Luke Lewis
Encyclopedia
Luke Lewis is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers
in the National Rugby League
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative utility player, he has spent his entire professional career with the Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL Premiership with them. A versatile player, Lewis has played in every position except fullback and prop.
, and spent his junior career with Blacktown City Junior Rugby League Football Club in the Penrith district. In the beginning of 2011 he married his partner Sonia Di Loreto.
in 2001. In the 2003 NRL grand final
he played on the wing in the Panthers' 18–6 win over the Sydney Roosters
.
In 2010, Lewis was named Penrith's best player in a successful season for the club, finishing second on the NRL ladder. Lewis also won the 2010 Dally M Lock of the Year award.
Lewis' current contract ends at the end of 2014. The one-club man almost joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
in 2008, but reneged on an unofficial deal.
match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne. Lewis was subsequently called into the team following the suspension of Glenn Stewart
, his first appearance in Origin since 2004.
At the end of the 2009 NRL season Lewis travelled to Europe with Australia for the 2009 Four Nations tournament, finally getting selected to play and making his debut against England.
Lewis was again selected for the 2010 Four Nations tournament, scoring two tries in a matter of minutes against England, and unselfishly giving up a hat-trick, setting up Willie Tonga
. Lewis scored his first ever test try in this match, and also went on to win the Man of the Match award, despite succumbing to an inqury in the three-quarter mark of the game.
Luke has been selected to represent Australia in the 2011 Four Nations tournament to be held in the United Kingdom.
In Round 2 of the Four Nations, Lewis scored for Australia, diving over the line (playing wing) in the 17th minute, where the Kangaroos beat England, 36-20.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who currently plays for the Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative utility player, he has spent his entire professional career with the Panthers, winning the 2003 NRL Premiership with them. A versatile player, Lewis has played in every position except fullback and prop.
Early life
Lewis was educated at Patrician Brothers' College BlacktownPatrician Brothers' College Blacktown
Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown is a Roman Catholic, independent secondary, day school for boys, located in Blacktown, a western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
, and spent his junior career with Blacktown City Junior Rugby League Football Club in the Penrith district. In the beginning of 2011 he married his partner Sonia Di Loreto.
Club career
Lewis made his first grade debut for the Penrith Panthers against the Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in 2001. In the 2003 NRL grand final
2003 NRL grand final
The 2003 NRL grand final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding match of the 2003 NRL season. In what was a contest of Sydney's east versus west, defending premiers and match favourites, the Sydney Roosters played against minor premiers and underdogs, the Penrith Panthers...
he played on the wing in the Panthers' 18–6 win over the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
.
In 2010, Lewis was named Penrith's best player in a successful season for the club, finishing second on the NRL ladder. Lewis also won the 2010 Dally M Lock of the Year award.
Lewis' current contract ends at the end of 2014. The one-club man almost joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
in 2008, but reneged on an unofficial deal.
Representative career
Lewis toured with the 2004 Kangaroos but was not selected to play. He was also picked as 18th man for the Australian side to play in the ANZAC test in 2009, but again did not play. In May 2009, he was named as 18th man for the squad to represent New South Wales in the opening State of OriginRugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match on 3 June 2009, in Melbourne. Lewis was subsequently called into the team following the suspension of Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart
Glenn Stewart is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles of the National Rugby League . An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative second-row forward, Stewart has played all of his club football to date with Manly,...
, his first appearance in Origin since 2004.
At the end of the 2009 NRL season Lewis travelled to Europe with Australia for the 2009 Four Nations tournament, finally getting selected to play and making his debut against England.
Lewis was again selected for the 2010 Four Nations tournament, scoring two tries in a matter of minutes against England, and unselfishly giving up a hat-trick, setting up Willie Tonga
Willie Tonga
Willie Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys of the NRL...
. Lewis scored his first ever test try in this match, and also went on to win the Man of the Match award, despite succumbing to an inqury in the three-quarter mark of the game.
Luke has been selected to represent Australia in the 2011 Four Nations tournament to be held in the United Kingdom.
In Round 2 of the Four Nations, Lewis scored for Australia, diving over the line (playing wing) in the 17th minute, where the Kangaroos beat England, 36-20.