ive posted this elsewhere,but i still see ppl wondering why we like covell so this is just some reasons
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Barnstorming , Breathtaking , Unbelievable and Human aren't many the words you associate with modern day rugby league players, but for Luke Covell, these are the tags he has to deal with every day.
Luke Claudia Covell was born on the 9th November 1981. Luke , the 5 year old boy from the Goondiwindi Goannas, who had a dream to play First Grade and Rep Footy. Often dreaming of the day that this goal would happen, Luke tried to combine the aggression of Tommy Raudonikis , the finesse of Matthew Ridge and the skill of Mitch Healey.
Ironically , Luke's career in Rugby League was almost tragically cut short, when his Mother Shelley , a descendant of a long list of soccer fanatics, pushed him towards a soccer career. Though his father, a builder from the school of hard knocks, was always adamant Luke should pursue a career in League, along with the Local Five Eigth and his childhood mentor Bob Potter convinced him.
So Luke continued on the road that would make him a superstar and by the age of 17 was carving up for the Murwillumbah Colts. People would gather at TG Gillers Oval after a hard days work, to watch Luke practice , they would marvel at his left foot, his right foot, his athletic posture. He was an icon. Then one day somthing happened...
Their was a shadow of a man in the crowd, lurking within the grassy meadows of the trees, his face hidden only by his long cowboy hat and boots. And at about 8pm December 11th, 1999, that man emerged from the trees. His name was never known. He was a country recruitment officer for Rugby League. He saw the talent Luke possessed , and instantly made the comparison to the famous Mark Wakefield.
He dragged Luke down to Western Suburbs. He was happy to do this, as they were his third favourite team, and this was his big chance.Through time where he spent many years their in the lower grades, carving up as a halfback , centre , fullback , 2nd rower , winger and his most damaging position , at Five Eigth.
Eventually in round 7 , 2003 , Luke debuted as a fragile young man , 21 years of old against a Newcastle Knights team full of superstars in first grade for the Wests Tigers. Luke starred above his struggling Tigers team , attracting numerous defenders everytime he touched the ball. The Tigers were narrowly defeated 34-6 that day , but the Newcastle supporters left that day knowing a star had been born, and a cheeky grin went over Tim Sheens mouth as he left the ground, knowing he had unvailed a superstar.
This lead Luke onto bigger and better things, and just 12 months later he represented NSW once in a fantastic win over QLD, where Luke starred with two conversions. A victim of his own success , betrayed by the promise he had shown as a young man in a tiger jersey. Luke became a party animal , late nights at the casino , women after women whose names he never though to ask, flashing by in the blink of an eye.
Though this sudden rise to fame was shot down like a Gorilla at a farm at the end of 2004 as Wests Tigers couldnt afford to keep him. Then came Cronulla, the team that saved Luke as a young man, headed for the streets homeless in 2004, as salary cap issues forced a wanted Luke out of the Wests Tigers.
Lukes move in 2005 has been a great one. He has won the hearts of the Cronulla community with his bone crunching defence , his in and away side step , his teeth rattling hitups and his put it over the posts like Goalkicking. He was the form winger in early 2005 , which lead him to being named in the Country Origin side, where he represented Cronulla , his small town and himself with pride , being one of Countrys best.
However an origin snub weeks later, saw Luke loose interest in the game which has taken him so far. It has taken a toll on him physically and mentally, and questions of gambling problems have been raised time after time. Finally the bullet was cut, after weeks of below average (for him) performances, he has been sacked to First Division. Some may say it is harsh, I am one of them, considering he was best on ground last weekend. But this is only a bump in the road. Luke Covell will bounce back in true Luke Covell style. Remember you can knock the champion to the ground, but you can never keep him off his feet.
To all his fans out there , dont doubt him, hes gone along way since that 5 year old with a dream, and this is only a hiccup. Luke is one of the gutsiest men in the NRL , he wont let this get in his way. He will train harder and come back 10 times the better player. He is still a chance at the Dally M Winger Of The Year, and im sure that is in the back of his mind. Go Get Em Luke.
