Sea Eagles newcomer Luke Brooks is thoroughly enjoying the Wests Tigers’ promising beginning to the season and holds a strong admiration for their emerging halfback, Lachie Galvin.
Brooks, who spent 11 seasons with the Tigers before joining Manly, inadvertently played a pivotal role in creating an opportunity for the teenage sensation Galvin. His departure opened up space for Galvin to step into the spotlight as his successor.
Additionally, Brooks found himself inadvertently contributing to his former team’s victory over Parramatta on Easter Monday. His tackle on his close friend Mitchell Moses the week prior resulted in Moses sustaining a foot fracture, rendering him unavailable for the Tigers clash against the Eels.
Reflecting on his time with the Tigers, Brooks expressed a lingering fondness for the club, acknowledging the decade-long tenure he had there. He admitted to still cheering them on from afar, acknowledging the friendships he forged with players and staff during his time with the team.
Brooks commended the Tigers’ recent successes, highlighting their blend of youthful talent and experienced leadership as key factors contributing to their impressive performances.
Speaking specifically about Galvin, Brooks noted the young player’s confidence and fearlessness on the field, evident from his debut game where he displayed a willingness to take risks and try new things.
“He appears resilient as well. He’s assertive in defense, possesses a robust physique, and shows prowess in ball-carrying. He’s truly an exceptional player.
“He’s entered the first-grade scene, and Benji Marshall, the coach, seems to be instilling confidence in him to simply go out there and play. I’ve heard Marshall emphasize to him multiple times that there are no pressures or expectations, encouraging him to trust his instincts on the field.
“That’s valuable advice for a young talent.”
The absence of Moses posed challenges for the Eels during Monday’s match, as he would have been relied upon to potentially secure a match-winning penalty goal post-game. Captain Clint Gutherson’s final kick veered left, allowing the Tigers to clinch a narrow 17-16 victory.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley clarified that the officials made the correct call in awarding the Eels a penalty, affirming that Jahream Bula had not been obstructed by Eels center Morgan Harper. Annesley explained, “When a player touches the ball and a teammate in front of him picks it up, it’s considered a mandatory penalty. It was a legitimate contest for the ball, with the Parramatta player attempting to knock it backward.”
Moses played through the pain of a broken foot for 11 minutes the previous week against Manly before being sidelined for two months due to the injury.
Only keen-eyed supporters may have noticed that it was Brooks who made the tackle on Moses, which was within the rules. Moses was subsequently seen limping in discomfort during the game.
“I reached out to Mitch a couple of days after the match to check on him, but I wasn’t aware it was my tackle that caused the injury,” Brooks revealed.
“It was quite a significant injury, and for him to tough it out and finish the game… he probably doesn’t receive enough credit for his resilience, but having played alongside him, I can attest that he’s one of the toughest players out there.”
