He played his junior football for the Holy Cross Rhinos and Leichhardt Wanderers before being signed by the Wests Tigers.

Having spent the pre-season training with the first-grade team, Brooks was receiving attention in the press, with Andrew Johns saying he was one of the best young talents he had seen in some time.

[5] Although the Wests Tigers had exceeded their second tier salary cap, Brooks was given a special dispensation to play as neither team could make the semi-finals.

Despite some offers from rival clubs and an attempt from the Wests Tigers to extend his contract, Brooks took up the option mid-season.

"[15] With Wests Tigers struggling for wins mid-season, Brooks received some criticism from commentators such as Peter Sterling for his lack of involvement in games.

In March and April, Brooks, alongside Tigers captain Aaron Woods, halves partner Mitchell Moses and superstar fullback James Tedesco, attracted media speculation about where the players, dubbed the "Big Four" would play after all of their contracts with the Tigers were set to expire at season's end.

By round 24, Brooks held the statistic of the current player with the most NRL caps to not have played finals football,[25] a record that would continue with Wests Tigers finishing ninth.

[26][27] In round 14 against Canterbury-Bankstown, Brooks kicked a field goal with two minutes remaining on to win the game for Wests 29–28 at Western Sydney Stadium.

[30] In round 2 of the 2021 NRL season, he played his 150th first grade game as the Wests Tigers lost 40–6 against the Sydney Roosters at Campbelltown Stadium.

[31] Brooks played a total of 24 games for the Wests Tigers in the 2021 NRL season as the club finished 13th and missed the finals.

[32] With Wests Tigers losing the first five games of the season, Brooks was named at five-eighth in round 6 with Jackson Hastings playing halfback.

"[36] The next week, he kicked a field goal with one minute remaining against South Sydney to win the game for Wests Tigers 23–22.

[37] Brooks played a total of 17 matches for the Wests Tigers in the 2022 NRL season as the club finished bottom of the table and claimed the Wooden Spoon for the first time.

[38] In round 9 of the 2023 NRL season, Brooks earned his first victory in over a year as the Wests Tigers upset Penrith 12–8.