Is it time for the Luke Brooks era to come to an end at the Wests Tigers?
The incumbent halfback has been the target of ridicule to begin the 2023 season as the Tigers remain the only team in the NRL without a win in the first five games of the year.
Brooks has failed to re-achieve the heights of his career that saw him win the 2015 Dally M halfback of the year and is receiving continual calls to move away from the Tigers at the end of the year.
SEN rugby league expert Scott Sattler broke down Brooks’ current situation as the starting halfback and questioned if a position change would ever happen to help him recover form.
“Maybe Luke isn’t that number seven that can handle that role but it’s all they’ve got at the moment,” Sattler said on SEN 1170 Sportsday.
“I truly believe Luke Brooks is really damaged physiologically around where he sits in the game at the moment.”
Sattler implored the 28-year-old to consider a one-year stay in England in order to revive his career and come back to the NRL full of confidence.
“I think the best for Luke Brooks would be, go to the U.K Super League, start again,” Sattler added.
“He’s on big money, he’s not going anywhere with the money he’s on… unfortunately it’s the situation they’re (the Tigers) in because they’ve got him signed to a long deal on big money.
“They made that decision based on a kid that became the halfback of the year… it’s all about confidence when your team’s not making finals and you’re the man wearing the number seven.
“For Luke Brooks, when he comes to the end of his contract this year and he may not gather any interest from other clubs, there’s nothing wrong with saying, ‘You know what, I’m going to go to the U.K Super League’.
“Like Jackson Hastings did, like Brodie Croft is doing right now, go and re-invent yourself, get some confidence back in your game, there’s nothing wrong with it.”
Brooks is named to start at halfback for the Tigers as they search for their first win of the season against the Parramatta Eels on Monday afternoon.
More in NRL
Why Hudson Young is still confused over NRL's high tackle crackdown
"I don’t think the sin bin is the answer."
"Cloned the Panthers": Why Voss believes Dogs are the real deal
The Bulldogs are now the same odds as the Panthers to win the premiership.