Cronulla Sharks forward Luke Lewis bows out a champion despite ugly defeat in final game
LUKE Lewis’ career ended how it started with defeat in Melbourne, but he leaves us with the same legacy of respect.
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LUKE Lewis’ career ended how it started with defeat in Melbourne, but he leaves us with the same legacy of respect.
When Lewis made his debut off the bench against the Storm in 2001 as a fresh-faced back from Blacktown, he earned immediate admiration with his dogged determination.
At AAMI Park on Friday night, the man affectionately known as ‘Lewy’ departed the game in identical fashion.
It wasn’t pretty on the scoreboard as the Storm surged to a dominant win over Cronulla but Lewis never gave up.
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Sure, he was too focused on Andrew Fifita’s fight just before halftime and it led to a Billy Slater try.
In the end, though, this lack of concentration will do nothing to dull the enormous esteem Lewis has within the NRL community.
Lewis was gutted after the loss, but says he’s excited to move onto the next chapter of his life.
“To be brutally honest I’m feeling pretty hollow.
“I obviously wanted to play next week in the grand final. That would have been a nice way to finish up my career.
“To think that it is all over is pretty scary.
“I’m looking forward to what is next. There is a bit of fear there but also excitement.
“I’ve been told what to do for so long over the last 18 years. Where to be, what time to be there.
“All those little things, I just feel like it is gone like that.
‘I think when I have a bit of time to sit back and reflect I’ll have a tear.
“Not in a bad way but just a sense of accomplishment.
Lewis spoke of his calf injury he took into the clash, revealing it forced him from the field with seven minutes left.
“I got a hit on it in the first half and it got sorer and sorer.
“I tried to get through as much as I could but I was a dead marine standing out there and wasn’t offering much.
“But I just didn’t want to come off because I knew it was my last game.
“Then it got to a stage with 10 minutes left where I knew we probably couldn’t get back into the game.
“I didn’t want to come off but I had to listen to the coach. It was probably a good time to come off because I was close to tearing it I think.”
Equally honest in his approach on and off the field, the 35-year-old will go down as one of the toughest and most likeable players in history.
For all his success, including two premierships, an Origin shield and a World Cup, the most impressive quality about Lewis is his attitude.
Coach Shane Flanagan was full of praise for his retiring back-rower, declaring he’d more than done his job with the club.
“What Luke has done for me as a coach and the playing group - young and old - has been fantastic,” Flanagan said.
“When I recruited him I wanted to bring quality rep players into the club so we could be a top four team and win a premiership.
“We did that in 2016.
“We weren’t good enough tonight but that shouldn’t reflect on the career Luke has had.
“He has been fantastic for Australia, NSW, Penrith and the Sharks.”
No matter the challenge or obstacle, Lewis relied on his unrelenting work ethic to survive and thrive.
This was on display in 2012 when he overcame a cancer scare.
Lewis underwent surgery to remove a lump in his neck that was discovered when he had a CT scan on a suspected neck injury.
The lump was found to be cancerous and he had his thyroid removed in a second operation.
Lewis missed games for Penrith as a result but he never let the illness stop him from oozing a positive aura.
This mindset is why it didn’t take long for ‘Lewy’ to become a fan favourite with the Penrith faithful when he started out as a rookie on the wing.
After only playing three games in his maiden season in ’01, Lewis rose to prominence in 2002 with 17 tries in 23 matches – including two hat-tricks.
A year later he helped Penrith claim the premiership with an 18-6 win over the Sydney Roosters.
Lewis spent another decade at the Panthers before he received a release to join Cronulla on a four-year deal.
At the time the move sparked shock and outrage but the sea change from Sydney’s west ended up being a dream move.
Lewis reinvented his game at the Sharks and he was rewarded in 2016 with his second premiership.
He also claimed the Clive Churchill Medal as best on ground to cap off a memorable night.
Lewis developed a deep love for Cronulla, so it was only fitting he captained the Sharks for the first time in his final NRL match.
He left the field with seven minutes remaining and finished his career where it started 17 seasons ago on the bench.
Take a bow, Luke Lewis, what a career – you’ll be sorely missed.