Cowboys gun Heilum Luki on the emotional moment his family learned about Samoa debut

The Cowboys backrower will make his international debut on Saturday when he comes off the interchange against the Kangaroos. Find out how his Samoan father reacted to the news.

Heilum Luki has opened up on the emotional moment he told his Samoan father that he would be lining up for the small Pacific nation for the first time.

The Cowboys backrower will make his international debut on Saturday when he comes off the interchange against the Kangaroos, although it won’t be his first foray into representing his heritage.

Luki’s father is both Samoan and Niuean, allowing him to represent the Niue under-16 team at the Pasifika Youth Cup in New Zealand, 2017.

But pulling on the deep blue of Toa Samoa will be a different feeling.

“It’s very exciting. I’m keen to represent where my family come from,” Luki said.

North Queensland Cowboys Heilum Luki will represent his Samoan heritage for the first time. Picture: Evan Morgan

“I remember telling Dad and my grandparents and they started to get emotional. It just shows how much it means to them and it makes it so much more meaningful to put the jersey on and represent.

“I probably don’t know as much as I’d like to (about Samoan culture) but I think that’s the beauty of coming to these camps. It’s a very cultural space and I’ve learnt heaps so far, so it’s been great.”

The giant 22-year-old endured an interrupted NRL season with North Queensland, only playing 13 games with a six-game stint between rounds 10 and 16 the longest consecutive period.

Luki played his first game of 2023 in round 3 after recovering from an ACL injury, played three games before a hamstring injury, and then missed seven rounds due to a facial injury later in the season.

Luki only played 13 NRL games in 2023. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

He said he was thankful for the chance to get some more minutes in his legs, especially so close to his Cairns home.

“I didn’t play as much footy as I’d have liked to this year so being able to play a bit more and represent our country, I’m very grateful,” Luki said.

“It’s unreal to be able to do it in Townsville where I play for the Cowboys. I think it’s great – I’ve got a lot of family here.”

Luki said he was looking forward to playing alongside Samoa captain Junior Paulo and premiership-winner Stephen Crichton.

“The passion that they play with when they represent their country, that’s what I want to have when I’m going out there.”

Originally published as Cowboys gun Heilum Luki on the emotional moment his family learned about Samoa debut