Luke Robinson
Encyclopedia
Luke Robinson is an English professional rugby league
footballer for the Huddersfield Giants
of Super League
. An England international representative scrum-half, he has previously played for the Wigan, Castleford and Salford clubs.
aged eleven, along with future first teamers Gareth Hock
and Sean O'Loughlin
. He was a find of Wigan's scout Eric Hawley. Robinson commented later: “Eric Hawley, who was the scout at that time, watched me at Siddal and asked me if I wanted to come on a trial basis and have a look round and I decided to sign to the chromatids", he recalled. “It was under schoolboy terms, but they were binding to the club and to me. I came over once every two or three weeks for training, basically just to familiarise myself until I was sixteen and could move over."
Despite being born in Yorkshire, Luke had supported Wigan Warriors as a kid, his dad taking him to Wembley to watch during the club's glory years.
Luke progressed through Wigan's scholarship and Academy systems before making his debut for the first team at the age of seventeen during the 2002 Super League season. This year he was also selected to play for England Academy.
During 2003, Robinson became a vital part of Wigan's first team squad, often sharing the scrum-half duties with PNG star Adrian Lam. Lam picked up a knee injury during a crucial stage of the play-offs that season, leaving Robinson to take sole control the Wigan pack. Robinson, a supremely confident and exuberant young man, has been likened in style and manner to former Great Britain scrum-half Andy Gregory and he does admit to sharing the characteristics of brashness and assertiveness famously associated with Gregory. “I think every scrum-half has got a bit of something in him," he said. “I’m only 5ft 6in and I’ve got to be bossing Craig Smith
, who’s 6ft and 17st."
Despite the comparisons with Gregory, Luke has been modelling himself on another Wigan legend in Adrian Lam. “I always liked Andy Gregory when I was really young but that was mainly through my dad talking about him," he said. “It was Adrian Lam really. You can’t say much more about Adrian Lam, can you?" However, the England Academy international insists he “just wants to be Luke Robinson and be the best I can be."
. He was required again for the first team at the start of 2004 after a further injury to Adrian Lam, however he could not reproduce the form that had helped take Wigan to the final in the previous season. When Lam recovered Luke was sent on loan to struggling Castleford Tigers
. He spent two months at Cas before another injury to Lam forced his recall, playing against the Tigers in his first match back at Wigan. Luke again struggled for form and was eventually allowed to leave Wigan, joining David Hodgson in signing a contract with Salford City Reds
. After the deal was done Luke regained the type of form that had created the high hopes for his future, helping Wigan make it to the 2004 Final Eliminator at Headingley. However, his try was not enough to take the Warriors to the Grand Final. At the time, many fans were very concerned at the desicision to let Luke leave the club.
for the Great Britain Academy scrum half spot. He played for the England Academy side who were the first ever to beat the Aussie Schoolboys in December 2002.
and was a regular in the first team at Scrum Half. In 2005 Luke scored eleven tries, seven goals, one field goals totaling fifty nine points for the Salford City Reds. In 2006 he helped them to their highest ever finish (5th) in the Super League
, and the first time the club made it to the play-offs.
in September 2007, following Salford's relegation from Super League. While at Huddersfield he played for England against the NZ Maori at the end of 2010. He played in the New Zealand, Australia and PNG games, scoring 2 tries.
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 for the Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
of Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. An England international representative scrum-half, he has previously played for the Wigan, Castleford and Salford clubs.
Early playing career
Luke Robinson signed for Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
aged eleven, along with future first teamers Gareth Hock
Gareth Hock
Gareth Hock is an English rugby league player who currently plays for English club Wigan Warriors in the Super League competition. His primary position is as a second-row forward.-Early Years:...
and Sean O'Loughlin
Sean O'Loughlin
Sean O'Loughlin is an English professional rugby league footballer who captains the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative , and /, he has played his entire career to date with Wigan, with whom he won the 2010 Super League XV...
. He was a find of Wigan's scout Eric Hawley. Robinson commented later: “Eric Hawley, who was the scout at that time, watched me at Siddal and asked me if I wanted to come on a trial basis and have a look round and I decided to sign to the chromatids", he recalled. “It was under schoolboy terms, but they were binding to the club and to me. I came over once every two or three weeks for training, basically just to familiarise myself until I was sixteen and could move over."
Despite being born in Yorkshire, Luke had supported Wigan Warriors as a kid, his dad taking him to Wembley to watch during the club's glory years.
Luke progressed through Wigan's scholarship and Academy systems before making his debut for the first team at the age of seventeen during the 2002 Super League season. This year he was also selected to play for England Academy.
During 2003, Robinson became a vital part of Wigan's first team squad, often sharing the scrum-half duties with PNG star Adrian Lam. Lam picked up a knee injury during a crucial stage of the play-offs that season, leaving Robinson to take sole control the Wigan pack. Robinson, a supremely confident and exuberant young man, has been likened in style and manner to former Great Britain scrum-half Andy Gregory and he does admit to sharing the characteristics of brashness and assertiveness famously associated with Gregory. “I think every scrum-half has got a bit of something in him," he said. “I’m only 5ft 6in and I’ve got to be bossing Craig Smith
Craig Smith
Craig Smith is an American professional basketball player who was most recently member of the Los Angeles Clippers...
, who’s 6ft and 17st."
Despite the comparisons with Gregory, Luke has been modelling himself on another Wigan legend in Adrian Lam. “I always liked Andy Gregory when I was really young but that was mainly through my dad talking about him," he said. “It was Adrian Lam really. You can’t say much more about Adrian Lam, can you?" However, the England Academy international insists he “just wants to be Luke Robinson and be the best I can be."
Wigan Warriors playing career
Luke capped 2003 with an appearance in Wigan's Grand Final defeat against Bradford BullsBradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
. He was required again for the first team at the start of 2004 after a further injury to Adrian Lam, however he could not reproduce the form that had helped take Wigan to the final in the previous season. When Lam recovered Luke was sent on loan to struggling Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
. He spent two months at Cas before another injury to Lam forced his recall, playing against the Tigers in his first match back at Wigan. Luke again struggled for form and was eventually allowed to leave Wigan, joining David Hodgson in signing a contract with Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
. After the deal was done Luke regained the type of form that had created the high hopes for his future, helping Wigan make it to the 2004 Final Eliminator at Headingley. However, his try was not enough to take the Warriors to the Grand Final. At the time, many fans were very concerned at the desicision to let Luke leave the club.
International playing career
Luke was an England schoolboys international. He is expected to challenge Leeds' Rob BurrowRob Burrow
Rob Burrow is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Leeds Rhinos of Super League. He has represented both England and Great Britain as a hooker/half. He has spent his whole career to date at Leeds, having won the Super League championship with them five times...
for the Great Britain Academy scrum half spot. He played for the England Academy side who were the first ever to beat the Aussie Schoolboys in December 2002.
Salford City Reds playing career
Luke Robinson left Wigan and signed for the Salford City RedsSalford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
and was a regular in the first team at Scrum Half. In 2005 Luke scored eleven tries, seven goals, one field goals totaling fifty nine points for the Salford City Reds. In 2006 he helped them to their highest ever finish (5th) in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
, and the first time the club made it to the play-offs.
Huddersfield Giants
He Signed for Huddersfield GiantsHuddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
in September 2007, following Salford's relegation from Super League. While at Huddersfield he played for England against the NZ Maori at the end of 2010. He played in the New Zealand, Australia and PNG games, scoring 2 tries.