LUCK’S IN THE SADDLE

Micheal Luck named Cowboys head of football

THE newest chapter of the North Queensland Cowboys’ history continues to take shape, with Micheal Luck taking on the club’s head of football.

After 76 NRL games for the club in his playing days, and a stint as its chief operating officer since his time on the field ended, the 38-year-old will form a dynamic partnership with incoming coach Todd Payten — a man who he worked alongside with the under-20s in 2015.

Navigating players through the coronavirus era is one challenge that Luck is eager to embrace, should the NRL’S “COVID-19 bubble” biosecurity measures become the norm for next season. But one of the things he has missed most about his footballing days has been the camaraderie, the mateship and the ability to lean on a team. That human element will perhaps be his greatest task to manage as he looks to help steer North Queensland back to a premiership force, but it’s the one he is most eager to tackle head on.

CAMERON Smith has ruled out an Allan Langer-style comeback for Queensland as the Storm champion gave the strongest indication yet Sunday’s grand final against Penrith will mark his retirement from rugby league.

The Maroons are battling an injury crisis with incumbents Kalyn Ponga, Michael Morgan and Moses Mbye to miss the November series.

Wayne Bennett famously recalled Langer from England to win the 2001 Origin series and with the super coach now back in charge at Queensland, there was speculation he would reach out to Smith for a Maroons cameo.

But as he prepares for his eighth grand final at ANZ Stadium, Smith closed the door on a fairytale Origin comeback, saying Queensland had a raft of hooking options headed by Ben Hunt, Jake Friend, Harry

Grant and Reed Mahoney.

Smith has still not had negotiations with the Storm over a new deal for 2021. And he provided a compelling insight into his thought process when asked if he feared walking away from the game after 18 years in the NRL.

“I don’t fear life after football,” he said. “I am comfortable with where I am at.

“If this is to be my last game then I will have to adjust to life after playing footy.”