LUI ISN’T DONE AT THE TOP
ROBERT Lui is nowhere near being a spent force in the NRL just yet.
The 25- year- old has played in four matches for the Cowboys this year, and two since the first two rounds, but showed with his controlled performance in the Round 17 win over St George Illawarra that he can still guide the team around.
The rise of Michael Morgan and the use of utilities Rory Kostjasyn and Ray Thompson in the halves in 2015 has left the offcontract Cowboy seeming likely to depart his hometown club at the end of the season.
But after that away performance against the Dragons, Cowboys assistant coach John Cartwright said he did not think Lui was past it when it came to being a shot of staying in the NRL.
“I thought he really got better as the game went on and in the second half I thought he really challenged the line on occasions and defensively, that was a key area for him to shore up our defence,” he said.
“He did that very well and I thought we limited their opportunities and kept them to 12 points.
“Robbie had a bit of a slow start to the year and then he had the hamstring injury, but to come into the side and I thought he got better as the game wore on.
“With all his experience, he’s played in some big games and it’s a funny old game.
“You don’t know where you’ll be in a week’s time, let alone six months time.
“He’s approaching it very well and it’s a tough position to be in but I think he realises he needs to be playing well whether it be at the Blackhawks or with the Cowboys.”
Lui performed with good friend Ray Thompson in the halves against the Dragons at WIN Stadium and the pair earned praise for filling in admirably while Morgan and co- captain Johnathan Thurston were away on State of Origin duties.
“They stepped up and did a massive job completing our sets and controlling the game pretty much,” fullback Lachlan Coote said.