Luke’s lifeline to impress
ALL STARS CLASH OPENS DOOR FOR BRONCO
BRISBANE hooker Issac Luke has been handed a licence to impress Broncos coach Kevin Walters after being among seven NRL players pitchforked into this weekend’s All Stars clash following Victoria’s five-day lockdown.
Queensland’s border closure to Victoria has forced seven Melbourne Storm players – Josh Addo-Carr, Reimis Smith, Jahrome Hughes, Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, Brandon Smith and Nelson Asofa-Solomona – to sit out the match.
It has opened the door for Luke, along with Esan Marsters, Daejarn Asi and Emry Pere (Cowboys), Russell Packer (Tigers) and Jackson Topine (Bulldogs) to join the Maori All Stars squad, while Titans talent Corey Thompson has been named in Laurie Daley’s Indigenous side.
The teams will fly to Townsville today for their first day of camp to prepare for Saturday’s clash at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Luke’s call-up comes just
months after his future in the NRL appeared uncertain.
The 33-year-old is contracted with the Broncos on a “training and replacement contract” and was linked with a move to Intrust Super Cup side Wynnum Manly.
Luke has been involved in Broncos pre-season training, however he has been rotated through the hooking duties
with fellow dummy halves Andrew McCullough, Jake Turpin and Cory Paix.
Now, the proud Maori representative will get one last chance to impress Broncos coach Walters ahead of the 2021 season, with his call-up into this weekend’s All Stars clash.
Maori All Stars coach David Kidwell is yet to make a decision on his starting No.9, with Bulldogs youngster Jeremy Marshall-King also in the mix, but confirmed Luke was in contention.
Kidwell said it was a great chance for Luke to show he still had some mileage left in his legs.
“It’s an opportunity to impress his new coach Kevin Walters,” he said.
“We’re going to have to rely on his experience and darts out of dummy half.
“We need the best version of Issac Luke to come into camp in North Queensland and give it his best shot.
“I know how much this jersey means to Issac and he loves representing his people back home as a proud indigenous Maori.”