Wests Tigers are set to ditch Allianz Stadium as one of their home grounds in favour of a move back to ANZ Stadium.
New Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer has already committed to staging matches at the joint-venture club's spiritual homes of Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium. However, the club's round-23 clash with Sydney Roosters and the round-25 fixture against South Sydney loom as the Tigers' last at Allianz Stadium. The club, which during some seasons had played out of all four venues, is likely to announce the shift back to Sydney Olympic Park during the week.
It isn't the only news coming out of Tigertown. The club also announced the re-signing of halves Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses, considered the best young playmakers in the game, until the end of the 2017 season. Another youngster, Joel Luani, will also extend his stay, while former New Zealand international Dene Halatau will return after a stint with Canterbury.
However, the signatures of Moses and Brooks will be most pleasing for fans. Melbourne, Brisbane and Parramatta were circling but their decision to stay will help offset the loss of superstar Benji Marshall, who was granted a release at the end of the season. Both were Australian Schoolboys stars and are in their first season in the under-20s. Moses was last year's S.G. Ball player of the year, while Brooks has already had a taste of NSW Cup.
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''Neither of them have played first grade but every good judge you speak to predicts they will be future first-graders of a high standard,'' Mayer said.
''The reality is we've got to rebuild the club and we've got to do that with kids coming through our system. The average age of our roster goes from 25 to 23 next year. It's a young team but very exciting.''
Tigers coach Mick Potter said the duo was just two of many youngsters coming through the club's ranks.
''Both boys have plenty of potential and are talented kids in their own right,'' Potter said. ''They have shown right throughout schoolboy footy and the NYC [under-20s] that they can cut it easily. I have no doubt that we will see the best of them in the next couple of years.''
Moses, the nephew of Tigers great Ben Elias, is another Eels product who slipped through their fingers three years ago.
''Mick Potter and the first-grade players have made me feel really welcome and have helped me out so much with my game. This is just the beginning for me,'' Moses said.
Brooks added: ''I have played all of my junior footy at the Tigers, so it was a pretty easy decision to make. Wests Tigers have looked after me well
I'm excited about what lays ahead.''
