REMEMBER the name Luke Brooks, 18, the face of the Wests Tigers generation next and on the evidence submitted against St George Illawarra on Saturday, a superstar in-the-making.

Wow. It was impossible to miss the significance of departing Tigers icon Benji Marshall effectively passing the baton to his playmaking understudy throughout the course of the game, with Brooks in turn saluting with a spectacular debut.

After a steady opening 20 minutes, the Tigers newest whiz kid grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, going on to score a try, set-up two others and guide his team with composure well beyond his years.

It wasn't just Brooks who gave the Tigers' legion of fans reason to believe there is life after Marshall, with fellow young guns Curtis Sironen, Tim Simona and James Tedesco all combining to put on an attacking masterclass as the club snapped a six-match losing streak.

"Outstanding I thought. Not only for his age, but for a first game to stand up, lead the team at halfback, kick well, run well, he scored a try and set-up a couple," Marshall said.

"I think the future for the club, without putting too much pressure on him, if he keeps training hard and working the way he works, he'll be great for them.

"The future of the club is definitely bright in terms of talent with Brooksy and a few of the other younger guys we've got coming through.

"So I feel like I'm leaving with the club in pretty good hands.

"But I think, just as a club and as people, the expectation of these young guys can't be so high so early. I mean they're great players but they've still got a long way to go."

It's incredible to think when Marshall was throwing THAT flick pass to Pat Richards in the 2005 grand final, Brooks was 10.

Long before Braith Anasta was labelled the next Freddy Fittler, it's always been fraught with danger to heap pressure and comparisons upon rookie NRL players.

Already, Brooks has been repeatedly mentioned in the same breath as Andrew Johns. Put simply, it's way too premature to even contemplate those sorts of comparisons.

But the eighth Immortal and halfback of the century was on hand to witness his special debut on Saturday, calling the match for Triple M, and found it impossible to contain his excitement.

"What a debut. This young guy's life is never going to be the same," Johns said.

Luckily, it's only early days. And the NRL's farcical second-tier salary cap means we won't get to see Brooks again this season.

"It was a real honour to play at the SCG and also to play with Benji, who's been a hero coming up through the grades and especially when I was younger," Brooks said.

"The boys made it easier for me, by doing their job and listening to me.

"He was a hero growing up when I was younger, being a Tigers fan, it's massive to get a game with him.

Questioned about how he intended to handle comparisons with Johns, Brooks replied: "I don't really listen to the media, what they say."

Leading 22-6 at hafltime, the Tigers were poised to cruise to what appeared an easy victory. The only problem was, they clocked off at halftime.

When the second half resumed, the Dragons went bang, bang with tries to five-eighth Adam Quinlan and captain Ben Creagh for a 22-18 scoreline with half an hour to play.

Enter Brooks. With the game on the line, the debutant laid on Simona's second try and then scored one himself to end any hope of a Dragons fightback.

New Tigers boss Grant Mayer's decision to recently extend the young halfback's contract until the end of 2017 appeared a masterstroke.

For Tigers coach Mick Potter, considered a certainty to be tapped on the shoulder for next season a fortnight ago, the victory meant a much better sleep last night.

"It's just good to see everyone have a smile on their face and have a win and that's all that the competition is about. There is light at the end of the tunnel, the short answer is yes, I do see light at the end of the tunnel," Potter said.

Dragons coach Steve Price wasn't offering excuses but was disappointed with a potential try to Chase Stanley not being referred to the video referee.

Price said the Dragons would also continue to question why the NRL allowed Brooks permission to play, supporting chief executive Peter Doust's stance on the second-tier salary cap from earlier in the week.

WESTS TIGERS 34 (T Simona 2 B Anasta L Brooks J Luani C Sironen tries B Marshall 5 goals) bt ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 18 (L Ah Mau B Creagh A Quinlan tries C Stanley 3 goals) at Sydney Cricket Ground. Referee: Jason Robinson, Phil Haines. Crowd: 15,016.