No. 2 draft pick Jack Lukosius re-signs with Gold Coast until 2022
Jack Lukosius has resisted the lure of a return to South Australia, signing on until the end of 2022 at Gold Coast. Did the attention one Port Adelaide star cops in South Australia play a role?
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Jack Lukosius believes he can form a lethal forward partnership with Ben King long into the future after Gold Coast locked him away in a huge coup for the rebuilding Suns.
The Herald Sun can reveal Lukosius has re-signed until 2022 despite persistent speculation and threats from Adelaide that they would lure the local star home.
The 18-year-old said on Thursday he never wanted to leave and a trip back to Adelaide in the off-season solidified his decision, with good mate Connor Rozee often unable to go out in town without being stopped by fans.
Lukosius played 21 games in his debut year, mostly as defender with superb field kicking, but eventually wants to play alongside King in attack.
He believes they can play together long past their current contracts as a dangerous forward pair after King also re-signed to 2022 in recent months.
“I am really happy with how the club have treated me and my family,” Lukosius said.
“I couldn’t have had a better first year and for me it was always waiting 12 months.
“I went to Europe with my family and then back to Adelaide for my break and it was good to be home but I only really had eyes for the Gold Coast.
“I really want to be a versatile player but I would like to eventually settle as a forward playing alongside Ben. It’s exciting to think about playing with him.
Supercalifragilistic-We’ve-Re-Signed-Jack-Lukosius 🎉#ChallengeAccepted
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) November 21, 2019
👉 https://t.co/Q7oNhe1BKm pic.twitter.com/az8CVKgjH0
“We both want to develop together and we could be building something pretty special. We have some good mids developing too and I can’t see why we can’t take the league on for a long time.”
Lukosius said the relative anonymity of the Gold Coast was an added advantage for the players.
“My mate Connor Rozee plays for Port Adelaide and his life has completely changed,” he said.
“He is stopped going out for dinner, so you need to take the good for the bad.
“It’s a great lifestyle here and all the players have brought in. All the leaders signed on late last year and that set the tone for us and all the boys are really excited about what can happen in the next few years.”
Lukosius said the players were excited Stuart Dew was in for the long haul as the club prepares to sign him to a new contract.
“It’s great to know he is as invested as we all are at the club,” he said.
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“Him and his family love being at the club and he’s rock solid there.
“He has a great understanding of the game and has great relationships with the players we are stoked to have him.”