Issac Luke facts for kids
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Personal information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 29 May 1987 Hāwera, New Zealand |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 93 kg (14 st 9 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Playing information
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Hooker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
As of 6 May 2021
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issac Luke (born 29 May 1987) is a retired professional rugby league player from New Zealand. He was known for playing in the hooker position. During his career, he played for famous clubs like the South Sydney Rabbitohs, New Zealand Warriors, St. George Illawarra Dragons, and the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Luke was a key player for the South Sydney team that won the 2014 NRL Premiership. However, he couldn't play in the Grand Final because of a suspension. He was also a member of the New Zealand national team, the Kiwis, that won the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
Contents
Personal Life
Issac Luke was born in Hāwera, a town in New Zealand. He is of Māori and Irish heritage.
His family has strong connections to rugby league. He is a cousin of fellow New Zealand player Sonny Bill Williams and England international player Rangi Chase. In 2023, his father, George Luke, sadly passed away during Cyclone Gabrielle, a major storm that hit New Zealand.
Playing Career
Early Success with South Sydney
Before turning professional, Luke played in the junior leagues for the Canterbury-Bankstown team.
He made his official NRL debut for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2007. In his first season, he scored his first try and was named the team's Rookie of the Year. He was also recognized as one of the best new players in the entire league.
Winning the World Cup
In 2008, Luke was chosen to play for the New Zealand Kiwis in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. He played a very important role in helping his team win the tournament. The Kiwis defeated Australia in the final, which was a huge victory for New Zealand rugby league.
2014 Grand Final with the Rabbitohs
The 2014 NRL season was a big one for the Rabbitohs. They reached the Grand Final for the first time in 43 years. Luke was a star player for the team all year.
Unfortunately, he was suspended for the final game because of a dangerous tackle in the match before the final. This meant he had to watch from the sidelines as his team won the championship. Even though he couldn't play, the team's coach, Michael Maguire, gave his own premiership ring to Luke to show how important he was to the team's success.
Joining the New Zealand Warriors
In 2015, Luke signed a three-year contract to play for the New Zealand Warriors, starting in 2016. This was a chance for him to play for a team based in his home country. He even became a co-captain of the New Zealand national team during a tour of Great Britain in 2015.
Final Years in the NRL
After his time with the Warriors, Luke had short stints with other clubs. In 2020, he first joined the St. George Illawarra Dragons.
Later that same year, he moved to the Brisbane Broncos. He played 12 games for Brisbane before announcing his retirement from professional rugby league on 22 September 2021.
Life After Rugby League
After retiring, Issac Luke has stayed involved with the sport. In March 2022, he was honored as a life member of the South Sydney Rabbitohs for his contributions to the club. He also began coaching a high school rugby league team in 2023, helping to train the next generation of players.
Career Highlights
- Junior Club: Hawera Hawks
- First Grade Debut: Round 12, 2007, for South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. Melbourne Storm
- First NRL Try: Round 19, 2007, for South Sydney Rabbitohs vs. North Queensland Cowboys
- International Debut: 9 May 2008, for New Zealand vs. Australia
- Major Wins:
- 2008 Rugby League World Cup with New Zealand
- 2010 Rugby League Four Nations with New Zealand
- Awards:
- John Sattler Rookie of the Year (2007)
- George Piggins Medal for Souths' Best and Fairest Player (2010)
Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Tries | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs |
14 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| 2008 | 20 | 6 | 42 | 108 | |
| 2009 | 24 | 4 | 15 | 46 | |
| 2010 | 20 | 9 | 46 | 128 | |
| 2011 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 16 | |
| 2012 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 26 | |
| 2013 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 18 | |
| 2014 | 18 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 2015 | 20 | 3 | 19 | 50 | |
| 2016 |  New Zealand Warriors |
20 | 3 | 28 | 68 |
| 2017 | 23 | 1 | 17 | 38 | |
| 2018 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 26 | |
| 2019 | 17 | 4 | 23 | 62 | |
| 2020 |  St. George Illawarra Dragons |
3 | |||
 Brisbane Broncos |
12 | 1 | 2 | ||
| Totals | 286 | 50 | 205 | 610 |
