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Cowboys back rower Heilum Luki out for NRL season with ACL injury

By AAP

11 Jun 2022

(Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

North Queensland back-rower Heilum Luki will miss the remainder of the NRL season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Luki left the field 15 minutes into the Cowboys’ 31-12 home victory over St George Illawarra on Friday night after injuring his right knee in a tackle.

Scans on Saturday confirmed a torn ACL and the Cowboys said Luki would have surgery.

After losing fellow back-rower Mitch Dunn to the same injury earlier this season, coach Todd Payten said it’s tough for the club to have two of their premier young players guns sidelined.

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 17

“It’s never good,” Payten said after their win on Friday.

“But we’ve worked really hard as a squad and we’ll have Jeremiah (Nanai) more than likely this week, fingers crossed, or the weekend after.

“The whole squad is working hard and we’re working them hard. That’s what they’re working hard for is an opportunity, and it might present itself.

Luki played in all 14 of the Cowboys’ games this season, scoring four tries.

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Comments on RugbyPass

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 8 minutes ago

All Blacks assistant coach hints Lakai will play ahead of Dupont challenge

Bring the experience and leg drive on for the last 20-30 minutes.

We have got to start trusting these young fullas.

2 Go to comments

Otagoman II 13 minutes ago

Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Coombes impressed as part of the 2022 squad to NZ. Is he good in the lineout and would Doris shift to 6?

177 Go to comments

LW 26 minutes ago

Why a win over Ireland may have just changed everything for this All Blacks team

Decent step it was but they are not favorites to beat France in France

5 Go to comments

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 36 minutes ago

All Black Rieko Ioane stirs Irish pot again with post-win jibe

Hence the ‘not weak in a physical sense’ bit.

44 Go to comments

SteveD 44 minutes ago

Gregor Townsend's upbeat take on Scotland's 4 try to zero loss to Boks

One interesting thing which always worries me with running flyhalves kicking for poles is that very point, they're running (and tackling) means that if they get knocks whether tackling or being tackled must affect their place kicking, and why they maybe shouldn't do that kicking. Which is possibly why he's OK in training but not during matches. Maybe Rassie should get him knocked about a bit then so he can practice in that condition, or just practice kicking on one leg.

Having watched Naas Botha in his heyday reminds me - even at Newlands against Ndy Dalton's Cavaliers in thick mud - that he never ever got dirt on his shorts because he never ran the ball or - heaven forbid - tackle anyone.

Maybe Rassie should line up Chelsin if Manie has a bad kicking day, but hopefully a good try scoring or creating one.

16 Go to comments

Hellhound 48 minutes ago

Former All Black criticises Ireland's 'motivation' after Autumn Nations Series defeat

It was the Irish first game of the Autumn series. The Irish played the 6N and toured SA. Hardly their first game of the season. They weren't rusty. They just didn't pitch up on the day or they were over confident.

Thinking just because they beat NZ in NZ and barely beating SA in the last test of their 2 test series against SA (which they won with a drop goal in the red with 1 point) that playing at home, this would be a walkover.

When the Irish beat the AB's at home last season, the AB's were in a mess. They were much easier to beat. Not so easy to beat them when they are performing well and when they are not in a mess.

16 Go to comments

RedWarrior 51 minutes ago

All Black Rieko Ioane stirs Irish pot again with post-win jibe

Sledging during a match is allowed. Abusing players after a final whistle is just being a fvcking scvmbag, confirmed when you don't apologize and do it again.

Youre arrogant and entitled. Different rules for New Zealand.

This macho hard man attitude of Kiwis is hilarious. I've got all sorts of threats from guys here who I know I would kick up and down the street if I met. Do you all think you are hard men because you have a successful rugby team. Get to fvck!!🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

You might beat us in a rugby match. You wont beat us in a fight. SA discovered that in Durban after the cheap shot on Casey the week before.

44 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 57 minutes ago

Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Don't worry, Tony Brown's job is to move South Africa away from its strengths in the pack and get them to play fast four man lineouts Highlanders style 😂

177 Go to comments

Hellhound 1 hour ago

Gregor Townsend's upbeat take on Scotland's 4 try to zero loss to Boks

I agree. Be happy about what went right during a game, but be brutally honest about the rest. I suspect that he only said that for the public, because I can't see ANYONE being happy about losing. Coaches and players. There is a lot of growth in that team. They are as good as everyone else, except the current top 3.

They need to do their homework. See what it is the top 3 do. How they manage to win, grind or run away. I do have the feeling however that they have reached the ceiling with Gregor Townsend. He took them as far as he could with what he can offer as a coach.

What they need now is a coach who could take them that one step further. Someone like the coach of Glasgow Warriors of Scotland. Franco Smith have a great track record and the players knows him. Most of them play for Glasgow. Beating the Bulls at Loftus in the URC Final is one hell of an achievement.

16 Go to comments

JD Kiwi 1 hour ago

Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

I remember when Wenger took over at arsenal he kept their excellent defence intact but revolutionised the attack. Slot has revolutionised Liverpool's defence but they're still great on the counter. I'd expected JN to do the same at Leinster, thought it would be the last piece of the jigsaw.

177 Go to comments

Jmann 1 hour ago

All Blacks assistant coach hints Lakai will play ahead of Dupont challenge

If you could only choose one of Carter or Dupont in a team. It would be dan carter 100% of the time.

2 Go to comments

Tom 1 hour ago

'I'm sorry, George Ford’s time is up as an England player'

I dunno, I reckon Smith's performance was the best in Allianz. He single handedly kept England in the game. Some of the Aussies were also excellent and they were the better team but the best individual performance imho was Smith.