Luke Brooks, newly recruited by the Sea Eagles, expresses his satisfaction with the Wests Tigers’ promising start to the season and praises the performance of their young halfback, Lachie Galvin.
Having spent over a decade with the Tigers before his departure last year, Brooks acknowledges his enduring fondness for his former team. He admits to finding it somewhat strange to watch their matches, given his familiarity with many players and staff members. Despite past struggles, he commends the Tigers’ recent victories and the blend of youthful talent and experienced leadership within the team.
Brooks speaks highly of Galvin, noting his confidence and physical prowess on the field. He attributes Galvin’s success partly to the support and encouragement provided by coach Benji Marshall, who emphasizes playing with freedom and intuition. Brooks also inadvertently contributed to the Tigers’ win over the Eels by injuring his close friend Mitchell Moses in a previous match, which sidelined Moses for two months. Despite the injury, Brooks respects Moses’ resilience and toughness as a player.
Regarding the controversial penalty decision in the Eels-Tigers match, NRL head of football Graham Annesley defends the officials’ ruling, stating that the penalty was correctly awarded based on the rules. He clarifies that the decision was made due to a player touching the ball and a teammate subsequently picking it up, constituting a mandatory penalty.
Brooks expresses concern for Moses after the game and acknowledges the severity of his injury, although he was initially unaware that his tackle had caused it. He praises Moses for his toughness and resilience as a player, highlighting his ability to continue playing despite significant pain.