Tigers half Jock Madden has dismissed rumors linking him with a move to Penrith and says Luke Brooks’ future plans won’t affect his decision making when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 22-year-old has been in and out of the team for the past two years but has a clean run in the No.7 jersey with Brooks set to miss the rest of the season with a calf injury.
Madden was the perfect foil for Adam Doueihi on Saturday night when the Tigers shocked the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, and it’s no coincidence he’s been involved in their two highest scores of the season against Brisbane and the Bulldogs back in round 11 when they scored 36 points .
But Madden is off-contract and there’s no guarantee he’ll stay at the club that handed him his NRL debut, especially after incoming coach Tim Sheens said he wanted Brooks to sign on beyond next year.
“Not at all,” Madden replied when asked if the Brooks news would affect his plans for the future.
“I’m just worrying about my role this weekend for the team.
“I’m just taking it one week at a time and purely focusing on the Knights.
“That’s my manager’s role. I’m just focused on this week and I’ll leave the off-field stuff to my manager.”
The next five weeks can be seen as an audition for Madden, who made the move to the Tigers from Newcastle where he played his junior footy.
His control is exactly what Doueihi needs to play his natural game at five-eighth, and Madden’s own form will only blossom if he’s given the opportunity to keep working under Tigers great Benji Marshall, who will become the coach in 2025.
“You can think of it like that way (an audition), but I’m just purely focused on a week-by-week thing. I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself,” Madden said.
“When I signed down here at the Tigers, I thought it would be a really good experience for me to learn under Brooksy, Benji, Robbie Farah and Josh Reynolds.
“We had a lot of really experienced players here who played at the highest level. I thought it was a good opportunity to grow my game here.
“I’ve done a lot of work with Benji. My first two years here were with him and I’ve always stayed in contact with him.”
Madden will again get the opportunity to steer the side around the park against the Knights on Sunday, but he’ll have to step up with Jackson Hastings out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle.
Winger Ken Maumalo described Hastings as the “glue in the middle” that holds the team together but backed Madden to shine with the added responsibility.
“Ever since I got here, I knew he was a talent,” Maumalo said.
“The way he trains and the way he carries himself is testament to his character. He just needs an opportunity, and he’s got it now. I know he’s going to grab it with both hands.”
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