ID :
209473
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 14:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209473
The shortlink copeid
Luck smiling on surging Warriors
SYDNEY (AAP) - 26 Sept. - He doesn't come with the wraps afforded some of his Warriors teammates, but lock Michael Luck is quietly emerging as the driving force behind the side's charge to the NRL title.
Luck's return from a knee injury midway through the year snapped a four-game losing streak - the Warriors having won nine of 12 games heading into Sunday's grand final since regaining the tackling machine in round 18.
It is a run which has also coincided with the emergence of rookie halfback Shaun Johnson, but Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said Luck's influence on the side could not be underestimated.
"I've never been involved with a tougher bloke," Cleary said.
"He came back after three weeks with that knee - he should have missed another four.
"He just tightens up that middle for us."
That toughness in the middle of the ruck was there for all to see in Saturday night's preliminary final win over Melbourne.
Not only were the Storm held scoreless in the second half, but they struggled to even get out of their own half for much of the period, again dispelling the Warriors' reputation as a side which relies on the flamboyant to beat sides.
"I think that's a generalisation that people have of the Warrior," Luck said.
"When people think of the Warriors they always think of 2001 when Ali Lauitiiti and Clinton Toopi were throwing balls everywhere - it's not really who we are any more.
"We've certainly got the ability to throw it around when we have to, but Ivan's brought more of a controlled, systematic style."
It's a style that is right up Luck's alley.
Three times this year he has topped 50 tackles, and only twice this year has he come up with less than 30 tackles.
One of those occasions was when he did his knee against the Tigers in round 13 - when he still produced 20 tackles in 29 minutes.
"Ivan's shown a lot of faith in me for a long time, being in the middle of the field tidying up," Lock said.
And it's why Lock is desperate to send the departing Cleary out of the club a winner.
"He's the reason why I'm still here - I was nearly out the back door in 2005 at the Cowboys," Luck said.
"Kevin Campion, who I played with at the Cowboys for a few years was here with Ivan as fitness trainer in 2005-2006.
"He gave me a ring and asked if I wanted to come over - at that stage I really had nothing to lose ... I'm really grateful to Ivan for the opportunity he gave me."
And what of Cleary's claim that he's never met a tougher footballer?
"That's a pretty fair wrap, but we've got blokes like Simon Mannering playing at the moment - he's covered in strapping tape after every game," Luck says.
"It's a role that I play within the team, I hate missing games and I'm lucky I'm not a power-based athlete, all crash and bang.
"I've always had it drilled into me if you can walk, you can run - get out on the field and play."
It's something he will do in front of new son Murphy for the first time on Sunday.
Born just three days after the Warriors' loss to Brisbane in the opening week of the finals, Murphy was having a passport organised on Monday to get him to Sydney for the decider.
Luck's return from a knee injury midway through the year snapped a four-game losing streak - the Warriors having won nine of 12 games heading into Sunday's grand final since regaining the tackling machine in round 18.
It is a run which has also coincided with the emergence of rookie halfback Shaun Johnson, but Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said Luck's influence on the side could not be underestimated.
"I've never been involved with a tougher bloke," Cleary said.
"He came back after three weeks with that knee - he should have missed another four.
"He just tightens up that middle for us."
That toughness in the middle of the ruck was there for all to see in Saturday night's preliminary final win over Melbourne.
Not only were the Storm held scoreless in the second half, but they struggled to even get out of their own half for much of the period, again dispelling the Warriors' reputation as a side which relies on the flamboyant to beat sides.
"I think that's a generalisation that people have of the Warrior," Luck said.
"When people think of the Warriors they always think of 2001 when Ali Lauitiiti and Clinton Toopi were throwing balls everywhere - it's not really who we are any more.
"We've certainly got the ability to throw it around when we have to, but Ivan's brought more of a controlled, systematic style."
It's a style that is right up Luck's alley.
Three times this year he has topped 50 tackles, and only twice this year has he come up with less than 30 tackles.
One of those occasions was when he did his knee against the Tigers in round 13 - when he still produced 20 tackles in 29 minutes.
"Ivan's shown a lot of faith in me for a long time, being in the middle of the field tidying up," Lock said.
And it's why Lock is desperate to send the departing Cleary out of the club a winner.
"He's the reason why I'm still here - I was nearly out the back door in 2005 at the Cowboys," Luck said.
"Kevin Campion, who I played with at the Cowboys for a few years was here with Ivan as fitness trainer in 2005-2006.
"He gave me a ring and asked if I wanted to come over - at that stage I really had nothing to lose ... I'm really grateful to Ivan for the opportunity he gave me."
And what of Cleary's claim that he's never met a tougher footballer?
"That's a pretty fair wrap, but we've got blokes like Simon Mannering playing at the moment - he's covered in strapping tape after every game," Luck says.
"It's a role that I play within the team, I hate missing games and I'm lucky I'm not a power-based athlete, all crash and bang.
"I've always had it drilled into me if you can walk, you can run - get out on the field and play."
It's something he will do in front of new son Murphy for the first time on Sunday.
Born just three days after the Warriors' loss to Brisbane in the opening week of the finals, Murphy was having a passport organised on Monday to get him to Sydney for the decider.
