A dominant performance from Luke Brooks has seen Wests Tigers end their 2017 Auckland Nines on a winning note, downing the Brisbane Broncos 17-11.
Playing in just the second Auckland Nines game of his career, Brooks' kicking game was the difference between the two sides early on Sunday morning at Eden Park — chalking up two try-assists and several repeat sets that paved the way for Sauaso Sue's game-clinching try.
The win is not enough to take Wests Tigers into the finals of the Auckland Nines competition, however, but gives Jason Taylor plenty to take heading into next week's trial match.
Wests Tigers opened the scoring through Watson Heleta after a deft kick from Brooks, before Brisbane quickly hit back through a bonus zone effort from captain Darius Boyd.
However, a second try-assist from Brooks would restore Wests Tigers' lead at half-time — this time on the opposite side of the field for Kevin Naiqama to fly through and score.
Pinning Brisbane on their own line with several deft grubbers to the in-goal, Brooks would finally break the game open with an inside ball to Sauaso Sue, who showed great energy and footwork to dance through the Broncos' line and crash over in the bonus zone.
Corey Oates would grab a consolation try at the end for Brisbane, but it would be too little too late as Wests Tigers recorded a 17-11 victory to end the Auckland Nines on a winning note.
Wests Tigers 17 (Heleta, Naiqama, Sue tries; Brooks 1/2, Hunt 1/1 goals) def. Brisbane Broncos 11 (Boyd, Oates tries; Boyd 1/2 goals) at Eden Park.
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