Wests Tigers have been hit by the news playmaker Luke Brooks is looking at up to four weeks on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury.
The Tigers are priced at 27/50 to beat the Bulldogs on Friday night but will have to do it without Brooks following the news he is facing a spell on the treatment table.
Playing it safe
Tigers coach Michael Maguire says they will adopt a cautious approach with the injury in an attempt to get Brooks back in action sooner rather than later.
“Two, three, four weeks,” Maguire told reporters ahead of the Bulldogs clash. “Hammies are a funny thing, and everyone is a little bit different.
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“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.”
Naden set to start
Meanwhile new boy Brent Naden will start against his form club just days after making the switch from the Bulldogs to the Tigers.
“He’ll be playing, yep,” Maguire added. “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.”
