Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has opened up on Luke Brooks’ “disappointing” choice to depart the merger membership in a bombshell transfer.
The 28-year-old is with no contract for 2024 and can now check the open market, turning down a profitable supply from the Tigers.
Currently incomes north of $1 million, Brooks was provided a two-year extension value over $1 million to stay in Leichhardt, with each Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall wanting im to remain.
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Hagipantelis revealed the Tigers made a “fair market value offer” to increase Brooks and the chairman was clearly pissed off by the choice.
“As reported, the club made what we believed to be a fair market value offer,” Hagipantelis stated on SEN 1170.
“It was a genuine offer because our intentions were to retain Luke and keep him as a one-club player.
“Unfortunately on Sunday morning, Luke let Benji (Marshall) know that the offer wasn’t acceptable which he is perfectly entitled to respond to.
“He wants to test the market and it is sad and disappointing.
“I know that Benji and Tim were very keen on him being in their plans moving forward. It’s just a commercial reality.”
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Brooks made his debut as an 18-year-old on the Tigers and has gone on to play greater than 200 video games for the merger membership.
Super league membership Leeds Rhinos have been reportedly weighing up a bid for his companies, whereas rival NRL golf equipment will probably be making a play for his companies.
Legendary prop James Graham believes the maligned halback is simply in search of a change of surroundings.
“Perhaps he has just gone, you know what I need a change and not be the local boy with all the hope put on him,” Graham stated on Triple M.
“I think this is potentially a win-win for everybody at the Tigers.
I think Brooks has had to put himself first here and say, look as much as I’d love to stay and be part of this regeneration it is probably time for me to move on and get a fresh set of ideas and a fresh set of walls and a fresh dressing room.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au