Cowboys role to test Luck

AN “honoured” Micheal Luck is ready to tackle the challenges that come with his new role with the Cowboys, and form a dynamic partnership with incoming coach Todd Payten.

Once an industrious lock for North Queensland and the New Zealand Warriors, Luck will vacate his current position as the Cowboys’ chief operating officer, and succeed Peter

Parr as their head of football.

The 38-year-old has not been directly involved with the football department since his first tenure with the organisation after drawing the curtain on his playing days.

Back then he acted as the elite pathways manager, before shifting to the administrative side of the business.

Now tasked with spearheading the regeneration of the Cowboys’ endeavours on the field, managing the individual as opposed to figures is perhaps where he sees his greatest challenge.

Should the NRL continue to operate with a ‘COVID-19 bubble’ as it has done since the game returned, ensuring the playing group — and the young emerging talent within it — through the difficulties that environment presents will form part of that test.

But Luck said troubleshooting strategies to combat those difficulties would be just one of the tasks he would embrace.

“Certainly the last couple of years in the roles I’ve held I’ve been acutely in control of every outcome,” Luck said.

“When you’re dealing with numbers and concepts on a page if something doesn’t go right you can pull one lever and things can change.

“This throws a very human element into the role, which I haven’t had all that much oversight of in the last couple of years. But I’m excited for it, you ask any player that finishes playing and they say they miss that interaction with teammates.”

In appointing his successor as the Cowboys chief operating officer, Luck said his input would be considered, however they would not rush into a decision given how the rugby league landscape had changed since he assumed the position.

With Payten set to arrive in Townsville in November, Luck’s focus is on combining with the former North Queensland assistant coach to take the club back into premiership contention.

The pair worked together in 2015 as part of the under-20s program, and he believes the duo have the traits to mesh together well.

“I just love his attitude, he’s pretty unflappable and you’ll very rarely see him animated — good or bad,” Luck said.

Luck assumes his new responsibilities from November 1.