It seems the Wests Tigers have an ultimatum on their hands to close out the 2021 NRL season.

Last weekend’s huge loss against the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks has officially ruled them out of finals contention, with the club set to decide between their coach and halfback.

The Australian’s Brent Read has reported that within the next two weeks the Tigers will either part ways with Michael Maguire or Luke Brooks.

“The two I would focus on are Michael Maguire and Luke Brooks,” said Read via Triple M.

“I think they are the two guys that are getting most of the attention at the moment for one reason or another.

“Madge is whether he has a future there [at the Tigers] after the season, and Luke’s is because there are all sorts of rumours that he’s been shopped around and the club’s gone off him.

“The club’s denied that, people close to him have denied that he is being shopped around, but I would think there’s obviously some interest externally in him because he is a good player who hasn’t really lived up to the reputation and is on big money.”

Read would go on to also say: “I think they need to make some changes in the off season, I don’t think there is any doubt about that.

“If they are going to stick with Madge then I think they need to let Luke Brooks go.”

By the sounds of the recent reports, it seems that the Tigers will stick with Maguire and opt to let Brooks go, as they already have a replacement on the way in Wigan’s Jackson Hastings next season.

Not to mention the fact that the Wests Tigers have publicly backed Maguire and said that he will be the club’s head coach in 2022.

Possible destinations for Brooks next season include the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs who are looking to bring someone in who can partner Matt Burton next season, the Canberra Raiders who are looking for a long-term replacement for George Williams who left for Warrington earlier this season, or the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks where he would partner Nicho Hynes in the halves.