It was on this day (August 24) in 2013 that Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks made one of the most memorable first-grade debuts against St. George-Illawarra Dragons.
Only 18 years of age when then Coach Mick Potter called the youngster in to the team, Brooks had an afternoon to remember at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground — setting up two tries and scoring another to deliver his side a 34-18 win over the Dragons.
The match began with both sides trading early tries before Brooks began to leave his mark on the game, hitting Curtis Sironen with a no-look short ball to put the visitors in front.
He then followed that up with a lovely legs tackle on Bronson Harrison on the stroke of half-time, with the ball coming free in the tackle — allowing fellow youngster Tim Simona to streak away and score and give Wests Tigers a 22-6 lead at half-time.
Brooks' kicking game was superb on the day — almost creating a try off a hooked bomb back on the inside for James Tedesco — before an inch-perfect grubber in the 53rd minute allowed Simona to race through and beat Daniel Vidot to the ball for his second try.
The halfback would then cap off a special afternoon by scoring his first try in the 62nd minute of the game, throwing a dummy from 30m out to split the defenders and score.
Wests Tigers would go on to win the game 34-18, with Brooks setting himself up for a dominant season the following year, where he win the Dally M Rookie of the Year Award.
Don't miss our last home game of the year against the Raiders at Leichhardt Oval!
WESTS TIGERS 34 def. DRAGONS 18
Round 24, 2013 — August 24
Sydney Cricket Ground
Tries: Tim Simona (2), Joel Luani, Braith Anasta, Curtis Sironen, Luke Brooks
Goals: Benji Marshall 5/6 goals
Referee: Jason Robinson, Phil Haines
Crowd: 15,016
