NRL 2023: James Tedesco believes former Tigers teammate Luke Brooks will finish career in the NRL

Roosters superstar James Tedesco believes his former teammate made the right call to leave the Tigers and will finish his career in the NRL.

Tigers Luke Brooks sets up a try for Tigers James Tedesco during the Wests Tigers v Bulldogs rugby league game at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

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Sydney Roosters skipper James Tedesco believes his former Wests Tigers teammate Luke Brooks is right to look for a “fresh start” with a new club after a tumultuous career at Concord.

After 11 seasons at the Tigers, Brooks dropped a bombshell earlier this week, telling assistant coach Benji Marshall that 2023 would be his final year at the club.

The Tigers had offered Brooks a two-year extension worth around $500,000, which is half of what the playmaker is currently earning.

Tedesco, who is close friends with Brooks, said the 28-year old would have no trouble finding a new home in the NRL.

Luke Brooks wants to leave the Tigers.

“I‘ve been off social media, so I haven’t seen a heap of the talk around it,” Tedesco said.

“But I think Brooksy deserves a fresh start. He‘s been there for a long time and he’s shown how quality he can be as a player and I know he can bring that to a lot of sides.

“I don‘t know the ins and outs of what’s happening at the Tigers, but it’s an opportunity for him.’’

Tedesco, Brooks and Mitchell Moses were once hailed as the Tigers’ very own ‘Big Three’ before failed contract negotiations led to Tedesco joining the Roosters in 2018 and Moses leaving the club mid-way through 2017 to link up with Parramatta.

Now Brooks, after years of being the whipping boy for the Tigers’ poor on-field results, gets a shot at greener pastures as one of the most experienced halfbacks available on the open market.

It’s believed Brooks has an offer on the table from an English club but is set to draw the attention of a number of NRL outfits.

Tedesco thinks Brooks will stay in the NRL. Picture: Getty Images

Already, Brooks has been linked with a move to North Queensland from 2024, where he would re-join his under 20’s coach Todd Payten.

The Cowboys have Chad Towsend and Tom Dearden on their books until the end of 2024, but there is growing speculation the club is looking to offload Townsend.

But the Cowboys are not the only outfit on the lookout for an experienced halfback.

The Canberra Raiders are searching for a halves replacement for Jack Wighton, who has agreed to join South Sydney next year on a four-year deal.

At Belmore, there is chatter Canterbury is on the lookout for an organising halfback with St George Ilawarra’s Ben Hunt on the Bulldogs’ radar.

With the services of Brooks now on offer, the 202-game veteran could emerge as an option for the Bulldogs.

Newcastle had made a play for Brooks late last year in the hope of playing him alongside Kalyn Ponga in the halves.

But the Knights have distanced themselves as a potential suitor for Brooks since the playmaker revealed he would be leaving the Tigers at season’s end.