A one-club man, Brooks played his first-grade career primarily with the Balmain Tigers in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership, with a couple of short stints in England in the off-season with Hull FC and later with Chorley Borough.
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 was selected to represent New South Wales as a second-rower for Game III of the 1985 State of Origin series.
Brooks played at second-row in the club's 24-12 grand final loss against Canterbury-Bankstown at the Sydney Football Stadium.