Generation next’s class of under 21’s

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It's Saturday, late afternoon. Roughly 24 hours before this young halfback makes an Australian Schoolboys debut which, come fulltime, will have League Land not just talking, but salivating.

Indeed, when you contact Wests Tigers recruitment boss Warren McDonnell this week, two years on, asking exactly when their Gen Y wonder boy arrived, he will tell you: "Hunt down tape of his Schoolboys debut in 2012 ... see for yourself what we saw".

Which is why, first, we must take you back to the afternoon prior.

Luke Brooks celebrates a try. Source: News Corp Australia

To Brooks laying bedridden in a Canberra college dormitory bed: sweating, aching and completely overcome with tonsillitis.

For two days now, the young halfback has been like this. Knocked down, laid up, yet still promising coach Peter Denham that, come game day, 'I'll be sweet'.

"But there was no way we could let him play,'' Denham recalls.

Luke Brooks in action. Source: News Corp Australia

"So Brooksy, he rang his parents and made them write out a clearance. Then, with tonsillitis, he went out there and killed 'em."

But the real kicker to this story?

"Mitchell Moses, his best mate, was just as good,'' Denham continues.

"Mitch scored three tries from five-eighth and their combination — amazing.

"It's incredible to think all the talk in recent years has surrounded the disappearance of great young halves ... then out of the ground pops these two."

Class of 21 part 1. Source: DailyTelegraph

And you thought rugby league's future was all bad tattoos and worse haircuts.

Despite having played just three NRL games together, The Daily Telegraph can today out Wests Tigers duo Brooks and Moses, still only 19, as the most promising combination in league.

A tag earned not only for their brilliance — or even those seven long years they've spent living from within each others' pocket — but a toughness that has seen them overcoming three broken legs, shoulder and thumb surgeries, even questions about size ... and all before leaving their teens.

Indeed, as revealed in our exclusive list above — compiled after consultation with scouts, coaches and analysts from Fox Sports Statistics — Brooks and Moses head a pride of Tiger cubs who, combined, comprise almost 25% of the most exciting footballers aged 21 years or under.

Class of 21 part two. Source: DailyTelegraph

A Black and Gold roll call which also boasts fullback James Tedesco, forward Curtis Sironen and winger Dave Nofoaluma.

"But for real hype,'' says one NRL recruiter, "stick with the two mates from Holy Cross College".

And so we step inside a combination beginning when this pair where 12.

Partnered together, ominously, in a NSW merit side for what would begin seven years rolling through Holy Cross, Balmain Juniors, Australian Schoolboys and now the NRL.

Mitchell Moses leaves the NRL field. Source: News Corp Australia

And, yes, together they boast more gifts than a Packer family Christmas tree.

In high school alone, winning championships for rugby league, touch footy, even taking out the State relay title with Brooks running anchor and Moses on the bend.

Yet better, there is real grunt behind that new car smell. Brooks having overcome breaking both his left and right legs — plus a thumb — in consecutive seasons, while Moses snapped, first, his shoulder, then leg.

Mitchell Moses pictured at Wests Tigers training. Source: News Corp Australia

"And then you have their combination,'' says Tigers assistant coach Todd Payten.

"An understanding between these two that, usually, takes years in the NRL to create".

Tim White, the Holy Cross teacher who first identified the duo, agrees.

"They have no secret calls, whistles or anything like that,'' he insists.

"But they have vision ... so much more than can ever be taught.

Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses. Source: Getty Images

"I mean, you're talking about two young men who could play 20 Origin games each. I'm not telling you they will, but our school hasn't had footballers like this since Benny Elias in the early 80s.

"These are once in a generation players — and they're together."

It is a bond forged, says Denham, by a pair of close friends who spend so much of their free time with Steeden in hand. "But like the Johns brothers did it,'' he says.

"Always mucking around. There has to be an element of fun".

Payten, meanwhile, has long lost count of the kicks one has produced for the other to score. "Although last year against Parramatta,'' he laughs, "they both kicked the footy in one play before Mitch crossed."

It is a partnership extending off the field too.

While Brooks is quiet, almost shy, Moses has exactly the personality you'd expect from the nephew of bouncing Benny Elias.

Mitchell Moses of the Tigers in action. Source: News Corp Australia

And for proof, we take you onto the field for his Wests Tigers debut three games back. When defending his tryline, the makeshift fullback notices a teammate — among the club's most senior players — not working as hard as he should, and so delivers one almighty spray.

"And the player, he appreciated it,'' says one who was there. "At least to some extent."

Yep, this is the future of the NRL.

An exciting Wests Tigers partnership which, come Sunday afternoon against St George Illawarra, will look bring down the very megastar against whom all their future success will be measured — Benji Marshall.

Here, truly, is Master versus Apprentice. Young buck versus old bull. But as for the winner?

"Oh, who knows,'' White shrugs.

"But after seven years watching these boys I can tell you one thing, whatever we see is only the beginning".

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