Luke hooks in for another year with Warriors
Issac Luke is staying put at the Warriors.
The veteran hooker confirmed he has re-signed with the club for another season with the hope of securing a longer deal at Mt Smart next year.
‘‘It’s good to have the contract all sorted out,’’ Luke said.
‘‘We always wanted to stay in New Zealand, my wife and the kids. I’m really happy here at the club and I’m pleased I have another season with the boys.’’
The announcement brings to an end months of speculation over the 31-year-old’s future.
The club was always keen to keep him, but salary cap restrictions meant the Warriors were unable to offer a similar deal to the three-year contract which initially brought him to the club in 2016.
Luke had been in talks with the Newcastle Knights but negotiations broke down in recent weeks after it emerged he requires shoulder surgery that could see him miss the start of next season.
The extent of the injury is yet to be confirmed, although it has ruled him out of the Kiwis’ test against Australia next week and the subsequent tour of the UK.
Nevertheless, the Warriors faithful will welcome news of his re-signing after Luke wound back the clock in 2018 to help break the club’s seven-year finals drought.
Luke struggled with weight and fitness issues during his first two seasons in Auckland, which ultimately cost him a place in the Kiwis World Cup squad last year.
But thanks to a gruelling preseason under Warriors high performance manager Alex Corvo, Luke began 2018 in career-best shape and went on to play a crucial role in the team’s revival.
Luke played 23 of the Warriors’ 25 games, scoring six tries while averaging 71 minutes, 72 metres and 31 tackles a game. He had a total of 114 dummy half runs, third behind fellow hookers South Sydney’s Damien Cook and St George Illawarra’s Cameron McInnes. His form was rewarded with a recall to the Kiwis for the mid-season clash against England in Denver.
His retention is a boost for the club as it tries to build on this year’s top-eight finish while allowing rising dummy-half Nathaniel Roache to continue his development after he sat out the entire season with a back injury.
Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney welcomed Luke’s resigning. ‘‘Now we look forward to him making a big contribution to the side next season."