Warriors hooker Issac Luke celebrates scoring the match-winning try against Parramatta. Photo / Photosport.
Warriors hooker Issac Luke celebrates scoring the match-winning try against Parramatta. Photo / Photosport.
Warriors hooker Issac Luke made a strong return from injury in Friday's win over Parramatta and hopes to be back to his best in Saturday's NRL clash against his former club South Sydney.
After missing last week's loss to the Sydney Roosters with a dislocated shoulder, Luke got through a mountain of defensive work and scored the match-winning try in the 24-14 victory over the Eels at ANZ Stadium.
The 30-year-old admitted his fitness was lacking after his remarkably brief stint on the sidelines, but was confident he'd be better for the run before facing his former Rabbitohs teammates at Mt Smart Stadium.
"It is good to feel fit again," said Luke, who has also played through a knee injury that was supposed to keep him out of action for a month.
"I was struggling out there but [it's pleasing] just to get in good form and get my body in the right shape to be able to play 80 minutes.
"The lungs hit me a couple of times but there were a few sets there where guys like Tohu [Harris] and Jazz [Tevaga] came on and helped me out, but if I want to play 80 minutes I've obviously got to pick that up."
The four-tries-to-two victory cemented the Warriors in third spot on the competition ladder, two points ahead of the fourth-placed Rabbitohs, who pipped North Queensland 20-19 on Saturday for their third-straight win.
Luke expects it will be an emotional build-up to playing the side he tasted premiership success with in 2014, and remains wary of the Rabbitohs, who last week downed competition leaders St George Illawarra. His personal match-up against Rabbitohs No.9 and NSW Origin hopeful Damien Cook looms as a highlight.
Luke's match-up with Rabbitohs hooker and NSW Origin hopeful Damien Cook will be one to savour. Photo / Photosport.
In the moments after fulltime at the former Olympic Stadium, Luke savoured a few moments at what is also the Rabbitohs home ground, and said he continues to share a close bond with the South Sydney faithful.
"I always look forward to this game," he said. "I always look at the calendar and try and make sure that I'm a part of that week. I was just sitting down the corridor outside their dressing sheds and had a moment there.
"I spent a bit of time of my life at Souths and still their supporters have my back. They message me every time I'm playing saying 'good luck, Bully'.
"Most times it's an emotional week coming up against my old club, but the boys are looking forward to this big game, because at the moment they're the form team of the competition in our opinion, so we want to be able to match it with them."
The Anthony Seibold-coached outfit will be eager to avenge their round one loss to the Warriors in Perth, while the home side are desperate to find consistency after three defeats in their last six matches.
Tuivasa-Sheck is expected to return to fullback although he continues to await the arrival of his first-born, with his fiancé Ashley Walker due to give birth in the coming days. It's unclear whether Johnson will be in contention to play after missing the past two games with an ankle strain.
Luke predicts coach Stephen Kearney will have another welcome selection headache after centre Gerard Beale impressed in his first NRL game for the Warriors following a six-month layoff with a broken leg. It remains to be seen whether the Kiwi international can retain a place in the starting side, perhaps at the expense of backline utility Peta Hiku or left centre Solomone Kata.
The visitors have their own concerns after losing both fullback Alex Johnston to a hamstring injury and forward leader Sam Burgess to a glute strain in the first-half against the Cowboys.
"That was awesome to have G out there," said Luke. "He was thrown in the deep end tonight and did a fantastic job so Mooks has a selection crisis on his hands when Roger comes back."
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