Note: Since then he returend to be a finals footballer and now New Zealand rep
--------------------------------------------------
Barnstorming , Breathtaking , Unbelievable and Human aren't many the words you associate with modern day rugby league players, but for Luke Covell, these are the tags he has to deal with every day.
Luke Claudia Covell was born on the 9th November 1981. Luke , the 5 year old boy from the Goondiwindi Goannas, who had a dream to play First Grade and Rep Footy. Often dreaming of the day that this goal would happen, Luke tried to combine the aggression of Tommy Raudonikis , the finesse of Matthew Ridge and the skill of Mitch Healey.
Ironically , Luke's career in Rugby League was almost tragically cut short, when his Mother Shelley , a descendant of a long list of soccer fanatics, pushed him towards a soccer career. Though his father, a builder from the school of hard knocks, was always adamant Luke should pursue a career in League, along with the Local Five Eigth and his childhood mentor Bob Potter convinced him.
So Luke continued on the road that would make him a superstar and by the age of 17 was carving up for the Murwillumbah Colts. People would gather at TG Gillers Oval after a hard days work, to watch Luke practice , they would marvel at his left foot, his right foot, his athletic posture. He was an icon. Then one day somthing happened...
Their was a shadow of a man in the crowd, lurking within the grassy meadows of the trees, his face hidden only by his long cowboy hat and boots. And at about 8pm December 11th, 1999, that man emerged from the trees. His name was never known. He was a country recruitment officer for Rugby League. He saw the talent Luke possessed , and instantly made the comparison to the famous Mark Wakefield.
He dragged Luke down to Western Suburbs. He was happy to do this, as they were his third favourite team, and this was his big chance.Through time where he spent many years their in the lower grades, carving up as a halfback , centre , fullback , 2nd rower , winger and his most damaging position , at Five Eigth.
Eventually in round 7 , 2003 , Luke debuted as a fragile young man , 21 years of old against a Newcastle Knights team full of superstars in first grade for the Wests Tigers. Luke starred above his struggling Tigers team , attracting numerous defenders everytime he touched the ball. The Tigers were narrowly defeated 34-6 that day , but the Newcastle supporters left that day knowing a star had been born, and a cheeky grin went over Tim Sheens mouth as he left the ground, knowing he had unvailed a superstar.
This lead Luke onto bigger and better things, and just 12 months later he represented NSW once in a fantastic win over QLD, where Luke starred with two conversions. A victim of his own success , betrayed by the promise he had shown as a young man in a tiger jersey. Luke became a party animal , late nights at the casino , women after women whose names he never though to ask, flashing by in the blink of an eye.
Though this sudden rise to fame was shot down like a Gorilla at a farm at the end of 2004 as Wests Tigers couldnt afford to keep him. Then came Cronulla, the team that saved Luke as a young man, headed for the streets homeless in 2004, as salary cap issues forced a wanted Luke out of the Wests Tigers.
Lukes move in 2005 has been a great one. He has won the hearts of the Cronulla community with his bone crunching defence , his in and away side step , his teeth rattling hitups and his put it over the posts like Goalkicking. He was the form winger in early 2005 , which lead him to being named in the Country Origin side, where he represented Cronulla , his small town and himself with pride , being one of Countrys best.
However an origin snub weeks later, saw Luke loose interest in the game which has taken him so far. It has taken a toll on him physically and mentally, and questions of gambling problems have been raised time after time. Finally the bullet was cut, after weeks of below average (for him) performances, he has been sacked to First Division. Some may say it is harsh, I am one of them, considering he was best on ground last weekend. But this is only a bump in the road. Luke Covell will bounce back in true Luke Covell style. Remember you can knock the champion to the ground, but you can never keep him off his feet.
To all his fans out there , dont doubt him, hes gone along way since that 5 year old with a dream, and this is only a hiccup. Luke is one of the gutsiest men in the NRL , he wont let this get in his way. He will train harder and come back 10 times the better player. He is still a chance at the Dally M Winger Of The Year, and im sure that is in the back of his mind. Go Get Em Luke.
Note: Since then he returend to be a finals footballer and now New Zealand rep
