Brooks to debut?

Reports this morning suggest Wests Tigers will hand a debut to highly regarded half back Luke Brooks. Any such situation would suggest that the club have gained an exemption from the NRL to include Brooks. Saturday's fixture with the Dragons at the SCG is officially a dead rubber with neither side capable of making the top 8 making it more favourable for the NRL to include Brooks.

At this stage the changes are anticipated as: Luke Brooks would come into the side at halfback, forcing Braith Anasta to slot to five-eighth with Benji Marshall set to move into the centres in place of Bodene Thompson.

At this stage these reports remain unconfirmed. So it's stressed that the above is not necessarily true. However in the likelihood that Brooks was to debut, this would appear the perfect game to choose, as mentioned above earlier. This morning @NothingButWT outlined the reasons as to why blooding Brooks this weekend was a good idea. I agree completely. Blooding Brooks this season makes a lot of sense. For one, he is in season now and the eyes of the league world are focused elsewhere. From the perspective of adding pressure to the kid, now is as good a time as any.

 Blooding Brooks next year seems a lost opportunity. Imagine having to sit through an entire pre season with the media's gaze staring you in the eye, anticipating the bright new spark, making his debut in round one. It's a perfect media beat up that will attract a lot of unnecessary hype. There's also the added advantage of giving him a taste this season so that the off season can be used to have him ready to go into a very specific pre season program aimed at improving what was assessed in his limited first grade time.

The bottom line is that there doesn't seem to be much point in holding him back any longer. There are only 3 games left this season, of which Brooks may be okay to play in two (v Dragons this weekend and R26 v Cowboys - depending on Cowboys finals chances). Andrew Johns, one of his biggest admirers feels Brooks is too good for the under 20's and appears ready for first grade now. He should know. Joey was one of the games greatest halfbacks. All that's left to ask then is whether or not it does happen this weekend. Time will tell, but I get the feeling the odds of him running out on Saturday are the highest yet.