NRL player Luke Brooks squared up to angry locals outside a bar in Balmain recently and his subsequent arrest has earned him a nomination for The Frownlow Medal.
The diminutive Wests Tigers half back was reportedly standing up for his brother when he became involved in a street brawl which attracted the attention of police.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes; the National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. Kiwi international and Sydney Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while Corey Norman from the Parramatta Eels won in 2016.
It is not known whether Brooks threw any punches during the brawl. This will harm his chances of winning the medal against players who have been nominated for offences such as domestic violence, drug abuse, assault and alcohol abuse.
The toughest opponent Brooks faces is one of his Wests Tigers buddies, Tim Simona, who was nominated for numerous offences such as betting on his own games and drug and alcohol abuse.
Brooks will find out later in the year if he has done enough to win The Frownlow Medal.
Image:Nuna
First published in May, 2017.
The Frownlow Medal 