Michael Maguire reveals he shifted Luke Brooks to five-eight to protect him from criticism

Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire says he made the decision to shift Luke Brooks to five-eighth to protect the maligned NRL playmaker from more criticism, a move Michael Ennis hailed as a ‘masterstroke’.

Brooks looked shorn of confidence after the Tigers started the year with five-straight losses and was moved from halfback to five-eighth to accommodate the return of Jackson Hastings from suspension.

The pair had a hand in all of the Tigers’ tries, with Hastings kicking the game-winning field goal in their 21-20 victory over Parramatta at Commbank Stadium.

Luke Brooks was moved to five-eight in the Tigers’ stunning 21-20 win over the Eels

Brooks had only played four games as an No. 6 before Easter Monday.

But Maguire said Brooks, who finished the game with two try assists, was better suited to picking his moments and being allowed to play without expectation.

‘Brooksy, for however long, has been bashed,’ he said.

‘Everyone puts a lot of focus around the No. 7.

Wests coach Michael Maguire said the tactical switch was made as he wanted to protect the under-pressure Brooks from more criticism

‘I felt it was the right time for Brooksy to have some of that chatter taken away because we all know what he’s capable of.’

Speaking on Fox League, Michael Ennis praised Maguire’s decision to switch Brooks to five-eight as a ‘masterstroke’ for the Tigers.

‘It’s been a masterstroke so far from the coach moving Luke Brooks, who has been halfback at the Tigers for so long, into the No.6 jersey,’ he said.

‘Hastings is playing that pivotal role and calling the shots and Brooks delivering out the back as the second receiver. […] It [the combination of Brooks and Hastings] has been outstanding […] some brilliant plays from both of them combining.’

The move paid off as Brooks linked up beautifully with Jackson Hastings in the halves

With Hastings kicking a match-winning field goal as time expired to lift Wests to a 21-20 win over the Eels as the Tigers clinched their first win of the season

After the game, Brooks conceded both him and Maguire had been under intense pressure and hope the win over the Eels would prove to be a turning point.

‘I guess it just shows that when we’re at our best, we can match it with anyone,’ he said. 

Meanwhile, Hastings urged critics to get off Brooks’ back after the Tigers star shone after being shifted to five-eight.

Michael Ennis (right) hailed Maguire’s move as a ‘masterstroke’ by the Tigers coach

‘Luke Brooks […] get off his back for a week. What a performance,’ he told Nine.

‘These are the games you want to play in, the big games, and as a club we need to keep pushing to play in those big games towards the end of the year. It [winning] is an infectious feeling. There’s a few boys in the side that have been lucky enough to play finals, and play internationals and Origins. 

‘But we want the whole club to get there, we want to be consistent. We need to keep building on this and string some wins together.’