Luke Brooks' public plea to million-dollar Eels star Mitchell Moses
Luke Brooks is making no secret of his desire to lure Mitchell Moses back to Wests Tigers.
Brooks admitted to reporters on Monday that he was nagging his great mate about a return to Concord, which Moses departed for Parramatta when he was granted an immediate release during the 2017 NRL season.
Moses is contracted to the Eels for the 2023 season, but he has an option in his favour for the 2024 campaign and is yet to decide on his future.
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A return to the Tigers would see Moses reunite with Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, and play alongside Brooks, with whom he played junior footy.
"Obviously played a lot of footy growing up together and had a few years in first grade (together)," Brooks said.
"I would love to play with him again.
"I think when we came in we were young and didn't really know how to play in first grade, and now that we've learned a lot I think we'd be good together."
Luke Brooks (left) and Mitchell Moses pictured in Wests Tigers kit in 2013. Brendan Esposito
Moses played 67 games with the Tigers, but he's since piled up 131 matches with the Eels and guided Parramatta to the 2022 grand final.
The Tigers lost Moses, James Tedesco and Aaron Woods in 2017.
Tigers great and Moses' uncle Ben Elias told Wide World of Sports in December that he would urge his nephew to avoid returning to the Tigers.
"I should be screaming from the roof for the Tigers, but I once upon a time got him over to the Tigers, and they let him go," Elias said.
"How do you sell that back to him? I've been there, done that. Move on.
"It wasn't a pretty exit, you know. He left with Aaron Woods and James Tedesco. All three of them left together ... and it's hard to go back.
"Fool me once, I can cop that, but fool me twice."
As the Tigers attempt to snap an 11-year finals drought, they are hoping to replicate the flashy footy that propelled the club to the 2005 title.
Sheens, who was at the helm for that premiership run, has been in Brooks' ear about taking control this season.
"He has spoken to me about that (being greedy), especially close to the line ... running the ball a bit more, trying to score myself," Brooks said.
"He's into me about scoring tries, so I guess I've just got to run the ball a bit more.
"Playing behind some big boys who are going to get a quick play-the-ball — that opens up my running game.
"Api (Koroisau), as well — he will take a lot of pressure off me."
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