Luke Brooks could be facing the biggest off season of his career but he’s at least found the key to his own success at Wests Tigers.
The only one of the Tigers’ so-called big-four to decide to stay with them last year, Brooks took out the club’s player of the year as the Kelly-Barnes Award winner by six points on Monday night.
In his best season since his debut in 2013, the 23-year-old ran the ball more than any other year and finished with 11 linebreaks for the ninth-placed Tigers.
“I wanted to run the ball more. I think I was able to do that playing off a couple of big boys,” Brooks said.
“Obviously being a young halfback it’s tough to be able to play consistently but I think with the more games you play you learn a lot about yourself and how you play the game.”
Brooks has found his best form under coach Ivan Cleary but both are almost certain to figure in the biggest rugby league story of the summer.
Off contract at the end of next year, his current deal expires at the same time as NSW State of Origin halfback Nathan Cleary’s at Penrith.
Ivan has made no secret of the fact he wants to work with his son and both Nathan and Brooks effectively become free agents come November 1.
There is some small chance the pair could work together in the halves, although the Tigers also have Josh Reynolds on their books for another three years.
The circus surrounding Penrith’s coaching role is also set to continue, with Ivan largely avoiding questions about his future since vowing to honour the two years left on his Tigers deal last month.
Even new life member Bryce Gibbs said during his on-stage induction on Monday that hopefully Ivan would stick around and “bring his son next year”.
More immediately, Brooks admitted he’d be jealous watching housemate James Tedesco and former captain Aaron Woods face off when the Sydney Roosters host Cronulla on Saturday.
The trio played together at the Tigers, with Woods’ finals appearances in 2011 coming before either of their debuts.
“I’m always envious watching other teams play finals. I haven’t played in a finals game so hopefully that’s something we can get to,” Brooks said.
“I’m happy to see (Tedesco) playing good footy and hopefully he wins a premiership.”