- Wests Tigers release unusual statement from Luke Brooks
- The club congratulates him on reaching the NRL final
- Football fans mercilessly criticised the statement.
Wests Tigers fans have been mocked for making the bizarre decision to congratulate former scrum-half Luke Brooks for playing in the NRL finals with rival club Manly.
Brooks, 29, left the Tigers at the end of last season after playing in 205 games and not making the playoffs once.
The playmaker played a key role in both of Manly’s second-half tries on Sunday as they secured a 26-24 win over the Canterbury Bulldogs.
The Tigers posted an unusual tribute on their website to their former player’s milestone with an article this week.
“Wests Tigers would like to congratulate former scrum-half Luke Brooks on his achievements over the weekend for Manly Warringah Sea Eagles,” it began.
Brooks, 29, has moved to the Sea Eagles at the end of the 2023 season after playing 205 games in 11 seasons at Wests Tigers.
‘Although he didn’t play finals football during his time with the Tigers, Brooks certainly enjoyed his first taste of finals football on Sunday, helping the Sea Eagles to a 24-22 victory over the Bulldogs.
Club chief executive Shane Richardson also congratulated Brooks in the statement.
The Tigers posted an unusual tribute on their website to Luke Brooks
Brooks left the Tigers last year after playing 205 games in 11 seasons.
“On behalf of everyone here at Wests Tigers, I want to congratulate Luke on achieving something he has wanted to do for a long time,” Richardson said.
‘Luke spent over a decade as a Wests Tigers player so he will always be part of this family.
“He showed loyalty when many did not.”
Football fans were quick to ridicule the Tigers’ statement.
“The Tigers congratulating Luke Brooks is insane,” posted one X user.
The playmaker will play his second finals match against the Roosters on Saturday
“On behalf of the Cowboys, I’d like to follow the lead of the Wests Tigers and congratulate Kalyn Ponga on a successful season,” another joked.
“I was thinking exploding pagers or Diddy’s ‘Freak Off’ was going to be the craziest thing I’d read on the internet today… Take a bow Wests Tigers! You’re a completely insane organisation!” posted a third.
“Just when you think the Western Tigers couldn’t be more cowardly, they do this,” another responded.
Brooks will feature in his second NRL finals match on Saturday night when Manly take on the Roosters.
