Wests Tigers looks like a roster overhaul as coach Michael Maguire plans to use the final month of the 2020 season to make some key personnel decisions.
Maguire told the media after seeing his side lose 6-30 to Penrith on Saturday night.
The manager, who won the Premier League in 2014, has hit his players hard this year, particularly his spine which has spun a number of players through.
But the Tigers now look like they missed the NRL final again in a drought that dates back to 2011.
Fox League analyst Michael Ennis says the Tigers’ entire spine could be overhauled before the 2021 season begins.
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And he aimed at halfback Luke Brooks, who was once touted as the future star of the country of origin but has never played an NRL final.
“(Maguire has) a lot of questions about his roster,” said Ennis.
“As much as he will say it publicly, I don’t think Michael Maguire has the side he wants right now, and I think he has some big questions to ask in the next few weeks.
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“He’s got some key players … Harry Grant was their best player this season, he’s going to leave, so you have to sort out that dummy half position.
“Obviously, Benji Marshall is at the end of his career, you have to make a decision and move forward to get someone into this jersey.
“But the big question mark for me is Luke Brooks. This is the eighth season that he hasn’t played a final. That’s 145 games and he hasn’t played a final.
“Michael Maguire has to ask if he’s the type who can get her to win a Premier League. Those are the big questions.
“Adam Doueihi another one. He came from South Sydney, they tried to develop him into a defender and he showed potential.
“I don’t know if he will be able to perform at the level to take them to a Premier League at the full-back.”
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Maguire brought the Rabbitohs to fame in 2014, and the Tigers brought him to Concord in hopes he could break the drought in the finals and secure a title for the club.
Ennis says he can’t do this until he has the spine in place that he trusts.
“He knows what to do. He had Issac Luke and Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary and Greg Inglis (in South Sydney) so he knew what quality you need in a back to win a Premier League, ”said Ennis.
“Look at the roosters’ spine and what they have been doing for the past two years. Look at the panthers’ spine and they’ll lead the competition.
“Some massive questions for Michael Maguire over the next month.”
Champion playmaker Cooper Cronk agreed that Brooks’ nonexistent form of the finale is a concern for the Tigers, who wanted to keep him when they let go of James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods.
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“I think he has the record for most games without currently playing in the final. That’s not a record you want, ”said Cronk.
“Benji Marshall, he might decide to move on.
“To win a competition you have to have really good strike centers and right now (Joey) Leilua and Moses (Mbye) are not up to date.
“Luke Brooks has no doubt about giving him the keys to the city. He needs to be improved dramatically over the next 12 months.”
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