Wests Tigers: Luke Brooks hit by injury setback as Brent Naden prepares to face Bulldogs
Michael Maguire has confirmed Luke Brooks is looking at up to four weeks out of the Wests Tigers side with a hamstring injury, while he has also saluted the arrival of Brent Naden from the Bulldogs.
The Tigers coach was speaking ahead of the Friday night showdown with Canterbury. Brooks will not be in the side after suffering a hamstring injury. It is not a serious one but could still keep the playmaker on the sidelines for up to a month.
Maguire says they will not take any risks on Brooks and will give him the time he needs.
Wests Tigers missing Brooks
“Two, three, four weeks,” Maguire told his pre-match press conference. “Hammies are a funny thing, and everyone is a little bit different.
“He is progressing into his running at the moment. It’s a bit of a wait and see with the hamstring. You really have to manage them well.
“We have Jock Madden coming in and he will be right. He has a really good connection with the players young Jock, so he will fit straight into what we need.”
The Tigers will also welcome back Adam Doueihi in round 14 which will be a huge boost. But will present Maguire with a huge selection headache at the same time.
Meanwhile Maguire has confirmed that Naden will face his former club following a hectic week. Naden only left the Bulldogs on Tuesday to make the switch to the Tigers following the departure of coach Trent Barrett.
Bulldogs footy boss Phil Gould says the Tigers made a move on Friday of last week. That was before Barrett opted to resign. Either way he has been a target of Maguire’s for some time. Indeed they tried to land him in the off-season.
Maguire has finally landed his man and is delighted to have him on board. Naden was also keen on the switch so he can play centre and Maguire looks set to grant him his wish.
Brent Naden will face Bulldogs
“He’ll be playing, yep,” Maguire said when asked if Naden will be involved. “It was great for us (the last 72 hours). I met Brent some time ago and I have always kept an eye on his progress.
“Where we are at the moment we have been looking for someone with strike out wide. I went back and had a look at his highlight reel from when he was at Penrith and he is a very talented centre.”
Both sides have won just the two games this season and are in desperate need of a win. The Bulldogs will be hoping to get a lift from the appointment of Mick Potter.
Potter had a spell coaching the Tigers in 2013-14 and takes the Bulldogs job on an interim basis for the rest of the season.