League: Import makes the grade

Micheal Luck came to Auckland because he wasn't getting first-grade starts for the Cowboys. Ross Land / Getty Images

Micheal Luck was a no-name when he signed for the Warriors and he's quite content to keep things that way.

"If I'm getting the little things right in my game and not letting everyone down that's good. It doesn't matter if I don't get noticed, it suits me," he said.

Luck had an offer from the Cowboys in 2005 and one of around equal money from the Warriors.

He'd been at the Cowboys and was told he would continue to be a back-up player, given a chance if other players were injured or had representative commitments.

In Auckland he saw a chance to progress to become a regular first-grader.

"It was no choice really. I haven't got a girl or any kids so I could come and go as I liked and I had nothing to lose and plenty to win," the 24-year-old said yesterday.

He had been readily welcomed, he said, and the locals had shown him the countryside.

Good pre-season commitment meant Luck started the Warriors' first game and, after impressing in the trials, he has won a place either starting or off the bench in all eight NRL games so far. His tackling in the middle of the field has been solid. He likes to think he's doing well in "the clean-up, making the tackles, diving on the loose balls".

He wants to get involved in the passing game more but knows "there are heaps of boys here who can off-load so I don't have to".

Luck started in league at age 9 in his home town, Toowoomba, and was picked up by the Cowboys' talent scouts at age 15, shifting to Townsville and completing the last two years of secondary school there.

He liked the passion Cowboys fans had for the team even in the bad times when losses were strung together. Many supporters made long trips, as much as 12 hours, to get to the game from the Outback.

"The Warriors fans are passionate too; you see the joy when we win and the disappointment when we lose. It keeps you on your toes when you see how they take a loss. That's when you realise you're not just playing for yourself, you're playing for them too.

"When you see the disappointment it does make you want to go a bit harder next time."

Luck said that in pre-game build-up during their week off with the bye, the Warriors had questioned their commitment and attitude.

"We asked ourselves why we didn't turn up to play at times. At 16-all in the second half against the Bulldogs we fell apart; we gave away penalties and we gave them turnovers and their big guys ran it over us. We had to make around 100 tackles more and we couldn't hang on. That's what happens when you give other teams the ball. We had to blame ourselves."

The Warriors had as much talent as any team, he said.

"The big guys have got footwork and skills. They are a pleasure to train and play with."

It came down to attitude and playing out the 80 minutes. "We all need to get on the same page and we need to be making the right decisions."

Luck is signed to the end of 2008 and is looking to push his way in as a regular starter and higher-level contributor.

"Hopefully I'll be hitting the top of my game by the end of the year and can carry on."

And, if he's working away largely unnoticed in a winning team, that will be fine, as opposed to being noticed as a good contributor now in a team that's struggling.

"It doesn't mean much when the team's not winning. I'd rather be solid in a team going well."

MICHEAL LUCK

Born: April 21, 1982 Gatton, Queensland.
Height: 1.87m.
Weight: 98kg.
Position: Second row.
Signed by the Cowboys at age 15, NRL debut for the club round 10 2001, 76 games 2001-05.
Eight games for the Warriors 2005.