Bulldogs wary of a red hot Isaac Luke

THE last time Canterbury came up against Issac Luke, the South Sydney hooker ran more than 150m and proved impossible to stop.

THE last time Canterbury came up against Issac Luke, the South Sydney hooker ran more than 150m and proved impossible to stop.

Luke has slipped under the radar as Bunnies teammates Greg Inglis and Dave Taylor soaked up the well-deserved headlines.

But Luke's form is brilliant, averaging more metres each week than Origin hookers Cameron Smith and Robbie Farah combined.

So it comes as no surprise Canterbury players put just as much emphasis on shutting down Luke as they have Inglis and Taylor ahead of tomorrow night's blockbuster at ANZ Stadium.

Even Bulldogs coach Des Hasler rattled off Luke as one of the Rabbitohs pack internationals, and labelled the match-up "the battlers against Crowey's (Russell Crowe) boys".

"The last time we played them Issac ran for over 150m, which is pretty phenomenal for a hooker," back-rower Dene Halatau said.

"He's that type of player where if you give him half an opportunity he's gone. He's so quick and deceptively strong as well. He throws the big guys around like they're nothing.

"They've got big guys all over the park. There's Dave Taylor, Greg Inglis is in some of his best form, and when they're playing so well, it takes some of the shine off him (Luke), but he's hard to stop."

Canterbury skipper Michael Ennis said of his opposite No. 9: "He's part of their forward pack who are doing a really good job at the moment. There's no doubts he's slipped under the radar."Hasler was quick to point out the star-studded Rabbits, and the difficulties the Dogs had in backing up from Monday night football.

"If you look at the statistics I think it's 76 per cent of sides coming out of a Monday game haven't backed up successfully on the Saturday," Hasler said. "We're trying to turn that around against a pretty red-hot side in Souths at the moment. Gee they're playing well."

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