When you ask Luke Brooks to guess how many halves partners he has had in his 199 games for the Wests Tigers, he almost nails it.
“I’d say 10, maybe 15,” Brooks says.
For those playing at home, the magical number is 15: Braith Anasta, Blake Austin, Mitchell Moses, Chris Lawrence, Tui Lolohea, Benji Marshall, Josh Reynolds, Tyson Gamble, Ryan Matterson, Moses Mbye, Adam Doueihi, Billy Walters, Jock Madden, Jackson Hastings and now Brandon Wakeham.
“Bloody hell, there have been some coaches in there, too,” Brooks joked.
Brooks has long polarised Tigers fans, mainly because of his hefty price tag in recent years, but the lack of opportunity to forge a long-term halves combination – like Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai at Penrith, or even Parramatta’s Moses and Dylan Brown – is often lost on supporters.
Coach Tim Sheens confirmed on Friday the Tigers would offer a new contract to Brooks in the next fortnight. The plan is to keep him at the joint venture for at least another two years.
Ryan Matterson, Josh Reynolds, Luke Brooks, Braith Anasta and Benji Marshall. Photos: Getty, NRL PhotosCredit: Getty, NRL Photos
“I’m keen to keep him happy and keep him here – if we can make that happen, that’s what I want,” Sheens said. “I’ve spoken to his agent, the club has spoken to his agent, we will be making the kid an offer, and I hope it’s enough – not only the offer, but also Brooksy’s attitude about playing here. That’s important as well. It won’t be for an extra year, put it that way.”
Brooks has a young daughter and is unlikely to entertain a move to the Super League yet. Unlocking a permanent halves partner, preferably a controlling half that allows him to embrace his running game, would be ideal.
“When you look at the different halves [partners], it does make it hard to find a bit of consistency, and that’s all you want as a half,” Brooks said. “If you look at that list, they were all different players.
“Benji was the most experienced player – he had that aura about him, and it took the pressure off me.
“Mitch [Moses] and I came through the grades together, and because we had played so much footy together, we knew what worked for each other. It was a shame he moved on, but there’s nothing you can do now.
“‘Wakey’ [Wakeham] has come in and the last few weeks we’ve focused on our kicking game, and that’s helped the team.
“We have a good pack going forward and we’ve worked out what works for us as a side.”
The Tigers host North Queensland at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday evening. Cowboys coach Todd Payten, a former Tigers prop, has always admired Sheens – and pinched a few of his trick plays since becoming a head coach.
Forward Joe Ofahengaue underwent a medical with Parramatta on Thursday, and is on the brink of inking a two-and-a-half year deal with the blue and golds, but Sheens said the club was never going to cut him loose before the weekend, regardless of what the Eels privately claimed.
“There was an approach by Parramatta to us, but I’m not considering anything until next week and we get him through this game,” said Sheens, who will start Ofahengaue against the Cowboys.
“I understand those [medical checks] are part of the process. But we haven’t released him, and he’s playing this week.”
Pushed on whether Parramatta would get their man after the Leichhardt game, Sheens said: “I’m not saying that at all. We’ll decide on that next week.
“They were hoping to get him this weekend, but it’s not happening. There’s nothing going on until next week. Joe is fine. In fact, he’s starting tomorrow.”
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