Luke Covell
Personal information
Born (1981-11-09) 9 November 1981
Goondiwindi, Queensland, Australia
Playing information
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2003–04 Wests Tigers 22 7 57 0 142
2005–10 Cronulla Sharks 131 55 364 0 948
Total 153 62 421 0 1090
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004 NSW Residents 1 0 2 0 4
2005 NSW Country 1 0 3 0 6
2007 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0
Source: [1][2][3]

Luke Covell (born 9 November 1981) is a former New Zealand international rugby league footballer who played as a goal-kicking winger for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Wests Tigers in the NRL.

He also played at representative level for NSW Country and was described as one of the most respected players in the NRL.[4] Although born and raised in Australia, Covell was eligible to play for New Zealand through his father, making one appearance for the Kiwis in 2007.

Early life

Covell was born in Goondiwindi, Queensland, to a New Zealand father and an Australian mother.[5] He was raised in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, and attended Mt St Patrick's College. Covell played early football for the Murwillumbah Colts.

NRL career

Covell debuted with the Wests Tigers in 2003 at the age of 21. The winger's limited game time saw him join the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2004.

In 2007, Covell made his Test Debut for New Zealand against Australia, in which a young Australian side defeated the Kiwis 58–0. Covell however was injured in the early minutes of the match and it was to be his sole international appearance.[6]

In 2008, Covell won the Dally M Pointscorer of the Year award, playing a major role in the Cronulla-Sutherland's stellar season. He went on to score over a thousand points in his career.

Covell was known for his lack of speed, but made up for it in determination, and was a fluent goalkicker.[7] "I know some people out there think I'm too slow for the NRL. Not talented enough. But that's okay ... I've always known it too," Covell once said.[8]

In 2010, Covell became the first NRL Player to have (LARS) ligament augmentation and reconstruction surgery.[7] Not long after his return from surgery, he announced he intended to retire at the end of the 2010 season, saying, "I’m proud to say I played for the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers, I’ve had a great time and I wouldn’t change a thing."[4]

Post-NRL career

Covell returned home to play for the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League. He played in the second row and as the team's goalkicker. In 2012, Covell won a premiership with his late penalty goal resulting in the Mustangs overhauling the Grafton Ghosts in the final minutes to win 27–26.[9] Covell played for the Mustangs again in 2013, losing to Ballina in the grand final.[10]

Covell is an Australian Apprenticeships Ambassador for the Australian Government and an Apprentice Mentor in the NRL's Trade UP with the NRL Program.[11]

In 2014, while undertaking a plumbing apprenticeship and studying at TAFE, Covell represented the New South Wales Tertiary team.[10]

References

  1. ↑ NRL Stats Archived 27 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Yesterday's Hero Archived 10 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 David Riccio (10 August 2010). "Luke Covell retires, Sharks chase Colin Best". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  5. ↑ "Covell proud to be a Kiwi". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Luke Covell". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  7. 1 2 Phil Rothfield (12 June 2010). "How Luke Covell defied medical convention". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Nick Walshaw (13 August 2010). "Not everyone can be Greg Inglis". Herald Sun. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Greg Martin (3 September 2012). "Mustangs are grand final champs". Daily News. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  10. 1 2 Webeck, Tony (15 May 2014). "Covell's shock at NSW call-up". National Rugby League. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  11. ↑ http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/ambassador/luke-covell
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