David Brooks (rugby league)
David Brooks (born 24 May 1962) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. A one-club man, Brooks played his entire first-grade career with the Balmain Tigers in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. Brooks primarily played in the second-row.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | David John Brooks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 May 1962 Walcha, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 86 kg (13 st 8 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Second-row | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career
While attending McCarthy Catholic High School in Tamworth, Brooks played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 1979.[3]
Brooks made his first grade debut for Balmain in round 1 of the 1983 season against South Sydney at Leichhardt Oval. Brooks ended his debut season as the club's top point scorer.
Brooks was selected to represent New South Wales as a second-rower for Game III of the 1985 State of Origin series.
Over the next few seasons, Balmain would feature regularly in the finals and in 1988 the club reached their first grand final since 1969. Brooks played at second-row in the club's 24-12 grand final loss against Canterbury-Bankstown at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Balmain would reach the grand final the following season against the Canberra Raiders but Brooks did not play in the finals series or the grand final itself. In 1990, Balmain reached what would be their last finals series with Brooks playing in the elimination semi-final which Balmain lost 0–16 against Manly-Warringah.
Brooks final game as a player came in 1992 in the reserve grade grand final against North Sydney which Balmain lost 28–14 at the Sydney Football Stadium.[4][5]
References
- 'Balmain'; Sydney Morning Herald Grand Final Wrap-Around, 8 September 1988, p. 3S
- "David Brooks – Career Stats & Summary – Rugby League Project". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- "SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League". SportingPulse. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
- "Compulsory mental health checks urged to prevent NRL suicides". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "Luke Brooks a true Tiger in every way". Wests Tigers.
Sources
- Whiticker, Alan; Hudson, Glen (2007). The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. Wetherill Park, New South Wales: Gary Allen Pty Ltd. p. 609. ISBN 978-1-877082-93-1.
- Gary Lester, ed. (1983). The Sun Book of Rugby League – 1983. Sydney, New South Wales: John Fairfax Marketing. p. 12. ISBN 0-909558-83-3.