Brooks stars for Tigers
THE Wests Tigers have inched within a win of the NRL’s top eight, prevailing 25- 16 over Newcastle in a fluctuating Friday night contest.
Probing Tigers playmaker Luke Brooks was the architect against the error- prone Knights, scoring one try and setting up another either side of halftime at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce was benched with a badly corked thigh as the hosts looked out of answers early in the second half.
Instead, down 22- 8, they rallied to within six points entering the final 10 minutes before Brooks drilled a field goal to ice the victory.
The Tigers are now just two points behind the eighthplaced New Zealand Warriors, who meet St George Illawarra in a Saturday clash that now looms large. Newcastle’s sleepy first half display cost them and was one Ken Sio will be hoping to wipe from his memory.
The winger started the game by kicking the ball out on the full and then did it again 20 minutes later.
He was then sin- binned after deliberately slowing down the play the ball. In between Sio’s blemishes the Tigers scored 10 points, with captain Russell Packer spinning out of a tackle for the game’s opener.
Newcastle replied through Sione Mata’utia before Brooks restored order by skipping through for the easiest of tries and a 16- 4 lead at the break.
He then set up Robbie Farah.