season.
Newcastle officials have robust contacts in southern France who have confirmed Catalans’ offer to Pearce.
Pearce is 32 year old and remains unlikely to be offered a new deal after his current contract with the Knights expires after next season.
A shift to France – coupled with the chance to further extend his wonderful career - would be appealing to Pearce.
Pearce would earn $1.8m – perhaps a touch less - over the final three years of his career – a stellar way to end what has been a superb rugby league career.
Each Super League club is permitted to sign two marquee players.
Newcastle could consider an early release for Pearce if the club managed to pinch a new halfback. That, with off-season training looming, appears unlikely at the moment.
Knights management claim they won’t “weaken” their team by allowing a contracted player to leave early.
Catalans have a spot in their halves available after Maloney retired from top-level rugby league this year.
Maloney played his final Super League game in Catalans’ 12-10 grand final loss to St Helens nearly a fortnight ago at Old Trafford.
Immortal Andrew Johns backed Pearce’s move to France when the possible transfer was first mooted this year.
“I think that‘d be a great opportunity for him,“ Johns told Channel 9.
“South of France, anonymous, weekends off, fly into wherever - it takes you half an hour to an hour to fly all over Europe.
“Less eyes on him, faster, more open game. I think if he decides to go, I think Catalans would be a great fit for him.”
Catalans’ neighbours, Toulouse, have won entry into Super League from next season.
How controversial star plans to win ‘trust’ of new club
— David Riccio
Two years ago, Paul Vaughan was running around for Australia.
In just over two weeks, the high-profile Bulldogs recruit’s attempt to resurrect his career will include pushing himself alongside teenage rookies hoping to crack the NRL.
In a bid to put a tumultuous six months behind him, the former St George-Illawarra prop has asked Canterbury management to be the first big-name player to start pre-season training on November 3.
Vaughan is one of a long list of major buys at the Dogs which the club hopes can transform them from wooden-spooners to finals contenders in 2022.
Vaughan’s NRL career was shattered when he was cut loose by Saints after he was banned for eight matches and fined $50,000 for hosting 12 teammates at his Shellharbour home for a barbecue in contravention of the league’s strict biosecurity protocols.
It was his second Covid-19 protocol breach.
A phone call from Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett at the time was the beginning of Vaughan’s journey to Belmore.
Vaughan, 30, will commence his first day for the Dogs alongside 18-year-old centre prospect Paul Alamoti, untried hooker Josh Cook, teenager Bailey Biondi-Odo and new Storm recruit Max King.
Headline signings Josh Addo-Carr, Tevita Pangai-Junior, Brent Naden and Matt Burton won’t start pre-season training with the Bulldogs until December 1.
Vaughan said his motivation to launch his career at the Dogs on the club’s first official day of pre-season training came down to making an important first impression.
“It’s been a bit of an interesting year but I’m just excited to get stuck in and get going again,” he said.
“For me, it’s about repaying the club for putting faith in me. I’m pretty big on that. I’m coming up here for an opportunity and a challenge is something I think I need.
“That’s one thing that will drive me, repaying the faith to everyone (at the club) and proving that I’ve still got a lot of footy in me.
“The best thing I can do is come here and put everything on the table, train hard and earn the respect and trust of the boys.”
More Coverage
Join the conversation
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.
Read more
‘Bewildering’: Decision to omit Kernick from Jillaroos slammed
Sydney Roosters star and women’s Dally M winner Olivia Kernick has been overlooked for Test selection as coach Brad Donald shakes up a squad which lost its last match to the Kiwis.
Read more