Reports are suggesting Luke Brooks may have played his last game for the Wests Tigers after suffering a calf injury at training.
With the halfback expected to miss around six weeks, he may not return for the rest of the season as we reach Round 20 this weekend.
Considering Brooks has been linked with a move to the Newcastle Knights, many think the last we will see of the playmaker in the black and gold was the Round 19 loss to North Queensland.
While many feel Brooks will move on, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio thinks Benji Marshall’s appointment as assistant next season could see the seven stick around at Concord.
“I expect Jock Madden to come into that side this weekend as a replacement for Luke Brooks who won’t play, and I don’t expect him to play for the rest of the year,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Brooks at the Tigers though.
“I say it because of the Benji Marshall factor.
“Talking to Benji and his relationship with Brooks, I just take it Brooks might have one more roll of the dice at trying to succeed at the Wests Tigers under Tim Sheens and Marshall.”
On top of Brooks’ relationship with his new assistant, Riccio feels any move for him will be hampered by his mammoth salary associated with his contract for the 2023 season.
“The big factor is his salary,” Riccio said.
“He’s on a huge salary, it’s close to $1 million.
“They’d need to offset that, they would need to contribute to any deal that would happen at the Newcastle Knights.
“It would have to be significant, potentially half of that, why would they want that sitting on their cap without that player at the club without a direct replacement.”
Riccio also feels the Tigers may be concerned that Brooks will shine if he does opt to move on, making his poor form look like a result of the club’s mismanagement.
“Also, don’t discount the embarrassment if Luke Brooks does kick on at the Newcastle Knights,” Riccio said.
“Think about that for a second, if he goes to the Knights and finds the form that saw him named Dally M halfback just a few years ago.
“Imagine how that looks on the Wests Tigers.”
The 27-year-old has played 189 games for the Tigers where he’s scored 42 tries since making his debut in 2013.